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Stop! That! Train!

Coming out of the same studio that gave us RuPaul's Drag Race, and stacked with a whole crew of former contestants, Stop! That! Train! plays like RuPaul basically taking a bow for the entire franchise she's built. It's not really a gay film in the traditional sense, but with so many drag stars from Ru's shows popping up alongside a few cameos from well known out gay actors, I figured it earns a spot on this blog anyway. The whole thing is completely over the top, packed with GenZ slang, loud flashy visuals, and humor that's constantly winking at you knowing how ridiculous it is. Going in you'd assume it's meant to be a laugh riot, and a lot of critics online seem to be eating it up, but I just couldn't get into it at all. I've never really been someone who vibes with campy silly stuff like this, so honestly my reaction doesn't surprise me one bit. The setup follows Tess and DeeDee, two low level stewardesses who sneak onto the fancy Glamazonian E...

Bokura no Ai no Kanade (Japanese)

A film if done by an experienced director and well known actors, could have done wonders. A sensitive film about the growth of love between two music students with very different characters. One man who is not committed to love finds interest in another boy whose life is only dedicated to music. A very interesting plot can be created with this premise but the treatment also should be equally worth it.

Maki takes pain classes and is not very good in it. He is gay and not ashamed about it. The class also has Ruiku, who is the best on the class but is always quiet and never smiles or talks to anyone. Maki starts taking interest in him. Initially only for a hook up, he soon starts developing feelings for him and obsession to get his love. He gets Ruiku to give him piano lessons so that they could come physically together. Maki makes advances on him but Ruiku snubs back even though he likes it, saying he can only love music and nothing else. The music teacher also happens to be a screw ball and also has eyes for Ruiku. When Ruiku has a tragic accident and hurts his hand, he is in no position to give his final exams and the teacher refuses to change the exam date for him. The teacher suggests Ruiku to sleep with him if he wants the date changed but Ruiku leaves. Maki meanwhile is so in love with him, he forces himself to take care of Ruiku, even when the latter snubs him and doesn't like his coming to his house. When Maki finds out about Ruiku's childhood, he is determined to do anything to save Ruiku's career even if it means that he has to sleep with the teacher and get away from Ruiku's life forever for his sake.

Although the film doesn't end positive, but I think it was avery realistic ending. It gives you a feeling of reality ... the reality of impossible love between two men from very different world and values, and what true love leads to in the very end. I would really like to see , a good director taking this script and do something wonderful with it in the backdrop of some good music. Now that would be something very interesting to watch. As of this film is concerned, it left a lot to be desired right from acting, screenplay to the pace of the film.

A sensitive film which could be much much better. (3.5/10)

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