Naked Dragon ~ The Movie

81-x0t30xIL._SL1500_Title: Naked Dragon
Author: Based on the book by GA Hauser
Director: GA Hauser
Executive Producer: GA Hauser
Actors: Jesse Seann Atkinson – Davon Williams – Chad Bishop – Shane Keough
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 94 minutes
Heat Level: Moderate
Rating: 6 Stars (based on a 1-10 star rating usually given for movies)
Blurb: In the worst serial killer crime spree in years, the ‘Dragon’ is hunting young Asian men as his victims. FBI Agent Robbie Taylor has been assigned to use his skills as a psychic to help solve the case and find out the identity of the madman.

Los Angeles Police Officer Dave Harris, a rookie black cop meets up with the handsome FBI agent on one of the gruesome crime scenes. The two are immediately sexually attracted to each other and begin a secret affair that keeps them sane in the middle of all the madness. As the corpses keep piling up, their passion and love grow.

Will they outwit the Dragon? Or will he get away with murder? The two men hope they survive the battle of wits and come out of the crisis alive.
(Interracial gay love story)

Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Dragon-Jesse-Sean-Atkinson/dp/B00PCZF3E6

Reviewer: Tams

Review: A serial killer is on the loose, picking up young gay Asian men, hustlers, and killing them in the most gruesome of ways. As far as the FBI knows, this is the third round of his killing spree having already left at least forty bodies in his wake. Agent Robbie Taylor is assigned to assist on the case due to his innate ability to get inside the mind of the killer. LAPD officer Dave Harris is the first on the scene of the first killing in his jurisdiction and soon meets the seemingly psychic FBI agent that shares a certain secret with him.

Over the duration of the film, these two men are pawns in a game of cat and mouse with a very smart killer that always seems one-step ahead of them. Once the killer figures out exactly who Robbie is and what he is capable of, Robbie becomes a target. In the end it’s Robbie’s refusal to be swayed by bullets and speeding cars along with his acute eye and paying attention to details that affords him the pleasure of stopping a killer. But what will happen between him and Dave once the case is solved?

This is a movie made from the book of the same name by Author GA Hauser. Admittedly, the book is always better than the movie. In this case, though I think if you haven’t read the book, the movie will not be as enjoyable for you. The details in the book of what the killer did, how the bodies were found, how Robbie used his talents to catch the killer, were so detailed and precise and that precision is lost in the movie. But if you have read the book then the movie is sort of a companion and you can look between the lines, you know in the back of your mind even though you don’t see the body in the movie, you still rewind in your mind and remember the gory details from the book.

That being said, I think movies with a gay romance at the core are sought out by viewers and regardless of the written version of this story, the movie on its own will still be a great viewing experience for people. The acting is acceptable, not great but not terrible either, the sound and lighting in the movie was better than I expected being and indie film, and the core of the story is still there. How Robbie and Dave find each other through the most horrible of circumstance, but still accept their connection and explore the possibility of building a relationship outside of their jobs and this horrible case.

Geography Club~Movie Review

geo clubTitle: Geography Club
Cast: Justin Deeley, Cameron Deane Stewart, Alex Newell, Nikki Blonsky, Scott Bakula
Genre: LGBT RomComDram Feature Film
Length: 90 minutes
Studio: Breaking Glass Studios (March 25th 2014)
Heat Level: Mild
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: “Required viewing” — Entertainment Tonight
16-year old Russell is going on dates with girls while nurturing a secret relationship with star quarterback Kevin, who will do anything to prevent his teammates from finding out. Min and Terese tell everyone that they’re just best friends. And then there’s Ike, who can’t figure out who he is or who he wants to be. Finding the truth too hard to hide, they decide to form a Geography Club, thinking nobody else would want to join. However, their secrets may soon be discovered and they could have to face the choice of revealing who they really are.

IMDB movie info link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2235902/
Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Geography-Club-Justin-Deeley/dp/B00HUQCA28

Review: This movie is equal parts Romantic Comedy and Drama, there is a little bit of both evident while viewing. Russell has lived 16 years without questioning his sexuality. That is until the quarterback of the football team kisses him in the rain. A flip is switched that leaves Russell desperate to figure out who he is. He’s invited to join the ‘Geography Club’ by the one person that saw that rainy day kiss, a club that is made up of other LGBTQ teenagers.

While Russell and his struggles with not only his sexuality, but his personality overall, are the core of this movie there are so many supporting characters that make the movie a huge success. Russell’s best friend Gunnar is borderline over weight and never had a girlfriend. He sort of uses his friendship with Russell to snag a date. These two have their ups and downs but their long lasting friendship preservers and keeps them both strong in the end.Kevin is a closet case, plain and simple, which baffles the mind since his parents are the most accepting of anyone in the group.

Min is the president of the club, wanting a safe space for herself, her girlfriend and other LGBTQ students to come, share and feel safe. Her girlfriend Terese is large and in charge, but unsure if she wants to come out, and this cause problems for them. Ike is just adorable and absolutely hysterical going from saying he’s only ten percent gay to finally admitting he’s just flat out gay by the end.

It can’t be all sunshine and roses though, now can it. The guys on the team ostracize Russell as soon as he is outed by snot nosed rich bitch that plasters posters of Russell pulling away from a kiss, with a girl, all over the school. She does it because he rejects her affections, partly because he is gay, but partly because this is the girl that his best friend Gunnar likes. Russell also has to decide if he is going to be out and proud while his “boyfriend” Kevin hides in his closet.

This movie was so much fun. While there were some dramatic moments and a brief scene of bullying, there was some budding romance and a lot of side splitting laughs, especially ‘Flo’s Gay Dads!’ You will have to watch the movie to understand that reference. The acting was good for actors of this age, and the storyline kept me engaged throughout the entire movie.

Fans of Shelter, Latter Days and White Frog will love this movie. It’s streaming on Netflix and available through Amazon instant video. And then if you LOVE it, as I did, you can buy it on DVD, as well.

The Perfect Wedding

ThePerfectWedding_DVDKeyArt_26_FINALTitle: The Perfect Wedding (2012)
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Length: 1 hour and 22 minutes
Heat Level: Mild
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: Home for the Christmas holiday, a gay man starts falling for his ex-boyfriend’s lover, not knowing that the relationship is a mere pretense.

Christmas is approaching, and Paul’s adopted sister Alana is coming home for the holidays. This won’t be just a regular family celebration, as she’s recently engaged and the weekend will be spent planning her June wedding with her best friends Roy and Vicki. Problem is that Roy is Paul’s ex-boyfriend, and the two young men haven’t seen each other since their very messy breakup. Nervous about seeing his ex again, Roy talks his good friend Gavin into joining him for the weekend and pretending to be his new boyfriend.

When Paul and Gavin meet, sparks of attraction fly, but Gavin thinks Roy’s still hung up on Paul. This charming romantic comedy is a funny look at family bonds, misunderstandings and the “perfect wedding.”

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Perfect-Wedding-Kristine-Sutherland/dp/B00FGG60XY

Movie details through IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2151863/

Movie website: http://www.theperfectweddingmovie.com/www.theperfectweddingmovie.com/Home.html

Review: Friends and family are coming together to celebrate Christmas and plan Alana’s summer wedding to her high school sweetheart, Kirk. Among the friends is one of Alana’s best friends Roy, who is also her brother Paul’s ex. A while back Roy told a little white lie to get Alana to stop trying to set him up on random blind dates with every gay man she met, and so now, he’s set to arrive with his “boyfriend” Gavin.

As the movie plays on, we learn that the reason Paul and Roy broke up was that Paul cheated. So when Paul is attracted to Gavin, he tries to hide that attraction due to what happened in the past. After all, as far as he and everyone else knows, Roy and Gavin are an item. Gavin and Paul bond over manuscripts, midnight snacks, a shared insomnia and trying to pull off the perfect wedding for Alana and Kirk. An all too brief but welcomed kiss sends Paul running and Gavin packing. When everyone wakes the next morning to find Gavin gone, will they blame Paul, or help him go after him?

The script for this movie was fantastic! There is the proposed love triangle, misunderstandings and obvious attraction between those three unfolding all the while there is another story running in the background within Alana’s family. And the acting was straight up spot on as well. Not the usual overly dramatic and angsty type of acting that we see in gay movies.

The Perfect Wedding was the Perfect movie! Mostly a romantic comedy with just a teensy bit of drama, a few tears and ending was a happy sigh. If you’re a fan of Rom Com Gay movies, you’ll fall in love with this one. I liked it so much. I think I’ll have to buy it.

Rock Haven

4250Movie Title: Rock Haven
Release Date: 21 June 2007
Director: David Lewis
Writer(s): David Lewis
Principal Actor(s): Sean Hoagland, Owen Alabado, Laura Jane Coles
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 78 minutes
Format: DVD
Reviewer: Roger Howell
Blurb: Brady (Sean Hoagland), who will shortly be going away to college, is a shy, introspective 18-year-old, who moves to the coastal seaside town of Rock Haven with his overprotective, widowed mother Marty (Laura Jane Coles), who is setting up a Christian school nearby. He spends a lot of time on the beach, either reading the bible or staring at the waves crashing on shore, until he meets a neighbor’s free- spirited visiting son, 19-year-old Clifford (Owen Alabado). There is an instant attraction to each other, even though homosexuality conflicts with Brady’s devoutly Christian beliefs.

Review: I went into this movie not really knowing what to expect. All I had read was the short synopsis on the jacket cover of the DVD I rented from Netflix. Brady is a shy and introverted 18-year-old boy. He is also devoutly Christian. Then he meets Clifford and his worldview becomes turned upside down. Clifford is totally out the closet. Bradley has to start dealing with his emerging sexuality and feelings, which to him are a conflict with his religion. He also has to deal with telling his mom about his feelings at one point in the movie. The anguish and torment occurring to Brady is something all emerging gays go through and it was really believable.

As for the plotline the movie seemed slow throughout. Maybe the director intended this to happen to give time for the relationship to build but it seemed to leave something lacking in my honest opinion. The actor portraying Brady did a great job in portraying the struggle homosexual Christians have in mixing their sexual identity with their faith. Clifford as his best friend trying to help lead him through the crisis was fantastic as well. All in all, the movie ended on a great note.

Oy Vey! My Son is Gay !

81UtVnETG0L._SL1500_Movie Title: Oy Vey! My Son is Gay!
Release Date: 24 Dec 2010
Director: Evgeny Afineevsky
Writer(s): Evgeny Afineevsky, Manahem Golan (as Joseph Goldman), Martin Guigui
Principal Actor(s): Carmen Electra, Lainie Kazan, Saul Rubinek, Bruce Vilanch, Angelo Ferraro, John Loyd Young
Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Format: DVD
Reviewer: Roger Howell

Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Oy-Vey-My-Son-Gay/dp/B00J925RX0

Synopsis: A romantic comedy featuring a Jewish family who struggles coming to terms with their son’s non-Jewish and gay boyfriend. When the gay couple adopts a child and it makes headline news, their families come to defend them and realize how much they love them.

Review:  This movie had me in stitches almost throughout the movie. I will grant there were a few serious moments. Lanie Kazan and Saul Rubinek as Shirley and Martin Hirsch were great as a couple trying to come to terms with their son being gay. John Loyd Young as their son Nelson was fantastic as well. Watching Martin interact in the gay bar was hilarious.

Nelson tries so many times to come out to his mom I think he was about to give up. The expression on his mom’s face is priceless when he and his partner are holding hands during the marriage scene. You have to give Nelson’s parents credit. Especially his mom as she is struggling to come to terms with her son being gay. Nelson and his partner Angelo wanting to adopt a baby hits the news and a protest ensues at the courthouse. Both sets of parents are there to support the young men. The moment when Shirley speaks to the reporter is what really makes the movie for me. It about brought me to tears as I vividly recalled the moment my mother accepted me for who I was as a person and a human being.

I would recommend this movie to anyone that wants a feel good comedy to watch. I would give it a four of five stars.

Brokeback Mountain ~ Movie Review

brokebackMovie Title: Brokeback Mountain
Release Date: 13 January 2006
Director: Ang Lee
Writers: Annie Proulx (Short Story), Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana (Screenplay)
Principal Actor(s): Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger
Genre: Drama/Romance
Running Time: 134 Minutes
Format: Blue Ray/DVD
Buy Link: http://www.brokebackmountain.com/
Reviewer: Roger Howell

In full retrospect, Brokeback Mountain is a very raw & powerful story. Two men, both cowboys, meet while shepherding. In turn they form an unorthodox but enduring life-long bond. In the vast wild countryside of 1963 Wyoming, these two men come to love each other and the story follows them through their lives.
The entire plotline is riddled with angst and in turns guilt. On the one hand, Ennis has always had to be responsible for his own survival. On the other, Jack has had a family his entire life. But still the love is not there for Jack from his family. It’s the catalyst that ignites the love and romance for both Ennis and Jack. Each man searching for love and acceptance and find it in each other. These are two men, as the story progresses, that can be seen to be fully in love with each other. Jack is the more self-assured man knowing that he likes to have sex with men. Ennis is conflicted most of the time in the movie. He’s done the right thing by society’s standards, married, and had kids.
But as I watched the movie, I could see that he yearned for true freedom and really wanted to be with Jack for life. Brokeback Mountain with powerful acting from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal took me on a full emotional rollercoaster and I deeply recommend it as a movie to watch. The ensemble cast in the form of Michelle Williams as Alma Del Mar and Anne Hathaway rounded out a fantastic movie that should have won Best Picture.

Brokeback Mountain Trailer

Strapped

81lcCxYgAwL._SL1500_Title: Strapped

Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance

Length: 95 minutes

Distributer: TLA Releasing DVD (July 17th, 2010)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 7/10

Reviewer: Tams

Blurb: A routine trick propels a tall, dark, cynical hustler (the strikingly handsome newcomer Ben Bonenfant) into a series of life-changing encounters in this stunningly photographed drama. But this amicable and sexually efficient rent boy begins to look at himself differently when he finds himself lost in a maze-like apartment building. On his journey through the building, he tricks with a variety of johns; sex is the commonality, but out of that commodity comes raw, unguarded emotions for all. Witty, sexy and touching, Strapped is an unforgettable look into one young man’s moving journey to understanding.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Strapped-Ben-Bonenfant/dp/B0042L0OG8/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1392605892&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=sTrapped+DVD

Watch via Amazon instant video: Rent through Amazon for $3.99, buy through Amazon as a digital download for $9.99 {you can also view the trailer via this link} http://www.amazon.com/Strapped-Ben-Bonenfant/dp/B004GWVVT2/ref=tmm_aiv_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1392605892&sr=1-2-catcorr

Review: The DVD cover reads, “Honest and Intelligent.” And this is so true.

The Hustler learns about life and love during a sex fuelled trip through an apartment building that is straight out of The Twilight Zone. I seriously thought at one point he’d wound up in purgatory. And one of his tricks actually asked him if he seriously thought the building was some kind of purgatory, to which I chuckled.

Back to the Hustler, whose name changes with each trick. He initially came to the building with the Russian, John, who is an inexperienced and closeted homosexual looking for someone to pop his cherry, so to speak. As H is leaving Johns he runs into a full on Queen and he is convinced that H is someone he knows. One thing leads to another and H after accompanying the Queen back to his apartment winds up blowing another guy in the bed room.

Next up, we have David, a supposed Good Samaritan that will show H his way out of the building. They wind up in the basement and first David asks for sex but then goes kind of psycho and punches H. Sam happens upon them and rescues H, taking him to the top of the building to his apartment where they ponder their meagre existences. Sam ends up bending H over his bar and they both have a very happy ending. Mind you he’s gotten paid for all these tricks, and he’s managed to make himself into what each and every guy seems to want or need. Almost like a chameleon. And he’s versatile. But he doesn’t kiss because THAT is too personal.

All throughout the movie there is this one sort of geeky cute guy that is eyeing H. Gary is scared and alone and all he wants is for someone to make him feel something, feel anything. So he pays H to kiss him, that’s all he wants is a kiss. The two have a very steamy and passionate make out session that ends with another twin set of happy endings. And supposedly this is the end of the line for H, who finally finds his way out of the building.

But there was something about Gary. The way he kissed him, touched him and looked at him that makes H question leaving. In the end the story really does pass itself off as some type of purgatory in my opinion. H has to make his way through each of these tricks, all different in what they want and who they are, in order to find that light at the end of the tunnel. Imagine his surprise when his light is the cute little geek.

The acting in this movie was far better than I’ve seen in many gay movies. The storyline was plausible and the reality of it kept me engaged all the way. There is also a happy ending, another thing we don’t often see in gay movies. It’s like there is a mandate on angst and misery in LGBT movies, well not this time! I loved this movie and I highly recommend you watch it. If you are a fan of slightly weird stories with a little bit of sexy and some pretty decent make out scenes and sex scenes for a movie that’s not classified as soft porn.

Boy Culture Movie Review

Boy-Culture-PosterTitle:  Boy Culture

Genre: Gay Romance  

Length:  90 minutes

TLA Releasing August 2007

Heat Level:  Moderate

Rating:  7/10 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

Synopsis: Director/co-writer Q. Allan Brocka has created a gorgeously textured film that not only explores the recesses of the human heart, but also is charged with sex and filled with laughter. Adapted from the outstanding novel by Matthew Rettenmund, Boy Culture is the story of X (Derek Magyar), a high-end prostitute, and his two roommates Andrew (Darryl Stephens) and Joey (Jonathan Trent), who together have created a family for the 21st century. X is the head of the household who brings home the bacon and sets the tone. He has a serious crush on Andrew, who works at a video store and is waiting for the right man…and in Andrew’s opinion, a hustler is just not the right man. Joey is a 17-year-old whirlwind of trouble, but there’s really only one man he wants: X. The sexual tension between these three men is palpable. X is not your typical hustler; he has only 12 clients and concentrates on making these men happy. When one dies, there’s room for a new client and he chooses Gregory (Patrick Bauchau), a rich, lonely man who hasn’t left his home in eight years.

Buy from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Culture-Patrick-Bauchau/dp/B000R7G9JW

Watch on Amazon instant video: http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Culture-Derek-Magyar/dp/B0047WV08I/ref=tmm_aiv_title_0

You can also get this one streaming if you have Netflix, or to rent through the TLA releasing channel on YouTube.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyxq3uXeJyE

Reviewer:   Tams

Review:  A successful male escort describes in a series of confessions his tangled romantic relationships with his two roommates and an older, enigmatic male client. 01

The story centers on these three roommates, all three are gay, and all three are unique in their own way. X is an escort with flair. He sees the same twelve clients, the most recent addition being a lonely and slightly eccentric older man. Andrew moved in a little over a year ago after breaking off his engagement to his longtime girlfriend. She was a beard to hide his true feelings for her brother. Joey is a hot mess! Barely eighteen and on the prowl, every night with someone new. But Joey is a man on a mission. While he plows through all these guys he really, only have eyes for one, X. But X is in love with Andrew, though he is hell bent on never admitting that to anyone, especially Andrew! While Andrew has spent the past year fully exploring his sexuality, he’s ready to settle down and have that lasting relationship with the right guy. And guess who he wants… X.

This movie had a solid script and above par acting. So often in gay films, your three choices are campy, cheesy, or psychotic. And oh joy if you happen to luck out and land all three, usually with lack luster acting. I wouldn’t nominate this movie for an Oscar, but it was interesting and kept me intrigued. The two main characters, Alex and Andrew, have to learn how to navigate within each other’s lives, deal with their unlikely career choices, raise a horny, gay teenager, and hopefully figure out how to love each other along the way.

The most interesting aspect to the movie for me was the telling of the story. Narrated completely from X’s POV through a series of journal entries, it adds a unique element to the plot. And how he’s always saying, “Lord Forgive Me.” Using pennies for penance at the end, or as he calls them, his Hail Marys. The guys grew and changed so much from beginning to end, and yet, they stayed the same. If you’re looking for a juicy gay movie with a balance of drama and romance, queue this one up! It’s streaming on Netflix, Amazon instant video and TLA releasing on YouTube for a just a few dollars.

The Raspberry Reich

THE RASPBERRY REICH (2004)
Director: Bruce LaBruce
Starring: Susanne Sachsse, Daniel Batscher, Andreas Rupprecht, Dean Stathis, Anton Z. Risan

THE RASPBERRY REICH is a film that’s not for everyone. Like anything directed by Canadian provocateur Bruce LaBruce (OTTO; OR UP WITH DEAD PEOPLE), it’s an acquired taste and the epitome of porn with plot.

If you’re looking for a sweet gay movie where you can gush over cute boys falling in love, steer clear. But if you’re in the mood for something rougher and with a good dollop of anarchy, check this one out.

History buffs will be familiar with the Red Army Faction – a radical left-wing terrorist group founded in the 1960s in West Germany, a group responsible for multiple kidnappings, assassinations and bombings – which was the basis for the 2008 film THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX starring Moritz Bleibtreu.

THE RASPBERRY REICH basically takes that same idea and gives it a very gay and very pornotastic spin with tongue firmly in cheek.

Susanne Sachsse stars as Gudrun, the leader of the otherwise all-male gang. Gudrun is a fag hag and dominatrix who believes heterosexuality to be a social construct and a tool of the oppressor. When she’s not barking out orders and communist slogans in mad Hitler style, she’s forcing her men to go gay for the cause.

Not that the guys seem to need much encouragement.

In fact, practically every time Gudrun so much as turns her back on the gang for a moment, they’re immediately going at it like rabbits and often while wearing nothing but their ski masks. Hot!

There is a lot of sex in this film. And it’s of the porn variety. In other words, expect insert shots.

For example, Gudrun has sex with her boyfriend Holger (Daniel Batscher), a marathon of grunting and humping that takes them out of the bedroom, out of the apartment, into the hallway and into an elevator shared by an old woman and her husband with Gudrun and Holger never missing a desperate thrust.

That’s the extent of the heterosexual sex in the film.

Meanwhile, Andreas (Dean Stathis a.k.a. Chaos Men porn model Dean Monroe), is next door dressed in a Che Guevera t-shirt and socks as he stands in front of a full-length mirror, admiring himself as he slowly and seductively runs the barrel of a shotgun back and forth between his bare ass cheeks.

Later he sits on his bed, legs spread wide, and performs fellatio on a smaller gun before getting so worked up over the scenario that he takes matters into his own hands and sprays his seed into the air.

Yep. Cum shots.

Much of the film’s plot revolves around the gang kidnapping Patrick (Andreas Rupprecht), the adult son of a wealthy capitalist. Little does Gudrun know that Clyde (Anton Z. Risan), one of the men in her gang, is the boyfriend of their victim and, when Clyde accidentally handcuffs himself to Patrick, the two end up in the trunk of the getaway car together where they proceed to have sex.

While, in real life, kidnapping victim Patricia Hearst was forced by the Symbionese Liberation Army to rob banks, Patrick is forced to star in a gang bang of a porn movie to be sent to his father as blackmail.

This reminded me of the John Waters film CECIL B. DEMENTED in which Stephen Dorff and his crew kidnap movie star Melanie Griffith and force her to appear in their latest underground film, and any of Gregg Araki’s early films such as THE DOOM GENERATION in that walls were often splashed with Che Guevera or other iconic imagery that played up/against the scenes on hand.

If you’re a fan of Bruce LaBruce like I am, you’ll get a kick out of this movie. If you’re a stranger to his work, this is probably your best bet as an introduction as it’s the most accessible of his films.