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Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
Beautiful, we need more of this
It was very beautiful, especially one scene in particular has touched me a lot. I'm not gonna spoiler, but it involves a balcony.
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I'm not good with rom-coms, I've always avoided them, "Bros" from 2022 was my first queer rom-com which I liked, but there were some awkward scenes, just like here, that were a bit too much for me. I'm sure, if you are experienced with rom-coms, you'd find it funny and amusing, though.
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I haven't read the book but have heard that, while it is a great movie and book-fans are enjoying it, the book is still better. While I can't add anything to that, I can say: I don't think it's a masterpiece, but I don't think it has to be. Neither was the low budget an issue, and had the internet not talked about this, I probably wouldn't even have noticed it. The writing, the cast & the chemistry between them, the cinematography and everything else is all balanced, so what else do you need.
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I have also heard that the book focused much more on politics and english history, especially in the emails between the male leads. Hence why it was such a big deal that they were published - not because they didn't want their private flirts to be exposed, but because it was about queer history that kids don't learn in schools, as school books only talk about hetero couples, unless that person was a criminal. Either way, I wished they included it too because of how important it is.
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I did liked the aspects of Henry questioning why they have to keep up this royal image and why there is such drama around royals in the 21st century, when they don't really serve a purpose anyway. But it could've been a bit more present. Still, better than nothing.
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In conclusion, a very nice movie, which I hope will make history, just as Henry and Alex did in their reality.
I do hope we'll get the 3 hour version (er, I mean, the 2 hours and 40 minutes version) some day, or a sequel, or both. Or generally more gay/queer rom-coms.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023)
It works
So good!!
The animation style is cute, but also realistic (within the world) and amazing. Very cartoony but works for this movie.
A lot of similarities with Pixar's Turning Red, but the ocean version. Family-oriented, typical teenager problems, such as romance and fitting in, and discovering their animal-form - Ruby having powers and getting trained by her grandmama.
I didn't mind the similarities at all though. Both movies have their charms and are still unique & different in their own ways. It works.
The songs rock. While they are very modern and not typical movie soundtracks (like Dreamworks did for Httyd for example), it does work for this movie, again. The story plays in our time after all.
I'm a bit disappointed there weren't more mermaids, as one of the film covers suggests, but this could perhaps be a base for a sequel or tv show, where they'll explore more the mermaids.
Overall enjoyable by all ages.