First of all, here is rainy season, which is nice, 'cause I like it, to see the rain, but it's not that often.
Anyway, exams date is approaching and I'm doing my best considering that I'm on my own! But it's really hard in general and it wouldn't be a surprised to actually fail!
So today I'm giving my approval on this guy's favourite actress. She is great, and here's one of the examples, probably, why this guy loves her. LOL this is not that old, but sorry Neen, I haven't watch many from her!
Ahhh
So, let's focus for a minute or two and start with this review... The info from Asian Wiki
Profile
Movie
: Be with You
Romaji
: Ima, ai ni yukimasu
Japanese
: いま、会いにゆきます
Director
: Nobuhiro Doi
Writer
: Takuji Ichikawa, Yoshikazu Okada
Producer
: Hideyuki Honma
Release Date
: October 30, 2004
Runtime
: 119 min.
Genre
: Romance / Fantasy
Be with You
Talking about the title
So, I really don't like the title, I mean I think it's more than just Be with you, I think it expresses a desire, I mean for me it means, Now, I'm going to our encounter, or to be with you, like it really expresses a decision, a desire... And it's super connected to the plot and to the final message, that's why I would have wanted it to be more precise...
The effects, all related to the rain
You see related
Talking about the visuals
The forest, this reminded me of ... what was the name... the one with Tamakin
Anyway, I enjoyed the visuals so much! This happens in a small village, so much quiet and beautiful. From the beginning, we are introduced to this peaceful atmosphere in which we can enjoy the views. The lake, the flowers, the rain... everything is shown and actually I felt like wanting to go there and stay there... I know, I mean just to forget about everything...
Grown up Yuji
The lake! how beautiful is this
Are these sunflowers? I loved them, so big!
So, the movie shows us a lot of picturesques sceneries from nature and from a simpler lifestyle. Just that, is a plus, I love those views. The film location was Nagano Prefecture Suwa district, and the lake is Lake Suwa, famous for the fireworks in summer and seems it's very beautiful in winter too. I'd love to go there! My friend keeps telling me to choose where to go, if our trip ever comes to light... but I don't know, anyway this place would be perfect to visit.
Once you've seen the movie, you're totally recognizing these places
Pics not mine, can't remember the webpage, gomen! But this is the real place
About the other places, such as the town and the working place, it was so peaceful and quiet, the school, and my favourite, their little house. It was so cozy and cute, it's just like the place for a fairy tail, outside of reality.
Teru teru bōzu Hung upside down to summon rain
The family, or what is left of it
Talking about the plot
This is based on a novel with the same name, and the director is the same from movies like Hanamizuki and Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara, btw I do remember really nice landscapes from those movies, and also directed, a couple of doramas I didn't put in my notes.
Ok, this is another sad plot to start with, it's a story about a widower that along with his child believes in the promise made by the late wife, to come back for the rainy season. Impossible, I know, but also heartbreaking. I don't know why, I keep crossing roads with plots of this sort, but to tell you the truth, by now, I'm pretty much used to them. It was sad though, and it made me shed a couple of tears, but there's something about the calm pace and the atmosphere around the story that makes you believe that you are in some sort of children story with a happy ending, or at least that leaves a trace behind, some resonance.
The memories of a unlike experience
There's just too many children's stories with a bittersweet ending!
Happy memories!
Talking about the actors
Impersonating the pretty late wife is no other than Takeuchi Yuko, cuter as ever, and now I'm giving her a tag, if she didn't have it before... Anyway, she is so cute and beautiful in such an ethereal way that you get to be completely convinced about her innocence and sweet manners.
Kiseki sometimes happen
I loved the fact that she was great at drawing
And of course, she cries
Taking the male part, Takumi is played by Shido Nakamura, I don't think I've watched him before, except for Kagi and episode 131 from Arashi no Shukudai-kun, I can't believe I remembered him from that! His acting as a shy and lonely guy looks so effortless, because he always looks so approachable, like you know he wouldn't hurt a lady. Sometimes he has a little of problems in expressing clearly his emotions, but that's mainly because of the character, other than that, I can't judge more closely his acting, I think for this part was really accurate.
He is so innocent at times, and what's up with the doc?
As a single dad he looks totally hopeless but loving
They looked super cute together
So, in the part of the little six-year-old Yuji, is Akashi Takei, super cute and super tiny. This kid has a great control over his emotions and is able to perfectly convey them. He also acted in the drama after the movie, based on the same novel. As a grown up, the part is played by the boy in the Swing girls, I never remember his name.
At school with sensei YOU
Now, there aren't many more actors, since the story is centered in their little house and the recollection of Yuji's parents' meeting. Which I think is one of the best parts, or maybe the most moving one. We get to see the story of how both of them first meet and how they fell in love. The recollections are played by different actors, the one for young Takumi is so much right, I mean it's like a younger version of him, as he should. The girl, well where are you going to find a young Takeuchi Yuko? So, the girl was just fine, she had edge, which was funny and adorable. They can convincingly convey a love story.
And that's the best part in this movie, their chemistry, the antagonism between her fragility and his strength, betwen their heights, between her sweetness and his roughness, and how they perfectly complement each other as a pair of bakas in love. If you don't believe it, just look up to the fact that after this they were married, so I guess it was not just acting.
It took him a lot to make the phone call
Making her fall in love all over again
And of course rain is going on
Talking about everything
So, now, the part I enjoyed the most about this movie was the twist thing by the end. By now, I'm pretty used to the non-endings and lame resolutions that pretty much recall the real life closures, very much distant from the Hollywood views on endings, if you know what I mean. Well, this time is not much closer to those idealistic finales, but in exchange it goes beyond and excels its predecessors, and I'm talking about 2004 here, so also some of the subsequent works. The little plot twist at the end, provides a heart-warming effect that makes you feel some kind of hope beyond the difficulties in this life.
I think I liked so much because it surprised me and it wasn't what I was expecting, not that it's that original, but I wasn't expecting it.
Another plus factor, already mentioned, it's the chemistry between the characters and the acting.
And don't forget about the nature
It was a matsuri
And another of the bests moments was when finishing, the song! Hana by Orange Range, is just perfect!! I love the lyrics, so beautiful, maybe I'll take a look at them later and Kizuna the song for the dorama is just so precious too!! --Start of side note --I have to mention this, while listening to it, I noticed something, I said, this sounds so... so much like Okinawan! Indeed, it's and Okinawan band, so the instruments and the tune made me remember Okinawa, they also mention the island, ah I was able to recognize that because of Churasan!! --End of side note-- lol
Talking about the marks
So, I just wanted to finish this, more than keep on watching more things because I liked the impression left and the little reflexion. 'Cause the best part of it is, I think, that I like when love is a choice, I mean there's destiny, chance, causality or name it, but overall there's our decision and how we face life. And to be reminded of that it's a nice thing.
It's like choosing the sunflowers field
So my marks? I think it's something between four and four and a half, if it weren't for the finale, it would be definitely a four just for the nice views so,
I totally recommend it for a rainy afternoon, and how much I wish I could see him again, even it's just for a moment, although it would be painful...
To cheer up, SAKURA is coming!!!
Totally love this Sakurai pic from Sakura
And a pic taken not by Jun kun!! He looks so lovely with those bangs
To end this journey this lovely Yama and unrelated pic
Because I love cats!