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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
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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
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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
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the one that started it all
Overall: there are parts that I liked more and parts that I liked less from the Ossan's Love 2018 series. 47 minute special/pilot. Watched on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/3892/ossans-love-2016Content Warning: non con touching
What I Liked
- his female friend was more supportive and less of a love rival in the pilot
- that a character was already divorced
- some funny parts like outside the shower scene
Room For Improvement
- the fight scene wasn't as epic/hilarious as some of the other ones
- that confession left a lot to be desired
- the almost non con kiss and the non con touching
- missed Maki's sass
Ossan's Love Franchise
Ossan's Love special/pilot, Japan, 2016 - don't really need to watch as the 2018 series is the same story
Ossan's Love, Japan, 2018 - full series
Ossan's Love, Hong Kong, 2021 - a remake of the 2018 series
Ossan's Love: In The Sky, Japan, 2019 - this has some of the same characters and kind of a similar overall plot, an alternate setting
Ossan's Love: In The Sky special, Japan, 2019 - goes along with In The Sky series
Ossan's Love: Love or Dead movie, Japan, 2019 - follows the 2018 Japanese series
Ossan's Love Return's, Japan, 2024 - follows the movie
Ossan's Love Returns Telasa Spin Off: Forbidden Gout/Temps Nouveau, Japan, 2024 - these are additional scenes that go along with the 2024 series
Ossan's Love Returns Spin-off Drama: Haruta to Maki no Shinkon Shoya, Japan, 2024 - this is a scene that goes along with the 2024 series
Ossan's Love, Thailand, 2024 - a remake of the 2018 series
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delightful characters but not delightful plot
Overall: we've seen this plot device in numerous specials but I enjoyed seeing the characters again. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/3342/our-dining-table-spin-off-2023 My review of the series https://kisskh.at/profile/blcompilations/reviews/268835What I Liked
- the supportive dad and that he gave them space in the hot spring
- Tane
- a couple sweet moments
Room For Improvement
- the premise/poor communication is a tired cliche in special episodes, wanted to see them growing more as a couple and a bunch of fluff
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an enjoyable special
Overall: if you liked the series, then you'll enjoy this 40 minute special episode as well. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/city-of-stars-dehsu9gh8g?lang=en_us Here is my review of the series https://kisskh.at/profile/blcompilations/reviews/336795/What I Liked
- ongoing physical affection
- cute/sweet moments
- supportive friends
- laughed a couple of times (like when a character hid behind another character/pillar)
Room For Improvement
- again with the excessive comedy sound effects that often made things less funny for me
- voice over
- a main plot point is one we've seen countless times in specials and it annoys me every time, wish they had done something different
- (neutral), I enjoy GL rep but the way they explained it wasn't great
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well done short movie
Overall: wish this could have had more episodes because the actors had great chemistry. 8 minutes long https://youtu.be/A-0hx6lKIM0?si=FVx55QsQpfWI3Khk - later aired at https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5991/actoreal-2024What I Liked
- great way to start, hooked me right away
- chemistry/tension
- clever title
- production value for an indie project
Room For Improvement
- wish it was a bit longer, could definitely use more screen time with the leads
- would have liked a slightly less open ending
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better than the series (start at 17 min)
Overall: maybe because for once Dino wasn't a walking red flag and it was only 36 minutes (the rest is behind the scenes/talking with the cast) I found this easier to watch than the series. Aired on iQIYI (have to pay an additional amount, about $2.80 USD), heard it's also on Vimeo to buy but can't find it in the U.S.What I Liked
- a few cute moments like the shopping trip
Room For Improvement
- the comedy sound effects didn't make anything funny
- almost nothing happened, watched it at 3x speed, they repeated almost the same conversation multiple times in a row
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better than the series...
Overall: these are slightly better than the series but maybe because it's just 2 episodes instead of 8. Each episode is about 45 minutes. Aired on iQIYI.Watch Advice: final story 1, skip to 10 minutes and then 21 minutes; final story 2, skip to 8 minutes and then 39 minutes
Content Warnings: stalking, punch, non con video recording
What I Liked
- at least there is lip movement in the kisses
- a few sweet moments
Room For Improvement
- the first final story starts with Dino being manipulative and insecure and then later there is a random/not needed stalker plot, the second final story has a large chunk of the side characters talking about their own love stories and we never see their faces
- constant comedy sound effects
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Content Warnings: violence, homophobia
What I Liked
- cute moments, domestic bliss moments
- the socioeconomic role reversal
- decent kissing
Room For Improvement
- the tone between serious and comedy was jarring along with the comedy sound effects
- not a fan of the sepia tone in the present
- what bizarre plan was that for 3 years?
- he's friends with that guy after what he did???
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A sweet BL set in the countryside
Overall: I thought this was a very subtle/gentle BL when I watched it originally. After watching Country Boy 2, it is definitely BL. Watched on YouTube.Content Warnings: none? (can't remember)
What I Liked
- the countryside setting
- the sweetness between the two leads (that swing scene in particular)
Room For Improvement
- I think they could have made the romantic interest/attraction a bit more clear. For example, one guy asking the other guy if he was dating anyone, saving the contact with a heart emoji, etc.
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The Love That Kind Of Speaks Its Name
Overall: These six 2-5 min episodes have a few cute moments but don't really satisfy in the end. Watched on Gagaoolala.Content Warnings: none
What I Liked:
- for what I'm assuming is low budget, I thought the production value and acting is fairly good. I watched the Making Of video and it was one of the actors' first time acting.
- there is an apology in the story which I always appreciate
Room For Improvement:
- I wish they had had the flashback in episode 3 be the first episode so the viewer better understood their relationship from the beginning.
- In episode 4 why was one in a bed and the other sleeping on the floor? If they only had 1 bedroom, wouldn't they either have separate twin beds or a large bed and sleep in the same bed???
- why did they stop living together? It would save money and they were good friends...
- I would have liked the ending more if they had just reversed it, if the other guy had been the one to initiate things
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Short film about two best friends
Content Warnings: noneOverall: This is basically the same story told in two parts with the difference being the setting and the endings. It gives a bit of art film vibes. There's nothing amazing here, but it doesn't make me scream into a void so maybe worth a watch...
What I Liked
- I generally like a best friends to something more plot
- the actors are cute
- music in the 2nd part was nice
Room For Improvement
- 1st part had music that I know I've heard before so they need something more unique
- the voice sound in the 2nd part wasn't as good
- wasn't totally convinced by the crying acting
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This review may contain spoilers
Had Potential and Then Took a Nosedive
Content Warnings: noneOverall: small budget production with a realistic story that had promise but ruined the ending
What I Liked
- the 2 main guys say what their sexual orientations are and their preferred pronouns (Sam is gay and Andrea is bisexual with an ex-girlfriend who is a trans woman)
- Sam and his ex actually have a mature conversation/resolution
- the beachy vibe/location
- for being low budget, the production value was decent, subs had some errors but very understandable with 1 exception at the end
Room For Improvement
- the pacing was a bit slow
- Sam's ex's stupid "plan" to get Sam back
- episode 7 doesn't make much sense since Andrei seemed very romantically interested in Sam, but then did a 180.
- the final episode (6 minutes and a large chunk of flashbacks) was very confusing. It says "1 year ago" but I think they meant "1 year later." We see Andrei driving and talking about going to a wedding of someone he loved so I assumed it's Sam's wedding, but maybe it's his ex-girlfriend's wedding??? Then Sam has flashbacks about how it was the wrong time then and he concludes by saying it's the right time now and the visuals are Sam & Andrei getting married? Then Andre has the happiness jar in the car and says 'maybe.' Finally, there is a scene where Andrei gives Sam the jar and they hug. WTH???? They should have gotten together in episode 7 and then done a 1 year flash forward with a nice wedding in episode 8.
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This review may contain spoilers
Break Up While You Can
Content Warnings: tragedyOverall: I absolutely hated the "moral" of the story which is to stay in a non-working relationship and hope that magically one day it gets better (spoiler alert, that very rarely happens in real life)
What I Liked
- I think basically everything was well done like production, acting, etc. I recognized one actor from In Between.
Room For Improvement
- I really disliked the terrible "moral". This couple had a huge deal breaker in their relationship which was shown to be a problem that they both acknowledged. They should have broken up, not spent 5 years being unhappy with the other person. Breaking up isn't necessarily bad, it can be the best thing for one or all people involved...
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