Skip to main content

Contrast (Japanese Series)

This is basically a high school BL where two guys who have nothing going on in common somehow end up getting really close to each other, and that's kind of the whole point of the title too. There's barely any drama or fluff packed in here, it stays pretty straightforward the whole way through. A little bit of friction pops up here and there, but it's nothing compared to what you'd normally get in this kind of show. Runtime wise you're looking at 8 episodes, each one sitting around 25-30 minutes. The two guys carrying the story are Akira and Kanata, and funny enough they knew each other's faces way before they ever knew each other's names. Kanata's the type everyone likes, always got people around him, popular guy, but there's this distance to him that people can't quite place. Turns out he had an injury that ended his football days, and that's what pushed him into being more withdrawn, and it only got worse once his younger brother got picked...

Summer To Winter (Thai)

This film is not gay or LGBT theme at all. Its best described as bromance if anything. The production of the film seem very amateurish and not just that that, the overall feeling that I was left after the movie was very unsatisfactory. No kisses, no hugs or anything but just a very vague hint of possible bromance or friendship. Don't be fooled by the poster. A scrappy plot, I am not sure what were the film makers trying to do here.

Tum, a young boy lives in an island in a resort run by his parents. He doesn't have any friends and feels lonely and his father tries to control him a lot including his choice of education. One day he meets another boy names Kim who asks to become friends with him. Initially reluctant, Tum finally gives into Kim's charms and they become close friends. A secret is soon revealed though that Kim is a ghost but the duo decide to stay friends. Soon Tum goes to college and falls for a girl, but a drunken incident leads them astray. Kim tries to be close to Tum all this while, but Tum, who is heartbroken snubs him away. Three months later we find out that Kim has been in coma so far and he finally wakes up. Kim's ex girlfriend goes on a trip to the island and take a photo of Kim, watching which all memories come flooding back to Tum.

Overall the film is trying to be everything about love, friendship, loneliness, parents support and memories. But the final product is very broken.  A lot of scenes feel randomly stitched together. For example there is a random scene where the manager of the resort calls her boyfriend who is now dead. That was so random, out of context and had no bearing to the film. Then this other guy who starts seeing Kim's ghost in Tum's dorm is given no introduction on who he is and why can he see Kim's ghost. You can watch the film knowing exactly where that is heading even though you may have to keep your brains aside. I think this film was a waste of time despite the actors trying to make the best of the opportunity given but the amateurish direction and a very choppy story spoils it all. (2/10) 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Phor Lae Lukchai (Thai) [Father & Son]

I think the budget of this film was probably too small, but for that, the film definitely offers a different and unique storyline without over dramatizing anything. Yes, some scenes were a bit amateurish but in the bigger scheme of things, that can be overlooked. The film is both beautiful and sad in its own unique way. Aek is a gay dad, whose partner died right around the time their son Nueng was born through surrogacy in a road accident. The relationship between father and son is unpleasant and unstable. We are not really told why, but it seems the father has been unsuccessful in caring and loving his son because of his partner's death. Aek continues to hook up wit hookers. Also, Nueng is constantly bullied by everyone around him for having a gay dad. He has no friends, except Nat, a neighborhood boy, who also happens to be Nueng's boyfriend. In a sudden turn of events Nat is found murdered along with another boy naked. Saddened by the events, Nueng jumps from roof and k...

Gaya Sa Pelikula (Filipino Series) [Like In The Movies]

Pinoy BL series seem to be catching up to the popularity of the Thai shows. And I must say that they are doing a pretty good job at it. Where Thai series started to get repetitive with so many shows based in a college setting with seemingly similar storylines, Pinoy series are offering the viewers with new and interesting stories and some really good sets and surroundings. This series was 8 episodes of about 25-20 minutes each. Karl, a 19-year old introvert architecture student is in the middle of an identity crisis. Prior to the start of the second semester in college and forced by his parents, he moves into his uncle's condominium unit so that he can learn to be financially independent. Karl takes on odd jobs online to do so. But when one of his major clients suddenly goes MIA, he is left short on funds and without a means to pay for his utilities. An opportunity presents itself when his cocky neighbor Vlad has to hide from his family and proposes to share Karl's space for th...

The Tuxedo (Thai Series)

When I saw this series with 8 episodes of about 20-25 minutes each, I thought, good: Finally someone has come to senses and made a show which is not stretched out and they have tried to squeeze in a decent storyline in a good small episode format. But unfortunately, despite a decent premise on hand, the clunky writing, bad screenplay and an extreme tasteless portrayal of mental illness makes this show, not a fun watch. By the time it finishes, you just want to laugh off at the entire absurdity of it all. Aioun is talented tuxedo designer and very much in demand but he has handful of clients and he builds suits only for people who he feels a connection to. One night when his younger brother is about to get mugged, he is helped by a total stranger named Sichol. Since he tears his suit in the fight and has an interview the next day, Aioun gifts him a suit form his design as an expression of thanks. Sichol's interview is for. Personal assistant of a man named Nawee, a wealthy heir to h...