Rating: 
Summary: A NICE LITTLE FILM
Review: Reviewer: Randy J. White from Browns Point, WA
If you want a Hollywood style movie this is not it. What I enjoyed about this movie is that it is local and involves a cast of characters you might expect to find in your own community.
Richard Anthony Films has found a wonderful niche. Bravo for regional production company's and here is a wish for more.I found the leading actors very good looking and the nude scenes well balanced. I look forward to more movies from Richard Anthony Films.
Rating:
Summary: VERRY GOOD FOR A LOW BUDGET FILM
Review: A WONDERFUL GAY mOVIE, December 2, 2002
Gods of Olympia, was a wonderful movie. All of Richard Anthony Films have gay stories and history about them. They also have nudity and i tholught the actors were some of the best looking men i have seen. How anyone could not like this movie i do not understand, i would sugest you buy and enjoy this film. I give the movie 5 stars for this professional effort.
Rating:
Summary: A ANTHROPOLOGIST LOOK AT RAF FILMS
Review: A ANTHROPOLOGIST LOOK AT RAF FILMS, November 29, 2003
Reviewer: A viewer from NYC, NY USA
Review of the Richard Anthony Film releases from start to now. The production company has released four films. The first in 2001 with "Traveling to Olympia". They followed with Murder in Portland", Gods of Olympia and the last one Revenge in Olympia. All of these movies take place in the Pacific Northwest with three of four in the state capital of Washington. Four films in three years is quite a feat from a independent production company. Are they of Hollywood quality, no but they are as good as any straight or gay low budget independent film company. And make no mistake these are low budget films. What make the concept work is that they are made for the DVD release. There is no pretense that these are going to a theatrical release. They release these productions on both the internet and lesbian and gay books stores. With the thousands of films released for distribution and after checking web sites, I only found a few bad reviews. And all of these reviews sounded the same. It seemed that the same person wrote all the comments. It also seemed that they all were the same type of person. Someone who with the power of the review can make a unfair statement in the community. I am guessing this is a person who never gets cruised at the bar and has had a hard time getting a date. So he goes back to his small apartment and takes it out on RAF. Everyone has the right to speak, it is some who speak with authority and others from picayune. I would expect that the first film was a learning experience for RAF. I thought the films got better and all had great stories. I learned something from each movie, the stories were original and historically correct. Remember no one made you spend the first 29.95, and if you did not like it why spend more for the other three. It seems you are not admitting you buy the movies not for the story but for the cute sex scenes. That is fine, I am sure the producers have that as part of their markenting plan.
Rating: 
Summary: I feel naive that I bought all 3 videos at once
Review: I have purchased (either previously or through Amazon) every gay DVD/video I have come across on Amazon. I have always loved independant film and gay film and insist on supporting the gay community whenever possible. However, I can not in my wildest dreams imagine anyone truly liking this film, except someone who has a vested interest in the success of this film (director, actors, the guy off-camera feeding lines to the actors who forgot theirs, relatives of the actors, etc). I am always willing to overlook some pretty major faults in independant movies, and applaud effort and try to see through to what a director is trying to accomplish. However, with 'Gods of Olympia', I found myself swimming in a sea of mud. What a mess. Not worth it. The plot and scenes of the movie were all thrown together. Production quality was terrible. Acting was atrocious. Preparation of the actors with their lines was non-existant. Sound editing was surprisingly lacking. There is talk of 'eye candy' in the other reviews, but even that I didn't find in the movies. I purchased all three movies at once, but I don't expect to ever watch the other two movies. (As such, I refrain from reviewing them before watching them. However, I can't imagine there will be much of a jump in professionalism, increase in acting quality, existance of plot, etc...). Trust me, I get no satisfaction in writing a review, which has very little positive to say.... I would just like someone thinking of purchasing this film to ask around first and check with someone who has seen this film. I used to trust these movie reviews, but after mistakenly buying 'Gods of Olympia', I will be much more skeptical and careful of how I judge the reviews before purchasing. Buyer beware!
Rating: 
Summary: Regional gay productions alive and well.
Review: If you want a Hollywood style movie this is not it. What I enjoyed about this movie is that it is local and involves a cast of characters you might expect to find in your own community.
Richard Anthony Films has found a wonderful niche. Bravo for regional production company's and here is a wish for more. I found the leading actors very good looking and the nude scenes well balanced. I look forward to more movies from Richard Anthony Films.
Rating:
Summary: A ANTHROPOLOGIST LOOKS AT RAF MOVIES
Review: (...) The production company has released four films. The first in 2001 with "Traveling to Olympia". They followed with Murder in Portland", Gods of Olympia and the last one Revenge in Olympia. All of these movies take place in the Pacific Northwest with three of four in the state capital of Washington. Four films in three years is quite a feat from a independent production company. Are they of Hollywood quality, no but they are as good as any straight or gay low budget independent film company. And make no mistake these are low budget films. What make the concept work is that they are made for the DVD release. There is no pretense that these are going to a theatrical release. They release these productions on both the internet and lesbian and gay books stores. With the thousands of films released for distribution and after checking web sites, I only found a few bad reviews. And all of these reviews sounded the same. It seemed that the same person wrote all the comments. It also seemed that they all were the same type of person. Someone who with the power of the review can make a unfair statement in the community. I am guessing this is a person who never gets cruised at the bar and has had a hard time getting a date. So he goes back to his small apartment and takes it out on RAF. Everyone has the right to speak, it is some who speak with authority and others from picayune. I would expect that the first film was a learning experience for RAF. I thought the films got better and all had great stories. I learned something from each movie, the stories were original and historically correct. Remember no one made you spend the first 29.95, and if you did not like it why spend more for the other three. It seems you are not admitting you buy the movies not for the story but for the cute sex scenes. That is fine, I am sure the producers have that as part of their markenting plan.
Rating:
Summary: GOOD MOVIE, LOTS OF HISTORY IN IT
Review: All three of RAF's films take place in Olympia, WA. I watched "Murder" first and then, in a single afternoon, the first two as well. Their formula varies little, and includes: unusually cute young men (at least one of whom is troubled, new in town, and/or needs help); a sex scene or two (in the context of loving partners); a variety of characters of all ages and persuasions (their apparent use of street people is reminiscent of Gus Van Sant); a healthy dose of sex-ed and gay politics; good music. It works. The stories are interesting (even touching), the characters are winning (often beautiful), and the endings are positive. "Murder" centers around a young and extraordinarily handsome 'straight' cop (not credited by role so I don't know his name, malheureusement), who is recruited to investigate the killing of two gay men. To say he learns MUCH about the gay community he infiltrates would be rather a zenith in understatement. Suffice it to say, he is dedicated to his work and goes 'under cover' in more ways than one to solve the crime. All the RAF films have plenty to offer if you just look beyond their low-budget parameters and drink in the actors, characters, stories, and message. I can't wait for the next one, along with the pleasure of a sweet, funny, character-driven movie in this age of macho, jingoistic nonsense.
Rating:
Summary: A L MUST SEE FOR ALL GAYS
Review: Reviewer: tadzio69 from Victoria, Australia
I can't give this movie 5 stars overall, because sometimes the production values are not ultra-good (wheezy soundtrack). But if you're young, in the closet, or being hammered by a family in some church or other sort of moral majority, it might show you what to do for release in small-town America (or small minded communities anywhere). Five stars for what the guys in the movie say - how they talk out, and about, - and act out their gay identities. It ain't glitzy - it happens in diners and coffee shops, in the street, not nightclubs or smooth apartments. Amateur but committed actors provide a rich gallery of interesting characters to get family life, identity, work, learning (especially the importance of learning) into a gay perspective you might not have yet, Chuck - Jose - Dean - Jason: whoever you are. Sex is not avoided - it's there on the screen if you haven't tried it yet, but so too is cruising (do you know how to cruise?) Best of all, a diverse model of how to start and maintain gay friendships. See how these guys value each other - how they relate, how important closeness and touch are - and one day you might get going on your gay life, knowing, balancing life and sexuality, and closer to happiness than you are now. Watch them, but above all listen to them - learn from them. Bits of the story you might find wacky (I did) but having written several books on what at-risk youth (including gay boys) need, I'm very impressed by the honesty and clarity of this approach. Forget the production values - LISTEN HARD AND WATCH CLOSELY, and know you are not alone. Maybe there's a gay-friendly diner in your small town - worth looking. Good luck
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST OF RAF'S FILMS
Review: The larger one shows Johnny, a slight 19-year old (played by Justin McFarlane), leaving a reform school in Chehalis, Washington, hitchhiking north to Olympia and eventually moving in with a hunky lawyer-lover, Joel (played by Michael Harboush), in Seattle. Assisting are the popcorn king's young son, Chip (played by Donald Allen), and his new lover, Washington State Senator Matthew Bradley (played by Dennis T. Kleinsmith). This is a story of how gay people can help one-another come out and overcome obstacles on the way to true love and social justice. The smaller story is told almost completely in pantomime and music. An unnamed actor (possibly Michael S. Parker) comforts and cleans up a fellow caught up in a hate bombing of a gay youth center. The fellow runs off later with another one, leaving the actor alone. In the next installment, he is able to find someone else and make a successful go of it in an emotionally satifying way. One can criticize the lack of extras on the DVD and the script's demand that so many characters provide their personal and family histories. The characters are more psychological profiles than real people. I would have liked the Jeff character (who was not linked to an actor's name) to have had a bigger role since he had the looks and the ability to deliver lines well. The movie is low budget, the acting is fair, but the movie's heart is in an unusually positive and constructive place, showing people's resiliance well. The movie depicts a variety of normal, but nice-looking people, not just the denizens of the local gym. The many skin shots are well done. Uplifting but not deep.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST GET
Review: have never written a film company before in my life. However, after watching "Traveling to Olympia" and "Murder in Portland" I felt I must write to you.
I was given these two films as a bithday present aon May 31 of this lyear. After watching them both I had to write and say THANK YOU for producing such excellent films. The acting was wonderful and the story line believable. The sexual scenes were tastfull done and were relivant to the story line. I will certainly be on the look out for any other productions your company produces in the future. My friend who gave the gift stated the films wre reasonably priced, so you now have two new fans.
May I wish you success in your future endeavors.
again thank for the film tastefully done.
signed
Macon, Ga
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