Like in the Movies (2020)

breath of fresh air

this is my first Pino BL drama and what can i say... quite a few commenters have mentioned this, as a "must see" and thought WTH as is wasn't fairing well with the regular drama's or BL's (finding reasons to drop them cause of "reasons"...) but have to say, hooked from the sec it started :D
donno the actors and how experienced they r - but they brought their A-game. it was fun and funny, light where it needed to be and yet it dealt with real life issues, in a mature way.

but for me the best part was no overly sexualized B.S passed of as gay romance and more importantly, there was respect shown for each individual, in that partnership, no invasion of boundaries or forcing unwanted advances.. for sure the one interested didn't get his crush blind-drunk and then "oopsh" they woke up gay and loving it...

even the kissing scene's were so natural and sweet it didn't feel cringey, like watching someone who wasn't comfortable being forced into a intimate scene. even their body-language, showed comfort and kinship. as a viewer watching this made my soul smile. cause it felt like they were a real couple, not as if i was watching actors being forced into uncomfortable situations.
this was just good and for sure a rewatch! donno if there's gonna be a season 2, and considering how it ended - there is more then enough ways to develop this.. would be happy either way -
from start to finish Karl was my favorite, so i for one would hope / be happy i get to see him grow and find the strength with-in himself to explore his new found sexuality and stand-proud.

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Not my kind of drama to watch

I read some reviews before watching this drama, and I think most of them were overrated. I don't think this was a great drama, either because it was overrated or perhaps it just didn't suit my personal taste. The story line was too simple, sometimes predictable, and there wasn't a moment when I became curious to know what was going to happen next. Fortunately, it only had 8 episodes, so I could just bear until the end.

First of all, I didn't quite like the supporting characters. Vlad's sister was so annoying, always assuming things, but never listening to what people have to say. And yet she gets mad when she finds out her assumptions were wrong. Anna was also another character which could be ignored or taken out of the drama. For me, it just did not matter whether Anna was there or not there. Through the early episodes, we also hear a lot about Karl's uncle. The when the uncle appeared, I was so disappointed. I thought he would be a strong and powerful character in this story: the uncle who can become a role model for Karl. But it turned out, he was another supporting character with minor significance. I don't think I can give these three supporting leads high points for their acting. For me, they were so mediocre.

Ian Pangilinan and Paolo Pangilinan did their best acting, but still I feel the characters were not that interesting enough to make me feel emotionally involved. Not once did I feel like laughing or crying, not even curious to ask "what next?", while watching this drama. The building of the romantic relationship also seemed to run so quickly without particular conflicts or drama, except the usual feelings of uncertainty which happens in any kind of relationship.

I liked the music soundtrack though. Many of the songs were great, and were given subtitles in English, so I understood the lyrics in relation to the story, but the visuals sort of spoiled the mood. It could have been made different. Instead of just having the main leads dance, they could have made more dramatic or romantic scenes.

I had already watched Gameboys before watching this, which became one of my favourite BL dramas. I have also seen a few Filipino gay-themed movies before this (way back in the 1990s and 2000s) and many of them were great. But this drama did not particularly touch me in one way or another. If there was a Season 2, I'm not sure I would want to watch it.

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Give it up for the Philippines!

As one who have recently entered the BL world have quickly observed that amongst the tonne of shows out there it's hard to find an actual good one so ll I'm gonna say is thank you to the whole creative team for this gem.

Just goes to show that it doesn't matter if you only have a small budget when you have such good writing. A great plot with 5 on screen characters, filmed in one small location. Excellent.

I honestly consider it a legitimate LGBTQI+ series because it is far above the standard of the typical mediocre/unrealistic/problematic BL show to be regarded as such

Oh and the MUSIC!

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The best series i watched!

Apparently, I never thought that I would be saying this for this series, but this series isn't for everyone. Some people are pointing out flaws, which I guess is understandable. However, when I compare this series to some other shows that I watched this year, this series is of a higher standard than them. I mean, yeah, it's realistic and not what BL's have been giving us for years- but I still LOVED it!

loved it

Apparently, I never thought that I would ne saying this for this series, but this series isn't for everyone. Some people are pointing out flaws, which I guess is understandable. However, when I compare this series to some other shows that I watched this year, this series is in a higher standard than them. I mean, yeah, it's realistic and not what BL's have been giving us for years- but I still LOVED it!

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I liked GSP, and I don't regret watching GSP, but it was lacking in many areas.

The acting was mediocre overall. Some scenes, like the emotional ones in the later episodes, were acted out nicely enough. Very believable. However, in episodes 1-5ish, the acting was like what you might see on an amateur's YouTube or TikTok video. You could see the leads holding back laughter sometimes and all of the shrieks screamed "fake." Maybe some fans were blinded by the cute faces, but if not, I am confused as to why some seem to think the acting is on a god-tier level.

The camera work was decent, and some transitions were satisfyingly smooth, but someone should've checked the final edits. You could see the cameraman at one or two points. One scene near the end was way too dark. Some scenes felt like filler and dragged on for too long. Maybe they were there for fans to drool over, but I was just annoyed and found myself fast forwarding a lot to get to the meat of the story.

The story was interesting enough. I think it delivered its message well. Some lines were absolutely hilarious. I know a couple reviewers felt that the ending was rushed, but it didn't feel that way to me. The ending was not happy nor sad. It was just pleasantly realistic. While it's true that some stories could've been fleshed out better, I don't think a season 2 is necessary.

In conclusion, I still recommend watching GSP since the majority likes it after all and especially since it can be finished in one morning. If you, like me, don't care for filler scenes, I just recommend skipping ahead to the important parts. As for rewatch value, I never rewatch anything, so I can't say.

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IT'S PURE AND SIMPLE PERFECT

This is a wonderful movie. It covers the most important aspects of human beings life and it’s presenting a story which is valid for all of us and not only for gay people.
I didn’t want to read the other’s reviews because I didn’t want to let myself influenced by what they’ve wrote.

STORY/ACTORS: Both main characters have a very sad past, have their own trauma.
Karl lived his dead brother’s life. He was wearing even his name; he inherited his clothes, toys and lived to fulfil his brother’s dream. This is very sad also for Karl’s parents who had the wakening to reality shock when Vlad told them that he wants to change what he is studying because what he is doing is not making him happy, it’s not his dream but it is his parents dream, his brother’s dream. I wonder if the screenwriter will continue to write about Karl’s parents in the next series, if it will be one. Living that life Karl had no chance to discover himself. But he met Vlad and things started to move in a direction which took him by surprise. The script is fantastic and it showed us what was in his heart, what he was thinking, who he felt. Amazing!

Vlad has another kind of trauma: he thinks that he is the reason why his father abandoned their family. He didn’t have his sister support and understanding, and his mother, as much as I could understand, was almost an invisible person in his life and she didn’t (probable didn’t know how to) support him. Although he is a grown up man, fully aware of what he is, living in an open space proud of how he is, nobody can touch his hair: the last one who did it was his father in that very day when he left his family and disappeared. Even he is strong young man who succeed to move further, to find his way in life, he is a sensible person who needs to be loved and express his love freely.
It is said that our childhood influence our lives. This is a very sad example of how the parents can hurt their children unintentional. It is said that if a person is hurting you, this is because this person is in pain. And this is very true.
All the supporting characters completed the picture of Karl and Vlad lifes in a way that made me speechless.

Karl’s uncle, Santi, is a successful person from professional point of view and regarding to his personal life he said it so beautiful: I choose to love! Life without love is an empty one. And he knows that. “Why love is never enough” he said in one moment. Being betrayed by his boyfriend, having his heart full of sorrow, he still managed to smile and to see the positive part of his life. He is a living lesson of what does it means to live the life open, to be proud of what you are, to love with all your heart and to be able to see the positive part of live even when you are hurt.
The dialog between him and Karl is priceless. What he told to Vlad was also so true and so beautiful!
Judit, Vlad’s sister: at the beginning she was annoying me a lot. She was trying too much. She was too much. She is a very good example of what a straight person might do when encounter a gay person: she didn’t know how to act, what to do, what to feel. She was young and she made mistakes which followed her all her life. She lived with this guilt all her life and she became overprotective to compensate this. I felt so sorry for her. She was loving Karl so much and she was trying to do her best all her life. The discussion between her and Vlad cleared up everything and made me understand what was in her heart, how much pain and guilt she was carrying all those years.
Anna – as individual with her own story, I found her truly amazing. She is a beautiful woman, a good mother and a wonderful person. She can be, for Karl and Vlad, an example of how they should treasure their own life, how they should never give up on themselves. And this is one of the most important things in life: to don’t give up of yourself, put yourself on the first place, take care of you as best as you can because when you do that and you will be happy and all the people around you will be happy.
Karl’s parents – I wrote about them before. What a painful life they had! So painful that they don’t even realised what they have done to Karl. Very very sad!

Each episode ended with a representative text which covers, in some words, what happened each of them:
1. We will take back our story. To a happy beginning!
2. Let’s make room for those who’ve lost their sense of home.
3. You have a place here.
4. When solitude teaches you something, embrace it.
5. Make up for lost moments. All fears are invitations to be brave.
6. You are entitled to a love that lets you dance without fear and shame.
The dialog from the end of part 6 melted my heart.
“Karl: Vlad, I want to write films. I want to have a story I can call my own. How about you?
Vlad: Same. But I want to be in charge of the ending, too.
7. You own the rights to your own truth.
8. The real fight is on the outside. We will welcome you when you’re ready.
Till we meet again.

The script is amazing and the how the actors played was unbelievable! I felt the chemistry between all of them all the time and this was truly wonderful. I’m overwhelmed!

MUSIC: I saw a lot of movies but I never search for the songs as did now. The soundtrack is beautiful and I was glad that the lyrics were translated too. Very beautiful songs!

REWATCH: This is the second time when I watch this series. And it had a bigger impact watching it again. I really hope that they will make another series to continue the story because there still al lot to say. It would be wonderful to see them growing up together, accepting and loving each other and being happy together.

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Holy Mother of BLs.

Okay. First, the OST was perfection. It complements the whole drama so perfectly and made the scenes MAGICAL.

Second, the storyline. You know, a typical drama story would have Introduction (characters meet each other), Build Up (characters started getting closer to each other), Climax (characters got together), Conflict (something disrupts their happy love), Resolution (they resolved the problem). I love 2gether, but damn their Conflict and Resolution made me wanna smack the director in the head. This drama though, poses a conflict that i've never seen in BLs before which is "afraid of coming out". As a straight girl, I didn't realise this was a problem until I see it in Karl's perspective. The drama did a good job delivering all 5 parts of a story, I have not a single complaints. This drama really deserves a 10 (oh but ITSAY is still it better, so ITSAY is like 10.5).

Third, the lines.

"I don't want to think anymore" --> Me screaming at the top of my lungs

"Please, turn back" "Please, say my name" --> me dumbstruck at the powerful scene and having goosebumps all over my arm.

"I'm gay. But I can't tell papa yet" --> me getting teary and more goosebumps

These 3 scenes are seriously so powerful and I am really in awe with the production team.

Fourth, the brave ending.

You know how dramas always have happy endings coz it's the safest bet? It's true though, I hate open/sad endings, but I was actually satisfied with this drama open ending, it was sooooo satisfying.

I SHOULD HAVE WATCHED THIS DRAMA LONG AGO

Filipino dramas SERIOUSLY NEED TO BE LONGER. I STILL HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH OF THIS!!!

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It is a story worth telling

To be honest, the story's no different from most rom-coms in the Philippines. Boy meets girl(in this case boy), they fall in love. And the filmmakers even acknowledge this. The only difference with this story is that, it shows the struggles of queer love and identity. And this is why it's effective. It normalizes queer stories by patterning it into your everyday love story tropes, while showing the audience how much difficult it is for queer people to love more than cis-heteros. I felt seen by the story. And knowing that it was handled by a team of mostly queer people definitely adds to that feeling.
As for the actors, it was almost perfect, but I just found bits and pieces that were either underacted or unnecessarily overacted, which maybe intentional because it is a rom-com, but still irked me. The emotional scenes were amazing. I can't take my eyes off of Ian and Pao even if they're not saying anything.And to think that this is one of their first projects on-screen. I also loved how Yesh did that single mother monologue and that ending scene monologue. Best supporting actress for me!!! The supporting actors basically didn't feel as if they're supporting actors. They contributed to the artistry of the story as much as the mains did.
The music was A+mazing! They knew when and where to put in music. Kudos to Pat Lasaten for this. Plus, it made a great playlist.
All-in-all, it was a story that speaks to you, and telling and sharing it is necessary.
Bonus: The chemistry of Ian and Pao even off-cam is astronomical, and the team felt as if the fans were their family. :)
Edit: I am sorry Gege(JMS, the writer), but I just watched ITSAY, and I had to change some of the scores her, but still 10/10 overall for me.

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One of the best dramas ive ever watched.

I don't know where to start with this one. This has definitely left a mark and holds a special place in my heart. This felt so personal and honest watching as someone that's lgbtq+. I love how both Vlads and Karls stories differ so much but they're still so close and have a special bond. I think this also gives perspectives to two very different types of stories. Vlad on one hand knew he was gay by 6, even if he didn't have the language to put to that at the time. Then on the other hand we have Karl who doesn't discover his sexuality until later on in life and has to navigate this on top of other issues. It shows both the side of someone who simply can't hide their love after so many years of having to hide it, and the one who just simply isn't ready to take those steps yet and the beautiful part about this is that they go about it in a HEALTHY way which oh my god, was so refreshing to see. Their night together after Vlad got drunk. their acceptance and respect of each other's place and stage in life was honestly so nice. This drama also talked about microaggressions and stereotypes we see so much surrounding the lgbtq+ community and I loved it so much. I give the overall 9.0 because I really want a season 2 because this story has so much potential and it's honestly more of a personal pet-peeve with ending/series that end kind of open and vague. I'm not in any way unhappy about how this ended, however, I would love to see more of specifically Karls growth and further acceptance of himself.

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I need more of this!

Ok, so I'm the queen of happy endings and I loved this even though this doesn't have a classic "they lived happily ever after" ending. But it gives hope and leaves you with a big smile on your face - what more can you ask for from a series??
Well, more of the same apparently because I didn't want to say goodbye to Vlad and Karl and wanted to spend more time with them.
What l liked most about this is actually what the production struggled with: the restrictions of Covid 19 made this little gem tightly intimate, almost like a theatre play for two people. It made their relationship feel stronger, inside an apartment that felt real instead of just a prop.
Now I'll just raise my glass for the promised second season and hope they'll also bring back Anna and Judit the ally without the H... and more of that fantastic soundtrack!

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One of the best BL series, or maybe the best

This is how short drama series should be done!! I really want to appreciate everyone that involved in this series.
You don't need 20 or 30 episodes to tell essential of a story. This drama should be the BL drama of decade. I love how the story goes on. It doesn't feel rush, even though it's just 8 episodes. Each episode was well packaged, kudos to the writer(s)!!
I've been watching BL since forever. Thai used to be the only country in Asia that produces such series. Now, the Philippines is on the rise. I got skeptical about BL dramas nowadays because they still keep the same storylines that give me cringe. But finally, fresh new story!!
I love all the casts too, they all each has strong and different character that make the story more alive and not feel flat. Hopefully more BL series are like this.
Days already past since I watched the last episode, but my soul still in this series , I can't stop thinking about it.

Overall
What I like: Casts, Storyline, OST, Characters, Cinematography,
What I do not like: none

Great production, well done!!

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Watching this makes me realize that you can't just force someone to love you , let them make their own feelings. The dramatic scenes between the main lead, made me ran out of tissues because of crying . I understand Karl for being confused on his sexuality, I think we have the same role. Sometimes it's hard to accept and know yourself, and sometimes there are something in your mind that wouldn't support/accept your feeling.

I can't accept that Gaya Sa Pelikula is almost to end.
I like to watch it again, so my eyes can make more tears :))

Thank you for making Gaya Sa Pelikula 🤧💖

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