friend_city Reviews

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

A stunning love story

[10/10 · 26 January 2006]

I am not sure how I can describe this movie with words. This is a story of 2 cowboys falling in love unexpectedly yet their love lasted forever. Ang Lee did an amazing job in telling this story. When you watch the movie, you feel that you are one of their friends watching how their love blossoms and how it goes thru the ups and downs. Thumbs to all actors and actresses. Heath and Jake were amazing. They never say I love you to each other yet their eyes are full of emotions of love. Sadly, they never end up with each other. Once you see this movie, you can't help wonder how can something so beautiful as true love between 2 human beings be so wrong in the society's eyes! Love is love. Who cares it is the same sex or not! The movie described well how the homosexuals are prejudiced in this movie and it is still the same in this reality world. I think this movie really inspire people to think and encourage one to face with true self. It is sort of a wake up call to the society not to place any more unnecessary prejudices against homosexuality. The acting is great. The scenery is beautiful. The plots are well played out. It is so good to see a movie like this. Strongly recommend it.

Saving Face (2004)

A very special, lovely Chinese American movie

[9/10 · 6 January 2006]

I am quite impressed with this movie. When it first came out, I didn't think too much of it. Now I have seen it again and again. It is a really special and well made Chinese American movie. There are several story lines. Each story line reflects the conflicts of Traditional Chinese cultures with American society. For one, Wil is a smart Chinese American Surgeon but she is lesbian. Second, Mom is unmarried and pregnant with a young guy's baby. Third, 2 young professionals ( Wil and Vivian) deal with each other's culture clashes while their love flourishes. The movie is half American and half Chinese. The story flows and connects with each other. The 3 actresses are amazing. Michelle and Lynn have a great chemistry on the film. Lynn is so beautiful that she can take your breath away. You can see the transition of "Wil" being shy in public at first and finally being Brave and aggressive at the end when face with her true love in the public's eyes. The whole movie centers around the main theme of Love- mother for daughter, daughter for mom and grandparents, and 2 young women. It is difficult to be open with one's own sexuality in public and having to deal with it in a traditional Chinese family is even more difficult. Thumbs up to Alice Wu, both director and script writer. She did a wonderful job in illustrating all these sensitive matters and emotions delicately especially this is her first debut. Michelle and Lynn both have a great future of acting career ahead of them. Their love making scene is very sweet and passionate. They are very convincing. Joan Chen is wonderful, too. The whole movie has everything in it, sweet and sour, humor, and sadness. I am glad it has a happy ending although unlikely in real life but it is nice to see a happy one in a movie like this. Strongly recommended.

Intimates (1997)

A very tender love story in a difficult time

[10/10 · 7 December 2005]

I have to say that this is one of the better movies I have seen in a long time. The emotions expressed between these 2 main actresses are subtle yet very real and convincing. Thumbs up to them. The story happened in China during evolution. It was a very difficult era. The things they do for each other and the scarifies they made for each other just take my breath away... True love is true love. It doesn't matter where it happened, how it happened and happened to whom. It is beautiful. The story keeps going back between the past and the present. It sort of contrasts how people show their loves at different decades. In the present, ppl say love all the time. In the past, ppl show love by actions. In the movie, the main actresses never say I love you to each other yet their smiles for each other and gentle touches to each other say it all. Their love scene is only portrayed by gentle kisses and touches and leaves the rest to the audience's imaginations. The love scene is very brief yet very powerful. At the beginning, one of the main actresses, Charlie, says that "we can't fall for each other because we are all women". Yet at the end, she realized that a committed, mature love is not for men and women only but for everyone with genuine feelings. She eventually falls for her partner. Because of their strong committed feelings for each other, when they finally meet after 30-40 years apart, the movie brings them back to their young selves again, full of joy and hand in hand walking away together as the ending. I wish there are more movies full of substances such as this one. Strongly recommend it.

Crash (I) (2004)

amazing, breath taking

[10/10 · 27 July 2005]

This is one of very few amazing, breath taking films I have seen in years. The script is excellently written and well acted by all the casts. It is actually a simple daily life story that involves everybody, no matter who they are and where they are from. There are a few story lines involving different individuals. These individual story lines seem unrelated at the beginning but at the end, they are tangled with with other. It all centered around the racial discrimination, miscommunication and misconceptions among people. You will be surprised that how a life crisis can be averted with a little more patience and consideration. You have to see it to appreciate it. I don't think I have enough words to describe how good this movie is. Highly recommend it.

Fingersmith (2005)

An interesting storyline worthy of seeing

[9/10 · 20 May 2005]

I have never read Sarah Water's book. Although I have not read the book, the 3 hour movie is very interesting. It begins with an interesting storyline with a twisted ending. I have to say these 2 actresses are amazing. Sally Hawkins is stunning successfully portrayed the character in love with her mistress and betrayed by her love. Their romance slowly blossoms as they spend more and more time together. The love making scene is very tender and emotional, well acted. The end is quite intriguing and these 2 ended up together after all they have been thru, which is a bless. Overall, it is a great movie to see, a very interesting plot with excellent performances.

Lost and Delirious (2001)

A beautiful but sad story

[9/10 · 20 May 2005]

Lost and Delirious is a very beautiful story of 2 girls in love. However, the end is so sad and depressing. Piper Perabo, who plays Paulie, is amazing. She successfully portraits a teen suffering the pain from losing her true love and feeling abandoned by everyone else in the whole world. Although I disagree with how she handled the situation at the end, she is absolutely stunning, a very talented actress. Paulie is very passionate, crazy in love with Tori (her schoolmate and roommate), and not afraid of showing it in public whereas Tori is the exactly opposite. When their relationship is discovered, Tori runs away from her true love into another guy's arm. Tori is afraid of her parents' reactions. She then purposely shows off her new relationship in front of Paulie so she won't be taken as a lesbian by her friends. I can't help wonder if Tori does truly love Paulie, how could she have the heart to torment/ hurt Paulie like this?! If Tori really wants to break off with Paulie, she should have let Paulie down gently. No wonder Paulie goes nuts at the end and takes an extreme measure to herself. After all, Paulie is willing to go all the way for love but I am not sure if Tori deserves it.

Overall, the acting is great. Pearbo gave a superior performance to deep emotion that Paulie has. You can feel the joy and pain that Paulie goes thru. She really touches your heart. It is a very emotional and intense movie worth of seeing it.

When Night Is Falling (1995)

A beautiful, romantic movie

[10/10 · 9 April 2005]

This movie is really tender, touching, and warm. The 2 lead actresses were very good and had good chemistry in between them. These 2 have complete opposite personalities with different passions for lives. Yet somehow, they come across with one another and fall in love with each other. Camille fought with her own inner feelings for Petra and finally, she went for who she really loved. The ending is very sweet, the true love staying with each other. Sometimes it is difficult to figure out what you really want but what is more importantly how you embrace it despite all difficulties in life. Camille had to go thru emotional battles with her feelings for her boyfriend and the Christian school job. The circus performances scenes were great and interesting. The lovemaking scene between them is very passionate and romantic. These 2 actresses were excellent. The dialogs are interesting. The director has done an outstanding job with both directing and writing. Overall, it is a great movie to watch and keep for collection. Highly recommended.

Better Than Chocolate (1999)

An Excellent Romantic Lesbian Comedy movie

[9/10 · 1 April 2005]

This is an excellent romantic lesbian comedy movie. It actually talks about a lot of issues. The focus is not just on the intense relationship between 2 young women but also how gay, lesbians, and transsexuals are harassed by the today's society. The movie described how difficult it is for the lead actress to come out to her family while carrying on a romantic relationship with her new found lover. This put on more burden on her newly developed relationship. Each character is very unique and real. Everyone of these actors and actresses gave the outstanding performances. The love making scenes are intense and erotic. This movie really reaches in and portrays each character as if they were real people in life. It is very relaxing, entertaining, and funny, too. It is worthy seeing. You can watch it over and over. Highly recommended.

If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000 TV Movie)

A wonderful movie

[9/10 · 28 March 2005]

I love the first segment of this movie. The first segment took place in 1960's. It described how 2 elderly women live and love each other for many years and suddenly, one of them dies of stroke, the other one is only being recognized as the best friend, not family member. Vanessa Redgrave was marvelous in this role. She could only moan for her lost partner in dark and hide all the sorrow to herself. The scene that she felt the need to separate her stuff apart from her partner's right before her partner's nephew arrival certainly reflects how lesbians are practically nonexistent at that time. It is so sad and upsetting that some distant relatives could just walk in there and take away everything (furnitures, bird collections with all sentimental meanings) she had shared with her partner for years. She eventually got kicked out of her own house by some distant relative of her partner's. This is how same sex couples were being treated. It is a very touching, tender segment. It will make you cry.

In the 2nd segment, although Chole Sevigny and Mitchell William were great, something is missing in the message they tried to convey. It doesn't go into much details on how 1970's perceive lesbians.

The 3rd segment is kind of funny. Ellen Degeneres and Sharon Stone were great. This segment is a big contrast to the very first one. In 2000, gay and lesbians are getting more recognitions and fighting for civil rights. Although there is still a lot of work to do, compared to 1960's, there has been a lot of improvements and more freedom.

Overall, it is a wonderful movie. Highly recommended.

Desert Hearts (1985)

The best romantic movie

[10/10 · 26 March 2005]

It was a really beautiful movie. The director really captures the beauty of 2 women and 2 women finding true love in 1950's in the least expected situation. As you watched the film, your emotions just followed the main characters'. It is a very touching, tender, romantic movie. This is my favorite movie. I have been watching it many times since I got it.

Thumbs up for Patricia Charbonneau for her stunning performance esp. this was her first performance on films. She played this young, dark haired, beautiful, free spirited, and passionate woman, Cay, who compelled Helen Shaver to look into her heart and finally allowed herself to admit her feelings for Cay. Patricia is really HOT in this movie. Her beautiful smile, her sparkling eyes, her sexy voice, and every move of hers is really attractive and charming. How can anyone not fall for her? I wonder why she didn't become a star after this movie?! She is absolutely Gorgeous and she can really act. It is a shame that she didn't get enough recognitions for her talents as she deserves in the film industry. Helen Shaver did an excellent job as well. She played a repressed English professor, Vivian, who went to Reno for a quick divorce. After closing herself up for years, meeting and knowing Cay finally forced her to face her true emotions and admitted her feelings for Cay. These 2 characters' personalities are really opposite of each other. One enjoys order and the other is free spirited but somehow they are able to find true love with each other. This movie described really well how Helen Shaver struggled with her own feelings and the society's expectations, and the hardship the society and Cay's family gave to the same sex couple. Yet, Cay is very courageous, facing her true feelings, and chasing after who she wants, Vivian. Although there was no clear ending for these 2 women, it is still hopeful since Patricia got on the train with Helen. One can only hope for the best for these 2 women and May they live happily ever after.

The scenery views are quite beautiful. The mountain, the lake views and horses running are extra plus. The other characters are quite good such as Frances Parker, Cay's step mother. The love scene between these 2 is amazing. You can feel these 2 women's desires for each other. Vivian is initially repressed but once she follows her heart, you can feel these 2 women are truly in love and enjoy being intimate with each other. There is Great chemistry between Patricia and Helen, which makes this movie very real. The glances they exchanged with each other, the way they look at each other, and the way they talk to each other are very convincing that they are in love with each other. I love to watch the scenes between them over and over. I think they build up a strong foundation with each other, which then leads to a very believable, amazing, and erotic love making at the end.

The director, Donna Deitch, did an outstanding job. The script is nicely written. The display of emotions is appropriate in 1950's. There are wonderful background musics. Donna Deitch is really successful bringing out the outstanding performance of these 2 lead actresses. It is not easy to direct a film such as this one in 1980's and she had to raise the fund for this movie herself. Overall, it is an excellent movie, something you can watch over and over. Highly recommended.