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Journey With You (Chinese Series)

By Golu
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...
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Aya Arcos (Portuguese)

By Golu
It is very evident that this film was made on a shoe string budget. Also the film is set in the run-down parts of the Rio city which is more poor than seedy, and where old man paying for sex with young hookers is par for the course. To be honest, the direction and the treatment of the film felt a bit amateurish to me. No wonder, later I realized that this was the first film by its director.

Middle age successful writer EduFalls for young and charming prostitute Fabio. Surprisingly the feelings are reciprocated. Edu is going through a writer's block while Fabio on the other hand is young and carefree and spends his time hustling, hanging out with his other young friends. Edu resents the fact that Fabio doesn't seem to care in the world. Also Edu constantly worries that since they are having unprotected sex and Fabio sleeps around, they are risking themselves. Surprisingly Edu comes out positive but Fabio is negative. This adds more tension to the relationship coupled with the fact that another young hustler, a friend of Fabio, constantly tries to come in between the 2 guys. Eventually the two men move apart and move on.

My big problem with the film is a lot of unknowns. Why are the two men together in the first place? Understandably Edu falls for Fabio, but is Fabio genuinely interested or is he just playing a role to get more money and gifts? Edu like shim but constantly complains and is grumpy and hence why does Fabio stick around? You can probably guess why they are together but a bit clarity would help. Also it feels the movie just randomly keeps moving and is expected from audience to piece things together. Who was Edu's female friend and a random older man whom Fabio had dinner once. Why was Fabio's friend relentlessly after Edu (just for money or was it jealously? Even the whole HIV angle was thrown in but then not really addressed properly. It was jus there. Fabio looks charming and acts well. Edu was simply annoying. To be honest, the film is not awful but there are random moments of silence and it completely lacks character development. Hence you really don't care what happens with the actors next.

The film had interesting premise but lazy writing and incomplete and rushed film making makes this experience quite underwhelming. (3.5/10)
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Comments

luigi43 said…
This film can be a starting test for better works ....in the future . But director must apply diligently :-)))
January 24, 2020 at 3:17 AM
Golu said…
yes. long way to go and continue to learn.
January 24, 2020 at 7:43 AM
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