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

To Be Continued (Thai Series)

By Golu
This Thai series of 8 episodes of 50 minutes, may have a simple straight forward love story, but it feel simple and natural and nice without any melodrama. In one of my favorite scene the characters say to each other towards the end "Only if we had talked to each other all these years ago", and thats precisely what I keep saying in my reviews that communication is always the key. 

We meet Dr Jirawat (Ji) taking a break and going to his hometown in Chiang Mai for his school reunion. Unexpectedly he meets the latest pop icon and teen heart throb Achi. Turns out they were school mates form 10 years ago and best friends and but for some reason Ji is harboring some resentment towards him, despite secretly being happy. Achi doesn't give up and continues to pursue Ji on multiple occasions hoping for them to talk about the past and rekindle their friendship. Ji is clearly happy about this and has secret feelings for Achi but what's stopping him? Through flashback scenes in individual episodes, we get to know that these two were real close friends with one another. In fact they even liked each other but because they were so young, they did not know what it means; to the extent that they both pretended to have girlfriends. One night, while watching porn on TV, they decide to give it a go and have a passionate , love filled night. But both of them are quite confused after that and decide that probably it's better to stick as friends even hough they both liked each very much. Heart broken Achi moves to US and now finally 10 years later, we realize why these two have been sort of avoiding each other. Of course, eventually we have a happy ending. We also have a parallel story of Ji's younger brother and his crush on the farm owner with whom he makes food vlogs. And the two doctors, who work with Ji in hospital add nicely to the humor.

On of the things that I liked about the show was towards the end when Ji finds out how his best friend and younger brother helped Achi to come back in his life. Initially angry, he is later glad that his loved ones did that for him because everyone deserves true love. In fact, even their father showing full support was praise worthy. I understand that makers slowly reveal what really happened between the two in school, but in the process, as viewers, it becomes a little tiring with seeing Achi constantly pursuing Ji and him rebuffing it. As I mentioned the story is quite simple at best. your typical best friends fell in love, but were driven apart by misunderstandings and miscommunication, only to reconnect ten years later. I have to give Achi props for willing to take that risk of reconnecting with Ji, not knowing whether or not Ji would say yes. Both actors are extremely good looking and do quite a decent job at portraying what's demanded of them. This show may not be the greatest but it's a simple, straight forward love story devoid of any unnecessary drama. I also like that there were no toxic characters trying to make life hell for others. Even Achi's manager eventually comes around and has a logical explanation when he confesses to Achi that he asked Ji to take a step back for the sake of Achi's career. Overall, a decent watch. (6/10)
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