movies
This post might be longer than expected because I haven't put my thoughts after watching several Japanese movies.
Well, I don't really have much to say - it's more for self-reference. The order is from the most recently watched to the oldest one watched.
CROWS ZERO, 2007
Oguri Shun as Genji Takiya
Takayuki Yamada as Tamao Serizawa
Kuroki Meisa as Ruka Aizawa
Kyosuke Yabe as Ken Katagiri
Kenta Kiritani as Tokio Tatsukawa
Suzunosuke Tanaka as Chuta
Sousuke Takaoka as Izaki Shun
I'm not a fan of Takayuki Yamada (Taiyou no Uta, Byakuyakou, Sekai no Chuushin de, Ai wo Sakebu, Water Boys, Sono Toki wa Kare ni Yoroshiku) but suprisingly, I enjoyed watching him in this film. I was actually cheering him more than Oguri Shun. I felt that Yamada portrayed his character stronger. Interestingly enough, many of the guys here also starred in ROOKIES. Definitely a good thing for me cause I like watching movies or drama with people I recognize/know/like. I'm liking Sousuke Takaoka (Battle Royale, ROOKIES) ALOT! Well, I've only seen three of his works so far but none had been disappointing! Although Daito Shunsuke (Hana Kimi) had a minor role, I'm happy to have seen him in the movie ^^. Geez, I sound like I'm boy crazy.
On to the movie: my favourite scene has got to to be the last battle. Serizawa was the only one with a white umbrella and he also closed it and placed it gently on the ground. He was the last to enter the battlefield. His best friend, Tokio, was in the hospital, undergoing surgery at exactly the same time. Serizawa mentioned that they're always together when they battle (even if they're physically apart; Tokio is battling against his illness while Serizawa was trying to conquer the school). Everyone was in black clothes (school uniform) but Tokio was wearing a white gown (hospital gown). I felt this had a connection with Serizawa's white umbrella and that they are connected. Meanwhile, Genji had support from Ruka (through her song) and Ken (who was willing to sacrifice his life for him).
There was just enough humour and shocks from this movie along with the battle scenes. I don't tend to like Japanese films very much but I loved watching this movie.
SWING GIRLS, 2004
Yuta Hiraoka
Ueno Juri
Shihori Kanjiya
Yuika Motokariya
Yukari Toyashima
Right after watching Swing Girls, I started watching CROWS ZERO. Quite a difference.
This movie met my expectation from reading reviews and general feedback. Of course, my incentive for watching this movie also had to do with Ueno Juri (the reviews were just as captivating).
There were a couple of scenes that I really liked: when they were picking mushrooms; seeing the sensei trying to learn the sax, ahh, I already can't remember the rest >.<
Swing Girls reminds me of School of Rock (and other similar titles) in terms of the storyline.
BOKU NO KANOJO WA SAIBOGU, 2008
Alternative titles: Cyborg She
Ayase Haruka
Keisuke Koide
This movie is actually based on a Korean movie with the same storyline. The director also produced My Sassy Girl. I have to say I have a biased toward this movie because I adore Ayase Haruka and Keisuke Koide. (Initially I didn't like Keisuke Koide but I grew into many of the roles his played (ROOKIES, NODAME, TADA KIMI WO AISHITERU, KOIZORA, USHI NI NEGAI WO: LOVE & FARM, KISARAGI). Koide's role as Teppani in NODAME is just awesome. That really demonstrates his versatility.
Back to the movie, whenever you mess with time-travel it will NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. There's no way it could ever make sense. BUT, this was more acceptable then some of the other crappy movies relating to time travel (like the TIME MACHINE - which in certain ways, made sense but didn't o_O). I saw this movie some time ago and can't remember the exact thoughts and feelings I had. Just remembered that I enjoyed watching it.
RAINBOW SONG
Ueno Juri
Hayato Ichihara
Yuu Aoi
Watch this movie because of Ueno Juri and Hayato Ichihara... but sadly disappointed. It's the typical Japanese-movie-storyline. Not particularly interesting or good. Honestly, I should pick movies for solid storylines not for the actors. I don't have much to comment about Rainbow Song...
Well, I don't really have much to say - it's more for self-reference. The order is from the most recently watched to the oldest one watched.
CROWS ZERO, 2007
Oguri Shun as Genji Takiya
Takayuki Yamada as Tamao Serizawa
Kuroki Meisa as Ruka Aizawa
Kyosuke Yabe as Ken Katagiri
Kenta Kiritani as Tokio Tatsukawa
Suzunosuke Tanaka as Chuta
Sousuke Takaoka as Izaki Shun
I'm not a fan of Takayuki Yamada (Taiyou no Uta, Byakuyakou, Sekai no Chuushin de, Ai wo Sakebu, Water Boys, Sono Toki wa Kare ni Yoroshiku) but suprisingly, I enjoyed watching him in this film. I was actually cheering him more than Oguri Shun. I felt that Yamada portrayed his character stronger. Interestingly enough, many of the guys here also starred in ROOKIES. Definitely a good thing for me cause I like watching movies or drama with people I recognize/know/like. I'm liking Sousuke Takaoka (Battle Royale, ROOKIES) ALOT! Well, I've only seen three of his works so far but none had been disappointing! Although Daito Shunsuke (Hana Kimi) had a minor role, I'm happy to have seen him in the movie ^^. Geez, I sound like I'm boy crazy.
On to the movie: my favourite scene has got to to be the last battle. Serizawa was the only one with a white umbrella and he also closed it and placed it gently on the ground. He was the last to enter the battlefield. His best friend, Tokio, was in the hospital, undergoing surgery at exactly the same time. Serizawa mentioned that they're always together when they battle (even if they're physically apart; Tokio is battling against his illness while Serizawa was trying to conquer the school). Everyone was in black clothes (school uniform) but Tokio was wearing a white gown (hospital gown). I felt this had a connection with Serizawa's white umbrella and that they are connected. Meanwhile, Genji had support from Ruka (through her song) and Ken (who was willing to sacrifice his life for him).
There was just enough humour and shocks from this movie along with the battle scenes. I don't tend to like Japanese films very much but I loved watching this movie.
SWING GIRLS, 2004
Yuta Hiraoka
Ueno Juri
Shihori Kanjiya
Yuika Motokariya
Yukari Toyashima
Right after watching Swing Girls, I started watching CROWS ZERO. Quite a difference.
This movie met my expectation from reading reviews and general feedback. Of course, my incentive for watching this movie also had to do with Ueno Juri (the reviews were just as captivating).
There were a couple of scenes that I really liked: when they were picking mushrooms; seeing the sensei trying to learn the sax, ahh, I already can't remember the rest >.<
Swing Girls reminds me of School of Rock (and other similar titles) in terms of the storyline.
BOKU NO KANOJO WA SAIBOGU, 2008
Alternative titles: Cyborg She
Ayase Haruka
Keisuke Koide
This movie is actually based on a Korean movie with the same storyline. The director also produced My Sassy Girl. I have to say I have a biased toward this movie because I adore Ayase Haruka and Keisuke Koide. (Initially I didn't like Keisuke Koide but I grew into many of the roles his played (ROOKIES, NODAME, TADA KIMI WO AISHITERU, KOIZORA, USHI NI NEGAI WO: LOVE & FARM, KISARAGI). Koide's role as Teppani in NODAME is just awesome. That really demonstrates his versatility.
Back to the movie, whenever you mess with time-travel it will NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. There's no way it could ever make sense. BUT, this was more acceptable then some of the other crappy movies relating to time travel (like the TIME MACHINE - which in certain ways, made sense but didn't o_O). I saw this movie some time ago and can't remember the exact thoughts and feelings I had. Just remembered that I enjoyed watching it.
RAINBOW SONG
Ueno Juri
Hayato Ichihara
Yuu Aoi
Watch this movie because of Ueno Juri and Hayato Ichihara... but sadly disappointed. It's the typical Japanese-movie-storyline. Not particularly interesting or good. Honestly, I should pick movies for solid storylines not for the actors. I don't have much to comment about Rainbow Song...