Exceptional.Best gay-themed feature out of Asia in a long time.This will def end up in my top ten, as soon as…
When the lead and that other, handsome member of the friend group went into the "back room" of the nightclub, what, exactly went down there?
I thought the other guy was going to give our lead a blowjob, and the lead seemed to be enjoying just that, but all of a sudden, our schlong-sucker rose up from his knees, said something to the lead, and the lead turned and left. What was that about? There was not nearly enough time for the dude to reach orgasm, but nor did the BJ-giver seem annoyed or frustrated...? There was no subtitle for the one or two words spoken right before the lead left the room, so that made my confusion worse.
Exceptional. Best gay-themed feature out of Asia in a long time. This will def end up in my top ten, as soon as I watch it a time or two more to pick up on all the things I'm sure I missed. That said, while I'm always thankful to anyone who takes the time and trouble to sub a film, the subs I saw for this are hella confusing at times, plus there are times the subs disappear altogether, which is, of course, frustrating.
It was refreshing to see a gay friend group presented as something other than a collection of annoying, predictable gay stereotypes. I'm looking at you, "Love In the Big City."
Second lead Kim Hyun Mok is a gifted talent to watch. His characterization is rich and full. He drove the film nearly as much as did the lead, who is not listed above, but who I'm going to try to hunt down and add to this page. He too is excellent, plus being extremely attractive in a unique way and having a rocking bod.
Great acting, direction, production values, cinematography; now if I can get clear on some plot elements... :D
I did not get the ending I was aching for, but that's OK. A lifetime of Hollywood flicks tied up with a perfect bow at the end are the source of that ache, but seven years of Asian films, especially Korean, have taught me that not getting what I want can deepen the viewing experience. Even as I pined for the ending I wanted, I somehow masochistically liked that I didn't get it. :P
Highly recommended 9/10
Big question: I am confused as to what exactly happened in a crucial scene at the halfway point of the film. If someone could help me out, please read the spoiler below. I would be most grateful for some help on this. :)
I HAVE THE FILM IN A VIDEO LINK!!!! BUT THIS WEBSITE DOESNT ALLOW LINKS https@shorturl÷at/llIi8 , listen REPLACE…
wth? Subs just stopped at about 1:00:00, and no more after that...? Majorly frustrating. I was really enjoying the film, too. I'm not one to watch without subs, so I will have to wait for another version somewhere. Please let me know if you learn of one. Thanks.
Big credit for the idea. Execution is rough, due to low budget and inexperienced actors. I blame the director, not the actors, who clearly were committed and willing to do whatever.
Big credit for keeping the message simple and direct, and not letting us off easy with some contrived, bullshit happy ending.
I got so sick of that mother that I felt zero sympathy for her. I have felt more so for serial killers in Korean thrillers than for this pos person with no redeeming qualities. Worst of all, as I mentioned above, this got b-o-r-i-n-g.
omg, now I remember why I dumped it when I tried to give this a watch 3 or 4 years ago. Lots of male nudity does not make up for horrendously bad directing/acting/story.
Give NF a shot sometime, and let me know your thoughts, ok? I have a weakness for high school bullying/gay/coming of age plots. That's what made me an easy mark for BL when I stumbled across it nearly seven years ago.
I admit to having a chip on my shoulder regarding Chinese content, especially shows claiming to be "gay," but that are actually deeply repressed, gay-censored bromances you have to watch with an eagle eye for every longing glance and winking eye. I feel like the audience is being asked to fill in all the blank spaces the authoritarian, homophobic Chinese government won't allow the producers/director/actors to fill.
The experience of watching such things is painful for me. It feels shame-based and homophobic. I spent way too much of my life digging myself out from under that stuff to want to spend my time watching shows that glorify it. "Untamed," beloved by Western fujoshis and repressed Chinese girls alike, is the epitome, of what I can't stand. I tried to watch it and tapped out after the first episode. I found it entirely absurd.
There are a few, mostly goofy Chinese BLs that came out before the PRC's gay ban that I enjoyed.
Don't be sorry! I love your observations, insight, and the way you express them. I feel I can go into HR with a reasoned, calm perspective, further restrained by what you've said here. The way you describe the show summarizes the idea of it formed in my head after weeks of breathless headlines and articles about the show online. I've only read maybe three, because I didn't want to overreact to the hype.
Oh, poor, sweet Lan Yu...you're right, given the circumstances of his untimely demise, my "ton of bricks" metaphor comes off a pinch crude. :D
You're also right that the final scene, with his BF at the morgue, was beautifully acted and 100% obliterating. I sobbed.
Your comments have me wanting to watch both LY and No Regret again. I believe I've seen NR four times. And yes, THAT ending...so surprising and entirely original. The Koreans do that kind of thing best. They humanize even the most fucked-up characters, which brings so much more depth to a story.
I've been holding off on Heated Rivalry until all its episodes are available to binge. I'm excited to see it, and pleased at its success, given that its a rare, big-budget production that centers a gay romance. Also primed to see some skin. :)
That said, I'm primed to be disappointed, as well, given all the hype. So, I'll go in with expectations under restraint, which is a good way to approach any work. I'm a tad suspicious it might be a bit cheesy, given what I've read of its huge female fan base and the way it is swarming anyone who respond with even the slightest negative critique. I'm wondering if it is aimed more at women than gay men, which often leads to problems in the storytelling, which is often the case with BL.
I have watched LY twice. After the first watch it was in my top 7 or 8, but after the second, I dropped it a few spaces, and as I added and removed films to the list, LY kept dropping. Its gut-stomping ending out of the blue strikes me now as having that "all gays must be miserable, suffer, and die, even if we have to kill a main character off at the last second for no reason having anything to do with the plot to this point" vibe about it.
But still, overall, I think it's a great movie. It has been a couple years; it's due another watch.
As you see from the top half of my list, I adore pain, suffering, angst, murder, betrayal, infidelity, all those wonderful sort of plot-drivers in my films, but the madness needs to come organically out of the story, not just drop like a ton of bricks from nowhere at the last possible moment.
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I thought the other guy was going to give our lead a blowjob, and the lead seemed to be enjoying just that, but all of a sudden, our schlong-sucker rose up from his knees, said something to the lead, and the lead turned and left.
What was that about?
There was not nearly enough time for the dude to reach orgasm, but nor did the BJ-giver seem annoyed or frustrated...?
There was no subtitle for the one or two words spoken right before the lead left the room, so that made my confusion worse.
Help please?
Best gay-themed feature out of Asia in a long time.
This will def end up in my top ten, as soon as I watch it a time or two more to pick up on all the things I'm sure I missed.
That said, while I'm always thankful to anyone who takes the time and trouble to sub a film, the subs I saw for this are hella confusing at times, plus there are times the subs disappear altogether, which is, of course, frustrating.
It was refreshing to see a gay friend group presented as something other than a collection of annoying, predictable gay stereotypes. I'm looking at you, "Love In the Big City."
Second lead Kim Hyun Mok is a gifted talent to watch. His characterization is rich and full. He drove the film nearly as much as did the lead, who is not listed above, but who I'm going to try to hunt down and add to this page. He too is excellent, plus being extremely attractive in a unique way and having a rocking bod.
Great acting, direction, production values, cinematography; now if I can get clear on some plot elements... :D
I did not get the ending I was aching for, but that's OK. A lifetime of Hollywood flicks tied up with a perfect bow at the end are the source of that ache, but seven years of Asian films, especially Korean, have taught me that not getting what I want can deepen the viewing experience. Even as I pined for the ending I wanted, I somehow masochistically liked that I didn't get it. :P
Highly recommended
9/10
Big question: I am confused as to what exactly happened in a crucial scene at the halfway point of the film. If someone could help me out, please read the spoiler below. I would be most grateful for some help on this. :)
Majorly frustrating. I was really enjoying the film, too.
I'm not one to watch without subs, so I will have to wait for another version somewhere.
Please let me know if you learn of one.
Thanks.
Thanks for sharing, btw. I was hoping to find this somewhere.
Consider raising your standards.
Execution is rough, due to low budget and inexperienced actors.
I blame the director, not the actors, who clearly were committed and willing to do whatever.
Big credit for keeping the message simple and direct, and not letting us off easy with some contrived, bullshit happy ending.
7/10
I got so sick of that mother that I felt zero sympathy for her.
I have felt more so for serial killers in Korean thrillers than for this pos person with no redeeming qualities.
Worst of all, as I mentioned above, this got b-o-r-i-n-g.
Lots of male nudity does not make up for horrendously bad directing/acting/story.
Embarrassingly bad.
Two stars for butts. 2/10
I have a weakness for high school bullying/gay/coming of age plots.
That's what made me an easy mark for BL when I stumbled across it nearly seven years ago.
I admit to having a chip on my shoulder regarding Chinese content, especially shows claiming to be "gay," but that are actually deeply repressed, gay-censored bromances you have to watch with an eagle eye for every longing glance and winking eye. I feel like the audience is being asked to fill in all the blank spaces the authoritarian, homophobic Chinese government won't allow the producers/director/actors to fill.
The experience of watching such things is painful for me. It feels shame-based and homophobic. I spent way too much of my life digging myself out from under that stuff to want to spend my time watching shows that glorify it. "Untamed," beloved by Western fujoshis and repressed Chinese girls alike, is the epitome, of what I can't stand. I tried to watch it and tapped out after the first episode. I found it entirely absurd.
There are a few, mostly goofy Chinese BLs that came out before the PRC's gay ban that I enjoyed.
I love your observations, insight, and the way you express them.
I feel I can go into HR with a reasoned, calm perspective, further restrained by what you've said here. The way you describe the show summarizes the idea of it formed in my head after weeks of breathless headlines and articles about the show online. I've only read maybe three, because I didn't want to overreact to the hype.
Have you seen the German, M/M soccer flick, "Mario?"
I strongly recommend it.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6999052/
You're also right that the final scene, with his BF at the morgue, was beautifully acted and 100% obliterating. I sobbed.
Your comments have me wanting to watch both LY and No Regret again. I believe I've seen NR four times. And yes, THAT ending...so surprising and entirely original. The Koreans do that kind of thing best. They humanize even the most fucked-up characters, which brings so much more depth to a story.
Have you seen "Night Flight?"
That said, I'm primed to be disappointed, as well, given all the hype. So, I'll go in with expectations under restraint, which is a good way to approach any work. I'm a tad suspicious it might be a bit cheesy, given what I've read of its huge female fan base and the way it is swarming anyone who respond with even the slightest negative critique. I'm wondering if it is aimed more at women than gay men, which often leads to problems in the storytelling, which is often the case with BL.
Bravo.
I have watched LY twice. After the first watch it was in my top 7 or 8, but after the second, I dropped it a few spaces, and as I added and removed films to the list, LY kept dropping. Its gut-stomping ending out of the blue strikes me now as having that "all gays must be miserable, suffer, and die, even if we have to kill a main character off at the last second for no reason having anything to do with the plot to this point" vibe about it.
But still, overall, I think it's a great movie. It has been a couple years; it's due another watch.
As you see from the top half of my list, I adore pain, suffering, angst, murder, betrayal, infidelity, all those wonderful sort of plot-drivers in my films, but the madness needs to come organically out of the story, not just drop like a ton of bricks from nowhere at the last possible moment.