Skip to main content

Stop! That! Train!

By Golu
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...
Post a Comment

Mariposas Verdes (Spanish) [Green Butterflies]

By Golu
I would say that the central theme of this film was not really LGBTQ but about high school students, their life, the bullying that some students face and overall the discriminations that people face not just in the school but the society in general as well. In that sense, the story was interesting but it felt all over the place. There were way too many tracks going on and felt like more of a TV show sort of feeling. Although the film is set in Colombia, this could be true of anywhere.

Daniel and Mateo have been friend since they were little. Daniel has had an abusive father whose always beating his mother and Mateo comes from a broken family where his mother is forever working. The school they study in has a strict principal, who is very partial to her nephew Lucas , who is clearly the biggest bully in the school. Daniel has a crush on Mateo, and when Daniel see Mateo make out with a girl, he cant hold in anymore and tells Mateo about his feelings. Thankfully Mateo feels the same and they are both in a happy space in love. Meanwhile we see issues of Lucas and his friends bullying other students, like a obese girl, who Lucas ends up raping, a guy who likes to dress like girls, etc. Mateo joins a human rights group to protest against the principal but he doesn't get much support. when the girl who liked Mateo finds out about him and Daniel, she goes crazy and makes this information public. Daniel is too scared of his father so refuses to acknowledge his love for Mateo. Mateo eventually cant take rejection anymore and decides to end his life because he feels there is no point in living if you cant live the way you want to.

This could be an interesting study for adults. We need to love our kids, no matter what with unconditional love, unless of course they are rapists. You want Mateo to fight for causes and he does, but when he gets rejected by his ultimate love, he cant take it anymore. And this is not to blame Daniel. A lot of folks live in fear of their families, and this is a sad reflection of the arrogant and intolerant society that we live in. Young teens giving up their lives because of homophobia etc is not new but you feel bad when you see this happening. I wish the end of the film was more on a positive note which would at least give hope to young adults and not leave them in despair. This would be my one issue with the film along with the fact that the film was all over the place. I do feel though, that this could be a good portrayal in a digital series format because most of the issues shown are still quite relevant.

Don't expect a gay love story here. Yes, it is one of the themes, but the film is more about tolerance and high school bullying and discrimination, which of course talks about love between 2 boys at its core. (5/10)
Labels:

Comments

Colombiano said…
Columbia? No such country exists. There is Colombia, South America (capital, Bogotá). Then again, you might be referring to Columbia, Maryland, for instance.
November 23, 2021 at 5:46 PM
Golu said…
My apologies for the spelling error. I have corrected it now.
November 24, 2021 at 4:42 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Phor Lae Lukchai (Thai) [Father & Son]

By Golu
I think the budget of this film was probably too small, but for that, the film definitely offers a different and unique storyline without over dramatizing anything. Yes, some scenes were a bit amateurish but in the bigger scheme of things, that can be overlooked. The film is both beautiful and sad in its own unique way. Aek is a gay dad, whose partner died right around the time their son Nueng was born through surrogacy in a road accident. The relationship between father and son is unpleasant and unstable. We are not really told why, but it seems the father has been unsuccessful in caring and loving his son because of his partner's death. Aek continues to hook up wit hookers. Also, Nueng is constantly bullied by everyone around him for having a gay dad. He has no friends, except Nat, a neighborhood boy, who also happens to be Nueng's boyfriend. In a sudden turn of events Nat is found murdered along with another boy naked. Saddened by the events, Nueng jumps from roof and k...
1 comment
Read more

Gaya Sa Pelikula (Filipino Series) [Like In The Movies]

By Golu
Pinoy BL series seem to be catching up to the popularity of the Thai shows. And I must say that they are doing a pretty good job at it. Where Thai series started to get repetitive with so many shows based in a college setting with seemingly similar storylines, Pinoy series are offering the viewers with new and interesting stories and some really good sets and surroundings. This series was 8 episodes of about 25-20 minutes each. Karl, a 19-year old introvert architecture student is in the middle of an identity crisis. Prior to the start of the second semester in college and forced by his parents, he moves into his uncle's condominium unit so that he can learn to be financially independent. Karl takes on odd jobs online to do so. But when one of his major clients suddenly goes MIA, he is left short on funds and without a means to pay for his utilities. An opportunity presents itself when his cocky neighbor Vlad has to hide from his family and proposes to share Karl's space for th...
23 comments
Read more

The Tuxedo (Thai Series)

By Golu
When I saw this series with 8 episodes of about 20-25 minutes each, I thought, good: Finally someone has come to senses and made a show which is not stretched out and they have tried to squeeze in a decent storyline in a good small episode format. But unfortunately, despite a decent premise on hand, the clunky writing, bad screenplay and an extreme tasteless portrayal of mental illness makes this show, not a fun watch. By the time it finishes, you just want to laugh off at the entire absurdity of it all. Aioun is talented tuxedo designer and very much in demand but he has handful of clients and he builds suits only for people who he feels a connection to. One night when his younger brother is about to get mugged, he is helped by a total stranger named Sichol. Since he tears his suit in the fight and has an interview the next day, Aioun gifts him a suit form his design as an expression of thanks. Sichol's interview is for. Personal assistant of a man named Nawee, a wealthy heir to h...
25 comments
Read more