Very Cool!!!

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

This being a gay film for a gay audience it does help to find the actors attractive and Steve Bell meets this criteria as a tall, good looking athletic northern lad (with accent to match - I love the way he says 'Tony' (Tone aye) when speaking with 'he's family' affection of his brother (despite having many arguments with him about his fighting which Tony does not approve of)). Although a film made on a tight budget that almost wasn't made due to financing problems the fight scenes are quite realistic - you can actually see whats going on unlike the current trend as in the Bourne films for example where the camera is so close to the action that the fight cannot really be seen. To aid the clarity of the fights some parts were filmed with the actors fighting in slow motion and then this was speeded up for the film. The film is based on the experience of the Director and is admittedly something of a fairy tale but has many appealing features. Bell, Rose, Behr & Daltrey all do a good job. The ending is also something of a fairy tale perhaps but I'm not complaining - with Matt refusing to be bought by Kelvin (Daltrey) and leaving his job to find Craig back in Blackpool (after falling out with him) and to ask whether they can give the relationship another chance. Craig's response is touching but not repeatable here! What is touching (indeed tear jerking for me) is the compassion shown towards Craig by his older brother & Matt.My only complaint is that the film is not sexy enough - I found scenes in the film Quadrophenia more sexy than those in Like it is - for example the bath scenes & the passionate kissing scenes - which is telling since Quadrophenia isn't really about sexuality.

Somewhat disjointed in continuity, Like It Is nevertheless did hold my interest. Steve Bell, who plays the young boxer Craig, is effective as the bare-knuckle fighter trying to make his way in the world with his bare fists. At the same time he is troubled by the nature of his sexuality as gay impulses begin stirring when he meets Matt, played by Ian Rose. Their first attempt at a physical relationship is a disaster, but later on they consummate their love in a scene that must have been challenging for the two young actors. The film was obviously shot on low budget but the DVD has a couple of "extras," a sign for me that the producers are aiming to capture a larger audience. Unfortunately a big obstacle is the lack of captions. Much of the film was shot in Blackpool in northern England where the regional dialect is difficult for Americans to understand. It is a "foreign language," and the viewers need a break with some interpretation.

Early on into the movie one becomes interested in the story and what will follow. The actors give charming performances and their conflicting interests are dealt with credibly. The film consists of a well balanced blend of drama, humour, fast paced action, and gentler quiet moments. Blackpool is visualized as bleak in comparison to brightly lit London; which symbolizes an environment of repression and brutality in contrast to a more liberal and sophisticated environment. The effect this change of setting has on the main character, is the red thread of the movie. He wants that change but, his character is still very much rooted in the Northern village mentality, albeit combined with a very appealing innocence. A straight audience that criticizes the film because the main characters are gay, and therefore cannot identify with these characters and declare it flawed, only reveal their limited imagination and intelligence. Also one must not ignore other important themes such as jealousy, the North / South divide, fast love against long term relationships.

I really enjoyed this movie. It had alot of personal resonance.A sweet and moving film. I wish I had seen it at 18 or 20.All of the actors deliver interesting performances of depth. Steve Bell is compelling as a young man coming of age and coming out.