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Queer as Folk - The Complete First Season (Showtime)

Queer as Folk - The Complete First Season (Showtime)

List Price: $119.98
Your Price: $95.98
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Really fun soap opera porn
Review: And I mean that in a good way! Wall-to-wall sex of various sorts (other than het), full frontal everything, and characters you fall in love with immediately. The soapy plotlines are not especially challenging; things pretty much fall out as you expect, but it's still a great ride. I did find myself wondering if this show is any more a realistic depiction of gay life than, say, "Sex in the City" or "Friends" (or "The Waltons", while we're at it) is of hetero life, but hey, who cares? It's fun! And IMHO, it surpasses the original Brit version, good as that was.

I'm awed that these actors, many of whom I suspect are not gay, so boldly play the sex and love scenes. From kissing to hard driving backroom --- well, you know-- it's done with zest, humor, and ease. I particularly loved the episode in which buttoned-down Ted discovers his inner masochist and takes a walk on the wild side. Emmet's odessy with his beefy screen name come-to-life is also hilarious.

Nerdy, big-hearted Michael (Hal Sparks) is the heart and soul of the series and his tight-knit extended family. He's the perfect foil for complicated bad boy Brian. The two play off each other very nicely. Brian is the classic crazy maker, and his manipulative, needy relationship with his friends is well done. The fact that we begin to understand, and care, why Brian is such a [jerk] (how '90s!) says a lot for the quality of the writing, esp. for this viewer, who's known waaaaay too many "Brians" of both genders to cut him any slack without some convincing. The
"bowling" episode is truly brilliant.

Speaking as a straight, 40-something woman, I am sometimes offput by misogynist overtones in gay film. (OK, don't sleep with us, but do you have to get nasty?) There is some of this in QAF, but not to a degree that put this feminist off. It was consistent with the characters who voiced it (mostly Brian), and certainly not all the gay men in the series display such attitudes.

I was more concerned with some of the sterotyped roles for women. Debbie, Michael's flamboyant, PFLAG button-sporting, rainbow flag waving, gay hangout running mom (and she's mom to everyone she meets) is delightful, but a type I see in just about every gay film. I know such women exist; I'm friends them--to some lower-key degree I *am* one-- but they never seem to have much depth, or any purpose in life beyond mothering every gay stray who crosses their path. Justin's WASPy mom (such a nonentity I can't even remember her name) is quickly recruited to the cause by Debbie, and Justin's dad is quickly jettisoned to maintain the mythic dynamic.

Justin's gal pal Daphne is the "faghag in training" who- qu'ell surpris!- gets gay friend to be her first lover then falls for him with resulting complications X,Y,Z . . . *yawn.*

These are the harmless support staff. Straight "breeders" (loathsome term!) are below anyone's radar. Lesbians, generally more powerful personalities, are there to be insulted and fought against until some of them become your allies when you need them to be. It's an interesting dynamic; it's almost as if these acid tongued men see mature, sexual women as a threat, one not posed by the asexual, cuddly Moms and Daphnes of the world. Reminds me of the Little Rascals' "He-Man Wimmen Haters Club."

All that being said, I did enjoy the contrast of the hard-edged, tomcatting world of the men and the warm and fuzzy bonding of the lesbians. And I still gladly give this show 5 stars. QAF is an engaging, rich, delightful, boundary-pushing show and I hope season two comes out soon!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Queer as Folk - Complete Season 1
Review: Prepare for the roller coaster ride of the lives of 5 different guys. Experience every aspect of their lifestyle.

I first saw the English version of this one, at the time I thought it was good but compared to showtime's version it is nothing. Season I of Queer as Folk is great, I can't wait for Season II!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great service from Amazon !
Review: Also I have purchased the box set from amazon and also I had problems with disc 2...It didn't play. Amazon send me extremely fast a new copy and again...disc 2 did not work. I contacted them again and three days later a third copy arrived in Belgium with DHL...and yes, this copy played perfectly. Thank you Amazon for the great service.
Great series, after a few episodes you get hooked and can't stop watching. I would not really call it realistic...not every gay man lives the lives like they do but it is great entertainment, beautifully filmed and with lots of emotions. Can't wait to see season 2 on dvd.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A Flawed Release, but...A Good Series
Review: As mentioned in other reviews the second disk of the DVD set I purchased is flawed. Here I am ready to watch Justin do a classmate, and episode 4 and 5 on the second disk will not play. I thought it may be just my set, but now I see that others have purchased sets with the same problem.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Queer as Folk . . . a purely "queer" show . . .
Review: I normally watch the episodes of Queer as Folk as they air and I do enjoy the show a lot. For the most part, the characters are very interesting. One flaw that I do see in QAF is much of the dialogue. The storylines are enticing, but some of the dialogue gets cheesy or redundant, such as the excessive use of the "F" word. I'm not offended by it, but it gets annoying when blurted over and over. Anyway, I think that the rest of it is great, reaching all emotional ends of the spectrum. It can be hilarious, dramatic, and even bizarre, but I think it's awesome.


Now a note on the DVDs themselves. I think that all fans of the show will love the DVDs, just because they'll have them whenever they need them. They will also love the special features. Honestly, however, the DVDs are more mainly just for the episodes, and the amount of good special features is not huge. There's probably a list on amazon, so you can judge for yourself. I, personally, thought it was worth the buy.


The final notes I have are these: to other gays out there, don't be offended! Just think, would any normal person actually be offended if somebody of their race/ethnicity or sexual orientation person in a movie committed homocide? One would hope not. QAF would [be terrible] if the characters were ordinary gay guys. The fun in QAF comes with the array of characters. Its not like ordinary "striaght" TV is filled with accurate portraits of the moral lives of the populous! Just enjoy it and don't get all picky and defensive, please.


Anyway, enjoy this! ...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Whether you are or aren't, you'll love it!
Review: Sexual preferences aside, this show is fantastically fabulous! The characters are all every day people that anyone can relate to (some more so than others, I admit). From Ted's insecurities to Michael's flamboyant mother; Justin's troubles with his peers to Brian's inability to admit he has any feelings whatsoever; and of course, the ever entertaining Emmett. Melanie and Lindsey add a bit of female perspective, and the challenge to Brian to be a "dad". From Episode 1's opening scene in Babylon to the heart-wrenching Season Finale, this series completely draws you in and keeps you wanting more. You can't help but love, or at least admire, every single character (even Brian!). Whether you're male or female, straight or gay, this show is a Must See!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Mass-produced w/bad disc!!
Review: While I have to say I love the series, I would suggest buying it from some where local, because it was mass-produced with ....[messed up] episodes on disc 2, and you may get one with a bad second disc too. Better to buy local...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great actors! Great story! Great series!
Review: Very good stuff! Never seen something like that before. Unfortunately it can't be seen here on German TV...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Brillant And Thought Provoking Show
Review: I watched the whole first season of QAF on Dvd last weekend. I love the show, as it portrays life as it is , the good , the bad and the ugly, with not excuses. I hope this shows continues for many years as it highlights everyday problems regardless of a person's sexuality that we all go through. I give the cast and crew 5 stars for the their belief in the show and the importance of making it, I can only hope that this show will somehow make the world a better place, by challenging people's misconceptions about gay and bi people and realise that everyone wants someone to love them no matter what their sexual orientaion is.

I love all the characters, including Brian, because I understand them all and where they are coming from and I cannot wait for the 2nd series of QAF be released on Dvd so I can own a copy of that series too.

I do not think it is really important if some or all the actors are gay, what is important is to be apart of this Brillant show and know that in some small way they are making the world a better place, I for one are so grateful for that.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Is just great!
Review: If you like the tv series you will just love this chance to have all the first season.Unfortunatelly the VHS version have a problem.Only the first and the fifth cassete was taped in SP,what means that the others have a difference in quality of image.Pity.If you have a Dvd player(region 1 or free region),you can buy the dvd.For sure is much better!


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