4
4
This review may contain spoilers
happy to finally see it officially
Overall: I'm ecstatic that this finally has an official international release on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5208/no-touching-at-all-2014 I gave it a bit of a rating bump because it originally aired in 2014 so I'm trying to judge by those standards instead of today's standardsContent Warnings: manhandling, past bullying, homophobia
What I Liked
- their different personalities
- that Shima had a reason for acting like he did
- the cliche plot was not for a long time
- being smart during that phone call towards the end
- how people grow together
Room For Improvement
- whiff of the gay for you trope
- Shima felt a bit too unrealistic with his level of prickliness
- the ending is fine but I enjoy a more clear ending
Was this review helpful to you?
an odd tourism ad (watch suggestions)
Overall: I would say this was a tourism ad with a paper thin BL plot but I'm not sure 4 people stalking 2 other people is appealing for people thinking of visiting a location...About 40 minutes long, aired on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/ccbor389y01264p-Bali%20Hai/g4100oasloe-EP01%3A%20Bali%20HaiContent Warnings: stalking, vomiting
Watch Suggestions (takes out the stalking and focuses on the leads)
- watch 5:40-6:35, 12:05-17:15, 22:10-25:25, 27:30-33:50, 37:50-end
What I Liked
- the ocean/beach vistas
- gave some things to do for visitors to the area
- the imagined scenarios
Room For Improvement
- the caricature characters and their stalking
- normally I would praise representation; however, a character being mute felt like a gimmick, we didn't learn anything about him other than he couldn't speak
- did not feel chemistry with the leads
- open ending (if this turns out to be a series, then I'll update this review/rating)
Was this review helpful to you?
an indie production with representation
Overall: I gave this 40 minute movie an indie and a representation bump. Aired on Wayufilm's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJuzPtHUKMs&vl=en-US (membership has access to steamy scenes).Content Warnings: past death
What I Liked
- representation of a character in a wheelchair as a romantic lead and also a character with a neurological issue
- caring moments
Room For Improvement
- slow pacing but then the romance needed more development
- odd that a character was smiling/laughing as he talked about how his dad died
- I'm not an expert but I found it odd how he could use the bathroom on his own at night but not get into the bed
Was this review helpful to you?
a nice way to spend time
Overall: though I'm generally not a fan of manipulation, I was happy with how things progressed/ended. 29 episodes, about 2 minutes each. First 3 episodes are on YouTube here https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UwHhkbex8oOO_F3qasjlzStoabjnG9-&si=DnorKiMj2k5f8O1I - rest of the episodes are on the BUMP app which is not available in all countries.Content Warnings: manipulation, trespassing, non con touching, victim blaming
What I Liked
- sweet moments
- the perspective switch
- that a character immediately apologized for victim blaming
Room For Improvement
- some odd music choices that didn't fit the vibe of the scene
- the cat blocked shot at the very end
- the BUMP app is not available in all countries but they haven't released the rest on any other official platform
Was this review helpful to you?
unique premise with disappointing plot
Overall: I gave this an indie bump but the manipulation made me not want the couple together. 27 minutes long. Purchased on Vimeo for $5USD https://vimeo.com/ondemand/latexContent Warning: manipulation
What I Liked
- the shaman character and a non stereotypical character
- the initial premise
Room For Improvement
- due to the manipulation, I wasn't happy with the end couple
Was this review helpful to you?
Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakutekina Ezuke.
0 people found this review helpful
the way to a man's heart is his stomach
Overall: the food looked delicious, but the chemistry was lacking. This series was based on a manga which I didn't read and I reviewed the series on its own merits. 7 episodes about 25 minutes each. No official international release.Content Warnings: non con touching, non con picture taking/sharing/outing, cyberbullying
What I Liked
- the bar owner
- the cooking
- I did laugh at the 'get me salt' part
- how the younger guy stood up to the ex
- that the time jump was realistic and not years later
Room For Improvement
- didn't really feel that romantic spark between the main leads, I don't have issues with an age gap with equal power dynamics so I'm not sure what wasn't working for me
- too much screentime spent with the ex
- had the cliche running scene
- something that was interrupted in the final episode
- the title made it sound as if the older person needed to be fed due to their advanced age (I didn't take off points though)
- lack of international release (didn't take off points)
Was this review helpful to you?
a prickly guy and a flirty guy
Overall: I gave this an indie/it came from China rating boost. I'm pretty sure these are the official links https://space.bilibili.com/6371459/ Episode 1 is the video released on September 1st and then keep clicking on the videos to the left and then go to the row above (watch right to left). Episodes 11 and 12 are behind a paywall, but I was not about create yet another account.Content Warning: non con touching, dub con kiss (was drunk, not sure how drunk as it was behind a paywall)
What I Liked
- the hug
- some cute/flirty moments (made the guy touch his abs, kabedon, etc)
- was more than bromance
Room For Improvement
- the near constant loud background music
- they both did voice overs so we'd know what they were thinking/feeling instead of letting their actions tell the story
- the quick recap of current episode at the beginning was confusing (though it did help with episodes 11 & 12)
- that the kiss was when 1 guy was drunk
- ghost subtitles (no background or outline, but at least they did hard code English subtitles)
Was this review helpful to you?
pretty good special episode
Overall: it's mostly domestic bliss and I appreciated not having a stupid "plan" that most special episodes center on. 1hr 20 minutes, can purchase on Vimeo https://vimeo.com/store/ondemand/buy/471490What I Liked
- mutual affection
- the oceanside/beach setting
- domestic bliss/fluff
- closure for the GL couple
- Ja cameo
Room For Improvement
- I was a little disappointed that there was just 1 short steamy scene, they definitely could have pulled off more
- there wasn't really any conflict/drama, which was mostly fine though it felt a bit draggy at times
Was this review helpful to you?
a short series about two men who reconnect years after highschool
Overall: I gave this series an indie rating boost as I'm sure they had no or little budget. 6 episodes about 10 minutes each. Aired on Our Golden Times YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFufJwmJC3ikoLWALvn4UXSAlCbJ3H1cg&si=Nx_xG51lWFPakGgDContent Warnings: manhandling, held against will, non con kiss
What I Liked
- sweet/caring moments
- the fiancee wasn't a completely cliched character
Room For Improvement
- not enough time spent with the main leads/their relationship development
- episode 6 drama with the brother felt tossed in/underdeveloped
- coworkers didn't feel realistic to me
Was this review helpful to you?
morality tale of pranks/cyberbulling
Overall: it was a decent morality tale though it could have been less soap opera style and more realistic. 8 episodes about 30 minutes each https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwPOcpjobYWXlLOVMc845oyIYC4i31tda&si=RpHtrwDD000GLBvQContent Warnings: murders, suicide, blood, cyberbullying, harassment
BL Couple Timings
episode 1 part 1 at 9:45, part 2 at 2 min
episode 2 part 1 at 5 min, part 2 beginning
episode 3 part 1 at 9 min, part 2 beginning and 6 min
episode 5 part 1 at 4 min
episode 8 part 2 at 3:15-5:50 min
What I Liked
- avoided a cliche with the queer couple
- cinematography/island setting
Room For Improvement
- a doctor drank water and then said it's clean
- too many deaths/soap opera stuff
- a character still doing pranks at the end
Was this review helpful to you?
more of the same
Overall: I found this 23 minute lacking in showing relationship progression between the two protagonists. It was at least 6 months to a year into dating and that was a lackluster response to having a boyfriend return from a long trip. They felt more like roommates to me. The addition of the stalkery woman writer was cringey. If you want to watch it I'd suggest 6:50-9:42, 12:10-15:28, 16:45 to the end. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4520/takaras-treasure-2024-e11 Here is my review of the series https://kisskh.at/profile/blcompilations/review/371693Was this review helpful to you?
unhinged explicit comedy movie
Overall: this is a Japanese pink film (i.e. it has a few extremely explicit scenes in it). The plot was....something. I think they were going for comedy but it wasn't my style of comedy. Aired in 2024 on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4644/hard-business-2018Content Warnings: a few major ones though I wasn't 100% sure what was fictional filming and what actually happened
Was this review helpful to you?
Content Warnings: a major one that I'll put in a comment with a spoiler tag
What I Liked
- acting
- chemistry
- clear flashback
- production value
Room For Improvement
- I've seen this type of ending so many times before
- not a fan of the overlay of images/sounds around 6 minutes
- a lot of time jumps/told over many years
Was this review helpful to you?
pandemic slice of life/BL
Overall: this is one of the slew of BL series (I.e. Gameboys, Quaranthings, See You After Quarantine, Boys' Lockdown) set during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to others, it has an angstier more realistic vibe. First watched with an iWantTFC subscription and re-watched when it released on GagaOOLala in 2024 https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4287/my-lockdown-romance-2020What I Liked
- the supportive friend who was not a cliche female character
- supportive parents and how the dad said to not promise him grandkids but that the lead character would be safe and happy
- tech integrated fairly well
Room For Improvement
- why did he do the sales pitch, his character actions confused me at times
- odd that he didn't delete the post right away
- maybe because the actors weren't in person with each other, but the ending felt anti climactic
Was this review helpful to you?
artsy/realistic vibe
Overall: watched this 20 minute short movie on YouTube https://youtu.be/6wj77bybP_Y?si=IDX9OzVAx1rqmYmh According to MDL it was inspired by the song Rerun, the music video is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfaBrj275co&ab_channel=PPKritEntertainmentWhat I Liked
- hooked me with the beginning conversation
- how the painting was titled open-ended
- the vibe
Room For Improvement
- the timeline of the first 2 scenes after the voice over in the intro wasn't clear until later
- the romance was an undercurrent/spoken but not really shown
- open endings aren't my favorite
Was this review helpful to you?
