movie marathon~
So if you're my friend here on livejournal, you'd know from my previous posts that I've been sad and anxious for the past few weeks. My friends kept telling me that I should seek counseling but I'm feeling better now so I didn't think I'd need it. I promise. Other than sleeping, all I did after class was watch a new movie because my heart felt like it would burst if I didn't have any distraction with me. It was beyond frustrating and suffocating.
I watched Chihayafuru two weeks ago so I only managed to watch three movies this week. I do think it's a lot given by my condition and my hectic schedule. I also edited this post (11 September) and added the newest movie I watched today. Here's the list!
L to R: Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku (2016, China),Yesterday Once More (2016, China), Kyou no Kira-kun (2017, Japan), Once Upon a Time (2017, China), Orange (2015, Japan)
Reviews:
♡ Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku ♡
Also known as Chihayafuru: First Verse
Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku is a 2016 Japanese film based on the manga of the same, starring Hirose Suzu, Nomura Shohei and Mackenyu. It is the first movie of the trilogy. I watched this last 23 August 2017 and totally forgot to write a review here on my livejournal account. This is my 64th Asian movie overall!
Plot: Ayase Chihaya is obsessed with a Japanese poem card game called Karuta. After entering high school, she decided to form a Karuta club to meet her previous Karuta childhood friends. However, people refuse to join her club. She then meets Mashima Taichi, her old Karuta friend from her previous school. However, he too refuses to join her club at first, however, after seeing how serious she is about making the club successful, he decided to help her.
Verdict: 8.5/10.0
Comment: I love it. I love the characters so much. The characterization was the highlight for me: there was insecurity, jealousy but so much determination and passion. And the friendship! I absolutely love everyone and their friendship.
♡ Yesterday Once More ♡
Also known as Who’s Youth Isn’t Confusing?
Yesterday Once More is a 2016 Chinese film starring Bai Jing Ting and Guo Shu Tong. I watched it last 05 September 2017 and this is my 65th Asian movie overall. This film definitely reminded me of the Taiwanese film Our Times.
Plot: Lin Tian Jiao strives to be the top student in her class in order to receive financial assistance from her mother to attend Beijing’s prestigious Tsinghua University. After a rare cheating incident, Tian Jiao is accidentally pulled into a relationship with underachiever Gao Xiang. She realizes that this weak student - who she’s always looked down on - actually has dreams and ambitions of his own. After a family tragedy and with the help of her best friend, Tian Jiao begins to understand that “youth” means she should work hard to pursue who and what she loves.
Verdict: 8.0/10.0
Comment: I don't know if it's because I'm Asian or what but I totally understand the pressure Tian Jiao has on her part. Her parents have it all planned out and in turn, all she needs to do is pursue the career her parents wants her to have. The movie had a good message because it showed that there is no shame in living your youth without no regret; that this is your life and you deserve to have what you want. It was sweet watching her realizations and take actions by and for her own self.
In regards to the romance part, I already mentioned above that it reminded me of Our Times and it's actually a good thing. The only downside here is that the ending left me wanting more.
♡ Kyou no Kira-kun ♡
Today's Kira-kun, also known as Closest Love to Heaven
Kyou no Kira-kun is a 2017 Japanese film based from the manga of the same name, starring Nakagawa Taishi and Iitoyo Marie. I watched it last 06 September 2017 with messy subtitles because I've been waiting so long for the movie. Little did I know that my one of my favorite fansubbers, furritsubs, would release her own version of subtitles the next day ;; This is my 66th Asian movie overall!
Plot: Ninon Okamura is a high school student who doesn't have any friends at school and likes to walk around with a parrot on her shoulder. Other students think the parrot is a stuffed animal, but it is a real parrot. Meanwhile, Yuiji Kira is Ninon’s classmate. He enjoys his school days harassing other students and dating various girls, but his secret is that he is terminally ill. Though they live next door, the two never talked to each other at school. Ninon learns from her parents that Yuiji only has a year to live. One day, Yuiji tells her that he doesn't want to be alone and to die, so Ninon promises that she will be by his side until the end.
Verdict: 8.5/10.0
Comment: This was so sweet. Watching their friendship turn into a romantic relationship was really satisfying; they were so good and pure together. I also appreciated how they didn't have much problems in their relationship. I guess the biggest hurdle they faced was him being terminally ill.
♡ Once Upon a Time ♡
Once Upon a Time is the film adaptation of the novel Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, starring Liu Yifei (Crystal Liu) and Yang Yang. The series also has a 58-episode drama adaptation released earlier this year, starring Yang Mi and Mark Chao. I watched this last 08 September 2017 and this is my 67th Asian movie overall!
Plot: After a devastating war, the immortal tribe paid a heavy price to seal the demon lord. 70000 years later, in an attempt to re-seal the demon lord who broke free, Bai Qian was sent to the mortal realm. In the mortal world, she meets Ye Hua and falls in love with him. Su Jin, who is jealous of Ye Hua's love for Bai Qian, intentionally creates a series of misunderstanding between them and causes Bai Qian to lose her eyes. Thinking that Ye Hua has betrayed her, the devastated Bai Qian jumps off from the Zhu Xian Terrace. At her request, all her memories have been erased and she forgets Ye Hua. Hundred years later, the two meets again as deities. Another lifetime another world, Ye Hua recognizes Bai Qian but the latter remains indifferent. Three lives three worlds, her and him, are they fated to bear an entangling loveline?
Verdict: 6.0/10.0
Comment: Oy, this was bad. I’m not even comparing it to the drama adaptation because I haven’t finished it yet and I know that comparing a 109-minute movie to a 58-episode drama is pointless.
The movie was bad because the writing was confusing, the editing was choppy and the characters were depthless. The CGI and the visuals were pretty, though. And by visuals, I mean Bai Qian’s costumes and the sceneries because the rest of the costumes had no elegance at all. The fact that the battle between Yehua and the Qing Cang only lasted for about eight minutes was also funny.
I just think that film was uneventful and the ending was puzzling. I have no background knowledge with the full story so I don't have any ill feelings towards Once Upon a Time. It's mediocre when you consider it as a stand-alone film.
♡ Orange ♡
Orange is a 2016 Japanese film based on the manga of the same, starring Yamazaki Kento, Tsuchiya Tao and Ryusei Ryo. I watched this on 11 September 2017 and this is my 68th Asian drama overall.
Plot: One day, Takamiya Naho receives a letter written to herself from ten years in the future. As Naho reads on, the letter recites the exact events of the day, including the transfer of a new student into her class named Naruse Kakeru.
Verdict: 8.5/10.0
Comment: This was dark. The whole story was heavier than what I expected. I cried a few times and I just wanted to hug everyone else ;;
The friendship was definitely the highlight of the film for me! If there was something that bothered me, it would be Naho, the female lead. Despite knowing the future, she was still hesitant to act and speak more. I know from my own experience how a simple word can leave a huge impact to someone suffering from mental health issues, so I found some of her actions really frustrating. On the other hand, Suwa was my favorite character. He was so selfless when it comes to his friends and you would really see his willingness and positivity.
Overall, the movie was really touching. It was also beautiful. This has also got to be one of my favorite performances of Yamazaki Kento.