I Like You… I Like You Very Much (Gay)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Film: C+

 

 

Dubbed a “Pink Film” and among the first sexually explicit filmmaking to come out of Japan that is not a XXX film, the still-explicit I Like You… I Like You Very Much (1994) deals with a young man who goes searching for new sexual scores while trying to figure out where he’s going personally.  The title refers to what he says to get these other guys in bed with him, telling his first subject of interest that he is in love with him!

 

Of course, he is not, but the film has more than some sexually explicit encounters going for it.  Too bad it does not go further in developing introspection for each of the characters.  The actors are convincing, while the film is not done in a done in a documentary style.  Part of director Oki Hiroyuki’s intent is just to show the culture exists, which includes very intentionally placing the activity in common Japanese city locations.  There is likely a few items of importance I (and many other non-Japanese) would miss, but the film is also too short at 58 minutes to get what it needs to started, so maybe Hiroyuki will add on to this in his next works.

 

The letterboxed 1.85 X 1 image is a little harsh and has digititis, causing fine detail to be soft.  This is shot well, but this transfer only goes so far.  Gay audiences should expect slight frustration with the more intimate scenes, especially since video black is not as solid as DVD can deliver.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 is simple stereo if that, but fares better, making for a passable presentation.  There are no extras, but its audience will be happy this is even on the DVD market.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo