PPBongi
California, USA
Great Moral Arc
There is a great moral arc to this story but the characters were simply not real. If you are looking for any sense of deep connection with the main characters, then move in. It is NOT bad acting; just a bad script. You have a main couple who lack any kind of deep connection to each other. Sure there are cute stares, and magical moonbeams but no hint of any real attraction to each other. There was not even a kiss so therefore how can there be love. This story could have been a good one but fell short. But there is a support role here that is just phenomenal. You can read my full review at BLBliss.com. She was simply brilliant.Was this review helpful to you?
Quirky but Sad
I think this is supposed to sort of be a rom-com and parts of it are quite funny. The Japanese have a real eye for self-depreciating humor in the first person. And the physical comedy that goes with that. Unquestionably the two main protagonists are quite quirky and real misfits, which made them very likeable. The first half is much better than the second half. The last half just turned into a silly cat-and-mouse game of playing with emotions with neither one wanting to make any type of a commitment to have a relationship. I found that patently silly and absurd. I was very disappointed overall with this series and found it to be formulaic. In the end, I found them to be way more sad figures than happy ones. Ironically.Was this review helpful to you?
Awkward but It Works!
This is a complete mish-mash of characters that honestly should not work. They are awkward and seem awkward in their own skins. But weirdly, it all works and turns out to be a charming and engaging series. It grabbed my attention and never let go. There are some hidden meanings in this series and that is captured very well. An awkward happenstance that turns charming and you end up rooting for them. Physically, these two actors seem out-of-place, not compatible with each other, and awkwardly clumsy. Yet, it all worked. There is such good chemistry between them that appears to be genuine, even if it is unorthodox. Just enjoy this charmer.You can read my full review at BLBliss.com.
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Semantic Error: Clear
This is a very good Korean BL series that got a bit archetypical in the end but it is still one of the better ones out there. The main couple was cute and had some great kissing scenes. However, I watched this series through rose-colored glasses as I had a different twist as to who Sangchu really was. Thinking of him the way I did put this series in a broader perspective for me. But no matter how you see these guys, it is still one of the better BLs out there. I am an avid fan of Korean drama. Indeed, they are the new "Hollywood".Was this review helpful to you?
I wanted to like this....
Honestly, I really wanted to like this series. The actors are stunningly handsome and are very good actors, really. But this story had so man logical flaws in it, that it was hard to really like. Also, I never bought their relationship as I did not see much chemistry between the two main actors. If you are going to have young guys supposedly in love, show us. Give us something relatable and understandable so we can see they are is something related to romance. There is also no need for side-stories that frankly go nowhere and are meant to pull at heartstrings. The premise of this story is good; it is just executed with too much meandering with no clear focus.Was this review helpful to you?
Lives Up to Its Name - TOXIC!
Dear God, this is so bad. Everything about this is bad. Acting, production, editing, sound, and story. The story is disjointed with self-indulgent characters that bully and intimidate others around them. Filled also with over-the-top gay characters who portray 'gay' behavior in the worst possible way. I really enjoyed Aki in MY DAY but this is just awful. Everyone’s acting was at best amateurish and at worst, looking like they were all ‘winging it’ on their own. There was no sense of direction, no help with timing or delivering lines, or rehearsal, for that matter. Honestly, I could not believe how badly this series was acted throughout.Skip it at all cost,
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Profoundly Moving Sometimes while Mundane Overall
This was a hard series for me to get through. Let me just say upfront that it is one of the best acted Thai BL series to come along in a long time. And they actually tackled some interesting real-life situations not in the usual manner but with some realistic approaches. Yet, the story all seemed so ordinary to me and I just did not buy the relationship between the two leading actors. In order for me to accept it, it has to look real and feel real but I just did not see that. However, who really 'stole' this series are the incredible supporting roles. These actors and actresses were unbelievably good and did a way more convincing job than than the main characters. I cannot say enough about how good these people were. Please do not misunderstand; no one did a bad job in acting. I just did not buy the relationship. If it were not for the supporting characters, this series would have been rather dull. I loved them a lot and they carried this series. There is also such a glaring flaw in logic in this story that is just not handled well at all. It will hit you in the face when you realize what it is. It simply made no sense. If you want to read my full review of this series (where I name specific individuals and how they 'stole' this series, go to BLBliss.com.Was this review helpful to you?
A Wonderful Non-BLthat is BL
I do not care what anyone else wrote about this series, but it is a very good love story. No, not in the BL sense of the word, but it brought love into the forefront of this amazingly good narrative about mental illness and compassion. It is quite a beautiful journey in which there parts that made me cry and at other times, made me bust out laughing. It is one of the most human stories out there and show how deeply you can love someone in other ways besides physically. I know that sounds odd but it is a deeply intense series and I for one appreciated its message of companionship, friendship, understanding, and yes love. I hope people watch it,But can understand why they would not The production is just awful. Disjointed and poor editing. PLEASE, PLEASE do something about translating these series into English with some sophistication. It was just awful. In one case, they had a translation that was not for that episode. I get that these series are not perhaps made for English speaking countries, but if you want to widen the audience, do SOMETHING about making the translations better. These series and actors are so good but it is cheapened by bad translations. I for one deeply appreciate the efforts that are being done in this genre. God, knows, the USA will not likely ever get on board of doing these kinds of series. (Ok, Love Victor, as one exception).
If you want to read my full review of this outstanding series, please go to BLBliss.com
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Phenomenal and Profound Work of Art
I watched this series quite serendipitously and was so moved by its message and acting that I can not stop thinking about it. It is soulful, profoundly sad, and a masterpiece of acting. The singing by Jeff Satur is excellent and is also profoundly moving. This is not your typical BL series and I know that it might not appeal to a lot of fans but this series is ACTING at its finest with a story that is as interpretative as you want it to be. YOU draw your own conclusions. You experience its emotions on your own. While short in duration (about 45 minutes in total), it will leave you questioning what happened before, during, and after.I am trying to write in greater detail the review of this series on my website but need time to process its complete impact on me. Please go to see it at BLBliss.com. I shall post it soon.
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A Classic
I transported myself back to that time and found the film to be remarkable. This story is deeply, deeply moving. Funny at times. A coming-of-age essay also. It is also profoundly sad reaching the core of one’s inner being. It grabs you and shakes you and tells you clearly that your life will never be the same and a small hole will exist where the heart is. But you still go on. The acting in this series is profoundly moving and is elevated by the supporting characters as well. While this movie may now be ‘older’, it is still relevant today as we all know that families can not and will not accept gay relationships or even recognize love between two persons of the same sex.Was this review helpful to you?
Mixed bad as in any reality show
I must warn you that my perspective of this series is not all moonbeams and unicorns. I am not going to praise this series merely for the sake of praising it. Perhaps it is ground-breaking in the sense that it is a gay dating show in the Philippines and for that it deserves applause, unquestionably. As an outsider looking in, I did not understand its concept. I also had a serious issue as to how these 10 were chosen and more importantly vetted. I do not think it was random and my sense was that most were chosen based on social media connections and status in life. And some seemed relatively new to the whole concept of being gay or even if they were gay. I am not trying to negate in any way those who were chosen but with a country of nearly 114 million souls, there are not 10 out and proud unhesitatingly GAY guys from all walks of life, rich and poor, that are willing to be on a ‘reality’ show about finding a guy to ‘spark’ with? With no complications? And I cringe when I see the cavalier way we ogle and view people who share deeply personal secrets and vulnerabilities publicly. While it might be entertaining and, to some extent, hard not to watch, it is deeply personal and maybe cathartic but not necessarily therapeutic or healthy or always good to so freely share. Sometimes the whole world does not need to know or see our deepest vulnerabilities. I both liked and disliked this series, but mostly lean towards the latter. know the ‘good feeling’ we get from initially watching this series and for those participating in this series. But I am apprehensive it will be short-lived, unfortunately. For a whole lot of reasons.You can read my full review at BLBliss.com.
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Quirky, Odd, But Viscerally Intriguing
This series left me in a complete conundrum. I honestly do not know what to think or make of this series. It left me exceedingly flummoxed. To be sure, it is a series about vampires but not in any traditional sense of how I understood vampires. This particular vampire was likeable; good even. In addition, to being heavenly handsome. He tells everyone he is a vampire but literally begs them for secrecy. It is one of the many ironies in this series. In fact, everything about this series is quirky. All I know is that I viscerally enjoyed the quiet fortitude that this series gave me. I am sure it is just me.Was this review helpful to you?
A Meditative Intensity Story
I could not sleep early on a Saturday morning, and this movie’s review came up in YouTube out of nowhere. So, on a whim, I decided to watch it. Before you know it, I had finished it and had become so engrossed in its plot and story, I found myself caring about these characters with a certain sense of affection. I found myself teary eyed and gently sobbing for them. It is an intensely gut-wrenching film that is deeper than it is given credit for. I was shocked and dismayed at how poor the reviews were for this movie. I do not understand. I loved it. To be sure, it does not move mountains, but it is not meant to do so. It is a story about two misfit loners who happen to find each other in exactly the right space at exactly the right moment in their lives that connected them in a feeling of fruition. They found each other’s cherished one.Was this review helpful to you?
Nearly Perfect Propose
This series is a phenomenally gentle story of two individuals who by happenstance meet as boys in childhood with one becoming his savior and then 10 or so years later, they meet again where in the end the other becomes his savior. The story goes full circle. This is an exceptionally well-acted series, given its short duration. So much had to be accomplished and shown in such a short period of time. Even the supporting performances were so spot on. However, who really steals this series are the two young boys who play the younger versions. Surprisingly, for a Japanese BL, they did a good job of showing a connection and were unafraid to kiss with a certain commitment. It seemed honest, genuine, and realistic.Was this review helpful to you?
A Surprisingly Moving Series!
With very didactic moments as well even though it is perhaps categorized under the general category of Comedy. And yet a highly suspect series. One that glosses over a glaring ethical issue that is hard to ignore. Nonetheless, it delicately handles the situation innocently enough as if it is not even an issue or problem. It is the fact that a high school student falls in love with a teacher; and a teacher who falls in love with a high school student. Putting it that way, it sounds immoral, which, most assuredly, it is not. Genuinely a sincerely warm, and smartly done love story done without the slightest hint of impropriety. But I liked this series a lot. It was funny, poignant, scrupulous, and highly principled. Although formulaic at times, it still is entertaining and fun to watch.Was this review helpful to you?
