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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...

Madagascar Skin (UK)

Never underestimate the capacity of opposites to attract. This is the sort of message that the makers are trying to give in this film. Consisting of just two lead actors, this film takes art film to another level. You have to be really really really patient to get through this one.

Harry is a young gay man, prowling gay bars and London streets but somehow doesn't fit there. He has a huge birthmark on his face in the shape of Madagascar. He flees from there and seats himself at a beach living in some abandoned car. By pure. Luck he meets an older man Flint, whom he discovered on the beach, who is neck deep buried in the sand. Flint takes Harry to an abandoned shack where Harry nurses Flint back to health and the two slowly become acquainted. As Flint fantasizes aloud about a woman in a bikini, Harry has his own sexual daydreams about his companion. And Brandon events happen which make absolutely no sense, until, one night, out of the blue, Flint makes a sexual proposition to Harry. And by the end of the film, the two men are jubilant lovers hopping up and down with glee as they bundle together inside a single sweater. 

The film has a whole lot of nothing to it. A gay amen mets an older straight man and the two hate the world and find love with one another. Its just bizarre, to be honest. Harry is self-pitying while Flint is jubilant guy. I am not sure if the point was you can find love in the most unlikeliest of places with unlikeliest of people. Because that sure does happen in this film, even though I couldn't care less for the characters. The only scene worth mentioning is when Harry goes on and on about how he hates good looking young people. I am not sure how and why this film got so much good press (probably because of two strong lead actors), but this was just not my idea of a good romantic gay love story. I will have to strongly pass on this one. (2/10)

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