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

Kira Kira Hikaru (Japanese) [Twinkle]

By Golu
I can't remember the names, but I have fir sure seen similar films about marriage of convenience. The fact that this film came back in 1992 (almost 30 years ago), is what makes it very special and interesting. Sure it doesn't take sides or even give you a satisfying conclusion, but thats understandable given none of the protagonists is really right or wrong. They all have their individual issues and they are trying to fit in the moiety in their own way.

Mutsuki is a successful doctor and has a boyfriend Kon. Shoko, a girl coming of marriage age,  on the other hand is a translator but is also an alcoholic and also has been released from hospital (we are not told the exact reason). The duo meet through their parents and tell each other their secrets and still get married. A marriage of convenience is of course not a magical solution to their problems. Kon is understandably not happy about seeing his boyfriend getting married and moving in with another person. Shoko is also feeling lonely in this platonic relationship. The situation for these three people will gradually get rockier. Mutsuki doesn't say much but is probably the one person who is dealing with everything the most. Eventually the parents find out about it and pressure the couple for a child. Kon and Shoko strike up an interesting friendship which annoys Mutsuki even more. The pent up anger eventually bursts between all three but maybe there will be a way for the trio to work it all out.

The drama is interesting and like I said I have seen a similar them Japanese movie before, but here it was difficult to connect with any couple. We are given so little about Mutsuki and Kon as a couple. I'd liked to have seen them more as a couple because they seemed to me just like friends. Surprisingly, Shoko's and Kon's friendship keeps the movie light and there are some interesting funny moments when their camaraderie annoys the doctor. The film has a lot of long drawn scenes where nothing much happens but it is a way to show how the lives of these individuals is going on with the emotional struggles they are facing. The movie is not trying to tell you what's the right thing to do. They individuals are trying to fit in the heteronormative society of those times in their own way and are struggling to make sense of it. Clearly none of them has thought through the whole thing. Three people compromising their emotional life and love, full of angst and sadness as they live a lie. Overall, a decent and charming film. (5/10)
Labels:

Comments

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