Meninos Apaixonados 2 (2007)

First, I want to give you a warning that I did not get: there are a lot of scenes with naked butts. Just in case you would like knowing before watching this.

Story: Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. Some parts are just horrible, I would have cried (if I were to ever cry while watching a movie). The story was very good.
Acting/Cast: Fantastic. I'm glad they had at least one actor from the original Boys Love. All of the actors portrayed their characters well.
Music: I only can't really remember it... >_> But, they had the quotes like they did in Boys Love, which was awesome and kinda served the same purpose as music would have.
Rewatch Value: I've already seen it twice in less than a week. Point made.

I would highly recommend this movie.

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Story - A guy has a one night stand with another guy who ends up being his teacher at the new school he just transfered to. He wants to sleep with the teacher again, but because of the school's strict rules the teacher becomes paranoid and somewhat cold to the boy because of it.

Story Evaluation - In the beginning the most intriguing part is the sexual tension. This tension then leads up to much more complex situations and serious problems. Some of them are I admit too dramatic and full of angst, but the relationships between all the chatacters pulls you in enough to keep you watching all 2 hours. The story is not expected at all and is unique in many ways. It is a Japanese movie though. (((: This is not a fluff or a smut really. The movie is more of just about a deeper meaning than anything else, and I guess that meaning would be the nature of love (you'll see if you watch it.. just watch it!).

Casting/Acting - The teacher is HANDSOME y'all. I might rewatch this one day in the future and one of the main reasons will be to see his face. But the acting itself is great for the story. The characters visuals very well fit their personalities too. Nothing to complain about at all.

What I love - The drama has little quotes all throughout it that teach you lessons. While they're mostly about love, they're very insightful and beautiful. They will make you think differently.
Also this movie is gayland. The type of movie where everyone's gay and no one asks any questions about it. The word gay is not even said once in the movie. Thailand needs to take some notes. With that being said, the movie is extreme in many ways, and because of that.. it's pretty beautiful in a weird way if you can take the angst.

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This is probably what being high feels like...

I wouldn't know but I really felt like I was either high on drugs or in those rom-com comas where the female lead dreams of falling in love with a hot guy. Except what I got was two hours of lucid nightmare full of violence, angst, and naked butts. There are at least 3 separate stories going on all at the same time that has somewhat of a connection but the writers have done a terrible job of making cohesive. I have a lot to say about this movie hence why I decided to write my first ever review for it.

If you expect a sweet, forbidden romance from the name and summary, you're in for a shock as I did. Do yourself a favor and look at the tag which I failed to do. Despite everything I said up to this point, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Not because it had spectacular acting, storyline, or cinematography. In fact, it is utter nonsense and very dramatic at certain points. But they were done right in a way that sticks with your mind. I give it a 8 out of 10 just for how entertaining it was and that is what a movie should do right? I guess the appropriate term would be so bad that it's good. The fact this was my first exposure to the BL genre... and I still want to watch "Forbidden Love" (which I guess is in the same series) says a lot about me as a person.

Trying to make sense of the characters and why they do what they do is like solving a puzzle and while it does gradually gets solved, I don't know what to feel about the end result. Usually, experiences like this really make me dislike a show or a movie bc I feel as if my time was wasted. The opposite was true with this. I felt accomplished and weirdly satisfied. Every once in a while I like to look at the comment section and the other members of this secret, a mess of a fan club because that's what it exactly feels like having watched this movie.

I don't really remember much about the music tbh, which probably means they weren't that great but they weren't that bad either. I'm guessing they fit well into the scenes somehow. The quotes in between were really nice though and helped somewhat explain the story. Rewatch value is pretty low just because the beauty of it lies in the shock factor so knowing what is going to happen beforehand kind of ruins the surprise. It would be fun to watch it with someone whose never seen it before and see their reaction.

The only complaint I have is there were not enough romantic moments between the two leads, whose forbidden relationship as student and teacher was the only reason I even checked this movie out. Most of the screen time is taken up by the annoying and delusional Ichiyo who I could careless about. He's not someone to be pitied. Because of his actions, a lot of people got hurt and no excuses should be made for him just because of what happened to him.

Most Japanese movies/dramas, in general, are a trip but they really do a good job of getting you to feel for the characters amidst the over-the-top plot. Overall, Boys Love was a rollercoaster, a very confusing and bumpy one. But like rollercoasters, you won't forget the trill you just experienced. Once in a while, it just randomly creeps into my mind. I will probably remember it for the rest of my days and for that I appreciate it. It shouldn't work but somehow it does: a true enigma.

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way better then the first movie

even though watching them back to back, why they even connected?!? cause the director is the same? cause one of the mains is the same actor? he for sure not the same character - so how this connect?!? just cause its about boys that fall in-love??? bit far-fetched if u ask me, and going by this logic - every other movie made by this director should be BL3, 4 ,5 etc if its about boys in-love¯\_(ツ)_/¯ weird

anyway this story was way more relatable and had more substance then the 1st one. maybe cause of the positive ending? idk this just felt more cohesive - things made sense (even though the teacher breakin-up with his gf is written in the description - cause movie wise - with the subs i saw - he broke up with a dude) this movie involved zero females, other then some teachers and nurses - basically background dressing.
and Sora was in no way, shape or form was infatuated with Aoi. if anything going by his back-story this poor kid was (in-spite of being adopted by a rich family) all alone - fending for himself trying to reunite the family he lost 10 yrs ago. was wondering if he from a rich family, why stoop to sell his body. what happened in that family that he would chose such a profession - and then the more u see, u get how sad of a life he is really living - if u could call that "living". his connection with Aoi is accidental and cause he needs help in buying his family home, he turns to Aoi - there is no love involved. yeah he jokes about "comforting" him cause of how they met, and Aoi's hysterically intimidated attitude, whenever he was around Sora. does make for great comedic material for a teen - but it doesn't amount to anything.

Aoi cause of his position as a teacher, it was logical him being that paranoid not knowing if and when Sora would use the info he had and how he would "out" him - that is a legitimate threat - he wouldn't just get kicked out of that school considering Sora a teen he could get blacklisted, so i got his fear.

but most of the character's introduced r suffering - and its like the teachers r there but not - as bullying is rampant and cause its done by the kid whose father is a big donner - its over-looked. Ichiyo who is basically an outcast in that school cause of his childhood bff Riku (who from the sec u notice him, u get he is obsessed / infatuated with Ichiyo) but like the immature moron that he is, his go to is to ostracize and alienate Ichiyo - constantly bully him - like some imbecile that hasn't matured enough so he pulling on the "girls" ponytail cause he likes her - same here.
the problem is at last Ichiyo feels he found a friend, as Sora stands-up to Riku for Ichiyo's sake - and they get along as roommates - which in turn gets Riku jealous cause he doesn't want anyone around Ichiyo . so he bullies Ichiyo into forgoing his bed and then tries to get it on with Sora, who has enough on his plate so he distances himself from both Riku and Ichiyo.

isolated, segregated Ichiyo feels the withdrawal of Sora's friendship acutely - he becomes fixated on him trying to get close - to beg for forgiveness. his desperation and naivete - plus him seeing Sora meet up with a guy and his own confused past (cause Riku and Ichiyo's friendship wasn't platonic - and as Riku is the aggressor and Ichiyo the introvert - not hard to figure out that Ichiyo might not have wanted what Riku did . and cause of that rejection Riku wouldn't let Ichiyo exist in peace. once u get this everything else kind falls into place - very sadly but a lot makes senses...) so Ichiyo who has been suffering all along and his current loss, is just the last straw - he snaps. even after his finding out that Sora sells himself - is a last ditch effort to get back the one friend he found - but Sora has his own problems to deal with and is incapable of recognizing Ichiyo cry for help. in desperation he turns to Riku - who takes him to bed and as Ichiyo doesn't want or need sex - the outcome is heartbreaking but not shocking.

the rest is Riku the spoilt brat needing someone to blame and venting his anger (of course in a perfect world he would more then just an ass-kicking for what he did. but it is what it is) - Aoi ironically after Ichiyo's suspension, find's out about Sora's back story and starts to clam-down, as he sees Sora for the hurting forsaken kid that he is. and when he gets hurt that's when Aoi's heart gets involved - the ending was positive in-spite of how Sora ends-up, cause they have each other and a hope for a future. so a way better movie then the 1st one and this for sure will rewatch

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TW for graphic SA

This movie was great until the ending. The ending shifts the entire film into a depressing perspective, despite the attempt at an uplifting conclusion.

There were truly no winners here and that is life, but damn! I thought Riku was being genuine when making amends, I did not expect that R scene. It is sad that Ichiyo took his own life, his mental stability fell so fast and rejection lead him to end his life. Amakami did nothing wrong... yet he suffered the most.

Again that's life. But I hate reality. ?

In terms of acting, this was very well done. The movie itself is good, but the sad ending ruined it for me.

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It's such a beautiful film that it deserves better copy and better credits, but let's at least be happy with what's available. For me, the experience of the film was supported to the greatest extent by the music (it's that special atmosphere), which stopped only for a moment. In the second half of the film, I shed a tear here and there, sometimes because of the "special atmosphere", sometimes because of the story. The film is completely Japanese, exactly according to their requirements (according to Japanese women, beautiful bishonen youths and manga characters) and perception, and will probably always remain behind in the evaluation, because Western viewers also evaluate it according to their one-sided "standards", binding themselves and not with the story and acting bulls to understand. The story is deep and visceral, the acting is convincing and exactly as the Japanese require in this kind of production, the music is absolutely dominant, I already wrote about it, and the processing is tasteful (especially the nude scenes). I will come back to you sometime, dear picture, even for the third time ....


Je to tak krásný film, že by zasloužil lepší kopii i lepší titulky, ale buďme rádi alespoň za to, co je k dispozici. U mě podpořila největší měrou zážitek z filmu hudba (to je ta zvláštní atmosféra), která se zastavila vždy jen na chvilku. Ve druhé půli filmu mi i sem tam ukápla slzička, jednou z té "zvláštní atmosféřy", jindy kvůli příběhu. Snímek naprosto japonský, přesně dle jejich požadavků (dle Japonek krásní bishonen mladíci a mangovské postavičky) a vnímání a zůstane asi vždy v hodnocení pozadu, neboť jej hodnotí i západní diváci dle svých jednostranných "norem", zavazejíc sami sobě a nejsou s to příběh a herecké býkony pochopit. Příběh je hluboký a niterný, herectví přesvědčivé a přesně tak, jak Japonci v tomto druhu produkce vyžadují, hudba je naprosto dominantní, o té už jsem psal a zpracování vkusné (především nahé scény). Vrátím se někdy za tebou, milý snímku, i potřetí ....

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Refreshing

This is an older, lesser known BL. I've not even heard of this till accidentally discovering the poster from Pinterest. For those who are into the genre because of the romantic scenes, this might not suit the palate. However, I think this work deserves to be known as one of the "top of the line" for BL, if not one of the classics.

The element that is incredibly striking is the music, and for someone who is familiar with Japanese films and style, they never fail to make the audience waver internally. As if you had lost something precious that you never owned, or reminiscing a past timeline that you have no memory of. Something about the music/score adds layers to particular scenes, emphasises on the emotion, or the linger of a facial expression. Or perhaps, this is the essence of a 2000s movie, which is rare to find these days.

For some reason, it's always the Japanese works that has ever been able to accomplish instilling this kind of poignancy, melancholic, atmosphere of life within the viewer. This film does this right from the first scene, and the 6.5 rating showcased the disappointment from those who like BL solely for steamy scenes rather than nuanced storytelling.

The quotes are a nice touch, and the exploration on the concept of love is probably the most refreshing I've seen in a long time. The subtlety makes it worthwhile to watch.

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a underrated good movie

First I watched the Boys Love movie from 2006 and now this one. The movies are not connected.

Story: the story was very good. The script is better than the previous movie. There was scenes very intense and the actors played wonderful.
The story is more complex than is presented in the description above . Form my point of view, all the supporting actors were, somehow, main actors, because in their acting moments what they did was very important for the story.
I consider the ending sad but a good one. The ending quote was very important: "To love, to be loved, that's all. That is the rule. That is why we exist. A person who find comfort in love is afraid of nothing ".
They had the quotes like they did in Boys Love and I liked very much.
"When you go to bed, the person who is looking forward to tomorrow is a happy person" - is one example!

Acting/Cast: I was glad to see Kotani Yoshikazu again. He is really beautiful and he played wonderful. All the actors were very young at that time, without experience, but they did a good job. There were moments when I consider their acting wonderful and they portrayed their characters very well. I felt the chemistry between the characters (good or bad chemistry) and this was great and it was something that was missing in the first movie. Overall, there was a big progress and I like this movie more.

Music: The volume was sometimes horrible loud ! There was moments when I had to reduce the volume till that point I couldn't hear the actors speaking. Instrumental music, classic music - not bad, but to loud.

Rewatch: Maybe sometime in the future... the movie was a drama and the sorrow moments were too many for my taste. But it was a good movie and If you can detached yourself form the characters, from the story and manage to think that is only a movie, watch it.

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