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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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Burn Your Name (Canada)

By Golu
This truly felt like an indie film. The way the acting was done, the very natural dialogues and the whole presentation was real. The story is firmly places in the realities of human conditions, of relationships, of sex, of friendships, gender and/or gender preferences, of love and how it has the power to triumph despite all odds and yet, at the same time has the ability to bring you to your knees and leave you feeling empty. Yes, the film does test your patience with it being a very conversation focussed story and probably also nicely suited for a stage play, but there still was something charming about the film.

Brad And Emile are best friends for a very long time. Brad is straight and a struggling musician, while Emile is gay and works as an actor. Emile, has a roommate Michelle, who is a dancer and has just returned form her East coast tour. When Brad gets evicted from his apartment for non-payment of rent, Emile asks him to move in with them. Emile and Brad's friendship start to get tested when Brad starts falling for Michelle, only to later find out that she is lesbian. Regardless the dup spend a lot of time together and their relationship develops beyond anything either of them ever foresaw and produces complications with Brad and Emile's friendship. Emile doesn't understand it and he is scared for Brad together his heart broken (Its only later we are told that Emile had been secretly harboring feelings for Brad). Also Emile has been going through his share of issues including an HIV scare. With everything going on, the final nail hots coffin when Brad finds out about Michele's past involving other men and he feels cheated. He decides to move away and work on himself before both his love and friendship is torn and taken away from him. The film has a happy ending where awkwardly the two friends reunite.

The film is definitely more about friendship than love. The film was going well for me, although it was real slow and there were times I was like, just move on and stop talking things that are not adding to the film, but after a while, I got into the rhythm. You know Brad and Michele would get into some love sort of thing but what surprised me was the cliched gay guy falling for his straight best friend. I stirringly think that this aspect could have been kept away from the film. Brad and Emile had such beautiful open friendship so far, that this revelation just spoiled the whole thing for me reiterating the gay stereotype of straight guy fantasy and falling for someone who you can never have. All three actors were natural and did a good job, but the screenplay and dialogues could be crisper. What I appreciated most about the film was no over the top drama or reactions. Every conflict was addressed in a manner that most normal people in there everyday life would without getting hyper about it. Having said that, I can see why this film would not be everyone's cup of tea, It takes a while to get into the rhythm of the film, and by the time it happens, most people would already have lost interest in the film. (5.5/10)
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