Excellent, but too short

This is a very good 44 minute long LGBT short movie. It is well made and well written. The story is intense, concerning a young man who, after suffering sexual abuse at the hands of his stepfather, turns to selling himself to other abusive men. But the arc of the plot turns happier (and sexier) when he meets an undercover cop who falls for him.

Strong points:

-- The plot is interesting, engaging and well-conceived. It concerns some heavy topics but is not overwhelmingly depressing. (That said, it does feature a couple of incidents of rape, and people who are sensitive to sexual violence should be warned.)
-- The acting is truly excellent. Jed Chung does a good job of communicating how clueless and lost Light is. Even more, I thought Max Liu was tantastic -- thoroughly believable as Light's savior, Shuo. Liu is intense, masculine and yet soft -- the way he treated Light was perfect. (In some ways he takes the place of the father-figure Light never had). And he has a wonderful deep voice and a gorgeous body, so what's not to love? (P.S. the MDL pic of Max, above, does NOT do him justice.)
-- The cinematography is first rate, with great camera work. (I loved the opening scene, where the cam is following Light through the market as he goes to meet one of his "johns".)
-- There is not a lot of music actually in the movie, that I remember......however the film concludes with a music video (I think the name of the song is "Light") and that one is truly excellent.

Weak point:

-- The decision to make this a short movie limited the creators too much. A longer treatment could have given the audience a better understanding of the development of Shuo's affection for Light. It seems to appear out of nowhere. The lovely scene where Shuo abandons his reserve and makes love to Light would have been just wonderful if the audience had a better feeling for the tensions/mixed feelings that were afflicting Shuo.

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A Beautiful, Sad Story

This is an excellent short film (30 mins) which chronicles the central relationship in sensitive ways. It does not shy away from focusing on the pain that both of the characters feel -- from external bullying as well as internalized homophobia. The characters deal with these pains in their own ways.....some of which are frankly heartbreaking, but very realistic. (Running away in the face of challenges is not at all rare.)

The plot also features some cute and funny moments.....the one involving shopping in a pharmacy was beautifully acted and had me laughing out loud. I found these moments disarming -- they make you empathize with the characters, which heightens the impact of the ending, which while sensitively handled, is quite sad.

The cinematography was excellent -- nice scenes along the shore but also back at school. The camera does not shy away from the blood and bruises that result from bullying.

And the messaging is very clear -- bullied teens need help, and when they don't get it, bad things happen.

P.S. Pay no attention to my rating for "music." I was so captivated by the plot that I cannot remember the music at all, but MDL requires a number!

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Meh. Really Meh.

I wish I had read the reviews here before spending the time to watch this show, because I agree with the reviewers (and not with whoever on Dramalist gave it a 7.2 rating!). At best this was a very mediocre production.

Pros: Production values pretty good. Podd has a great body. I liked the character Miriam.

Cons: Hackneyed plot (confused guy falls for his boyhood friend and has trouble accepting his own feelings). Plot not well developed -- there should have been room for plenty of character development and there just wasn't any. Ton was a clod, until suddenly he wasn't. Chon was soooo passive, until suddenly he wasn't....he basically just passed the first 6 episodes or so giving Ton furtive looks. Two-dimensional acting all around (except for Miriam). Just no passion behind the performances. Boring repetitive soundtrack that consisted largely of clickings and drummings.

There were only two moments worth watching: Chon finally shedding his passivity and getting up to dance in a nightclub (with energy!), and Mrs. Nam going ballistic and bad-mouthing Ton's father. But 10 episodes is a lot of time to invest, for two one-minute good scenes.

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What a great little series!

i liked this series from the beginning......thought the (lack of) chemistry between the two main characters was intriguing as was the premise of having a one-night stand that goes wrong in all kinds of ways. But after the end, I LOVE it. Here's why:

-- The actors were great. Yves Flores is experienced and it shows. The breakdown of his walls (physical and emotional) was beautifully reflected through the story arc of the series. Iyo Canlas had a tougher job, for me.....because I did not "bond" with his rather silly "true love's kiss" character. But Reb develops, too and -- maybe because his hopes get dashed -- he develops a much more mature perspective on relationships. Iyo played that change (which really only comes at the end) beautifully. When JM was crying in Reb's arms, you could see the fantasies coming down.

-- The plot was slow at times, but when you complete the whole series you get a better perspective and you can appreciate the whole story very clearly. Reb's flighty instability in the beginning was actually essential to providing room for him to grow and change. And because the plot is not rushed or superficial, it is believable, in the end, that two so dissimilar people might actually grow towards each other, and become capable of that kind of peaceful, accepting love.

-- The music was really good! I hope somebody pulls together a compilation, so I can re-listen. (There's a list of credits at the end but for a non-Filipino speaker it is hard to figure out which song is which.....) [Update: a fellow fan sent me this link for an OST playlist, which others might find useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EeuOc_JdZw&list=PLXjXbBD8EzbnQ8p7cWorcwIPgKtKrjehz . My favorite song is Kargo. ("Nandito lang ako.....") Gotta go back and do a rewatch to remind myself how all these songs fit into the series plot.]

-- The entire series takes place inside one residence, so there's not a lot of scope for grand camera work. But the director and cinematographer made great use of close-ups. JM's and Reb's faces -- whether smiling, skeptical, eager or crying -- were the essence of the visuals and they were beautiful.

-- I do agree that some of the discussion about the nature of love came across as cheesy. But beneath that, there was an interesting question (how can two people who don't really agree on the nature of love get along?) , and an even more interesting answer: maybe love is not the same for everyone, and maybe couples need to find their own connections in their own ways.

This is the best Pinoy BL series of 2021 (so far). It is original, well-acted and has a lovely vibe. Well worth a watch.

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Wow, This Is An Incredible Series -- Seriously Do Not Miss It

Top-level points: This is a wonderful production, and is well worth your time to watch it, and watch it again.

Detailed, committed – one might even say loving – cinematography that makes maximum use of color and natural scenes to produce enchanting images. A soundscape that catches you up and transports you – without your even knowing – into a whirl of emotions. Actors who enjoy wonderful mutual chemistry and craft performances of characters who have a LOT more depth than in most BLs. I am not a teacher, but I think this series is a “how-to” example of how to create a beautiful cinematic work that grabs the audience and moves them deeply.

All of that said, it is not perfect, although I can understand those who say it is. Sure,Teh had many reasons to cry (having sacrificed his future for love and obtained only what he believed to be rejection), but as a plot device the depictions of it were overkill. Billkin’s performances of Teh’s sobbing were I am sure very difficult to do, but sometimes they missed the target – as another reviewer commented there were moments when I wasn’t sure if he was crying or laughing. Just too much angst.

Another imperfection: I stand in awe of the music team’s work and the lovely soundscape they produced for most of the scenes – but they erred in the choices at the end. After the hug on Cape Promthep, the two protagonists have finally finally found each other and declared (in deeds if not in words) their mutual love. It is THE culminating moment of their dramatic arc – but ewwwwwww....the music that plays is a fluffy, airy little version of “Really Special,” in which the “Chai ry blauw” refrain just comes across as totally inappropriate. Fer Chrissakes, these two have just broken lifelong chains of fear and inarticulacy that had previously doomed them to constant mutual incomprehension. They are finally free and can have hope for the future. And this moment deserves more dramatic music than fluffy fluffy “Chai re blauw.” (Yes, I know some of the other lyrics were apt but that doesn’t cut it for me……it was the tune that was in my head as I was watching, and the reaction was NOT positive.)

But in the end, all of these imperfections are small. Taken as a whole, the work is a masterpiece, and the achievement of all those who worked on this masterpiece is very very large. So do watch it yourself – Personally, I think it’s even worth paying for, to see the top-quality HD stream from Vimeo (but I recognize that many people cannot afford the price, until maybe someday it comes down.)

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Now, having said that, I will offer some more detailed comments on various aspects, and on the first episode. Probably more detail than most people want, but if it bores you, feel free to stop reading. There’s too much emotion inside, and it’s therapeutic for me to write it out…….

Cinematography:

After the lousy flat cinematography in so many BL dramas, this one is like a garden blooming in the desert. Those who composed the visuals (Director Boss must have had some pretty good help) love colors, and idealize the natural scenery of Phuket. (All the gritty parts have disappeared from this reality.) And either Boss and Co. love the Sino-Portuguese architecture of the Straits Chinese cities or they just liked it as a convenient backdrop – whatever the reason, they have put together a stirring visual ode to Southeast Asia and it alone moves the hearts of people who, like me, love that region.

Soundscape:

The OST is wonderful wonderful wonderful!! Not only for the main songs which are excellent but for the creative use of the melodies to craft background music that grabs the viewer and pulls them into the emotional maelstrom. Skyline is a fantastic theme, and it is translated many times, with different vocalizations and instrumentalizations. There are several versions of “Skyline” that play during moments when Teh is tongue-tied and helpless because of what he perceives to be his “destiny” preventing him from loving another guy. Watch the scene in Ep 5 where Bas is announcing to their class that he really likes Oh, for the interplay between the “Skyline” piano and the wild, bereft look on Teh’s face……it’s a killer of a scene. (And those who complain about Billkin’s acting need to watch this……he’s fantastic.)

And for the use of vocalization, watch the Ep. 3 scene in the hammock on the beach . As the boys talk, there is just the sound of crickets near the beach. However, from the moment Oh begins his self-revelation, female voices in the background are drawing the viewer in, and creating a musical frame for the emotional moment – but then Teh just cannot bring himself to answer Oh's implicit declaration of love. So Oh says “Okay, whatever makes you comfortable. But I think you're jealous.” Oh’s love, at least, is clear. But Teh just cannot be honest. Then, high and clear, an "a capella" voice with a concert-hall echo sings key lines from Skyline. (Could that be Billkin, singing?) The subtitles don’t translate the lyrics at that point, so many non-Thai viewers may not recognize how poignant they are: "In the end of a love novel, normally, those who have been apart are brought back, so they can see each other again and say "I love you" one more time. But in my reality, our love cannot be like that." The music expresses Teh’s reality, where love cannot be; it has to stay “The love that dare not speak its name.” And the scene changes. Just superb composition, both audio and visual.

Acting:

The cast did an excellent job. The two leads are both so young and still a bit of “raw talent” -- I am just overwhelmed to think of the potential they both have. I hope they can fulfill it. They have such good mutual chemistry, and they have mastered the art of showing through the face what the character is feeling, deep inside. People have criticized Billkin for a “wooden” portrayal of Teh, but that is the whole idea – Teh comes near to being an emotional cripple. A character who has spent his entire adolescence hiding his feelings, he dare not let his emotions be seen, until they well up inside and he cannot stop crying. I think Billkin’s portrayal, which alternates wooden moments with raw emotion, is spot-on. That IS Teh. Even at the end, on Cape Promthep, after having gone through his own living hell with his family, he cannot bring himself to answer Oh’s question “What about you and me?” But Oh, who may yet qualify for sainthood, is willing to accept the silence. All he wants is not to be shut out of Teh’s life. Watch his face during this scene – PP Kritt brings to painful life the vulnerability of the hopelessly-in-love young man. (All I want to do at that moment is hug Oh, and reassure him that he is loved.)

The supporting cast is excellent as well. Nat as Hoon comes across beautifully as the empathetic brother. Bas, played by the very young and VERY talented Khunpol, is possibly the one character who tugs on everyone’s heartstrings in every aspect – he loves, he respects, he sacrifices selflessly. It is a great performance. And Smile as Tarn is convincing with all the conflicting emotions that flow through her. So much stronger than many of the actresses in the BL world. Also, the two kids who played young Teh and young Oh really did an excellent job, too. Bravo performances all around.

Episode 1: (huge spoilers here….really don’t read on unless you’ve already watched)

I have to say a few words about Ep. 1 because on first watching, it left me kinda cold…..like “why all this to-do about the kids?” I really wondered if I should continue watching the series. Frankly, I went on watching just because of the cinematic beauty – the lights and colors and images of SEAsia. I am sooooo glad I continued……

The thing about the first episode is that the viewer doesn't know what to watch for. It seems a bit disorganized with these scenes from the past life of the boys Teh and Oh, and then Teh doing some sort of university acting test and it kinda jumps around. (That non-linear storytelling is not a feature of later episodes.)

But omigod, now that I've been through the whole story and have gone back and rewatched ep 1 I would say it is a masterpiece. The cinematography -- use of colors, framing of shots, beautiful use of Phuket scenery (which only gets better as the series goes on)......it's all fantastic. And then the performances......wow. I was not a big fan of Teh -- in fact they both had asshole tendencies displayed in ep. 1. Only on re-watch can you really see Billkin's superb capture of the internal struggle that already had Teh locked into an emotional prison, and how that plays out on Billkin's face. If you don't know what you're looking at, that is so easy to miss.....

Note that the scene where Teh dedicates his audition performance to Oh, with tears brimming in his eyes -- that scene actually came several weeks BEFORE they "buried the hatchet" and became friends again. What that says: for five long years Teh kept Oh in his heart, so strongly that it came bubbling out in his university auditions when he thought of Oh. He WANTED to make up and be friends, but "couldn't push send." And then, a few weeks later, when the reconciliation finally happens, and The has cried for Oh, in front of the audition panel, Teh still cannot bring himself to tell Oh how important he is. When Oh says "we can be friends but maybe not best friends" look at Teh's face!!!!! He is crippled by fear. Five long years, and he can't bring himself to say "but I missed you so much." Instead he says "yeah sure, whatever you want." Pushing the love down.....hiding it inside.

But then immediately he begins the series of good works to try to help Oh. He cannot bring himself to tell Oh he likes him that much, but he starts helping him.....over and over again. Works of love that neither of them recognize -- oh, but on rewatch we recognize them. Instantly you realize how completely relatable Teh really is. And it culminates much later, with the cut-up workbook that Teh cannot use to get his own life back on track, because he cut it to pieces to try to help Oh. Teh was not the only one crying, at that point……

Rewatching Ep 1 will make that all now crystal clear.....Now it all becomes obvious; you know what is coming -- the hurt that Teh's fear and self-suppression will do later, to almost everyone -- Oh, Bas, Tarn, his mother and of course Teh himself whose life is derailed and who is nearly broken by it -- all that pain begins squarely in Ep1. Far more are the tears I shed on rewatch, knowing what is to come.

Fortunately (skipping forward to the end of the series), Hoon has helped Teh cross his own Rubicon……and he is able to declare himself to Oh. There is hope. Teh finally realizes that destiny does not bind him to be a slave to fear. (In the lyrics from an old Stephen Stills song “We are not helpless; we are men. What lies between us, can be set aside and ended.” )

The creative team is going to have to find another theme song (or some new lyrics for “Skyline.”) Or at least I hope so……if the second season smashes that hope…….it will kill me too.

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A very enjoyable light watch that leaves you with a smile

I watched the movie, after having watched the series about 6 weeks previously. I like the movie much better. At just 80 minutes it tells a more coherent and compact story (without the interruptions and distractions of watching the series episodes one after another). I think the movie gives the viewer a much better feel for the emotions and reactions of the two lead characters. Their interactions made more sense when viewed as a single work, and the end was really a satisfying logical conclusion, rather than rather random (which is what I recalled thinking after seeing the series.)

Story: Simple and straightforward, about two guys who find each other on a Christmas holiday. The interest is not in the story arc as presented, it is in the insights into what they are thinking and feeling -- the bellboy who is accustomed to being more-or-less dehumanized and turned into a sex toy, and the visitor who has lost a love and is not very interested in finding a sex toy. ("I;m game for that if ever, but that's not why I asked you to come in.")

Acting: Very good. Kaloy recreates James' standoffish personality with great success -- sometimes I didn't much like him, because he was just a bit too stuck up. Genesis was a joy to watch -- both because of his great portrayal of the flirty, eager and yet worried bellboy, and because his makeup and hairdo accentuated his gorgeous big brown eyes! In the beginning, the two didn't seem at all comfortable with each other -- but I think that was inherent in the roles! Later, there is a sweet hugging-in-bed scene, and a joyful romp around the bedroom with lots of playful embraces. I think the combination worked very well at the end.

Cinematography: Good, but nothing special. The whole thing was filmed during the pandemic at a resort, which accounts for the limited scope for different scenes and the lack of additional characters.

Music -- generally good, if not passionate I especially liked the use of "The Nutcracker's" Waltz of the Flowers as background for the online dance done by the two characters as they feinted and parried each other with text messages on their mobile phones. That was genius.

All in all, this is a very enjoyable light watch. It won't fill you with emotion or make you cry, but it will leave you with a smile.

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A Cute Snapshot of Love, As It Happens

This short film successfully showcases the abilities of relatively new actors, recruited by ABS-CBN for possible further roles. It is a sweet and very watchable snapshot of a love that is struggling to find its voice. Well worth a half-hour watch.

Plot: The plot is about exposition, not development. We learn about the characters; we don't see them change. The action takes place over a two-day period as one of the characters (Davey) is about to leave to stay with his family in another city. That forces him to confront how he feels about leaving his best friend Anton behind.

The interactions between the two are very true to life -- a mixture of playfullness, seriousness, and physicality between males that will be familiar to any guy who struggled when growing up to make sense of confused feelings of attraction for his best buddy. And also true to life is Davey's initial inability to admit, even to himself, what he's feeling. His struggle doesn't last very long though (it's only a 29 minute movie) and the resolution (apparently "chosen by the fans" in some sort of poll) produces a happy ending.

Actors/Chemistry: The two leads are quite good looking and enjoy excellent boyish chemistry. Don't expect fireworks -- there's no sex in this movie; the most intimate moment occurs when Anton gently takes Davey's hand, after Davey's admission that he's so confused...... But the actors really succeed in making viewers understand what the characters are feeling under the surface. (They are so successful that the viewers figure it out well before the script does!)

Minor Roles: There are several interesting looks at friends of the happy couple, but not enough time to develop them fully. One is out-and-proud, and the other is homophobic and negative - until he figures out that his friends' happiness matters more to him than his prejudices. Their roles broaden the movie in a very useful way, so it is not just monofocused on the leads.

Music: There is some nice background music but this is not one of the strong suits for this movie.

Production Values: Very good. ABS-CBN knows their stuff. However, one can see that production was obviously crimped by pandemic precautions. (By far the largest portion of the screen footage is of single characters, talking on a phone or interacting over the internet.) The two leads have some scenes together, fortunately. (It will be soooo nice when film production can go back to normal filming protocols.....)

I think there's a lot more interest to be wrung out of all these characters, and I hope ABS-CBN takes this as a pilot for a continuing production of some sort.

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A Wonderful Pandemic Love Story

Having just watched GB for the third time, I wanna talk to somebody about it…..and you guys are nominated for the conversation.

In my opinion, this is going to be recognized for decades as a seminal piece of video creation. It is a unique depiction of this moment of human struggle. With so much sadness around us, both in real life and in the film, GameBoys still comes out to be uplifting. The genius of all those involved in its creation deserves rich recognition.

Everybody focuses, of course, on Elijah and Kokoy (and Adrianna!), who are fantastic acting talents, and deserve all the kudos they get. People who -- like me -- find their smiles absolutely enchanting should watch this fanvid, which sets their great interactions to some very nice music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i3DmasfDzo

But I want to comment on three other aspects:

-- The Music. Emerzon Texon’s songs and background music are sooooo good. And so spot-on meaningful (I had to search for full translations rather than just the subtitles). I don’t think he gets enough credit. I particularly love “Ngayon”, which closes the series. With Dex Yu’s soaring vocals, that song is unforgettable. May pag-asang. Pag-ibig na ito. (“There is hope; this is love.”) And at the end: Malaya na tayo – “we are free.” Guys who fall in love have not always been free – and still are not in many places. Bless the Filipino love of music s for giving expression to this hope and optimism about love. It brings tears to my eyes every time.

-- The Pandemic. This is a film about love in a pandemic, and the pandemic dominates everything. I mean dominates both the plot – and the making of the film. It will go down in history not only for the story it tells, but for the fantastic way the IdeaFirst Company and Ivan Andrew Payawal found ways to create such a work, despite the obstacles they faced. The techniques they had to use, the pressures they were under…….it is and will forever be a unique work of creation – unique to this moment. Clearly the team felt the pressures of working at this time – there’s a cast interview video posted on YouTube, done right when the series was ending, where Kokoy dissolves in tears, while thanking God for the blessing of being able to do this work in the pandemic. (And Elijah responds, completely naturally, “Hugs, Baby.”) They are real people who faced huge real challenges and their success is a tribute to huge professionalism all around.

-- The Kiss. This (in the last episode) is a sublime moment of cinematic art. Watch it closely, if you haven’t done so. It's the run-up to the kiss that is so special. When Gav removes his mask, Cai, true to character, is scared and backs away (“Gagong!”). Gav approaches him raising his hands in a beckoning gesture. Cai’s eyes look down with anxiety at Gav’s hands; and then his look softens, he takes a step forward, and bows his head ever-so-slightly. In that gesture, he wordlessly surrenders himself to love. Amazing acting. With the masks off, they look at each other with such empathy and love (how can both actors DO that and look so sincere????) Watch Elijah’s eyes in particular, through the moment when a tear runs down his cheek. Dex Yu croons “Our hearts now beat as one.” And only then The Kiss. Wow.

As is probably obvious, I am full of admiration for the work of all the people who created this series. I suspect it is probably on its way to being the most-viewed ever piece of Filipino audiovisual art. Millions of people around the world are coming to know Pinoy creativity and Pinoy culture (the music! the romanticism!) in a way that never could have happened before. The creative team should all be proud, and their country should be proud of them.

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Ready.....set.....rewind

I enjoyed the movie much as I enjoyed Happy Together The Series -- it was sweet and entertaining but not fully satisfactory.

Pros:
-- The actors were much more comfortable, and did a very good job in the movie of making their characters relatable. (No doubt because they actually were relating to one another, instead of to a screen.....) JC is such a sweetie...... Tony came across very well as the more sensitive and loving version of Xavier.
-- The movie developed the stories of some of the subsidiary characters well. JunJun and Chrystal, in particular.
-- The setting in a nice resort made for visually attractive photography.

Cons:
-- I really felt like this was just the end of the Series, re-imagined. We rewound the tape, replayed it a bit differently, and didn't end up anyplace different.
-- Several story aspects were left hanging in strange ways. Tony came out to his parents ON THE PHONE? And after that nobody fleshed out the reaction of his father the wanna-be jock? And Mico was hit by a car???? What happened?

All in all, this is worth watching (especially if you're a fan of the two stars), but don't have high expectations. Maybe the franchise will continue and we'll get more character/story development.

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Watch this one for the lovely beaches and the interesting plot

This is an interesting series, though not a world-beater. Here are the strong points:

-- The scenery. Lots of lovely shots on beautiful tropical beaches. (So nice to imagine when we are grounded by the pandemic.)
-- Making love on the beach: Of course there's nothing too explicit, but the romantic scenes had a higher passion factor than most BL dramas manage. Well done. (I can only imagine how annoying the sand must have been, while filming.....)
-- The Plot. I won't spoil it for anyone, but there is a plot twist which is central to the story. Before that happened, I was saying to myself "wow is this just going to be the most formulaic thing ever?" But no. After the plot twist I found myself saying "hey that was intriguing....have to think about that." So in the end I appreciated the story much more.

The weak point is the pacing. In the episodes on the island there is just a lottttt of time when the two leads are getting to know one another and I think it could be much tighter and (at least) one episode could have been removed without losing anything. It's just too slow.

The actors are charming, but clearly not real experienced. I came to like Simon quite a bit because he becomes a clear character with passion and strong views.

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Not Great. But not awful either.

This is a light and whimsical comedy-romance. There is no huge drama, and the happy ending is sappy enough to please even the most committed lovers of BL "happy ever aftering."

Pros:

-- The lead actors created quite believable characters. Until they found each other, Gino was unsure and nervous and had no idea what he really wanted. Alex was moody and lost in his past. I just wish the blossoming of their love had been a bit more gradual/subtle.

-- Oh, and yes, Migo de Vera has a world-class, A-No 1 body, and doesn't mind showing it off. They left me gasping in the final ep. when the scene changed to him mostly naked in the bed. Such perfection is rare indeed. (Not that anybody noticed, but he also has very attractive eyes.....)

-- The music was very enjoyable. It was light and very catchy -- it perfectly suited the mood for the series.

-- The messaging was good. Alex's little soliloquy at the end about "love is love" was really quite meaningful. And I like the very Pinoy framing of some of the discussions which situated gay love securely in a context of divine benevolence. That alone is a lovely and very explicit rebuttal to the homophobia espoused by many organized religions, and it left me cheering. But the messaging was a mixed bag......see below.

Cons: The messaging got to be too heavy at some points. Especially in the wedding scene. Overkill.

-- The plot was weak. You never got a good feel for how Alex suddenly started having feelings for Gino. Several of the episodes in the middle were just aimless wandering around the resort. And then the end......just toooo unbelievable that after GinEx had been together for precisely 3 months they were prepared to have a big, emotion-filled wedding ceremony......but they knew nothing about it!! I have to say that the concept of a having a surprise wedding (a surprise to you!) thrown by your friends is something totally new. I hope it doesn't catch on in real life.....I can see that sort of thing ending a lot of relationships.

-- The minor characters were not effectively developed. A couple of them (Kelly the room-maid) were almost offensively stupid. Others were kind of intriguing, but you never got to know them at all. And who was the middle-aged guy, anyway, who stimulated Alex's sudden realizations about the nature of life? Talk about the Deus Ex Machina who solves all the problems.

-- Production values were dodgy. There were sound and light issues at several points.

All in all, I think this is worth watching, but probably not a top priority. The last two episodes are key....so if you want to do some skipping, just watch the first two and the last two episodes. The ones in the middle don't add much.

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An interesting story about a bit of LGBT history

The "mystical" pretext for this series didn't really engage me, but I really enjoyed the opportunity it provided to explore a painful chapter in the history of the Philippines. The insights into what life was like for a young gay man under the brutality of the martial law government in 1974 provided a real bit of (sad) learning for me.

Don't watch this if you are expecting a fluffy BL story -- it's not that. On the other hand, I didn't find the characters sufficiently relatable that I felt their pain very much, either.

So the strong points were the plot and also the visuals. (The filming was largely done in a beautiful old house, and a lot of scenes were visually very attractive.) There may have been some background music, but I can't remember anything notable.....

The characters were mildly interesting. I found the elderly housekeeper to be an intriguing presence and the "mystical" element in the story could have been developed more by having that character take a more active role. As it was, she was basically a bystander.

The acting was average, up until the final episode. Wade mostly looked pouty, until he actually showed some serious emotional range at the end.

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Beautiful, But Flawed

I had read a lot of mediocre reviews of this series, so I put it "on the shelf" for quite a while. But now, having finished it, I can offer my own thoughts.

Plot: Confused. The director indulged himself with lots of extraneous nonsense (e.g. flamboyant characters who just detracted from the mail plot;) abrupt character transitions (e.g. Ace goes in the blink of an eye from obnoxious twit to sweet and loving husband) and general chaotic writing. (Even I could have written better dialogue at certain key points.)

Production Values: Quite good. Filmed mostly in a few locations in Manila (including a real luxury home), the camera work and sound were all good.

Music: Excellent, but limited. The most romantic moments incorporate Paul Ramirez's vocal version of "Hindi Ako Bibitaw," which is gorgeous, and awesomely suited to the theme of the story. I listen to it over and over, and it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

Actors: The two leads are handsome, charismatic guys and they did the best they could with the script they were given. That said, I found the performances to be uneven. At best, they were wonderful. But there were a lot of indifferent moments, too. (Sky should not be so impassive at key points.)

Here are some of the wonderful moments:
-- The "first contact" when Sky reaches across Ace's desk and grabs his hand to thank him. Miko's shining, eager young face is so endearing. And then rewatch and look at the succession of emotions that Aki plays through. Surprised, a bit offended, then realizing how it made him feel and showing just a bit of a smile. A great scene.
-- Sky in his hospital bed, pleading with Ace "don't leave me. Please. Please." Miko's voice trembling and raw; his eyes full of tears. Completely convincing, and completely wounding for viewers who are sooooo on his side.
-- The Confession dinner. Aki's face shows Ace's anguish at having to reveal himself. And then, at the crucial moment, it is he who kisses Sky. (Later, Sky gets the dominant role, but not in this first kiss. And that transition is very endearing.) And then the soaring music and fireworks in the background, while they embrace. Wow.
-- The Coming Out Dance -- the dance is at first awkward af. Like grade schoolers trying to move together. But then they get the hang of it, and not incidentally they repeat their love for each other. And then they are moving with grace and energy........such a pretty scene -- which ends abruptly when they fly into each others' arms, Sky's hands caressing Ace's cheeks....and another kiss. (The intake of my breath was audible at that point.)

Chemistry: Absolute FIRE. These two make love like they are on fire, and like they are committed to each other for life. (which is the story, after all). The sexy scenes live in my mind -- not because they are explicit (they are not, compared to stuff we all see on the internet) but because the two actors put their souls into showing that love. Honestly, it breaks my heart that we won't get to see them act together again -- they have moved on to other professional activities.

Overall, I would say if you like observing actors' chemistry and don't mind sitting through about 3 episodes' too much silly content, then watch this series. Its flaws will be very quickly evident, but its beauty doesn't show up until Ep 8, and is then well sustained for the last five episodes.

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An Interesting, but flawed production

I enjoyed watching this series, but at the end I felt disappointed because I don't think they hit the high target they set for themselves. They wanted to use a BL story to explore important social issues of socio/economic class, gender and identity discrimination, rural poverty, and so on. The main problem was that they had very limited budgets and not enough screen time to do this all successfully. So a lot of the social messaging came out as just preachy statements -- rather than showing viewers the problems, the characters just sat and stated their positions.

Plot: Rich kid, marooned in the country, falls in love with a tenant farm boy. That part was pretty well done; the characters were believable and the story really did a nice job of showing some of the personal traumas (Kai's father's violent death, the family's mourning, and Kai's mother's acceptance of his love choices were very touching). Andre's conversion from insensitive clod to sympathetic figure was good. However, the script had a number of abrupt transitions (e.g. when Kai suddenly fell in bed with Andre), and when Kai (who previously seemed pretty well balanced, and had no problem suddenly sleeping with Andre) became unexpectedly wracked with gay angst in the last episode.) And the end left some key points really hanging (what happens to poor Brix? Is he just cast aside?)

Acting: Pretty good. Ian Rosapapan is charismatic and his smiles made the series. John Padilla did better at being the nasty little snot than the loving partner, but he was generally believable -- I thought his self-realization at the end was very well portrayed. Yoyen Bautista was similarly believable, and I really liked his character Brix (too bad he was left twisting slowly slowly in the wind). The farm women were believable, sitting around the fire and talking, but there wasn't enough time to explore their stories -- what kind of experiences did they have that led them to talk about the discrimination they had experienced? (I think there may have been some trans characters, but that never got clarified for me.)

Production: Very low budget. A few nice outdoor scenes but otherwise the only impressive scene was the family mourning for Kai's father. That one scene was truly beautiful.

Music: The soundtrack for the series was actually very good -- putting the audio a real step above most of the visuals. John Padilla sings nicely and a couple of the other songs were quite beautiful as background tracks. The music was well chosen and sensitively used.

The Ending: The very end clearly sets up a Season Two. It seems likely to introduce a range of new issues (Andre's angry family fighting his love interest in Kai), but those risk being real tropes. I hope that the writers are given more time to explore some of the issues that were just barely touched upon in Season One. And I hope that the main characters can develop more gradually, without abrupt emotional transitions. But I have to say that I have been drawn in by the actors and I want to know what happens to their characters, so I will definitely be watching.

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Melancholy

I have really conflicting feelings about this movie (which arrived in a cinema in my home city, so I watched it on the big screen.)

-- It is very well made indeed -- intentionally dark and melancholy, and very successful at that.
-- The actors did excellent work at portraying the deeply flawed characters and their mixture of gravitational attraction and repulsion.
-- I didn't like the inconclusive ending. Some people like being able to "write their own ending," but I don't. After the fact, reading reviews and comments on this site, I learn that the original manga actually had a happier ending. I think I would have preferred that.
-- The sex scenes were quite explicit, without actually showing the family jewels. I was surprised by that, but it didn't bother me. I do think that the nature of the sex scenes (who was doing what to whom) really conveyed important symbolism about the relationship of the two leads.

As to the characters: in some movies or series, my heart just embraces the characters from the beginning, and I want nothing but the best for them. Even if they are flawed. (like Gao Shi De, in We Best Love). But not these characters -- they are just too flawed, and frankly, unable to draw logical conclusions about themselves. I watch them; I never feel for them.

The moments when my heart rejected the characters were:
a) When Otomo, having left behind the wreckage of several different relationships with women, and having made enough of a commitment to his gay lover that they were living together, decides to pursue another woman to the point of getting engaged to marry her. What kind of idiot would DO that -- I understand people who find truths about themselves after marriage and try to maintain loveless marriages and have affairs on the side, but his marriage had ended and he was a free actor. Actively chasing yet another innocent woman when all his signals had been flashing consistently red for some years? How unfair to her and how untrue to himself!
b) When Imagase, who was so head-over-heels in love that he pursued Otomo for years, finally achieves his heart's desire, and then decides to leave, and throw it all away. It doesn't help that Imagase (despite being a fairly sympathetic character) turns out to be a controlling b**** who trolls through his lover's phone, looking for evidence of affairs.

So the fact that these two ended up not together didn't move me much at all. Ho hum....on to the next pair of drama queens.

I also didn't like at all one of the central philosophical constructs of the film: that there is a "straight world" and a "gay world" and people have to choose which type of person they are and which world they will live in. People are not either/or -- they occupy points on an infinitely-detailed spectrum. Clearly, the film seemed to make a bit of an attempt to convey that the "gay world" trope is a dysfunctional imposition by an overly-rigid society, but then in the end the lead characters seem to buy into it, not challenge it. Bleagh.

Interestingly, the audience in the cinema seemed to be largely female (BL fans, I guess) and I am male. So that fan base may not share some of my reactions to the characters, which are no doubt influenced by the fact that in some ways I have actually lived the "different worlds" trope. But that's why I feel so strongly that it needs to be rejected.

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