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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...

Snow Falling On Pumpkins

Set in a small town middle America, the film likely had an interesting idea with them but the execution of the film is so drab and boring that you just can't wait for the film to finish. Also, when you take a subject that has some medical ailment behind it, it's always advisable to do some research, which clearly this film failed to do. Alzheimer's rarely is a death sentence and more often than not the patients lead a long life. Anyway, back to the film now.

Michael is in his mid 40s and is a gay romance novel writer. He meets James at a bookstore and dating/romance soon follows. Michael has been feeling bouts of sickness where he suddenly forgets things and stuff gets blocked out. When he gets checked, he is told that he has early onset Alzheimer's and that he will need support of people around him, who love him and will see mood swings and that his life expectancy is only about 6 years. He keeps the information to himself but confides in a couple of friends. One of whom recommends him to visit a Cherokee Spiritual guru, so that Michael can find some peace. James and Michael eventually get married (all happens really quick btw) and meanwhile Michale has still not told him the truth. Eventually he can't hide anymore and Michael tells him the truth. James promises to love and cherish him always. As memories slip away, Michael discovers that love is the one thing time cannot erase.

The biggest flaw of the film is that you don't feel connected to any character at all. The romance develops between the two out of nowhere and the couple have zero chemistry. The wedding happens in like 3-4 weeks of them meeting each other. It was just so bizarre. In fact , there is no chemistry between any characters. Michael's mother feels very theatrical and the whole setting is in some suburban home and likely the fit was made in just few thousands of dollars. Scenes where Michael finds out about the disease or when he tells his friends or his husband, all of them just feel like 'matter of fact'. No one shows any emotions that could connect audience with them. Acting is quite bland and the direction is quite monotonous. Various characters keep coming in and out giving their own version of random stuff like racism, being American, why is it wrong being gay etc etc. Only if the makers paid proper attention on how this film needs to connect with people to make it work, rather than making a film just for the sake of it. This film has no heart in execution and feels very poor. (2.5/10)

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