Category: What’s Inside My Head

2gether the Movie: A Review

February 26th, 2022
2gether the Movie: A Review

Ratings: 5/5 Stars

Directors: Noppharnach Chaiwimol, Kanittha Kwanyu, Weerachit Thongjila

Main Cast: Vachirawit Chivaaree, Metawin Opas-Iamkajorn

Story: Based from เพราะเรา … คู่กัน by JittiRain

Official Movie Poster from GMMTV

Disclaimer: This is an informal movie review, devoid of structure and some elements of a professional movie review. This is simply a string of comments from a fan who loves 2gether and the actors playing the main characters.

It is not just a case of destiny, but also a case of chemistry and an honest-to-goodness, feel-good story. Not to mention there is that subtle emotional kick that hits randomly all throughout the movie, forcing the audience to do a massive organ inventory.

2gether is a story about two young men falling in love for real after faking a relationship to save one of them from a persistent suitor. It’s a tale about love at first sight, unconditional love, and how gender is not a hindrance to finding what one’s heart wants.

The Movie starts with Tine Teepakorn Aekaranwong getting ready for what seems to be a special occasion. Seconds later, Sarawat Guntithanon, Tine’s partner, steps into the frame and asks his boyfriend about what he’s feeling. And from then on, a series of flashbacks starts, bringing the audience back to where it all begins.

And this is where everything makes sense.

2gether the Series is from the POV of Tine, which gives us a one-sided glimpse of the scenes, except perhaps during that confession in the bus wherein Sarawat bares all. 2gether the Movie is both from Tine’s and Wat’s POV, and it includes inner monologues that fill the gaps in the series—it’s what makes the movie different.

But let’s break it down one by one.

The Actors and Main Characters

Tine, played by versatile actor Metawin “Win” Opas-Iamkajorn, is a tall, handsome student under the Faculty of Law and a self-proclaimed ‘chic’ boy who makes it his ultimate goal to find a girlfriend, only to end up being chased instead by Green, another male student under the Faculty of Humanities. He seeks the help of cold, introvert Sarawat Guntithanon, the university’s talented heartthrob, whose character is brought to life by the effortless acting of Vachirawit “Bright” Chiva-aree.

Sarawat and Tine have been portrayed excellently by Bright and Win, and the movie will convince the audience just how perfectly they play these characters. That there will be no other actors who could have played these two characters better than them. Sarawat and Tine have become Bright and Win; and Bright and Win have become Sarawat and Tine.

Each expression or each gesture that has been shown in the Series that perhaps has an ambiguous or vague impression, makes total sense in the Movie. It’s like finally finding the missing pieces that will help decipher the codes, and it feels so good knowing that all hunches and thoughts are valid.

And there is that chemistry. One has to be blind not to see it or has to be numb not to feel it. All Bright and Win have to do is to stand beside each other for that chemistry to overflow and catch everyone off-guard who isn’t expecting it. The main actors’ chemistry plays a huge role in the success of the series, its special episodes, and the movie. There is just something about the two of them that makes even the smallest scene explode with sparks.

Perhaps it’s because there has always been little to no fanservice between them, making way for other people to witness the real bond between them. And that bond is what makes them special because they seem to protect it with all they have.

It’s natural and unscripted. It’s vague, but solid. It’s visible, but unidentifiable. It’s not a secret, but it’s private. Whatever it is, it’s a bond that transcends work and will not be easily shattered by naysayers or detractors.

Bright and Win – they deserve a new BL couple series. That chemistry needs to be flaunted out there again, perhaps not just on the small screen, but also on the big screen again.

Musical Score and Editing

One of the notable things worthy of laud in the movie is the musical score.

While the series and its special episodes have the best OST (they’re the stars in my Spotify account), the movie can really boast about its musical score.

The background music is amazing, and always plays during the best cuts where it should be played. This highlights some scenes more, bringing out the best in every word spoken and every emotion shown.

The music is always on point, adding to the sentimentality of each scene, making the viewer feel as if they’re right there along with the characters, experiencing the same things.

It is also noteworthy to talk about the story flow. The fluidity of the storyboard is evident, with no awkward cuts or unnecessary scenes. It’s a short, clear-cut way of narrating a beautiful love story between men, without overwhelming the viewer with information.

And finally, there is the addition of the inner thoughts—both from Tine and Wat. The inner monologues have redefined the story so much. And the best thing about it? The revelation about Tine’s feelings. It turns out Tine is as whipped as Sarawat all along, and that hits straight to the heart of every fan who has always thought that it’s just Sarawat who has been feeling such deep emotions in the beginning.

Other Points
- Their love for vintage – simple things that last long, increasing their value overtime. In Still 2gether, Wat traded his BMW for a Vespa motorcycle. It might not be convenient for long drives, but it’s the perfect transportation for him and Tine. And for the movie, they own a Mini Cooper. Vintage vehicles hold a lot of memories—the longer they stay in one’s mind and heart, the more precious they become. It’s a perfect symbolism for the SarawatTine couple.
- The expressions of the people closest to them (i.e. P’Dim’s expression when SarawatTine are doing the pocky challenge or his expression when Green joins the Music Club). These tiny additions will make you understand why the characters of the series in that particular scene act that way in the series.
- The chemistry between the cast. 2gether is a story crafted by the mind of JittiRain and brought to life by amazing actors. From 2gether to Still 2gether to 2gether the Movie—it has been obvious how the relationship between everyone is so healthy that the chemistry just flows naturally from the screen. Everyone just seems to get along well. The characters and the story become a part of people’s lives because they have become family—probably one of the reasons for 2gether’s magic.
- The directors and the production staff. Directors who take care of their actors will always bring out the best in them. As evident, 2gether has the best directors who took their time getting to know the actors with the characters. It’s no wonder why there is consistency and quality in the production, even if the movie seems to be a spur-of-the-moment decision from the management.
Which finally leads to this—

To those who are hesitant to give 2gether the Series a try, the Movie can be your… test. It’s 2gether the Series’ and Still 2gether’s key scenes combined in a two-hour show and complemented by new scenes that flawlessly tie Sarawat and Tine’s story in a neat bind.

The Movie fills the gaps in the Series, resulting to a full story that touches every fan’s heart, leaving no room for doubts when it comes to the love shared between two people of the same gender identity yet of different sexual orientations.

2gether the Movie is NOT just a duplicate or a repeat of 2gether the Series, but rather a supplementary masterpiece that completes it, giving way to a more in-depth understanding of each character’s actions and emotions and revealing the full contextual meaning of every scene.

Some say that plot-wise, it’s not the best BL series out there. Perhaps, that’s right. 2gether’s plot is simple and light.

But a story doesn’t need to be complicated to be beautiful. A story just needs to speak to its audience, and that’s what 2gether and its cast and crew manage to deliver in spades.

For Filipino fans, you can watch 2gether the Movie via online streaming platforms. This is not a paid advertisement. I just want to support Bright and Win, Sarawat and Tine, and the series that gave us them.

Links:

https://www.upstream.ph/content/vod/2gether-the-movie/61fd0bf0a3bb0651fb443bb2

https://www.ktx.ph/category/2gether-the-movie-for-philippine-territory-only
A Review: The Colors That You Bleed (A BW AU) by Jelly @mochiewin

August 3rd, 2021

***

RATING: 4.75/5

Everyone who knows me well is aware of how much I love the abstracts, and Jelly’s (@mochiewin) The Colors That You Bleed is full of well-written abstracts, allowing her narratives to immediately touch the soul of her readers, including me.

And believe me, it’s quite difficult for me to get absorbed in a story, not because the author is not talented (I believe all writers are talented), but because I am looking for a story that has everything I don’t want in my lovelife – complicated characters balanced by a well-written narrative.

A good story, for me, is a mix of one or two genres. This one falls under general fluff, at least to me, but the small shots of angst all throughout give its plot the perfect equilibrium. Reading it gives the feeling similar to reading a fantasy novel that evokes feelings from one’s reality.

And no, this isn’t a fantasy story, but the way she tells it transports one’s soul to dreamland with their feet still grounded on reality. It’s beautiful.

The story begins with Win, a novelist, who needs to find a muse for his new book. Perhaps it’s what the universe wants, or perhaps, it’s simply just another glitch in Win’s galaxy, but he’s sent to a coffee shop by a twitch of destiny, allowing him to meet Bright – a seemingly interesting barista, not to mention inhumanely handsome.

As a writer, Win has expectations, and he finds himself getting disappointed when Bright doesn’t seem to have an interesting life – a no, no if one’s occupation involves making up stories inside one’s head. But with the help of a friend (and his growing fascination for the boy), the once blank vision begins to be filled with hues, allowing him to see Bright in a different, new light.

Let me get to the good points of the AU.

First, her well-developed characters.

Win. I remember QRT-ing this story and expressing how much I relate to Win. As someone who has been writing for years, I see myself in him. It hasn’t really changed – the way a writer needs a muse in every step of the creative process. A writer needs to have an inspiration, or else everything will be for naught, and will result in a bland manuscript.

I love how Jelly is able to tell Win’s story just by his habits. She doesn’t need to describe in detail who he is, because his actions alone define who he is and what he is.

Jelly writes Win as someone complicated. But his complexity is slowly broken down into pieces as the story goes on, which does not suffocate her readers with too much information. He learns things slowly when Bright comes into his life. The best part for me is when he starts to learn how to make sense of his feelings, and not just the feelings of the characters he creates in his head.

Bright. Things are opposite with Bright. His complexity as a character is revealed and built up slowly by Jelly until he becomes a one whole piece full of human intricacies. But, it’s also because of this that his character perfectly blends with Win, who by the end, is already a less intense version of his composite self.

In a way, I relate to Bright too. He reminds me of myself. He is me with my writer persona shed off. There are no words to describe how difficult it is to have that feeling of mundane existence and trying to just live it one day at a time just because there is something missing that is felt within.

The side characters. Tay, Off, Love, and even First – they are all there for a reason. They’re not just there for decorations, but they are there to keep the story moving. They each have a purpose.

Without Off and Love, no one will push Bright’s character out of his comfort zone. Without Tay, Win will not have some of those realizations needed to push the story further. Without First, the truth will not come out. And while I believe that Bright and Win will find a way to be okay even without that truth, the story wouldn’t be as satisfactory to the reader.

Second, let me talk about Jelly’s writing style.

I am a sucker for lyrical narratives because they touch my soul in ways I cannot explain. I easily get carried away by beautiful abstracts, and I find myself floating along with the words as the story progresses.

Jelly also knows how to use her storytelling skills – she writes her story in a way that will not bore the readers. There is balance between narration and dialogue – a most important aspect in storytelling. It’s the writer’s responsibility to show more than just tell. Jelly does this well.

She also knows when to reveal things. That revelation about color blindness at the end is the best part for me, as it does not only justify the title of the AU, but also justifies the story of Win and Bright. It’s supposed to surprise me, but it doesn’t because of the way it’s revealed.

And that’s perfect. Because with how Jelly writes the story, a shocking revelation would have destroyed the consistency of the overall tone (that melancholic but soothing tone).

Then there’s the reconciliation between Win and his past. That kind of tells one that in reality, time is indeed an essential factor for healing broken hearts as well as tattered souls.

Third and last, the plot. God, I love the plot. I am probably biased because one of the major protagonists is a writer, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a simple plot that stirs realistic feelings. It’s relatable. And I love that it becomes diverse and elaborate as the story is slowly told. The subplots are revealed around the middle of the story, adding to the beauty of the story instead of causing major plot problems.

Now let’s talk about parts that might need a little tweaking.

First – the platform. Don’t get me wrong, I love Twitter, and I love Twitter AUs. And I know it’s needed because of the social media aspect of the AU. It’s just that a story like this, which is told in a lyrical way, needs a better platform for its narration parts. I believe the author will be able to develop it more if, let’s say, the platform is an author-friendly avenue for writers.

There are also details that needed ironing out a bit like a couple of scenes that needed to be described more and a couple of questions that needed answers. But they’re minor ones. I believe Jelly could have answered them or included them IF the platform is perfect for writers.

Overall, it’s an amazing journey. It’s one of my classic favorites (just like her other stories). Perhaps, one day, if Jelly is confident enough to tell her story to a bigger audience, she can expand this into a full-length novel and have it published.

Link to the Twitter Author: https://twitter.com/mochiewin

Link to the Twitter Story: https://twitter.com/mochiewin/status/1346463650060541952

Follow her – she has other amazing stories!

***

Katto

IG: katrina.saba

Twitter: kattowrites

Category: What’s Inside My Head

2gether the Movie: A Review

A Review: The Colors That You Bleed (A BW AU) by Jelly @mochiewin