In essence, this 20-minute short film imparts more than most BLs do in 12 episodes. Ironically, it also goes deeper emotionally than most BLs ever go as well. Additionally, it is one of the best acted BLs from Thailand I have seen in a long time. So, in that sense, this film is genuinely a paragon. As much as this is a gem, I rejected its subtle underlying message ardently and found it quite demoralizing as a gay man. Allow me to explain.
Category Archives: Movie Review
“Challengers” Movie Review
The Challengers I watched and the Challengers that has swept the internet seem to be two completely different movies. The Challengers I watched was about Tashi and her feral need for control, her need for winning and how she viewed her life through the lense of the game of tennis, and how her own life was a microcosm of the game, instead of the other way round. The relationship between Tashi (Zendaya), Art (Mike Faise) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor), was to me less sexual than it was merely passion for the game that translated itself into this raw energy that none of them knew exactly how to deal with. In as much as there was excitement about the menage a trois, what I saw was Tashi playing with Art and Patrick the moment that she met with them, antagonizing them, making her ken dolls kiss, the way a child playing with her dolls would. Sure Art and Patrick in turn because very moldable in those roles, but it wasn’t sexual but a different kind of passion and tension that the oblivious onlooker has no choice but to wonder if they just need to f*ck to get it out of the way.
“Can I Buy Your Love From a Vending Machine” Movie Review
Courage can be as simple as taking that first step toward something you’ve longed for but were afraid to hope for.
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“Love Syndrome : The Beginning” Movie Review
“Love Syndrome : The Beginning” is the self-indulgent reimagining of the recently released “Love Syndrome 3”. Recently deceased director and writer F. Nontapat Sriwichai put his heart and soul into this hour and thirty minute feature film and it truly shows. Glistening well-made sets, close up shots of the men that pepper the film with unique, stand out acting (everyone besides Def Rattanan, whose Day was the worst part of the film in my opinion) do a phenomenal job.
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“Takumi Kun Series” Movie Review
The “Takumi-kun Series” is a romance drama that follows the lives of high school students Takumi (Yanagishita Tomo), a reclusive guy who has a PTSD from being sexually assaulted, which results in him having a phobia against being touched, and Saki “Gii” Giichi (Kato Keisuke), a popular guy who woes Takumi and helps him overcome his phobia. The series highlights the importance of friendship, and although the first movie shies away from the notion of toxic masculinity in such an important way that it highlights the triumph of friendship and love both in the romantic and platonic aspects of life. Takumi and Gii are surrounded by their friends who help them whenever they are experiencing difficulties in their relationship, and they in turn are always there for their friends. While heavier subject matters are confronted, the audience is safe in these movies as the writers do not devastate for the sake of devastating the audience.
“Khar Taw Mi” Movie Review
I have a confession to make here. I had to watch this series twice to fully appreciate it. I dislike obfuscation and initially felt that is what was going on in this short film. Perhaps because I am from the United States, I like things to be made crystal clear and upfront. Which, of course, this short film does not. Being also inquisitive, I read a variety of comments about this short film which certainly educated me. I realized how myopic and clouded my thinking was. Therefore, I watched it again in light of my newfound appreciation of traditional Burmese culture and Myanmar’s current political climate.
“Strange Way of Life” Movie Review
The highly anticipated “Strange Way of Life” a short film that ran festival circuits and had a limited release in major theaters is now available on streaming platforms and video on demand. The film directed and written by Pedro Almodovar stars Ethan Hawke as Sheriff Jake and Pedro Pascal as Silva. The story is comparable to Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” due to the “Love that can’t be talked about” situation between Jake and Silva. Something that started 25 years ago and hasn’t been forgotten by neither men despite the distance between them; only to be reignited when Silva appears at Jake’s door. But are his intentions purely for Jake or is there more to it?
“Does the Flower Bloom?” Movie Review
“A Lotus Blossom. It’s the flower I like. Your name means the same thing, after all. This time, I want to see them bloom with you.” – quotes from Does the Flower Bloom?
“Monster” Movie Review
“Monster” is an intriguing movie, told from the perspectives of 3 individuals, a single mother who is overprotective of her son and wants justice for him, a well-meaning teacher who finds himself in the middle of an almost impossible situation in which he is falsely accused of hitting a child, and a young boy who is coming to terms with himself and his feelings for a friend. Although not quite the psychological thriller one would expect, “Monster” does a great job in shifting our perspective, in as much as we are constantly being asked “who is the monster?”, while viewing the movie. We are not looking for a monster, but rather seeing victims of circumstances that we empathize with throughout the film and the question of who the monster is becomes the furthest from the audience’s concerns.
“Man Suang” Movie Review
“When elephants fight, the grass is inevitably crushed.” – Quote from Man Suang
The BL Xpress 