The Last Things I Watched Part XIX
Here we are for another round!! This time we have:
-Ballerino Keiji
-Kin'Iro no Corda
-Brother's Conflict
-Doukyuusei
-刑事一徹 (命懸けで捜査に挑む犯人より心配性な男) = Stubborn Detective
-Smoking Gun
-Kakusho
-Fuben na Benriya
-Kokoro ga Pokitto Ni
-Shimeshi
-Diabolik Lovers
-Shitamachi Rocket
-Angel Heart
With this I'll have COMPLETELY caught up with ALL anime/dorama/movie reviews! ^_^ But same as last time, if there's anything from past (Season) Wrap Ups where you want a full review then let me know ^_^
Let's get started with the reviews because there's 13 things I have to talk about today.
Ballerino Keiji [Japan - 2016 - SP 6/10]
I wrote in a past Wrap Up that I was going to write a full review for this and never did so I better put it here at least! I was origianlly shocked that Chinen (also from HeySayJump) wasn't cast for this role rather than Nakajima because Chinen actually (at least used to do) does ballet so wouldn't it have made more sense to cast him? Nakajima did a decent job in this but I'm still certain he has a long way to go and a lot of room left to improve on. This was funny in parts and I really like the opening to this SP. This SP took a weird Science Fiction turn which I did not like. I watched this SP because I wanted to watch a Detective program, not to then be give some Sci-Fi crap explanation so the overall plot and ending was a huge disappointement for me.
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Kin'Iro no Corda [Japan - 2014 - Anime 6/10]
I marathoned this because I wanted to watch the first stage (the second and third were announced and will/have occured this year) and I enjoyed this anime but it wasn't anything espeically. I really enjoy classical music so that was nice but I felt it was a little similar to Prince of Tennis where the Ace guy in the group has an injury that he won't tell people about. And the anime is very female protagnist central which was confusing because the stage is focused on the main male protagonist as well and to be honest, I did not care about this female character, I really couldn't have cared less and the characters around her are a lot more interesting. I really like the different schools and how they all have their own specialities in the music and how different the character groups are. It was a pleasant ride but it's not that.... shocking or exciting so it gets an average rating. It just nice ^_^
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Brother's Conflict [Japan - 2013 - Anime 7/10]
Discalimer: Just like above, I watched this because I wanted to watch the stage!
Anyway:
This is the type of anime/theme that you're either gunna absolutely despise or you're absolutely going to absorb and love. If you can't tell by the image, this is an anime based on an Otome game. If you don't know what Otome games are then here's a very simple explanation:
*You play (usually) the only female character and are surrounded by a shit ton of attractive men who for some reason all fall in love with you and (usually) it causes conflict between the male friendships.
Other Otome games include: Diabolik Lovers, Hakuouki, Prince of Stride, Link-a-Nation, Idollish7, EnsembleStars, MeKoi etc. I could go on! Oh and the main female character (in the anime versions) is always boring as fuck btw, but that means she's easy to ignore.
So it's essentially reverse Harem, and luckily I am the type to eat this shit up like it's candy - I enjoyed this SO much! This is about a girl that gets adopted into a HOUSE of brothers, most unrelated by blood and of COURSE they all fall for her and it's so juicy! I really enjoyed this! Especially because there is one HELLA crazy and possessive character which goes under the other brother's radar and there's some twin rivalry which I loved and it was nice that there's actually kisses and displays and confessions of affections and stuff. Tis rather heart racing if you're into this type of thing ^_^ then ending is very cliff hangery though and it definitely was unconcluded so I really hope they bring out a season 2 sometime soon (but it's already been 3 years since it aired so the possibility of getting a season 2 at this point is very slim) or I'm just gunna have to start playing the games xD
My favourite characte is definitely Yusuke which is interesting because Kashiwagi Yusuke plays him in the stage and I love him! (he plays Shiranui in HakuMyu) but now I'm getting off track. I also really liked the twins and more for their actual relationship between them rather than their relationship which the MC. Also I loved Subaru and Louis <3 I need more xD
Wow that was a long review... sorry!
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Doukyuusei [Japan - 2016 - Anime Film 7/10]
This was so cute!! The art style wasn't exactly my thing but it had this innocence to it which was nice and I really liked the story and I enjoyed how opposite the personalities kinda were. We had this tought yankee who at the same time isn't afraid to show his love for the main guy and I really love how they tackled teacher-abuse and the age old argument of 'oh it's just a phase he'll get over it' no it's not a phase! So that was nice. This is super short (one hour) and super cute and I wish there was more - I guess I could just read the manga xD
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刑事一徹 (命懸けで捜査に挑む犯人より心配性な男) = Stubborn Detective [Japan - 2016 - SP 5/10]
I watched this because I feel I've been neglecting Tomo for ages - don't! I know I've been going to his plays almost every month but let me explain! - because in 2012/2013/2014 I literally was off the D-Boys radar either due to being too focused on others things (aka. University) or because (in Japan) I had no internet for almost a year so I've missed pretty much all his stuff in the 2 or 3 year span and thus it's about time I caught up with the stuff of his from that time period that I CAN get ahold of and this SP is one of them. Unfortunately 90% of Tomo's stage stuff is never put on DVD -__- but onto the actual review!
Tomo got a bigger role than I was expecting; I was expecting a one minute guest role but he actually had a role ON the police force?! That made me very happy <3 also he still got those chubby cheeks going on - I don't think he'll ever get rid of them ^_^ he looks REAL good in a suit too <3
Now about the actual SP; I really liked the MC's relationship with his family; his family understands how dangerous his job is and they take measures to stay safe, such as secret/special words before being allowed into their house. Also he makes special time for them because he's usually too busy with work which was really cute.However, the mystery/case was way too simple and easy to figure out. I prettu much knew 20 minutes into this almost 2 hour SP who the criminal was. It took a little more time to figure out the motive which was nice, BUT I still had it figured before the cops in this did. So in terms of plot it was a little disappointing.
It was a decent SP but I wouldn't recommend it. Tomo was cute but the murder and mystery was too simple so don't waste your time unless you're a Tomo fan and you must and want to see more of his work xD
Even from the back of a head I know who Tomo is!! <3 Yeah it;s definitely me that's weird...
He's got a total 'bitch please' face here xD
I've seen this boy somewhere and it's driving me mad that I don't know where from! You've all seen him before right?!
^^ Pretty sure this is Tomo too. Looking hooooooot <3
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Smoking Gun [Japan - 2014 - Dorama 7/10]
I really liked this dorama. I like Katori Shingo's character and his dognut obsession, I also really loved the little girl in this too and I liked the relationship between her and her mother (Kurumi and Maki's relationship). I also really like Nakayama Yuma in this too, it's rare I see him these days so it was nice. I was also SUPER surprised when Yamamoto Yusuke freaking turned up <3
But the overall big mystery really let me down; it was obvious (I could've told you in like episode 3 who the criminal was!) and mostly simple and the way it ended up was a little silly and I think both of the victims involved in the incident are at fault, more so her fault. I didn't really care about the main plot to be honest which sucks. But I enjoyed everything else in this and I really like how he ended up realising and learning he needed people around him which was cute. It wasn't amazing which is why it's still at a 7. But if you want an easy and entertaining detective science dorama then watch this ^_^
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Kakusho [Japan - 2013 - Dorama 5/10]
I'm sorry Tomo but this was a BAD dorama! First, we all know how much I cannot stand the main actress, Eikura Nana, and I did honestly give her a wide birth in this and gave her a chance but... yeah... she's so robotic and dull and bland and she really cannot act. Also just like Smoking Gun this was rather predictable and most of the episode were just... meh. There were obviously a few episodes that stood out and left an impression on me; I really enjoyed (I think it was) episode 4 and 5 with the break in and little girl situation; I really enjoyed that story line <3 I also got very emotional in Episode 8 which the spanish immigrant story - it was heartbreaking - but the ending was also boring and predictable. Overall this was an average dorama which you can enjoy but the predictability and Eikura ruined it for me...
Time for some beautful Tomo Stills!! <3 Tomo's character was rather comedic and I really liked whatever speech pattern slash dialect he had going on in this ^_^ a smiley Tomo always makes me happy <3
^^ Tomo is so done with your shit xD
I also really liked how nosey and gossipy his character was xD sorry, not sorry for the overload of Tomo pics <3
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Fuben na Benriya [Japan - 2015 - Dorama 4/10]
I know at least one person was shocked at how low I rated this so I tthought I beter explain myself fully. When this dorama first came out, it was a huge hit, and everyone I've ever spoken to about this has said nothing but praise and good things for this dorama and I tend to go into doramas without knowing anything so my expectations were built up pretty much to a ridiculous level. So naturally, I was disappointed. I like the premise of this dorama, I like how the main character is convinced he's living with his dad and I really love Endo Kenichi (in everything he does I love) in this, and I also really lked Suzuki Kosuke in this as well as I enjoyed Tanaka Yoji and his character BUT (and a big but) I still don't like Okada Misaki and I found the actually story boring and uninteresting; I couldn't have cared less about most of the story lines in this dorama and I felt the last two episodes were an absolute waste of time; why bring his mother in at the last minute? Why tell us that he's not actually the father? Just...ugh... I didn't like that at all. Why couldn't they just have accepted each other as father and son regardless of the possibility they weren't really related? Absolutely stupid. The whole snowman world record story line was stupid too and I felt that Trendl's character was only half completely written, felt like we were missing a huge chunk of her characterisation. I also didn't appreciate how the episode where Okada's character finds Endo Kenishi's character past out next to a bowl of blood and then it ended up he was just sensitive to blood? I really did like that! I was SERIOUSLY worried there was going to be a cancer dying plot line there! So I was SUPER pissed that it ended up being something as trivial as being weak around blood -__- I really like the sentai skit they did too and I'm always a sucker for people slipping and falling in the snow and ice xD This show was weird (and normally I like off-beat comedies but not this time) and it was odd with some actually funny moments sprinkled in here and there. But overall disappointed, espeically after the HUGE popularity it got.
Did I explain myself well enough? =S
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Kokoro ga Pokitto Ni [Japan - 2015 - Dorama 8/10]
Now unlike Fuben na Benriya, this dorama was off beat comedy, very popular and a joy to watch! I enjoyed this so much! It's essentially a 4 way love triangle and includes an already divorced couple. This was so much fun to watch! At times it was crazy at whatever was happening and it was juicy and it was also great seeing these characters grow also! I really enjoyed the dynamic characters and how different everyone was but at the same time seeing them interact and get along with each other was enjoyable too! The dorama puts on a front that it's a comedy but deep down there's a lot of heart and emotions and it's touching and I did get cry-y in parts too which makes this dorama SUPER adorable <3 I really liked how this ended also!
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Shimeshi [Japan - 2015 - Dorama 7/10]
This dorama contains 4 20-minute episodes and oh my lord, I cried like a baby every episode! This was such an emotional ride for me! It's based on one restaurant that selects one person a day to come to their restaurant and then they try to change the person's mind or something because the people turning up are either going through a difficult decision or experiencing a shit situation and my heart felt for all these characters that turned up <3 Seriously if you have 2 hours to kill, watch this! I really wish we'd gotten a full season out of it because I enjoyed it so much! I cried so hard guys, seriously!
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Diabolik Lovers [Japan - 2015 - Anime 8/10]
This is another anime I marathoned so I could watch the stage. Also, just like Brother's Conflict this is based on an Otome game and everyone's in love with the main girl. They aren't for everyone, some people will despise them but holy shit; this one guys!! It was like someone had timedtraveled to 14 year old me and went into my brain and went 'ooo she has so really erotic vampire fantasies going on in here' took and, came back to the year 2015 and made a freaking anime out of those fantasies! It was SO good for me!! Every teenage fantasy I ever had about vampire came true in this and MORE. They did some REAL saucey stuff that I didn't think they were do and they freaking did! *dead* There's one scene where one of the brothers, instead of biting her neck, he freaking went and bit the top of her thigh! I was like 'IS THIS SAFE TO AIR?! BUT ALSO; How did he know this was a fantasy of mine 10 years ago?!?!' I was definitely a little flushed and hot while watching this. It was so good I finished the ENTIRE series in ONE go. They're only like 12 minutes each so I got through it in less than 2 hours and wow...oh boy... my heart raced so much while watching this and you can bet I'm gunna watch season two! But a part of me thinks it won't be as... racy *cries* My favourite is obviously the girly-boy: Kanato <3 he's such a cute and he was probably the most weird but also the most polite and gentlemen like towards her xD She was boring as fuck as expected though haha
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Shitamachi Rocket [Japan - 2015 - Dorama 8/10]
This was so good! I originally had put this on hold because (just like the next review) I got something I wasn't expecting, also there was a lot of scientific language that I, at my current Japanese ability, still can't understand so I put it off until complete subs were out and thus I marathoned it this past week and I am so happy I did! It was so good! I cried so much in some episodes. This had heart, it had passion, it had great characters, it had a WONDERFUL bromance between Zaizen and Tsukuda which I was all for! I really enjoy this! I really liked the scientific themes and the legal themes as well as things such a family and stick with friends and trying your hardest - it was all very motivating ^_^ I really liked the small shots we got a Takeuchi, Sano Gaku and Horii Arata ^_^
I really like how this is essentially split into two stories where the first half of this dorama is about the rocket and then the second half is about medical science which was fascinaing. I really enjoy this - is this not obvious?! xD You'll also be surprised to find that I quite enjoyed Tsuchiya Tao's role in this as well. I felt her character really grew through out this dorama (the dorama follows like a 6 or 7 year span) and her acting or voice wasn't annoying or distracting which was nice. But guys seriously, Zaizen x Tsukada is this for life! I freaking love their relationship! Why they both not gay =[ xD
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Angel Heart [Japan - 2015 - Dorama 6/10]
I literally finished this about 53 minutes ago and I finally finished after I stopped at episode 3 when it was originally airing and it's been on hold until now xD I got a completely different product to what I was expecting. I remember when the teaser trailer came out in the beginning and I was expecting this action packed, spy type of show but I ended up getting this slow paced, detective comedy with old-school-funky spy music playing. It was a little bit of a disappointment but I stuck through with it. This dorama has heart and I did shed a few tears and some of the stories are cute but I felt this was missing something; I wanted more action, I wanted it to be more dark, I wanted to see Miura Shohei do more action, but I didn't get any of that. Also the ending I personally felt was weird. The two main characters (the left side of the image above) are both old enough and young enough to date each other - right? And I was convinced they had some sort of chemistry BUT in the end she turns around and is like 'please be my dad' and I was like 'waaaah?!' it just looked strange to me so see this 20 odd year old asking this 40 year old to become their dad. Maybe it's just me... especially cos she has the heart of his girlfriend, you'd think it'd go to more of a 'I've fallen for you because you have my girlfriend's heart but now I realise I actually do like you and it's been a long enough time that I can move on and I'm sure my dead-gf will accept me going for you' kinda thing... maybe I'm the one messed up?? Also the main actress spends a lot of the time with this ONE straight facial feature and it's REALLY annoying. Slowly the character does learn to have feelings and show them but for the most part I just wanted to hit her in the face cos it constantly looked so sour. Also the ending where her personality is completely different all of a sudden was odd too.
^^I really love this guy <3
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I DID IT!! ^_^ Now I'm ALL caught up! I'm so sorry if this is long but now I can be a little less stressed xD by the way, what BULK review do you want next? I have:
- D Stage 10th Anniversary DVD Collection
- Messiah
- Saiyuuki
- Hakuouki
They're all stages. My gut is telling me to go in the order in which I marathoned them, but what do you think?