ACTING/CAST/MUSIC: OK
REWATCH VALUE: No. If it was much shorter or the "love story" was much better developed, sure.
OVERALL: I watched this with a friend hoping for a good love story but it's a hateful love story instead.
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overkill
talk about a bleedin tragedy - its like any sad cliché out there, all tossed into this movie to make it that much more of a tearjerker and astoundingly left me dry eyed - cause this was ludicrous !! overkill is the best way to describe this movie - even though now i'm shocked anyone survived - was sure lightning would strike, taking Eit out - for a finale. not that his ending wasn't sad - he all alone and old too boot, so what he got left to live for(?) vid's of Mehk confessing his love - big whoopit just felt like "they" were trying to create this grand-tragedy, romeo and juliet equivalent - and it just never met the mark, in-spite of how sad almost every character was.
first off Mehk the killer for hire, suddenly got a morel code cause he gotta kill Eit - really?!? and he cares so much for his sick mother and brother, but he doesn't know what kind of living conditions they existed in? or after the big get away, where Eit succeeds in taking a blacked out Mehk to his hide out? and they on the run, but not hiding or running for that matter - even after the assassin almost gets the better of Mehk - while Eit off phoning that annoying wife of his. and they still hanging around the same place(?) cause the boss gonna send only one dude? well he kinda just sends one, and then gives-up which was weird ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ guess it was more important to show us both lead starring off into space and playing hide and go seek...
which leads me to why Mehk react like that after getting it on with Eit?!? he wasn't drugged or forced, so why wake-up and act like he was raped?!?
the whole hide and seek was also annoying, grown ass men got nothing better to do - plus lets not forget they "wanted" men - but they not got a worry in the world, let alone Mehk not worried about his family that he their only support system - ugh the plot-holes r countless.
donno even if this good as a one off - the plus point hmmm this is the first time i saw a "sponge" bath that was justified - usually u get that annoying, ridiculous scene in ever BL just so one dude can feel up the one he is salivating over - here it made sense considering Mehk was shot and unconscious for what seemed like a while, it was logical that anyone who was taking care of him would do that -
and there were a few funny scenes, even though i doubt they were meant to be funny - like Eit's wife breakin down in tears cause she sees Eit sleeping with a rag-doll - OMO come on that was hilarious and ridiculous. or the more absurd scene where Eit and Mehk make-out in the middle of the street, putting on a show for the brother, mother and wife - aish really couldn't take this movie seriously. it missed the mark - bummer
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Once you entered darkness, there's no turning back... No matter how hard you try.
If I were to sum it all up, this story is all about unconditional love and everything grim, dark and tragic all together. It's like a whole 4 tier cake that's fully-structured by prostitution, molestation, suicide, rape, cheating, murder and violence with same-sex romance as its cherry on top to attract its viewers. It may look interesting, exciting and delicious on the outside but once you take a bite you'll be shock on how awfully bad it actually tastes inside.It was a story of everything sinister and ludicrous intertwined to each other and depicts how multiple acts of such brutal action can result to a continuous, moreso, non-stop set of events that only leads to either tragedy or death.
Closely looking at the narrative, I'd say that they successfully made this story as dark and tragedic as they wanted it to be by mercilessly manipulating each and every piece like a puzzle that will only move in accordance to its players wish and desire.
This movie probably has the greatest facade I've ever watched in a long while. The way they've flawlessly hidden the true agenda of this piece by showing us same-sex love story felt like a whole fraud trick to me. It may seem promising and exciting at first but as it progresses you'll realize that it's starting to go deeper and darker... and by the end, you will be perplexed to know that you're only left with nothing but agony, disappointments, and regrets.
There are only 2 positive points I can clearly see from this movie; First is the familial love Mek has shown to his mother and brother. Second is the unconditional and unrestricted mutual love and affection Itt and Mek have for each other. Aside from these, I can't seem to point out anything else that's considerably good or nice.
Lastly, its ending!! I was so mad and heartbroken. I really thought they'd finally live a more peaceful and happy life after all the tragedy they've been through, yet, this story chose to go all out by giving us nothing but another heartache. They killed Mek like it was part of the plot... Expected to happen to conclude the story and pronounce it 'complete'. Where in fact! It was not! Probably the worst decision ever!
P.S. They really love to do the making out/sex scenes outdoor and I got no complains about that. I even love it a lot. Hahaha!
Story - 7.5, Despite all the negative and dark messages this movie has. I'd still say they executed it quite well and it would've been even better only if it wasn't this problematic!! Still can't move on with the tragic ending ><
Acting/Cast - 9.5, I'm surprisingly satisfied with the leads. Specially with how 'A' look convincing, both appearance and acting wise. Same with 'Tob'. The only problem I've had is with Ying. In some instances her line deliberation felt weak and unstable
Music - 9.5, It's nice to hear early 2000s BGMs once in a while. It felt nostalgic and it truly brought me back to those times. Love the Thai song played too. It smoothly conveys and make you feel the raw emotions they all wanted you to experience and go through.
Rewatch Value - 8.5, Even when it ended tragically. I can still see myself watching it in the future. A year or so probably? For some reason, their bittersweet romance still makes me feel butterflies.
Overall - 8.5, No matter how dark and gloomy the whole vibe of the story, I still can't deny how good the delivery of the entire narrative is. It was foul tasting, traumatic yet kinda addicting. Something I can remember for a long time for sure.
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
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Apa kisah cinta se-epic ini bisa terjadi di dunia nyata?
Mengisahkan kehidupan seorang pembunuh bayaran bernama Mekk, dia melakukan itu demi membiayai nenek dan adiknya yang terkena penyakit HIV. Suatu saat Mekk diperintahkan untuk membunuh seorang kaya raya bernama Itt, di sinilah konflik mulai semakin rumit, orang yang harus Mekk bunuh adalah orang yang jatuh cinta kepadanya. Bagaimana kisahnya? akankah Mekk dapat membuat pilihan? Saksikan seriesnya!. Dari segi detail, cukup bagus ya, alurnya sepertinya agak sulit dimengerti karena mengandung banyak sekali romansa dialog melodrama kehidupan, selain itu latarnya menurutku agak banyak dan cenderung tidak mudah diingat. Dari segi dialog, ada beberapa dialog yang punya makna kehidupan dan ada juga dialog yang bahkan menurutku kurang bisa difahami. Dari segi warna, film ini punya saturasi yang sangat rendah, walaupun bukan film horror namun latar-nya sering sekali menunjukan scene malam, atau dengan cahaya yang rendah. Dari segi life meaning, menurutku film ini punya life meaning yang kuat dan bermakna, saya sangat berkesan menonton film ini. Dari segi penjiwaan peran, Arucha dan Tob Chaiwat sangat mampu memerankan tokoh yang ada di film ini dengan baik ; nuansa dan romansa mereka memerankannya sangat penuh romansa dan menurutku sangat realistik. Saya sangat merekomendasikan film ini terutama bagi orang-orang yang membutuhkan visual cerita cinta yang epic.Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Uh, mildly disappointing?
First of all:- This is not a professional review. I'm just speaking from my heart and of what little I know about films and filmmaking.
- This isn't a warning that says you'll be wasting your time to watch this film. Feel free to go ahead and watch. We can all find value in anything in our own way. I'm merely sharing how it went for me and what can be expected.
Basically my reaction throughout while watching this film was "LOL, wtf?!"
I honestly expected to see some hot romance between the two male characters mixed with drama, a bit of angst, action and thriller against a backdrop of crime and social issues after reading the plot on Wikipedia. I was curious how this mix turned out (with a bit more emphasis on the hot romance, LOL).
I'm not easy to disappoint. My standards and expectations are flexible, I try to adjust it from film to film. I try not to judge films too easily as I usually try to explain what I'm seeing as it unfolds.
Turns out, the hot romance was hot but not as hot as I expected. But I thought, "That's fine. I see it's not the focus of the film. Fair enough." And as I kept watching, it became apparent that the film's focus is on the dramatic side of the mix.
BUT I'm gonna have to agree with one of the other two reviewers at the time of writing this review: "overkill". Too much of something can ruin everything.
About half if not most of the drama just didn't feel necessary. This happened, and then another one happens, and so on. I see no point in the excessive drama. Were they trying to display how complicated, cruel and unfortunate life can be? Probably, sure, why not. Did it make the film enjoyable or satisfying to watch? Definitely not. It ruined the rest of the story that you could've otherwise appreciated.
Another word I can throw in here is: "predictable". At a certain point you can say, "Ah, anything can happen by now."
Also, it seems to me the screenplay of some scenes could've conveyed better the emotions alongside the subtleties of the dramatic turn of events throughout the film. Their impact wasn't as effective as they could've been.
Although if you ignore the storyline and screenplay, you can appreciate the artistic value of individual scenes especially with all that dramatic background music. And you gotta appreciate all the talent and hardwork the actors and actresses gave for their characters.
Summary:
Romance wasn't so hot (if this is what you're looking for). There wasn't much romance anyway and you can barely feel the romantic and sexual tension between the main characters (it's the storyline and screenplay, not the actors' fault). Main focus was drama, but the excessive drama was annoying and even quite funny (especially when you can predict what might happen next), it screwed things up.
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The seduction scene between two very masculine men is one of the best in world queer cinema
Some love stories are written with poetry, and others are etched in pain. 'Bangkok Love Story' is not the typical romance that BL lover’s dream of... it's raw, confusing, and drenched in sadness and tragedy. Love isn't easy here. It's dangerous, fleeting, and the world refuses to let it exist in peace.Set in the harshness of Bangkok's slums and the central area, which is full of neon lights and luxurious mansions, the film is violent, passionate, and deeply tragic.
The story follows Maek (Rattanaballang Tohssawat), a hitman, whose tragic past, a blind mother, and an HIV-positive brother named Mhok (Weeradit Srimalai), both homeless, led him to a life of murder. But he's a hired gun with a conscience: he'll only take the lives of people who lack innocence.
His latest assignment is to assassinate Ith (Chaiwat Thongsaeng), a young police informant who knows too much. But when Maek discovers that the man he's meant to kill is innocent and the man who wants him dead turns out to be a criminal, he refuses to do it: executing him goes against his complicated code of honor. After fleeing from his boss and being wounded while protecting Ith, the two men go into hiding together for a time, fearing death by those pursuing them. In a show of gratitude, Ith takes care of Maek during his convalescence.
The scenes in this part of the film are brimming with homoeroticism, as the two fugitives, usually naked to the waist (and very close to each other), constantly gaze at each other when the other isn't looking.
Masterfully executed in this first hour of the Thai gay romantic crime action drama, written, directed, and produced in 2007 by Poj Arnon, the viewer will enjoy a growing sexual tension that finally explodes when Iht rubs Maek's back while bathing the wounded man, unable to use his own hands. They gaze at each other, kiss, and suddenly find themselves engaged in a passionate sexual experience.
In these moments, Arnon expresses through images his power to explore the human heart in the face of danger, the discovery of sexuality, and extraordinary circumstances.
The photography of the seduction scene between these two very masculine men is among the best in global queer cinema of all time. Set on the rooftop of a nearly ruined building with the Bangkok skyline as a backdrop, it is passionate and sensual, with lush, romantic piano music.
But when it's all over, a confused Maek freaks out, demands that Iht leave and leave him alone, and pours water over himself to cleanse himself of what happened. Heartbroken, Iht returns to Sai (Chatcha Rujinanon), his fiancée, but is no longer interested in continuing the relationship with her.
The provocative story of a police informant and a murderer who fall in love then disintegrates before my eyes. The reason for this is that director Arnon falls into the worst clichés of a low-budget Hollywood tearjerker, with endless scenes of an elusive man struggling to accept his feelings for another man, who, while secretly yearning for revenge, hides from his beloved, but leaves signs that he is there to lure the other man back. And to top it all off, the magic of the piano music is transformed into pure, banal, repetitive artifice.
Still, 'Bangkok Love Story' should be praised: in addition to being a milestone for its portrayal of gay men on the Thai screen, something unusual for the time, since previous representations consisted mostly of stereotypical transvestites (or kathoey in their native language), the director continued a cinema that tackled taboo subjects in that Southeast Asian country at the beginning of the 20th century, just as he did with his previous films 'Go-Six' (2000), which portrayed a love triangle between a man and two women (one of them sexually ambiguous), and 'Cheerleader Queens' (2003), which featured transvestite teenagers who aspire to be cheerleaders. Also noteworthy is the almost poetic cinematography and the beautiful full-color photography, which makes excellent use of the locations, the panoramic views of the buildings, and the cityscapes of the Thai capital to tell us this story that begins as an act of mercy and becomes a story of forbidden love, caught between survival and desire.
Moreover, the film is steeped in Thai culture, making it a very exotic cinematic experience. If you doubt it, ask yourself: how many movies have you seen where there is a shootout in a Buddha statue warehouse?
In addition to its well-crafted erotic scenes, the film explores the raw, uncontrived reality of the situation faced by thousands of homeless people and AIDS sufferers in Thailand. It also addresses cruel situations, such as the abuse and rape of a child, and how this event changes the victim's destiny.
Chaiwat Thongsaeng and Rattanaballang Tohssawat do a great job, portraying believable characters with explosive chemistry that sparks audience interest.
Maek is the best-designed character, with a past that serves as the basis not only for the kind of life he leads, but also for his enormous emotional burden, which prevents him from getting close to anyone.
YOU MAY LIKE TO KNOW
When developing the script, the director used names with specific meanings. Maek means Cloud; Iht means Stone; Mhok means Fog; and Sai means Sand.
The film had serious difficulties getting released. During the pre-production process in 2006, the Royal Thai Police objected to the original script, as Iht's character was a police officer who eventually admitted his homosexuality and fell in love with a murderer.
As a result, the director was forced to rewrite the script to make Iht's character and the elements establishing his connection to the Thai police force more vague and ambiguous, in order to pass the scrutiny of the Censor Board, which included members of the Royal Thai Police.
During filming, the actor playing Iht requested that the cameras be used at different angles so he wouldn't have to kiss his co-star, but Arnon explained the importance of realistic kissing.
Ultimately, Chaiwat Thongsaeng accepted the role of Iht, claiming that he was motivated only by the challenge and hoping the film would make him famous. He even told the press that the experience of kissing another man seemed disgusting at first, but he managed to do it by pretending to kiss his girlfriend.
For his part, Rattanaballang Tohssawat declared that it was "an honor" to play a gay man.
Upon its release, the film, which was very popular and grossed a lot at the box office, received mixed reviews, partly because it was considered overly melodramatic. Other positive reviews hailed it as Thailand's most daring gay-themed film. It won Best Film at the Brussels Independent Film Festival.
IN SUMMARY
'Bangkok Love Story' is a fusion of 'Brokeback Mountain' (on a conceptual and cultural level, but not on an artistic level) and an action thriller set in the Thai capital, but with less emotional complexity, more male tearjerkers, and excessive gunplay.
Although it aspires to be an innovative queer film, it leans toward exaggerated masculine tropes and borrows the color palette from Kar-Wai Wong's dreamy melancholy, but without fully capturing the emotional nuance.
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Bland
<>> The PRODUCTION wasn't the best, but okay, the movie is kinda old.
>The STORY
@@ Overall the way I felt about it in some ways paralleled how I felt about the main plot of BL Why RU. The plotline had a lot of potential but the story just floated about. The way their chemistry developed was super random, and I am just choking it up to "love is not rational" rationale. I mean, Itt just imprinted on Mhek, I felt like missed some important event because the trajectory of that relationship was unexpected.
@@ Other than that, most of the sad scenes between the main couples did nothing to me, I think I ended up laughing watching a few. Oops. I have very little sympathy for characters who cheat anyways.
@@ Side plot about Mhek's family was something I was more sympathetic about. Their childhood trauma (thaat shit always gets to me) and the stigma they faced were the only sad part in the first half of the movie.
@@ ENDING: I only expected a sad ending. But tbh it ended up sadder than I expected. The plight of Mhek's family was saddening. And the fact that he did his time, and it ended the way it did 25 years later, made me sadder than if it would have happened before his imprisonment. That kinda hurt.
> Not something I feel like rewatching
> Don't really remember the music
>>>> basically a BL with abrupt beginning of romance, sob-story mid-portion and tragic ending.
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