The Books of John (2007 Video) User Reviews

significantly too long. strikingly bad.

[danndempsey · 4/10 · 5 July 2008]

I acquire gay-themed movies and watch them alone. Not because I don't want to watch with other people, but only because everyone knows that most independent films suck. Sometimes you find a real gem, but often you stumble across a real stinker. This movie starts off terribly. The sound editing is just awful. The actors are amateurs, which isn't the real problem. The real problem with this movie is that the story line is preposterous, and the stilted scenes are completely unbelievable. Like when the guy finds out he has HIV, takes ecstasy, spits out the ecstasy, tells his boyfriend, and his boyfriend is like "I'm leaving." His boyfriend does some soul searching, and they screw, and then they're like hunky-dory. They go to tell their friends that the guy has HIV -- their friends are like "oh really? that's too bad. better not transmit it to anyone else!" and then the kids w/ HIV are like "You're right. Hey, so, what's going on with you? give me details about your love-life!" Like, they guy has just been diagnosed with some terrible life-threatening infection, and then everyone's like "ah, well, forget about it. let's talk about my new boyfriend!"

And like, the guy he randomly meets at a stream in Alabama turns out to be his dead lover's secret previously unseen son?

And like, you live with someone for 12 years and you don't realize he's got daily journal entries from when he was 16 years old?

*sigh*

just awful.

Some hit and miss, but nice try

[Superwonderscope · 10 March 2013]

I quite don't get the negative reviews. Sure, it's an ultra-low budget movie, as too many of independent LGBT movies are. It's clunky at some point, some actors are horrendous, way too long for its storyline. Some parts have nothing to do with the main plot line (as for the couple with Luzandra). It's one subplot too many. But... it offers people you can relate to, not your average gay-themed movie with unthinkable twinks and gym queens running all over the place. It's about real people. It covers perhaps way too much ground for its own good (HIV, lesbian clichés, coming out, etc.). Predictable at some point and a bit preachy but it's sincere and earnest. And for that, it was quite nice to watch an indie movie not sacrificing itself for the LGBT market.

Worst Gay Movie Ever! (And, That's Saying Something)

[antyatl · 1/10 · 25 May 2009]

If there was an awards committee searching for the most horrendous gay-themed film of all time, this would be the only nomination. There are no redeeming qualities about the script, the acting or the directing.

The previous post, giving this film such rave reviews has to be from the director or a friend of the director because even TLAvideo (who gets a pick chunk of its revenue from gay films of varying qualities) can't recommend it.

Back to the drawing board for these obviously amateur filmmakers. Better luck next time.

Excellent evening in...

[lizzy-77 · 10/10 · 18 May 2007]

My partner and I were pleasantly surprised by the entertaining elements of this movie, "Books of John." The music was, in our opinion, perfect. The selections made, added an extra artistic flair that made us melt into the movie even more.

To attempt to make a movie that tells a "realistic" story about gay lifestyle, hardships, and relationships - is hard to pull off. Books of John did just that.

Every movie has some sort of message that they want, or attempt to portray to the viewer. Books of John has a "new twist" that leaves you questioning several situations in your own life, and possibly others you've known along the way.

We won't spoil it, you'll have to find out...

At long last, a gay romantic drama

[guil12 · 12 September 2009]

Okay, some of the dialog can be a bit overdone, but the thought behind this movie is very good and a welcome sight. Written and directed by David Schweiger, I found this film not as bad as other critics are saying. The only flaw is that I feel there are just too many quick scenes that fade in and fade out. Some don't make sense. I did for the most part like the actor, Jeff Batton, who handled his dialog quite well and was believable. I also like the way the subject of losing one's partner after many years a good choice in exploring. The secondary couples were touched on briefly. Matthew Palmer as a flippant fem type and his black lover played by Bajo Sanubi had little explored in their partnership. The only issue between them was the subject of contacting A.I.D.S. Alesha Willis as the best friend was good in a sympathetic role. And Peggy Brown did well as Grandma with her home spun logic. Bryen Winstead enters into our leads life as a love interest. After much pondering Batton takes him to bed, in some very hot nude scenes, and they begin to form a love relationship which has some twist along the way which I won't disclose. But there is a happy ending and a much needed one after seeing Between Love and Goodbye prior.