I've always had kind of a love hate relationship with Chinese historical BLs. Some are genuinely excellent, but then there are others that cram in so much plot that keeping track of all the layers of betrayal and scheming gets exhausting, and I end up checking out mentally. Part of the issue is also just how much content is out there in this space, so something really has to stand out to keep me hooked. In this case, the production value is genuinely impressive, top tier stuff, but story wise, I just couldn't bring myself to actually care about these characters. There's a ton of political scheming and backstage manipulation running throughout. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, a hostage ends up falling for his own Prince Charming. The show runs eight episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long. After spending three years guarding the border, Fifth Prince Yin Qi gets called back to the capital because of a secret letter, only to end up walking straight into a deadly...
A fun film with lots of emotions, drama and good performances sums up this movie. It does not get preachy but at the same time tells you to just be yourself in a very funny though predicable way. Nevertheless, its totally enjoyable.Luz is a small time jeweler who dreams of making it big so as to provide a better life for her family. Her life revolves around her 3 sons Oscar, Orson and Orwell and her live-in boyfriend Gerry. Oscar is an architect and is about to be married to his girlfriend of five years Pauleen. He works with his best friend Adrian who also happens to be his secret boyfriend of 7 years. Orson, on the other hand, is openly gay, much to Oscar's discomfort and his only dream is o win Miss Gay University. He has a hunky straight best friend with whom he is in love and who doesn't exactly relish his friend's girly behavior but he tolerates it for the most part. Until a new girl comes into the picture and wins his attention. Orwell , we see is pretty much dealing with his own sexuality at the tender adolescent age. He is confused but surely seems destined to follow his brother's footsteps. In spite of her children's questionable sexualities, their family paints a picture of a happy family - a home filled with laughter and unconditional love. This is the best part of the movie. Then one day, a family crisis involving stolen jewelry jolts Luz out of her seemingly perfect existence. She decides to keep it a secret from her children, wanting to shield them from any form of worry. With Gerry's help, Luz tries her best to keep the atmosphere as normal as possible and also to keep the whole family together. In the end everything seems perfect when Oscar realizes that he needs to be true to himself, Orson wins the pageant, Orwell still enjoying his boyhood and Gerry and Luz shown loving and caring for each other.
The movie was funny, poignant but the whole essence of importance of love and family was never lost. My favorite of course was Orson. He was splendid. Even Luz did a wonderful job. The story was told i a friendly, comic but convincing manner.
Overall a very very enjoyable movie which you wont regret seeing. (7/10)
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