I must add another review if only because the glowing reviews are too glowing AND the negative reviews are found to be overwhelmingly not helpful. It almost seems as if the negative reviews are being voted "not helpful" because the writer didn't like the movie and not because the actual points were being evaluated by the voter. Oh well. And even though my review is mostly negative, I did find the acting superb, the players very attractive, the feel and mood being sought by the director was captured flawlessly, picture clarity excellent - all the good things others have said.
Let's start with the box cover - It is possible I have overlooked Tong and Mew sitting next to each other looking into each other's eyes, but my first impression AFTER watching the movie is that scene never occurred. Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not sitting through 2.5 hours again just to see! In any case, it is very misleading, and implies the guys end up having a full fledged romance which does NOT happen.
I don't pretend to understand Asian culture completely, but I have watched enough movies by now to know a few things. The director had no problem conveying the idea that both of the boys had been through tremendous, atypical hurts in their lives and were having incredible problems struggling with their love for each other. Then the conclusion falls completely flat. No discussion at all. Yes family is important but this is the 21st century. People have the internet and are exposed to many ideas. Everyone had a cell phone, so private conversations are possible. It is not as if being Gay is unheard of these days even in Thailand. Completely unexplored is the question of whether Tong can pretend to be straight or asexual forever! There were a number of illogical things in this movie (I'm only listing what comes immediately to mind, there were more!) - Mew is heartbroken and cannot sing, then he can. I found Tang's disappearance unrealistic. Very early in the movie Mew mouths off to his grandmother and then much later asks if she's angry with him, no response, no punishment. I thought Asian cultures respected the women and elderly. The lyrics to the songs were absolutely inane although I liked the music overall perhaps it was the translation factor. It seemed like some things could be discussed to death and other things screamed for heart to heart talks between the principles and it didn't happen. To put it another way, for a movie remarked on by others so much about love and not just between Mew & Tong, there were a lot of things that didn't seem very loving to me.
This movie is way too long and again, the conclusion was infuriating.
Let's start with the box cover - It is possible I have overlooked Tong and Mew sitting next to each other looking into each other's eyes, but my first impression AFTER watching the movie is that scene never occurred. Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not sitting through 2.5 hours again just to see! In any case, it is very misleading, and implies the guys end up having a full fledged romance which does NOT happen.
I don't pretend to understand Asian culture completely, but I have watched enough movies by now to know a few things. The director had no problem conveying the idea that both of the boys had been through tremendous, atypical hurts in their lives and were having incredible problems struggling with their love for each other. Then the conclusion falls completely flat. No discussion at all. Yes family is important but this is the 21st century. People have the internet and are exposed to many ideas. Everyone had a cell phone, so private conversations are possible. It is not as if being Gay is unheard of these days even in Thailand. Completely unexplored is the question of whether Tong can pretend to be straight or asexual forever! There were a number of illogical things in this movie (I'm only listing what comes immediately to mind, there were more!) - Mew is heartbroken and cannot sing, then he can. I found Tang's disappearance unrealistic. Very early in the movie Mew mouths off to his grandmother and then much later asks if she's angry with him, no response, no punishment. I thought Asian cultures respected the women and elderly. The lyrics to the songs were absolutely inane although I liked the music overall perhaps it was the translation factor. It seemed like some things could be discussed to death and other things screamed for heart to heart talks between the principles and it didn't happen. To put it another way, for a movie remarked on by others so much about love and not just between Mew & Tong, there were a lot of things that didn't seem very loving to me.
This movie is way too long and again, the conclusion was infuriating.