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Like It Is

Like It Is

List Price: $29.95
Your Price: $26.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent film - driven by good lead performances
Review: I've read a number of reviews drawing comparisons, both favorable and unfavorable, between Like It Is and another British film, Beautiful Thing. While both are British and both have gay themes, they are really about different situations. While Beautiful Thing is a coming of age and coming to terms with ones sexuality story, Like It Is is a love story about two people from very different backgrounds, and the lovers just happen to be gay.

Yes, the film has its faults. Roger Daltry all but chews the scenery as he plays the over the top role of the vicious, conniving, record producer. And we're never completely sure why Paula, played by Dani Behr, is so opposed to the relationship between the two protagonists. There is also the suggestion, which I find a bit simplistic, that all boy bands are untalented media creations.

But the performances of the actors in the two lead roles more than make up for the film's shortcomings. Steve Bell is completely believable as the "tough" from Blackpool, with little experience and not much in the way of urban savvy. He plays the character of Craig in an utterly charming performance. And Ian Rose, who plays Matt, pulls off a convincing performance as a sophisticated gay urbanite so focused on his climb up the business ladder that he doesn't have time for the complications of falling in love.

Never mind that some of the complications that come up are just plot devices to keep the script moving along. Most movies have scripts with not entirely invisible machinations. Like It Is makes for an enjoyable evening and most viewers will probably want to watch it again. My only warning is that North Americans will probably have to listen very closely to understand some of the heavy accents.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: It's alright
Review: It's a good idea for a story but all of the characters are just unappealing. You end up hating every person in this movie at one point of another.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Steve Bell is terrific! A sexy, tough, wonderful film
Review: It's very rare a young actor makes such a great positive impression in his debut film.British actor, Steve Bell, does just that!A natural talent, his acting carries this film.Although one cannot ignore how physically beautiful he is, his acting is what matters here.Playing a blackpool fighter(Steve boxed in real life), he carries his role with a masculine swagger, while also displaying a tenderness so rarely captured on film.Struggling with his own sexuality, gay audiences will embrace this performance and straight audiences will find this film proves it appeals to mainstream viewers as well.Soon, gay themed films will not be seperated from "straight" themed films, as love is universal.And this film is ground-breaking as it never depends on stereotype.Roger Daltrey, lead singer of the legendary rock band, THE WHO, shows he has great acting chops, as does Ian Rose.Brilliantly directed by, Paul Orewland, this film is my favorite gay themed film, along with the American film, "Edge of seventeen."I will cherish this film over and over.And, once again, I must say, Steve Bell is sexy, brilliant, and impossible to keep your eyes off of him!!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Like it is remains as it is, lame.
Review: Its a movie about finding love, sex , quarrel , get back together , quarrel ..... You get what I mean?

Unless you simply buy this movie just to see the two lead actors butt pressing upon each other, its not worth seeing.

Acting wasn't genuine like as though they are being themselves which shouldn't be the case. In other words they can't act except for the bitchy boss. If you must, simply rent to see the short sex scenes or else pass this movie. Not worth it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It were right good.......
Review: Its not pretty, not brilliantly acted, small budget and the storylines a bit trashy - I really enjoyed it though not really sure why. I think I just got it. I wasn't expecting a brilliant film and had no pre-conceptions about how it would be. This helped a lot. I've recommended it to many people and opinions are divided. I found it to be enjoyable and fun though, and it doesn't take itself too seriously. A very different film.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Fight for it
Review: Like a grittier "Beautiful Thing", this gay love story is compelling, poignant, and sexy. One guy is a street fighter who's searching for his own life, and the other is a music and club promoter working for a bitchy older gay man. It's definitely one of the better gay films of the past years. None of the characters is entirely likeable, and that's what makes this film so worth watching.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Most higly recommended
Review: Much better than expected, it was. Steve Bell turned in a terrific performance as the bare-knuckle street fighter who tries to turn is life around for the better once he meets an openly gay music producer (handsome Ian Rose). It amazes me when straight actors give such top-notch performances as gay characters (Get Real, Beautiful Thing, ect) and Bell's performance is right up there. I was expecting a two-second cameo by Roger Daltrey, however, he plays a strong role in the film as the aging, rich bitchy queen of yore - he was excellent and had few zingers in his scenes. Theme wise, this film is optimistic and engaging. There's a subplot involving the creation of a '90's boy band that is just too precious - they can't dance, who knows if they can really sing and their music is very Euro-disco and teeny-bopper oriented. The lead singer of this group comes between Bell and Rose at one point in the story - could you imagine the British tabloid press getting a hold of that factoid? Director Paul Oremland gives us a film as earnest and romantic as he intends to give (the character of fighter Bell was inspired by his own experience as he explains in the DVD's featurette) and I look forward to his next projects. As for the DVD: the picture is letterboxed to 1.66:1. The video is much crisper and clearer than I was expecting - it looks very good. The sound is clean and audible. Music sequences give quite a punch and there is no background hiss to be heard. Colors are stable and natural, but I really liked the scenes in the nightclubs which were fairly vibrant without "bleeding" or "smearing". There is also an original trailer that is incorporated into the informative featurette. I especially liked the ending of the film which wisely avoids the Hollywood-ish all's well that ends well bug. Overall, recommended but try to get the DVD version of this film - the quality is pretty darn good.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Like it SHOULD BE!
Review: No stereotypes here. I hate those gay films that have the obligatory handbag swinger, muscle-Mary or AIDS victim on tow. This film is so natural, and down to earth. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Steve Bell is sexy, because he is a natural; a lad on the street. He falls in love with another sexy man. Why can't this simple formula be applied more often in gay cinema? A good all round love story. Highly recommended.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Phooey!
Review: Obnoxious characters, unremitting self indulgence, and a nonsensical plot make this movie a real dog!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fantastic
Review: One of the best movies of it's kind that I have ever watched in ages. Cast appeals to everyone but I really liked the first scene where 'Craig' was about to 'get into it'. Reminds me of a past experience and this movie really opens up one's mind to the 'other side'. I really could not leave my chair, my eyes remained glued to the screen. Unfortunately I cannot get movies like this at the PX, here, in Kosovo. Thanks Amazon.com for the help.


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