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Journey With You (Chinese Series)

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...

Shut Up & Kiss Me

My days of bad movies are not over yet. Not even in the film festival. Here comes a bizzare story with an ending that leaves you saying WTF. And the fact that it is director's autobiographical doesn't help. I can empathize but thats no sorry excuse to make a lousy film. 

Ben is attractive, successful, and looking for love…in all the wrong places. Failed attempts with video dating, his uproarious friends setting him up, and bad gym run-ins have this perennially single 35-year-old ready to call it quits. He figures maybe romance is just not in the cards for him. Except there is this hot stud who runs by his house each morning as he waters his lawn. It takes a fair amount of courage for Ben to speak with Grey, well actually, he’s pushed into it by his best gal pal Callie, and the chemistry is instant. But here's a problem. Grey cant be monogamous. He likes to play around while Ben is a 1-man person. Neither of them hides this from the other but after a while Ben can't take it and they break up. His friend tries to hook him up with other men. Then one fine day Grey runs into Ben who doesn't talk to him too well except that he had to go see a therapist for his problem. The movie ends with Grey being that therapist and the fact that Ben has accepted his man's philandering ways of life. Yes, the movie ended exactly like that. After the movie finished, the director was present for QnA, and all I wanted to ask was 'What was the point of the movie? What is it that he wanted to tell us?' It was all so absurd. The characters had no chemistry and connection. They were overacting their parts to an extent. It was just weird. Oh! and the most annoying thing was a big giant green frame at Ben's house entrance which was there is like every frame. Probably the director forgot his pay his VFX team Don't go by some reviews. You will regret this one. (1.5/10)

Comments

GC from France said…
Bad acting and lame movie ; I just wasted time and had to fast forward some parts.
Golu said…
Told u so.. This one was just bad..
No two ways about it
ILHiker said…
This was a watch of mine from yesterday. I must agree with the review. There were some elements I liked, or could have liked--particularly in the relationships with the friends and the usual-plot-point of a guy returning to dating after a time off. Unfortunately it felt like someone relating the most superficial aspects of a point in their life rather than a movie with characters and a plot. I didn't really dislike anyone or anything included, just didn't get much from it. Part of me hates to say that because I appreciate the people making the movie and don't like to discourage people from going to movies, but it's hard to avoid in this case. I've never been to a film festival. I'm about three hours away from Reeling in Chicago, which is starting, but that's still a bit much for me I think, unless I had a friend to stay and go with up that way. Perhaps that's where I should start.
Golu said…
I am also all about people trying out to make films, but at least don't take the audience for granted. At least give us something substantial to watch and talk about.

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