Film Review 01: Formula 17

Shi qi sui de tian kong is the original title for this 2004 Taiwanese film. All I can say is that I think I prefer the English title because it’s much easier to remember. However, I think the title should be called Taming of the Playboy instead. Now I am wondering, though, which is easier to tame: a playboy or a shrew? However, that rhetorical question needs to be put on hold while I review this film. And by the way, it’s a gay film, so if it’s not your cup of tea, don’t click to read more.

First of all, the first image of the two guys in the pool, that’s the official DVD cover. At least it is on mine. I know it’s not my job to review the bloody cover of all things, but honestly, it’s not aesthetically pleasing! I’m no photographer by any means, but I think the angle of this picture horribly represents our two guys. I think the image below would have been a much better image to advertise the cover with! That’s just me, though. Anyway, moving on!

Our two lovely protagonists are Tien (played by Tony Yang) and Bai (played by Duncan Chow). Along with them, we have several supporting characters — strange characters if I may interject for a moment here — but let me introduce the plot first. Tien is a gay country boy. Tien arranges to meet his internet boyfriend at Taipei. Tien and boyfriend meets. Boyfriend wants to get right to the physical business. Problem: Tien is a romanticist who believes that “love is a kind of faith” and even has a book called that. I mean, he has a dream where he kisses his dream lover underwater, and the dream lover asks him these educational questions! Afterwards, Tien hooks up with his middle school buddy, Yu, who works at a gay bar. That is where Tien first sees Bai and hears through the grapevine that Bai is a playboy who believes in one-night stands.

Another problem: Tien is a virgin. Yu and his two buddies, C.C. and Alan, decides to do something about it. This particular trio of men are what I call the the three flamboyantly gay stooges, and that is with affection. These three, along with Bai’s best friend, happen to be the reason why I absolutely adore this film to death. Anyway, the three fail in their mission and Tien and Bai starts to fall for one another. Poor Tien is left with the job of taming the playboy. Or maybe that role should go to the anonymous psychologist who Bai sees about his, er, condition. Some of the treatment Bai receives is actually very . . . strange.

The expected drama and angst occurs later! Well, considering Bai’s character and Tien’s naiveness . . . I think it’s predictable as to what happens. Actually, the whole film is really predictable. But it’s those three nutheads who kind of just makes every wild and unpredictable. Just . . . look at the Youtube videos to see what I mean!

Trailer — English Sub

The “Virgin” Club Scene — English Sub

This scene is pretty hilarious. Poor Tien!

The Three Stooges are Planning Something — No Sub

This entire scene easily exemplifies the wacky humour in this film. The stooges are planning an attack while Tien is back at home. To make sure nothing happens to Tien, Yu got him some videos . . . videos he considers safe and will not provoke Tien. This lovable doofus has brought him The Ring, Bride of Chucky, and Freddy vs. Jason. If I was in an anime scene, I would have fallen out of my seat by now.

The Second Half of the Previous Scene — English Sub

Mandarin and Cantonese? I would have never known the difference if it wasn’t pointed out here.

External Links
- Wikipedia Entry
- IMDB Profile
- Amazon Product Page

I recently bought this on DVD and decided to watch it again last night. After watching it for several times now, I’ve decided that I could never get sick of this. It’s romantic, it’s sexy, and it’s insanely hilarious. It’s kind of hard to believe that two inexperienced women decided to film this, but despite its low-budget image of the film, it’s different, it’s new, and it’s just riveting. On a last note, this is the film that got me to see Asian cinema in a new light. Thanks to this, my interest to watch Asian films has expanded. Never mind that most of those are gay-themed films, they are still Asian films!