Reviews

A solid 8 - not perfect but worth the watch

The actors are fantastic. Mature, seasoned, in their own element. brilliant casting.

The story itself is fantastical. nuanced and respctful to the ballroom dance scene and culture, yet boundary pushing to where it makes you ask “could that happen in real life”

The lack of relationship development is where this movie falls flat. I think you just need longer than a movie length to develop the tense and deep connection that they showed on screen. it sort of felt like a few time hops and the audience didn’t get to see those important moments.

but overall worth it!

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Chemistry, elegance, and sexual tension.

A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR RYŌMA TAKEUCHI AND KEITA MACHIDA. The best film of 2025, no Japanese BL film will be able to surpass the beauty of 10 Dance. I loved the costumes, makeup, music, and especially the dancing and the chemistry the actors radiated.

They managed to convey so many emotions to me, and they made me want to dance, which is saying a lot because I don't like to dance hahaha. They perfectly conveyed to me the passion and dedication their characters had for dance; undoubtedly magnificent.

Ryōma Takeuchi perfectly embodied that fun and relaxed guy; you could feel the Latin vibes in his character. His character was so damn sexy, that hip movement is stuck in my head 24/7, I don't think I can ever get over it. There's no way I'll ever get over it, thank you Ryoma for giving me that beautiful scene. I barely know this actor, but honestly, he didn't disappoint. He did a great job; I loved all his scenes. The moments of anguish and his dancing were perfect. I hope to see him more in future projects.

Keita Machida this man never disappoints; any of his work is a masterpiece. Every time I see him, my perspective on him changes quite a bit; one day he's the typical careless and relaxed Japanese guy (Alice in Borderland), and the next he's a prestigious, strict and elegant dancer. I really liked the parts where he danced, and the natural way he cried and conveyed his anguish and passion for dance. I also liked it when he was sarcastic with the protagonist; it was funny, and seeing him as inexperienced when it came to Latin dancing was hilarious too, LOL. Dear, even though he danced very stiffly, I liked that he tried to move his hips. I have to admit that man looked quite sexy in his role when he got strict with his dance partner; that scene where he forces her to dress in black was so wow! I felt intimidated; my classmate's character was too strong for me to handle that particular night.

Although the ending was very open, it was fine, considering that the film is based on a manga that is still ongoing, it is understandable that they did not give a definitive ending. And I repeat, even though it was an open ending, it was perfect, I liked it, it's much better than other movies with open endings that are then awful. This one, on the contrary, only left me wanting more, wanting to know what was going to happen. I hope they make a sequel with these actors; they nailed it. Personally, I felt the movie was too short, even though it was two hours long.

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This Movie Is Art

Tendance, released today on December 18, is an extraordinary cinematic experience and, without hesitation, a true visual masterpiece. From the very first moment until the final scene, the film never loses its strength or its rhythm. There is not a single minute that feels slow, empty, or uninteresting. On the contrary, it is constantly engaging, immersive, and emotionally powerful.

This movie doesn’t simply tell a story — it makes you feel it. The visuals are stunning, carefully crafted, and deeply artistic, turning every scene into something meaningful and memorable. The dance sequences are not just choreography; they are expressions of emotion, tension, and connection. Each movement feels intentional, alive, and full of passion.

The chemistry between the actors is absolutely captivating. It feels real, intense, and natural, allowing the audience to fully believe in what unfolds on screen. Their performances elevate the film to another level, making it impossible to look away.

By the time the film ends, you are left wanting more — not because it feels incomplete, but because it is so powerful that you desperately need to know what comes next. I sincerely hope there will be sequels, because this story deserves to continue. It has been a very long time since I’ve encountered a film that feels this artistic, this emotionally rich, and this unforgettable.

Tendance is not just a movie; it is art in motion. A rare and beautiful experience that stays with you long after the screen goes dark.

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It’s just dance ?

I’m not going to lie, I probably wouldn’t have put this on my watch list if I hadn’t seen the trailer and thought it was going to be a BL.
If you have a strong appreciation for dance, you’ll likely enjoy this film. But if, like me, you were hoping for more romance, this will be a huge letdown. Part of my frustration comes from the fact that I expected better overall quality from a Netflix BL than I usually expect from Thai BLs, especially in terms of storytelling and structure.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good movie, BL or not. And to be fair, the cinematography was great, and the music was cool too, those were definite highlights. However, if I use the same standards I apply to other films, I’d still give this about three stars.
The story didn’t flow well and often felt in-cohesive. There was far more dancing than dialogue, which made it hard to follow the narrative. I also didn’t really understand what drew the two leads to each other; their connection felt underdeveloped and a bit one-sided. At times, it even felt like the more gloomy character was simply using the other.
On top of that, I was genuinely confused about the setting , were they supposed to be in Cuba or the UK? The location was never clear, which added to the overall sense of disconnection.

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Top Notch

The two male leads were phenomenal! Their chemistry was riveting. They both could speak not only with their bodies but with their eyes. From my understanding neither of them are professional dancers; they learned to dance for this movie. In my estimation they're both geniuses! The choreography was superb!

This is sort of a slow burn romance with a masculine lack of verbal communication. I got the impression that the time frame of this movie wasn't 2025 but more around 1980's to 1990's. I could be misreading that, but there is a huge preoccupation with one of the male leads smoking continuously. Until recently that amount of smoking has been kind of frowned upon in movies. There was a somewhat easy acceptance of a male male relationship, but then a subtle sense of an awkwardness in pursuing an obvious relationship.
I don't know some of the cinematography seemed to indicate a time frame 20, 30, 40 years ago. At that time a gay couple would not have been readily accepted.

One male lead was rigidly controlled but you could feel the inferno under the surface of the skin that was clamoring to be released. The other male lead was extremely passionate and emotional and sexy as hell!
The dancing was magic!

This movie presented a different flavor to a BL. I would sort of consider it more of an LGBTQ movie than a BL. Overall the movie was entrancing and I am certain to watch it several more times.

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"Deep is the dark"

A vigilante mad dog is roped into becoming an undercover agent. In the powerful and ruthless world of the yakuza he teams up with another mad dog teetering on the brink of sanity to become members of the feared Hell Dogs.

Kanetaka Shogo aka Idezuki Goro was a young cop on the beat when several people were murdered in a robbery. When justice is not served Goro spends 10 years hunting down the perpetrators and executing them. After the last one he turns himself in and is quickly recruited to become an undercover agent as a yakuza in a notoriously dangerous and powerful gang. He takes the name Kanetaka “Tak” Shogo and teams up with the unstable Muro. The two make a name for themselves as assassins. Goro has to watch his back as he is continually tested all while he attempts to climb the ranks and move closer to the crime family’s boss.

This film was a familiar take on the tight rope UCs must balance. Goro was called upon to do heinous deeds to keep his cover with the end game of taking down the crime family. The money and adrenaline could be enticing, a real temptation when the police department proved itself to be scarcely better than the yakuza. There were of course, the double dealings and big “reveals” as the story progressed. Will any of them be shocking? Not particularly if you’ve watched many crime films. Despite the lack of innovation, Harada Masato pulled me into the world he created, no small feat when there were few characters to care about.

The acting was strong for the most part relying heavily on Okada Junichi’s massive screen presence despite being surrounded by much taller men. Goro’s personality was such that he was not intimidated by anyone. Being based on a book there were enough characters and plot elements that they could have made this into a short drama to expand on the different players. As it was, it ran a little long for a yakuza film.

For the most part, Hell Dogs balanced narrative with action with more of the former in case you are expecting non-stop thrills. The ending rushed through at breakneck (pun intended) speed dissolving much of the built-up tension. Yet I still enjoyed this film largely due to Okada’s performance and Goro’s ability to hammer, slice, and shoot his way to the top.

18 December 2025
Trigger warnings: There was lots of slicing and dicing, shooting, and other blood spattering activities. Sexual content.

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Speechless.

Everything about this production was beautifully captivating. There are simply not enough words I could physically type on this review to make what I have to say about this film be fully expressed. I struggle, even typing this out, to truly put my feelings into words. The story, the acting, the styling, the music, the cinematography, the visuals, anything and everything truly hit the mark. Nothing about this film lacked. Not one thing was out of place. Purely perfection. Honestly the first film I have rated a 10. Just everything was stunning and I can never stop saying that.

Not one actor lacked the skills or ability to portray their character. Every actor knew the assignment. Studied everything to a tea. No one stood out or performed poorly. Biggest props to them for training so hard for this film. I did not hate any character, nor did I feel like one was a villain in this story.

Now, the chemistry. You have to be blind not to see and appreciate the chemistry between the two leads. The tension was there, the emotions were there, the love and heartbreak were there. They made me think they were in love, and they were. The passion on the ballroom floor was perfectly mirrored every time they were on screen together. The actors were stunning together, and I would love to see them work together again. Maybe for a sequel or something completely new. No actors have moved me like this EVER. They were fantastic.

The women were simply beautiful and stunning. The way they supported their male counterparts but also develop a sense of friendship along the way was refreshing. I adored them and their stunning wardrobe. They had their own storylines and feelings that were also seen in the film and didn't have to rely on their dance partners. The friendship between them and their male partners was something entirely new. No romantic feelings, just love and understanding of a dance genre that makes them express themselves in the rawest way. It was a treat to see all the relationships between the characters.

The MUSIC was not something I thought I would love as much as I do, but I do. Every song fit the scene and was a hit. It was so good and enjoyable to hear. Definitely something I would listen to on my own time. It was fantastic.

The styling was also something I loved. Every piece of styling fit the character wearing it. Sugiki is a perfectionist. His hair is neat; he wears a classic suit, he is polished to perfection, nothing is out of place. While Suzuki's hair is messy, it's bleached, he wears opened chest tops and has a more laid-back look. It fits their characters perfectly. The women also had stunning and flattering dresses that were just jaw dropping.

Many say the ending is opened and felt unsatisfied. They felt the story was abruptly ended but it sets itself up for a sequel. I found the ending pleasing. It not something that felt rushed or anything to that nature. An ending that fits good for the story. I can't say that I agree with feeling abandoned.

Overall, this film is perfect and it's my number one of the year. Worth the watch and will leave you wanted more.

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"the scarf and the wings, you and the future, I want them all"

Beautiful, sad and awfully real from start to end. The story and connection between the two main characters were so thought-provoking. So many feelings and emotions packed in two of the best hours I've spent in a while. So many meanings to love, friendship, family and how experiences and life make them so different for everyone. It was a clear picture of societal expectations and how they differ for both boys and girls, but with two very clear examples in which neither was really happy or free. It also highlights how social class and gender expectations are still such a difficult but ever-present topic in society to this day.

The lead actors' chemistry was unbelievable, they had me grinning, heartbroken and hopeful all in the span of two hours. I loved how even as teens, they both had this maturity and at the same time innocence to them, in which we could see the kindness behind the mischief of the ML and the hopefulness behind the sadness of the FL. I loved their friendship and the quiet love they shared before life got in the way. The ending was so beautiful, and that epilogue scene was everything. The cinematography and direction were carefully thought through as well, at no point did the time-jumps between the present and the past timelines feel out of place. I loved how the two timelines were spaced out throughout the movie. Really made the story more engrossing. Some of the panoramic scenes were so stunning, I loved how the director and cinematographer focused on capturing the essence and beauty of the cities where the movie was shot.

I really love it when movies deal with real issues and actually make a beautiful but at the same time realistic love story like this. Makes me believe love like this really exists out there.

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PEAK!!!

10Dance is an amazing film, and the hype for it has been crazy, which I am always glad to see, but... I feel as if we should have had a bit more romance. From the reviews I have read, many people have said the same thing about expecting a much sexier, steamier film that incorporates love and passion through the dancing from what the trailers had shown us. Honestly, as someone who read the manga first, I was a little disappointed to see that there were little to no kisses while watching this. Of course, I'm not trying to say that it completely diminishes the story as a whole, but there's a lot more that could have been done when it comes to the romance, in my opinion. Otherwise, this movie, from its cinematography, acting, sets, and music, is perfect. I am a Machida Keita STAN, and I was so happy to see him cast in this movie alongside Takeuchi Ryoma, whom I had only recently first heard of from watching the drama "Then You Try Making It!" My final thought is that I hope they plan to give us a sequel in the near future, whether it's another movie or a series, and I will be obsessing over this for the next three months, lol.

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All dance lacking dialogue and story

A lot of work has gone into this,the dancing is superb and highly choreographed showing the training leading up to the big event.

There is chemistry between the leads however there is very minimal dialogue and quite a flat story. The dance elements are the main focus. It is a stretch to call this a romance as those elements seem quite disjointed from the choreography. There are only a couple of decent conversations between the leads and the rest is dance with some backstory.

If you came here for the BL elements you will be disappointed, if you came for the dance then you will love this.

If the focus was more on the relationship development and romance then this would have been perfect. It's a shame some areas are just hollow.

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This was definitely a welcome surprise

I've never written a review before but this movie made me want to do it. I felt like I needed to express how I felt about it.
I'm not new to one of the actors, obviously I've seen him in Cherry Magic, but I went into this movie thinking it would be a sexy tale about male dancers and then discovered he was in it. Yet it was not that. I mean it was erotic, but not explicit in any way. The movie is all about tension, about the drive that each of the characters has to dance. One loves to compete, the other loves to dance... one is rigid but caring, the other is carefree but selfish... it's all about how the two leads compliment each other.
Don't go into this expecting your usual bl, the production and dedication given to this movie go far beyond that. Truthfully speaking it didn't feel like bl, it wasn't about this two men's love story, but about their love for dancing and how they found in each other the drive to keep going. Is it a love story? Yes, to some extent, the tension is there and you expect them to act on their feelings. But the entire time I wanted them to enjoy dancing on all those stages, I wanted to see them thrive while dancing and that was what truly made me love the movie, seeing the leads evolve as people and as dancers.
I have only praise for this fantastic movie, from the music to the photography, the costume design, the production value, the sets, and especially the acting and chemistry. Everything was top notch. The dance sequences were never boring, it was pure spectacle, so I have nothing but praise for it.

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Love and passion through dance and music

I will share this review from the perspective of a former professional dancer and dance instructor, with no spoilers included.

With a 40-year dance career behind me, I have experienced many things, gone through numerous challenges, and sought to understand a completely different world. Being part of the dance community and growing up in that environment requires immense dedication. Excelling as a dancer isn’t solely about technique. When I was competing, all dance instructors emphasized proper form if you wanted to be number one. However, from a young age, I realized that only about 10% of success is talent—the remaining 90% is pure passion. Watching this film took me back to those times when I was searching for myself on the dance floor. I always felt something was missing—a small spark that would give meaning to the dance and make the purpose of being there truly special.

It’s an incredible movie, and my kudos go to the choreographer. A special applause also to the cast, who learned very challenging routines and performed with the professionalism of seasoned dancers. I’m especially pleased to see a Japanese production, knowing how many talented Japanese dancers are out there but often lack opportunities to showcase their abilities on the international stage.

Additionally, same-sex dancing is very popular in Europe, with many competitions featuring "regular" categories. I’ve tried it myself, and it was an amazing experience. As part of the LGBTQ+ community, I can say that men understand what pleases men—and that authenticity truly shines through.

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Yes, please!

I am so utterly satisfied with this movie, i’m genuinely in awe still even after finishing it.

I’ve been excited for it since I saw the movie’s trailer… And my god, the movie was worth the wait.

The dancing, the chemistry, the acting, the outfits, everything! I thought it might turn out to be boring since it was about professional dancing, but my god I was proven wrong!! Every dancing sequence or scene was utterly mesmerising. It felt like I was hypnotised- to the point where I wanted to get up myself and start dancing.

The chemistry between the two main actors was butterfly-inducing. Their chemistry is definitely there and you could sense the tension, longing, yearning, acceptance, defeat, realisation all at once. It wasn’t explicit, yet it also wasn’t shy. Their love story grew subtly yet visibly, their fondness of each other was vivid and wonderful to witness.

The last few moments of the movie had me worried it might end up being sad but I was happily proved wrong. It was wonderful to watch their story unfold, even though I’m the type who usually enjoys more intimate scenes when it comes to movies like these, I can say that I was satisfied with what I was given. Once again, the chemistry was definitely there. I enjoyed every moment of this movie.

A really good watch!

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