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    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: International Spies, Dating Trials and Vocal Anxieties

    I got five new movies this month. Let’s see how they fare…

    For More Mini Movie Reviews, check out this page.


    Walk On Water

    Eyal is a professional hit man for the Mossad, the Israeli Secret Service. His newest mission is to track down the ex-Nazi officer Alfred Himmelman rumoured to be still alive. Eyal spies on Himmelman’s granddaughter, now living out in Israel after turning her back on her family in Germany. Eyal poses as a personal tour guide and takes her visiting brother Axel from the historical sights of Jerusalem to the shores of the Dead Sea. Soon after Axel’s return to Germany, the Mossad suspects that Himmelman could come out of hiding for Axel’s father’s upcoming birthday party. Eyal is sent to Germany, where he must get closer to Axel in order to discover the truth about the notorious family. Uncharacteristically vulnerable since his ex-wife’s recent death, professional killer Eyal will also have to discover certain truths about himself.

    Not a gay movie per se or even romance but more of a movie with a gay major character. This is a movie full of ironies that kind of made sense if only people could be so open minded. It is, above all, a story of peace.

    We find the granddaughter of a Nazi officer finding a home in Israel. An Israeli spy dancing an traditional Israeli dance in the house of a Nazi family. A straight guy having more chemistry with the gay brother than the sister he eventually married. Had this been filmed today, I think they would have added the romantic twist.

    Be it the case, I have no complaints. This is a beautiful, underrated movie you should check out.


    More Than Only

    A young gay man finds how to love himself and accept love from another, despite the disapproval of his father.

    Ridiculously cute! And realistic too.

    A story of a university student who must accomplish three tasks ala Triwizard Tournament in order to win a date with a cute nurse. There are a lot of fluffy moments balanced by more dramatic, angstier scenes wherein the main character has self-destructive tendencies triggered by a homophobic father.

    The scenes where the father suddenly calls are gutwrenching. The mood immediately plummets and you can see the raw hurt. In contrast to that, the scenes between the two MCs are bursting with love and joy. I also love their group of friends, especially their badass best friend who not only helped with the tasks but later on became the surrogate mom to their child.

    This is a movie where you feel a rollercoaster of emotions and grow attached to the characters. And that last line!

    (After saying thing like growing attached to the characters I actually forgot their names…(๑•́ㅿ•̀๑) ᔆᵒʳʳᵞ)


    Happy Endings Sleepover

    American CIA Field Operative, Johnnie Allen, is assigned to Denmark for his first mission. An American spy highly placed in the Kremlin is to be spirited out of Russia, and it is Johnnie’s job to get him safely to Antwerp where the agent will board a freighter.

    This is based on the novel of Cade Jay Hathaway. I haven’t read it yet but I love this movie! It’s a slow-burn, friends to lovers, roadtrip story with danger and espionage thrown in.

    The roadtrip part of the movie comes from the the part where Johnnie had to deliver a car and transport a spy across the boarder. His friend Sander tags along.

    Normally, I’m not a fan of roadtrip stories but this one has a lot going for it, from mistaken identities, scenic pitstops, kissing a friend to piss off a homophobic asshole then kissing him again because you realized he has feelings for you too. Let’s not forget antagonizing the royal guards, shooting bad guys and getting shot back.

    The MC is an American who speaks with a Curacao-an accent because he grew up in a cult in Curacao until he was 14. The main actor who is Dane pulled it off really well. The two MCs had great chemistry and the lead actors were good together.


    Do I Sound Gay?

    After a break-up with his boyfriend, journalist David Thorpe embarks on a hilarious and touching journey of self-discovery, confronting his anxiety about “sounding gay.” Enlisting acting coaches, linguists, friends, family, total strangers, and celebrities, he quickly learns that many people — both gay and straight — often wish for a different voice. In Thorpe’s feature-length documentary debut DO I SOUND GAY?, what starts as a personal journey becomes a chance to unpack layers of cultural baggage concerning sexuality, identity, and self-esteem.

    Journalist David Thorpe tackles the gay sound. And yes, I agree, some people really do sound gay. I think it’s perfectly fine. One of the persons interviewed even said, he only needs to say hello and then everybody would know. No need to come out and say it.

    This is particularly interesting to me because I have a bit of a thing with voices. Like I notice that people from different countries could have a certain voice quality. For example, some Asian women have a distinctive voice that I would immediately recognize as Asian even if they are speaking with an American accent.

    I found interesting tidbits regarding Hollywood and gay culture. While it’s not surprising that there are many gay actors, I didn’t realize they had to work hard not to sound gay. There is apparently a voice coach who specializes in removing the “gay sound” in their speech.

    This documentary features luminaries such as George Takei, Margaret Cho, David Sedaris and Tim Gunn. Random people on the streets all over the world were also interviewed.

    This is a good film to watch if your interested in one man’s quest to change the way he sounds.


    The 10-Year Plan

    Myles and Brody are best friends and total opposites. Myles is an idealistic romantic looking for a husband. Brody joyfully bounces from bed to bed and revels in being single. Fearing what will become of them when they get older, the two friends make a pact to be a couple in ten years if neither has found true love. Ten years later, not much has changed. But now that their arrangement is almost due, both friends will do whatever it takes to avoid becoming each other’s last resort.

    My first thought here, wasn’t there a Kate Hudson rom-com with a similar storyline?

    Personally, I’m not convinced Brody is the best guy for Myles. He’s too much of a player. He is a great friend though because he’s always there when Myles needs cheering up.

    There’s not much surprises here. It’s pretty obvious how things will play out. The highlight for me here is the friendship between the MCs. The movie also did well in capturing their gradual transition from friends to romantic interest.

    Anyway, this is an okay movie, good enough to pass the time.


    Hope you enjoyed today’s Mini Movie Reviews! Have a great weekend!

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    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Un Instante (An Instant)

    Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it.


    A year. A boy. An instant.

    Hugo is a boy who lives anchored in the routine, focused on his tasks and responsibilities. Unable to look forward, he lets opportunities pass, stalling in the past. On the contrary, Cosmo is a free soul that lives without looking back, always going from one place to another no matter where. One summer afternoon their gazes cross by chance. It is only an instant, but it will be the birth of a relationship that will make them stop for the first time to live the present.

    An instant is a story about friendship, love and the importance of the small moments that endow our lives with meaning.

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    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: No Clothes

    Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it.


    Jordan Firstman stars in “No Clothes”, a charming comedy about how expendable clothes really are. A flirty encounter at the local laundromat turns into a sexy chase around the streets of New York.

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    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Hand Off

    Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it.


    A rugby player admits to having a crush on his best friend and teammate, causing a rift in their friendship. He retreats into a fantasy world as he struggles to confront his friend, while trying to fit into the macho world of rugby.

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    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: Queen and Country, Friends and Lovers

    Reviewing this month’s batch of movies because this is turning out to be a monthly thing.

    For More Mini Movie Reviews, check out:
    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: From Rom-Coms to Serial Killers
    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: A Bit of Drama and Some Hokey Vampires
    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: Shakespeare Gems to Icelandic Tragedies (With Some Crap Along The Way)
    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: Secret Affairs I Rooted For, Comedies I Did Not Laugh At


    Jayson Bend: Queen and Country

    Jayson Bend, R.I.M. Agent 009, teams up with a Swiss counterpart to try and stop the launch of a satellite that will turn Ray Perdood, the owner of the largest global hair salon chain, into one of the most powerful men in the world.

    A super campy take on that famous franchise. So much fun!

    Our favorite queer agent traipse across Europe into the arms of exotic young men who may or may not be out to kill him. Throw in a seductive villainess, an evil mastermind and you get international shenanigans, dastardly deeds and fabulous hair. All the good stuff.

    Now if only young Q and Bond would get it on…


    Der Kreis (The Circle)

    Zurich: 1958. The bashful teacher Ernst Ostertag and the German cabaret artist Robi Rapp get to know one another in the Swiss underground organization called “Der Kreis.” (The Circle). As the two dissimilar men defend their love, they witness the heyday and decline of this Europe-wide pioneering organization for gay emancipation.

    Real life couple Ernst and Robi prove there is forever in this riveting docudrama about underground organizations and gay liberation.

    This beautiful film covers the time Ernst was introduced to The Circle up until the present time when gay marriage was legalized in Switerland. Ernst and Robi were the first gay couple to be married in the country. The two men were so used to living such a hush hush life that they were very surprise gay marriage was even possible. Their story got me teary eyed.


    Like You Mean It

    When Mark commits to falling back in love with Jonah, he is forced to look at himself with unprecedented courage and honesty.

    Discontented aspiring actor falls out of love with his boyfriend (despite having the bestest boyfriend ever! Dude, seriously?!) and then tries to fall in back in love again. This is basically the gist of this movie.

    This could very well be a rom-com but making this a dramatic story worked pretty well into making it more compelling and raw. I was also psyching myself up for hurts and heartbreaks. There’s plenty of hurts but the ending gave us hope, it was worth it.


    Beira Mar (Sea Shore)

    Martin and Tomaz travel to Brazil to sort out an inheritance. Once they are alone in a seaside cottage, feelings develop as they explore the border between friendship and love.

    Slooow-burning friends-to-lovers movie with cute actors to ogle. Blue hair = LOVE!!!

    This is also a coming-of-age of sorts and a story about connecting and overcoming fear. This is a quiet film with almost no background music. The silence, a palpable presence that served to highlight all the unsaid feelings between the characters. I love this quality in a film.

    The big reveals here also came as naturally as it can be with the two friends talking as they normally do. I love how everything simply fell into place. A young man finally had the courage to face his fears. And all was right in the world.


    What Women Want: Gay Romance

    A look at why women are the overwhelming majority of writers, publishers, readers and fans of gay male romance novels.

    When I was still a cosplayer, my dream was to go to Comiket in Tokyo. Nowadays, my dream is to attend the GRL.

    This Charlie David documentary explains why women (and some men) love gay romance. It covers GRL and pays tribute to its late founder Ethan Day. I’m so happy to see my favorite authors explaining the ins and outs of MM romance. Also, narrator Kenneth Obi was there! I love his work in Unbreakable Bonds and other Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott books. There were also other authors there I have yet to discover. The whole event looked so much fun!

    This is a must-see documentary for fans and even non-fans alike.


    Hope you enjoyed today’s Mini Movie Reviews! Have a great weekend!

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    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: A Thousand Empty Glasses

    Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it.


    A drunken evening exposing long-held secrets forces a young man to make a life altering decision.

    (sorry, Youtube took down the video)

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    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Must Be The Music

    Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it.


    Four gay men on a Friday night out in Los Angeles.

    Short film written and directed by Nickolas Perry featuring Milo Ventimiglia in his first starring role, playing a gay teenager in Los Angeles.

    Love the 90s throwback!

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    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: Secret Affairs I Rooted For, Comedies I Did Not Laugh At

    This is another round of Mini Movie Reviews. I picked these movies because of their posters. I get interesting results. Here goes…:

    For More Mini Movie Reviews, check out:
    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: From Rom-Coms to Serial Killers
    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: A Bit of Drama and Some Hokey Vampires
    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: Shakespeare Gems to Icelandic Tragedies (With Some Crap Along The Way)


    Capital Games

    Take two ambitious men, one top LA advertising firm, and add a competition for the same high-ranking job. Tough ex-LAPD cop Steve Miller quit the police force to work in the calm of an office environment. Mark Richfield, the glamorous new kid in the office, soon wins favor with the big boss and co-workers causing Steve to cringe in jealousy. After a team-building exercise in the Santa Fe desert goes awry, the two men share a night of passion that leaves them both with unresolved emotions. Steve becomes torn between passionate love and passionate hatred and Mark must endure an agonizing decision that will affect his life forever.

    Based on the book by G.A. Hauser, this is an enemies to lovers, gay-for-you story that’s a must watch for fans. I’m not sure which is better, the book or the movie (haven’t read the book yet) but I had a lot of fun watching this MM book come alive on screen. Some of the acting could use some work but the actor for Steve Miller pulled it off really well. Steve was the best character here.


    Lazy Eye

    Passions re-ignite and secrets revealed when a graphic designer reconnects with the great, lost love of his life for a weekend tryst at a house in the desert near Joshua Tree.

    I had conflicting feelings about this. On one hand, this is a really good movie. It was well-acted, great plot, absolutely fantastic chemistry, gorgeous scenery. Then after getting my hopes up and lulling me in with feel-good feels, it pulled the rug from under my feet. Moral of the story: Sometimes we get what we need, not what we want.


    Bite Marks

    While backpacking across the country, bickering gay couple Cary and Vogel decide to speed up their trek by hitchhiking instead. That’s when fate brings them Brewster, a sexually confused trucker who picks the pair up on his way to delivering a shipment of coffins. After a few strokes of bad luck, the mismatched trio ends up lost and broken down in an abandoned junkyard. Though surviving a night of petty fights and sexual tension seems tough enough, the nightmare is only just getting started as strange noises in the back of the truck reveal the presence of five bloodthirsty vampires.

    A messy trainwreck I couldn’t look away from. Partly because vampires. Partly because this has a lot of potential. The sarcastic lines and satirical humor didn’t quite had me LOLing but I could appreciate the attempt to put a twist on a tired old genre.


    Rainbow Bridge Motel

    After reserving their dream wedding package at Niagara Falls, Dean and Darren learn they’ve booked themselves in a run-down motor lodge sandwiched between two chemical plants run by some guy named Shibbawitz and a Burmese refugee family.

    This one’s a real mess. It was all over the place. It was trying too hard to be PC and inclusive. It wasn’t funny at all. All in all, waste of a good concept.


    Free Fall

    In his gripping and erotic feature debut, German director Stephan Lacant chronicles the pleasures and pitfalls of a tumultuous love affair between police officer Marc (Hanno Koffler, Summer Storm) and his training partner, Kay. At first Marc brushes off his attraction to his colleague as a fluke, but his feelings become evident the more time he spends away from his pregnant girlfriend Bettina, inside motel rooms and in remote corners of the forest with Kay.

    I’m pissed that the two men didn’t go riding off to the sunset. Just setting expectations here for those, like me, prefer certain kinds of endings. Still, this was a powerful movie capturing that irresistible urge to be with someone you’re not supposed to be with. It also tackles homophobia especially in the police force. I love the actors here. A must-watch if you are a fan of Summer Storm and SENSE8. A sequel please!!!


    Hope you enjoyed this week’s Mini Movie Reviews. Have a great Saturday!

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    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Green Light

    Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it.


    A male escort has an odd encounter with a mysterious John that he picks up.

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    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Quiero Decirte

    Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it.


    There is a maze which is too difficult to get out from. In the search of the road, Alejandro met with the army of nine soldiers. First, the secret. Second, the fear. Third, the dream. Fourth, the fantasy. Fifth, the color. Sixth, the happiness. Seventh, the freedom. Eighth, the love. Ninth, the reality. What happens when he get out of the maze? Life.