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...
I am new to Mattioli Productions and I don't think I have seen any of their collection of short stories before. Bouncing around from genre to genre, this stellar new collection of short films from showcases some of the most cutting edge recent gay cinema from the United States and Australia. Overall, I really wasn't impressed by any single short film from this collection.
Hopelessly (USA)
Darren is determined to find a connection, no matter how many people he has to go through. When his girlfriend and his boyfriend don’t have time for him, Darren goes on an adventure to find love again. Explore a day in the life of a polyamory relationship, in all its awkward beauty.
Innocent Boy (USA)
Off a lonely Texas highway, a group of hustlers prey on the desperados who come for sex and drugs. As the boys begin to fall one-by-one, a young trans boys finds himself caught between a cowboys lustful rage, greed, and corruption.
Mass (USA)
Gay, HIV-positive and lonely in New York City, Trey (writer-director-star Linus Ignatius) finds himself surrounded by hulking, powerful men. Throughout his day, he obsesses over how to get BIG – and his insecurities keep him trapped in a tense cycle of trauma and abuse.
Miles (Australia)
In this Australian coming-of-age drama, three lifelong friends navigate their way through an unusual love triangle while embarking on a road trip that will change their lives forever.
Sacrifice (Australia)
James , a humanitarian rights lawyer, and Blake, a military officer, just want to live a normal and quiet life together. They find, however, that their sense of professional duty continually tears them apart.
Tooth 4 Tooth (Australia)
While investigating the murder of a friend, a drag artist and an activist find themselves caught in an old war between those who feed on the blood of the fearful and those who feed on the blood of the hateful.
I was quite surprised that I had not seen any of these short films before, especially since some of these are form 3-5 years back, but as I mentioned before, I really didn't enjoy any of these, besides maybe Sacrifice, to a certain extent. (3.5/10)
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