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Queer as Folk (British TV Series)

Queer as Folk (British TV Series)

List Price: $69.95
Your Price: $62.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Greatness...
Review: If you are into the interesting and sexual world of 3 gay men in Manchester, this is definitely the series for you. Once you watch the first episode, you will not be able to turn off your television until you are finished and ready to watch again. Trust me! All I will tell you is that this is my favourite line. "It's breaking up.....we're breaking up!!" When you find this line near the end of the series, it will be your favourite too. Have fun watching, and drop me a line if you want. Thanks for your time.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wonderful British Drama
Review: After the opening salvo - that is sex scene - between Aiden Gillett and Charlie Hunnam, this original series opens into a wonderful drama of gay life. Of course, there are still more sex scenes (a delicately filmed threesome) but the real drama revolves around everyday issues of being gay. Unlike it's American counterpart, this series pulls no punches and never underestimates your intelligence.

The characters are believable and although not always lovable (Stuart, you bugger!), you can't help but root for even the bad guy. Won't you don't tolerate are the eggheads and snobs that permeate all strata of life. In other words, the know-it-alls do get their comeuppance. The three major characters are first class actors. They make you want to come back for more.

Get the series and get a first class taste of gay life!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: US version not as good as original
Review: I know many people are seeing QaF for the first time on Shotime in the US, but the British version did in fact come first, and in my opinion, is much more satisfying than the US one. The characters are much more real and fully drawn (Stuart isn't nearly the jerk that Brian is, for example), and the way the scenes are played out is much more subtle. Most of the American version so far is simply recreating the scenarios of the British one (often line by line and shot by shot). The Brits know what they're doing, and that certainly shows here. The show illustrates what these men's lifestyles are like. We see ups and downs and all of it portrayed very realistically. Sex isn't always romanticized and softly lit; taking recreational drugs won't always kill you, but it very well might; promiscuous sex is by no means a good idea, but some people do indeed live that way. And the blokes in QaF show you it all from all sides of the issues. A definite must see. If you can only see one version of QaF, see the Brit one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Brits are not nearly as Queer as the Yanks
Review: Picked this DVD off a Canadian website about a year ago. The American version is definitely more sexual although the Brits are adult enough to show frontal male nudity (yep, even on "regular" TV). Stuart (Brian) is more likeable, less of predator. Vince (Michael) is not quite as starry-eyed over Stuart as Michael is over Brian. And Nathan is adorable without the little boy cuteness of Justin. Typical British TV show in that it hits and runs but worth viewing to see where the US QAF comes from. All in all the American QAF is much more entertaining. Faster paced, campier, more extensive story. Plus the Brits just don't have it in the looks department :-((

A word of caution . . . the Manchester accent is quite thick and there's a lot of British slang, so if you're not familiar with either or both, you might have a bit of trouble catching the meaning without a translator by your side. But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sophisticated Series
Review: While the American version of QAF focuses on sensationalism and sleaze, the original British version takes a more artistic approach to presenting gay life. Sure there are sex scenes, and soap operish situations, but they are handled in a more realistic manner. Watching this rich version of QAF is like watching a really good independent film. The acting is solid, the characters are multi-dimensional, and the writing is top-notch. Unlike the American version, drugs and backrooms are downplayed in UK's version of QAF. The only time drugs come into play is when one of the characters dies from an overdose.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Provocative, Intelligent and Engaging
Review: This series was incredible. It topped all my expectations and then some. It blasts through the conventional and cliche with it's riveting portrayl of the characters and the unique challenges they face. All of the characters are well-rounded, and generally defy any stereotype of "gay" out there in some way. Aidan Gillen's Stuart Allen Jones is visceral and compelling, but could not possibly survive without the nuanced performances of of the actors who play Vince and Nathan. I fell in love with all the characters by the end. The series is also replete with great comedic moments that often celebrate the characters' resillence in the face of queer opression. You'll laugh, you'll scream, you'll cheer, but straight or gay, you will love this series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sophisticated Series
Review: While the American version of QAF focuses on sensationalism and sleaze, the original British version takes a more artistic approach to presenting gay life. Sure there are sex scenes, and soap operish situations, but they are handled in a more realistic manner. Watching this rich version of QAF is like watching a really good independent film. The acting is solid, the characters are multi-dimensional, and the writing is top-notch. Unlike the American version, drugs and backrooms are downplayed in UK's version of QAF. The only time drugs come into play is when one of the characters dies from an overdose.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: ?
Review: Having been a major fan of the American QAF, it was great recently to see the British.

Like a lot of folks have said, the initial story line is almost identical, just treated in a different way. British is faster paced and funnier, especially after you get used to the Manchester working class slang. But the faster pace keep the characters from having quite as much depth, although I like how the relationship between Stuart and Vince turns out more than Brian and Mike. But I'm more of a romantic about stuff like that.

And the British is far more authentic in its approach to the working class culture. The American boys claim Pittsburg working class roots, but they behave like middle class suburbans.

Overall though, I like the larger cast, more complex story and character development of the American version. And there's nothing in the British that comes even close to the impact of the last show of season 1 American, especially for someone who's been through a similar situation as what happened to Justin. That one episode did more to heal my old emotional pains than years of counselling could ever hope to!! I also think the way the American told the story of Mike's 30th birthday was much better set up and followed through to a logical conclusion than Vince's 30th on the British. If I hadn't seen the American, I probably would have missed the point on the British.

But all in all, the British is definitely worth having if you're into QAF.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Maybe it's a British thing...
Review: i have seen the first season of queer as folk from showtime and it follows pretty close to this series, except the american one is a lot longer. both are good on their own terms, but i wish that the british one was a bit longer. the charcters in the british version are excellently played, and the accents are just awesome, which adds a little something to the show. for some reason i really like an accent. this set is only 2 discs each containing two hour long epiodes. in those episodes there is a lot going on, but it never seems like it is to muchthat is part of what i really like about the british version, i think it is very balanced. especially for being so short. the characters have different names than the american version, but each one is easy to identify between the two. like i said earlier many of the same events happen in the british one that happen in the american one, so anyone who has seen the american one will recognize the stories portrayed in the british one. all in all this is a pretty good investment and a good solid 4 hours of entertainment. i twould make a nice edition to any collection so i say why not, go out and get.


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