OK, gotta admit I was lured into this assuming there would be lots of skin and sex. Which there isn't.

On the other hand, the acting, story and music are better than I expected (some of the actors are MUCH better than expected). What keeps this film from being a 10 (for me) is the jarring editing: occasionally scenes jump around a lot and pacing seems uneven. Major plot points just happen and you're left momentarily bewildered as to what the hell just went down. Some of the characters and relationships should have either been flushed out more or else edited out completely, because they feel incomplete.

But the movie also gets 5 stars right out of the gate simply because Rob Mayes is delicious to look at.

In this age of on-screen unrestrained sexuality, it's easy to dismiss one gay-themed movie as 'bad' since there isn't much baring man-on- man action, but Burning Blue is much more than that. It's a movie that requires the audience to think, to imagine what it was like back in the days of disastrous 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy.

For me it plays out like a triangle love story, one between BFFs Will and Daniel, and one between Daniel and Matt. Will's character is ambiguous of whether he's straight or gay, some people might even call him a homophobic prick. My take is that he's a repressed homosexual who's actually forever in love with Daniel but just couldn't figure out what's what, and his world came crashing when Matt entered the frame and took Daniel's heart away.

Many complaints that there are too many 'longing stares' between Matt and Daniel, the sexual things were only represented by one kissing scene while it's not clear whether they actually have done the 'dirty deed' back in NYC that night. For me Trent Ford and Rob Mayes have enough on-screen chemistry for us audience to feel that they're really in love, however repressive it must be at that day and age.

This is one gem of a movie. We as the audience should do more justice to it, and not just take it for granted just because this isn't actually your run-of-the-mill, sex-romp, butt-baring, gay movie.

I've read all of the reviews on this official IMDb page of this film prior to choosing to watch. For the most part, I watch a film based on my own personal interests regardless of popular/professional reviews. Unfortunately, I was the only one in the theatre with a friend. I found it appalling that the movie theatre showing the film did not even have a one sheet much less any kind of promotional materials to at least help with the in-theatre promotion of this independent.

Let's get to the movie. The friend I went with read me a couple of bad reviews from folks who did not even show the film the courtesy of watching it but had judge the film based on its homosexual content. I had to promise her that if she did not like it we would both leave within the first 20 minutes. Well not only did this film not disappoint, but I found my friend and myself tearing up unexpectedly throughout the last quarter of the film. Yes, gay themed films have evolved pass the don't ask don't tell. However, as the story unfolds, you will find yourself immerse in it and also wondering what will happen next. The lead actors have a very engaging chemistry. They are so good together that whenever they are on screen they light it up with a very romantic glow. Lastly, I would like to advise anyone who's on the edge of whether to watch this film or not, give yourself the opportunity to enjoy this very entertaining treat. You will find yourself elated that you did. Specially towards the end of the film. You will even want to call a friend or two to recommend it. This is a film you will not soon forget. I came into this film with much trepidation and now after watching it all I can say is that you should bring some tissue because when you least expect it, this film will hit you like a ton of bricks and you will empathize with the plight of the character during some very devastating turn of events.