Rating: Summary: Love Love Love it Review: If you have seen the British version and liked it you'll love Showtimes version of this once in a life time experience. If you haven't seen the Britis version and buy this you'll rush out to buy it. Queer as Folk centers around the friendships of four gay men and the people in their lives. At least that's what you're told and when you first watch it that's what you really think it is. But as the episodes go by and you become more invested in the people you realize that the show really centers on two men and how then interact and react to the people in their lives. This show is really about the abiding love and friendship of Michael and Brian. The ways in which they push one another away and in the same breath draw each other closer. The club scenes are wonderful, the sex scenes are beautifully done, and the interaction between the characters is breath taking.
Rating: Summary: FINALLY A SHOW FOR GAYS!! Review: I've loved every episode of this show! I hope it never goes off the air! The acting and the writing are great and the guys are so hot.My only concern with the upcoming DVDs is that they don't seem to be offering enough special features, but, oh well, what are you going to do!
Rating: Summary: THE BEST THING SINCE TALES OF THE CITY!!!!!!!! Review: I have to give a lot of credit to the wonderful cast of this show, i have to admid at first i did not want to watch the show , but very soon i was hooked, i cant wait until next season starts, even though i am still angry about the season finale,this is a dvd that has to be a part of my collection. YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT
Rating: Summary: Based on the show, not the DVD (obviously)... Review: Contrary to other reviews here, I am a straight female that CAN'T GET ENOUGH of this show. I love seeing what Brian (can you say yummy?) is going to do next. I can't say that I know "the lifestyle" as another reviewer called it, but I will say this: this show, regardless of how true to life it may or may not be, is one of the best, most groundbreaking on television. It's pure entertainment...better than any daytime "soap" ever thought of being : )
Rating: Summary: Absolute Trash! Review: I am shocked that so many reviews on here claim this show "best show ever." I would like to hear their reasons, as I cannot think of one single quality about this show to call for such a label. The British version is brilliant in its concept and originality. This version attempts to parallel the British version, and falls flat on every attempt, making the actors look like total idiots and the writers seem completely incompetent at writing original, gripping material. The story lines here are nothing original; we've seen all this before, countless times. What sets the American Queer as Folk apart is its horrid acting, casting, writing, and ridiculous attempts at being bold. The actors don't seem at ease performing the material, but rather appear to be forcing their delivery. The moments that call for caddiness are most blatant. The delivery is all wrong. It (...) that a show comes along and everyone cheers it for being bold, new, original, and daring. I'm sorry - but those things apply to the British version of Queen is Folk. The American version is unoriginal, uninspiring, and just plain garbage. Get the British version - you won't be disappointed. If you want to see drama, acting, and writing at its absolute worst, your search ends with the American version.
Rating: Summary: Awesome! Review: This is really a dream come true. I was sincerely hoping that the makers would put this series out on video/DVD but I was a bit skeptical since it contained 22 episodes. But now that they are going to I am so happy! Queer as Folk is based on the so called "hit" British TV show which I loathed and then some when I first saw it last year. I found it pretentious, over the top and sensational. None of the characters were likable and more to the point it did nothing but re-enforce the negative stereotype I had about gay men; mostly that they were irresponsible and mysoginistics. In fact the only positive thing that came out of that series was this one! In fact I've learned more positive things about gays from this show than I have from all the gay activists and mainstream gay tv shows combined. That is because in QAFUSA there is no name calling, and no preaching about how much gays need to be loved. What we instead get is the portrayal of seven gay people who are shown with their flaws and virtues. But unlike other soap operas at least these virtues and flaws are not superficial or over the top (ie. Drugs and alcohol). The show involves a series of five gay men and two lesbians women living in Pittsburgh (but filmed in Toronto). And covers their everyday lives. And when I say everyday lives I mean everyday lives. QAF manages to achieve what previous nighttime soaps could only dream of. Instead of simply focusing on bed hopping and greed for money. The show actually looks in depth at the characters including personal hang-ups, and personal maturity. This show is hailed as a gay soap opera, but it is different from other gay shows I have seen. There is no self-hatred at least based on being gay. For example the character Brian is cold and arrogant and deep down unhappy, most other directors would have attributed this to "the big bad homophobic world". Not so with QAFUSA they have decided to be a bit more universal story. The reason for Brian's attitude is due to the rejection he received growing up from his alcoholic father (who by the way did not know he was gay until later). Which also explains his promiscuity. I don't think that Brian is lubricious persay. Its' obvious that he loves (or cares) for Justin, it's just that he's terrified of being rejected. Sexual conquests are far easier than allowing himself to fall in love. Michael is out to his gay friends and family but is not out to the rest of the world and in fact seems to feel slightly uncomfortable being so. I think that this has less to do with being ashamed of his being gay. Than it does of him not wanting to be seen as outside the norm. A feeling a think that many gays and lesbians feel I also like admire the show for it responsibility. Another original tack was in the ex-gay arc, whereas most other creators would have used this as an occasion to attack Christians and Christian teachings, The creators responsibly shy away from naming any religion at all, and just stick to the story that God loves everyone. One of the reasons I love this show is that I can actually relate to the characters. The show covers relation issues, employment issues, extended family issues and basically the value we place on ourselves as people. This is a show for people of all backgrounds. Both homosexual and heterosexual. But most of all I think it primarily is aimed at us generation X-sers those of us who were born in the late 60's and early 70's who live over here in North America. Since for a lot of North Americans 20 somethings there seems to a delayed adolescence. A lot of the show (without being preachy) tackles the symbolism of growing up (i.e. Entering your 30's) and the personal change that goes with it in that it is time to grow up and face responsibilities as an adult. The actors, while not the Royal Shakespear company, do a passable job and convey what they were hired to do. The male and female characters play very well to each other. I even found that I have a big crush on Brian (Gale Harold) even though he's arrogant and cold--not my usual choice!. I would not be honest if I did not admit that I do partly like this show for sexist reasons. Had it been a heterosexual soap opera where Brian was cold and brutal to women, or where Ted turned down women his age for being too "old". I may not have enjoyed it that much. One minor quibble I find the sex scenes overdrawn and a bit too gratutous. Buy it's nothing that can't be forwarded fasted through. As far as I'm concerned Queer as Folk- USA beats "The Sopranos" and "Sex in the City" hands down and it certainly eclipses the British version by a mile. Take it from one of the last people on earth who should be enjoying this kind of thing. This is one series you will want to add to your collection and watch over and over again!
Rating: Summary: Queer as Queer Review: While Queer As Folk is fascinating in that it has pushed the depiction of gay life light years beyond any other TV show or movie, especially in its portrayal of gay love; Queer As Folk manages to play it exceedingly safe in showing diversity. There are no major ethnic characters on the show. The majority of the QAF mainstays are young, very attractive and somewhat affluent. They live in a fantasy gay world where only the beautiful young men come to dance in a disco with a backroom (and this in Pittsburgh of all places!) You will never find transgendered characters, bears, people with disabilities or the gay everyman on this show. AIDS is acknowledged in Michael's Uncle who is mostly a sad, old queen who makes intimations about his mortality. If anything, QAF preserves the gay stereotypes it professes it wants to tear down by portraying gay men as frivolous pretty boys lacking in depth or substance. Each character borders on caricature; from jaded sex addict, naive boy toy, fashion queen, materialistic lipstick lesbians, frustrated button downed frumpy queer with a addiction to web porn, etc. QAF could do so much more but doesn't try. It relies on sex,nudity and flash to titillate and capture your attention. Sadly, it has very little to say, save its attention to gay youth and the coming out experience. Even then, it is handled "fabulously" by making the gay teen in question a student at a private school from a noveau riche suburb, who just happens to fall in with a supportive group of adult friends. I am longing for a real life drama based on real queer people and their lives not this fab Hollywood glossy dream.
Rating: Summary: THIS IS NOT A DOCUMENTARY. Review: This is the best show ever put on TV (in my humble opinion). Many reviewers are complaining about how overdramatic and unrealistic the plots are...HELLO! It's a TV show for godsake. It's entertainment. (...) As a piece of fictional, entertaining drama on its own, it's a good good show. It definitely has its cheesy dialogue, but most shows do. But it's actually not THAT cheesy, as it has actually stirred up some heavy emotions for me as well (I think I actually had moist eyes during the season finale). I really don't think heterosexuals unfamiliar with "the lifestyle" (yuck, I hate that term) are going to watch the show and honestly think all gay people are promiscuous jerks like Brian. (...) I highly recommend this show to anyone who likes exaggerated drama, cheesy humor, some good clubby music, and some delicious male eye candy. I can't wait to see the DVD special features...
Rating: Summary: "All my Queers" Review: Where to begin. This dvd set will be awesome. I am a devoted fan of QAF and would highly recommend buying it. (...)
Rating: Summary: Definitely different than what I assumed it would be Review: I watched this show from the beginning and I have only one word for it - SHOCKING. As a heterosexual male watching this I must admit I found it very uncomfortable to watch some of the scenes. However, as the season went on I did learn to look past the disturbing scenes and see the innate humanity of each of the characters. In many ways they seems just as screwed up as straight people. :-) Michael's longtime unrequited love for Brian is an emotion most people can understand at a basic level. However, I (insist) that this show should not be taken as an overview of the gay community (course they do have that disclaimer at the end of each show ) just like another of my favorites the Sopranos should not be thought of as an overview of the Italian community. At the end of the day, its just television. Not a bad piece of television. Just television.
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