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BrightestStar
Turns out, there's really no place like home
The story is set in a correction facility where teenagers are sent for a month until it's decided if they get released or sent to juveniles prison. We meet many troubled teens and their correction officers and we see how their interactions change one another and affect each other. The main focus is on one teenage girl who's as much full of torment as she is full of passion, and her relationship with her correction officer with tormented past. We also follow the fate of her 4 "cellmate" with their painful stories but somehow innocent outlook on life.
The story and it's character sort of engulfs you without you feeling it. The history and mystery of each character gets revealed eventually through hints and small revelations, keeping viewers on their toes throughout the whole drama not loosing interest even for one moment. I liked that even the officers weren't tossed to the side but were given real personalities, strength and growth to deal with troubled teens. For that reason, the drama and it's stories felt well balanced and none of the stories was left behind or forgotten about. Of the officers, we also visit Ariake's dark and unsettling backstory that is full of mysteries.
The acting is outstanding and compelling characters. Mikami Hiroshi's presence was charismatic, while Hirosue Ryoko was full of charm. Kubozuka Yosuke had an unforgettable appeal and the most unpredictable of the bunch. Everyone else's character's didn't lack any appeal and had a particular presence.
As an engulfing drama that overwhelms you with passion and charisma, with a satisfying romance and mystery, I'd say this drama truly is for all and to go for it!
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About the topic, it really made me feel that Yuuko was being treated no more than a product. By everyone one even her mother. Specially her mother. Maybe the only one that always had Yuuko's well being in mind was hee father, but he didn't have enough strong of a resolve to go through with it. A part of me cannot blame him since being a foreigner there already puts him at a disadvantage.
The story mostly revolves around Mikiko who had big dreams but somehow settled for less in life when things didn't go well. However she couldn't find peace with it, and the moment a chance appeared, she decided to live her dream through her daughter. The drama shows effectively Yuuko's growth throughout the years. She started a pretty much happy-go-lucky girl but then the small problems that were growing deeper, the loneliness was burying her deeper, and the loss of innocence that made her darker. She was desperate for someone to confind into, but no one gave her the chance. "Act professional" is what they say. It's what her mother would say.
The direction here was great. I love the switch between showing the set vs showing what TV viewers were seeing. And the ending had a great effect as well.
Short watch, great performances, definitely worth to check out.
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One of the most interesting aspect for me is the setting. The manga world itself is set in cheap pub, while the setting of the humans is a small village with a small community. In many instances I wondered if that setting itself if part of someone else's work. For what we think is reality is someone else's fiction. The funny thing is, every time I wonder how things would go if this event happen, or that event happen, or when I try to interpret certain things, or think of a certain solution, the drama always tend to explore these question and give me an answer. Of course there is no definite answer, just a possibility and closure.
Another aspect is the way the characters are written. There was very careful attention given to many subtle details that define each character. On the human side there's the protagonist Echizen, who is filled with self-hatred and disappointment with the world. Her journey to self discovery and appreciation was slow, but every once in a while there was a huge step forward. Other than her there is her co-workers that each has an interesting personality. Yuriko was fun, playful and very attentive. Behind her happy-go-lucky facade there is a deep scar and regret. Kiyomi is also worth mentioning, or maybe I should call her Akuma. Always angry, she doesn't seem pleasant to be around at first, when in truth she is the most heartwarming of the human characters. She just hate it when people aren't being honest as she is, making it hard for her to open her heart. She challenges her Echizen all the time, probably seeing worth in her more than Echizen sees in herself. On the manga character side there is Nakuna of course. He's an emotional lad. Always expressing himself freely. He's extremely loyal and trusting, and as innocent as a child. I could say all his manga family has the same innocence for the same reason, but not all are this trusting. Each one of them is adorable with a distinct personality.
If I were to talk about the acting, they were perfectly casted to say the least. Most note worthy is Nagase Tomoya. That guy loves to overact, but it never bothers me because he knows which role to choose that makes overacting, if not just okay, but even demanded. Aso Kumiko was also perfect. She smiles a lot, but you can detect the forced from the genuine. Kutsuna Shiori has this gift of being a very lovely despiteful person. I'm telling you that's a gift. another noteworthy is a personal favourite of mine, Okunuki Kaoru as Yuki. She's elegant and wise, but so cute when clueless. Yasuda Ken appearing as a guest in an episode was the most touching.
Overall it was a nice, light, charming, sweet comedy with a lot of heart. The setting and light used makes it perfect watch while having an afternoon tea. It may not be for everyone's liking as some may find it boring and a bit over the top, but if you look deeply, you may find an, I'll bet well hidden, gem.
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The story is simple. A teacher's daughter gets killed, and the culprit are her students. She teaches them a vicious lesson, one they might never get up from, and they will certainly not forget.
Ignorance is when you think you know it all. Thats why teenagers tend to be ignorant and look down on adult. I liked that she managed to show them who's boss. But in doing so, you feel that she lost her humanity. She didn't teach them out of care, she hates them but just doesn't want that crime to be forgotten. The children themselves, their thirst for attention blinds them from the crimes they do. They have no conscience at all. To be look up to as cool, they take it on the weaker, like cowards. It reminds me of an essay I read some time before where it says that children are more dangerous than adult, because they have no morality. They can do the worst of crimes and not realize its atrocity. Basically when they do those kind of crimes, they should be punished like adult and face the consequences.
The acting from Matsu Takako was top notch. I specially liked Kaoru Fujiwara;s acting her. The cast is generally great. Okada Masaki's character was plain annoying, because he was meant to be lol.
I loved LOVED the direction here. The use of flashbacks, the skip from one flashback to another (as if watching an old family video) during conversations and monologues, the lighting and effects, the colours of them moving, was used effectively and perfectly. I think its what made the movie stand out and what absorbed me in that movie. The music used is no exception, setting the mood perfectly.
As a psychological thriller, it carries the task perfectly without being a burden to watch. You're never thinking "I just want to know the ending of it". It might not be to everyone's taste, but Its definitely worth the watch ;)
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I went in for the theme. The idea of having time for your own, to do things alone and enjoy that time fully. It is something that is important to me, and here they exploit it perfectly. The way prof Jin enjoyed his *drinking solo* felt like he was my kindred spirit.
I think the best thing about this drama is that screen presence was evened out among the cast. It isn't just the main love story and those that surrounds it. We have a setting, and we explore the different lives and experiences of those involved there. The setting is an institution that gives classes for people who want to pass the civil exam and be employed by the government. The drama tells us two different stories in that setting, that of the teachers there (pretty similar to typical romcoms) and that of the students and the things they do cause by the pressure.
I won't rehash what everyone is saying, but I agree the trio were hilarious. First time I watch Key in a drama, but really he was effortlessly the heart of it. My favourite was Kim Dong Yeong, I could relate to him the most. He felt the most realistic person there, naturally down to earth, and a total sweetheart. I gotta add I totally enjoyed all the scenes of the impersonator, he was pure fun. As for the other teacher, she wasn't bad, but too petty for an extended period of time. The director was hilarious as well. I actually wished for him to divorce since he seems so miserable with his current life.
For me it lost points on
-Inefficiency: Not only were the episodes long, but there were many dragged out scenes or events that are there to fill the time with no purpose of advancing the story. I think the drama would've benefitted being cut to 12 episodes
-The last 2 episodes: I do hate Noble Idiocy, but the was it was done here was the most nonsensical, to the point I didn't want the couple back together. And I actually was very forgiving of the lead, and maybe one of the few that found him cute while dating. Also the secondary couple were left out too last minutes. In the end they were cute, but it would've been better to explore the relationship better.
Despite my remarks on the pacing and the ending, I'd say it's still worth checking out for the laughs, as well as the heartfelt moments here.
p.s. I do wonder though is it normal for women to be this irresponsible when drinking outside this often?
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I won't talk about the action and cinematography much, just say it was stunning. If China is best at portraying colours in their wuxia, S. Korea is great at using different seasons to depict it. This type of experience is what differentiate watching movies from watching dramas.
Acting: great on all fronts. I was initially no big fan of Lee Byung Hun but he really commands the scenes he's in, from the first time we meet him. First time seeing Jeon Do Yeon and she was great. Seeing Kim Go Eun again is a treat and she never disappoints. You don't feel that she's acting with other big stars she's just immersed into the role. The rest of the cast fit their roles as well.
The story itself is nothing new, starting with betrayal the revenge that follows. The extend to which the character was willing to go for revenge it insane. It's really hard to judge it.
What attracted me most and kept my attention is the complicated characters and the disturbing love story. Deok Ki is corrupted and disgusting in every way, yet his love is so real and pure. As illogical it is, I just totally bought it. Same goes for Sul Rang, that carried true hatred towards him, leading to an insane revenge plan, yet wishing she could forgive him. This is the type of intense crazy romance I totally enjoy watching. There's something so raw and desperate about it. Hong Yi went through many phases in the movie, but I just love her in the last fighting scene, cold yet emotionally intense! Her side love story however was a bore, with typical kdrama cliché that I totally could've done without. Still it didn't remove anything from my enjoyment, it just wasn't too logical. However I find the main leads' love story also illogical but I totally buy it and believe it.
After finishing the movie I read many comments complaining about the movie calling it a Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon copy. While I agree it alludes to it, the movie stands on its own telling its own story. Definitely worth a try.
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What differentiated this rom-com from other is its characters. Starting with Higashide Anne as Yabushita Yoriko. She is a girl obsessed with numbers and with things being exact.She pre-schedules everything and always needs to plan ahead anything she needs to be done. She's already set with her life and is inflexible even with the most mundane things. I find that she has a big heart and emotions, she just deals with things practically so can easily be viewed as heartless. Then there is Hasegawa Hiroki as Taniguchi Takumi who's treated as a NEET by all though he prefers a different title on himself. He refuses to work and just want someone and his view of women and emotions is unrealistic and comes from books and movies. He can easily be perceived as a loser, but somehow we start to understand him and the reason behind him becoming a hikikomori. Despite such odd personalities they had such a great chemistry. I loved each and every scene they had, and their conversations are always most fun to watch. Seeing them go through each hurdle that may be normal for most people with their particular views is part of the fun.
Other than the leads, we have many secondary characters. Nakajima Yuto as the innocent Washio as a delight. He is a sensitive young lad who cannot accept our leads' point of view on love and marriage and wants to prove them differently. He also has ulterior motive, and has such a sweet heart. Kuninaka Ryoko playing the cool Kaori is my favourite role for her. She kicks ass, she's cute, and she talks like a yankee XD. Her brother Sotaro played by Matsuo Satoru is maybe the most hilarious of all. He also is the one that makes things move when people are being in denial and refuse to move forward. Then there's the parents.
I really love Takumi's mother with her nature of not taking anything seriously. She does hide her pain behind a façade but she is very strong and doens't deny neither her weaknesses nor her son's. Yoriko's dad is also a sweetheart. He only wants his daughter to be happy. It is heartwarming how he accepts her the way she is. Another highlight is Yoriko's mom. There are many ways we can interpret her character but she always says the most hurtful things everyone want to ignore. For sure her mother has a big impact on her life and has Yoriko constantly competing with her.
So overall it was a great drama. It has an unconventional romcom with many interesting chararters and excellent performance. It may not be for someone who expect a romantic story despite the title. If you like light comedies and different themes about love, then that is your drama.
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Makes you reflect about different sides of life before judging.
This drama might remind many j-dorama watchers of an older drama "Tiger and Dragon". The reason is, both are written by Kudo Kankuro, lead by Nagase Tomoya playing a character learning an old art from a character played by the legendary Nishida Toshiyuki. Both dramas use this opportunity to teach about Japanese culture and demonstrate how this art still has an influence on our modern society and should be preserved. Also, I have to say, the combination of those three is GOLD. Kudo-Sensei knows how to use all the potential of both actors, who have some of the best on-screen chemistry.This story was very simple yet very elaborated. As I watch each episode, I find myself pondering about different topics. Even re-evaluating previous judgments. It's not really about the story, but how it presents day-to-day life. The moments AFTER the great gestures and talk of sacrifice, the moments after making the promise to change, take up a new responsibility, or give up something deemed a waste of time. Those moments are very real. Those are the moments we rarely see on screen. They lack the theatrical needed to emphasize certain actions or characters, yet they are the most real and hit much closer to home.
It's easy to say that children should take care of their elder parents, and hail the nurses that do the job instead of said children. But we forget that sometimes it's just not feasible. Nurses are paid to do that job, while the children need to earn a living WHILE taking care of their elders. This can be stressful and cause anxiety to all parties involved. However, that doesn't mean that children should just leave it to professionals. Just like there was a time their parents couldn't be replaceable, as adults, there are things only THEY can do for their parents.
Another thing related to this subject reflected in this drama is the complicated emotions that come with such responsibility. The family issues can be perceived as particular to this story, yet they are more of standard in our society today. We don't hold our parents at a height where we don't question their actions anymore, but we forget all the sacrifices our parents made and the difficulties they went through, just to give us a better life than they had. However, as outsiders looking in, it's easy to think "why are those children treating their elderly parents this way" without knowing the hardships said parents are presently causing, nor the traumas they inadvertently caused. Because they are all flawed humans.
Although touched upon lightly, the complications of marriage, the cause of divorce, and the consequences were beautifully portrayed. The road of a crush turning into a relationship, the relationship turning into the mundane everyday life, etc.
Those were just some of the topics explored masterfully in this drama.
The characters in this drama were both extraordinary and very ordinary. Depending on where you are in life, each character felt very authentic. Very early on I felt that Juichi is ME. At least, at my current stage in life. I haven't seen Nagase Tomoya in better shape (looks AND skills), he was lovely, annoying, cute, and dumb. His sister Mai is probably these in every household. She's the one most depended on yet most ignored. She's sensitive and very sensible to those around her. They couldn't have cast anyone better than Eguchi Noriko. In subtly manners, she made the character glow. The father/grandfather played by is probably the most present character in our lives. Annoys us, makes us laugh, roll our eyes, cry. No one other than Nishida Toshiyuki could have done it. The forever baby brother, the black sheep, the middle child, all are present. The relationship between each character and its growth felt very authentic. I loved how Juichi saw himself not in his son but in his nephew and went out of his way to stand by him in ways no one did in his time. That generational difference is palpable.
As far as storytelling goes, the drama uses foreshadowing with the use of Noh, as well well as hints in the narration. I didn't pay attention at first and got caught by a few surprises. However, couldn't fault the story as I recalled the foreshadowing. In this end, it's the type of story that you will accept love no matter the direction it takes. It'll make you laugh out loud, it'll make you cry, it'll make you frustrated, but mostly it'll entertain you.
If I talk about drawbacks. Although as individuals I love their characters, I didn't feel the chemistry between Nagase Tomoya and Toda Erika.
There is just too much to say about this drama, I don't know where to stop so I will stop here. Everyone should just go watch it. Believe me, you won't regret it. The biggest downside is that the drama eventually comes to an end while you still want to see more of the Miyama family. I miss them so much T_T
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The film opens with a peculiar scene. Masanosuke (Seto Koji) gets home and realizes his shoes are wet. He accidently stepped into something disgusting with an off-putting smell. The next morning, he doesn't notice anything, however in the evening he can smell it again. He realizes something is rotten deep inside the house he was passing by. He can't clearly identify it.
We then follow three young men. One is driven by the old ways of thinking. He can't accept the upcoming change, and dreams of this heroic life probably similar to samurai stories he grew up listening to. He believes in his own grandeur and nothing else will move him. The second is all about revolution, change and movements. His mind and words are big, yet fails to capture anyone's attention. Finally there's the one indifferent to the cause, just following the tied, until he finds himself in something he can't comprehend, and with not enough resolve to follow through.
When the country is going through a state of uncertainty and distrust, those three representing different ends of the spectrum of the people in those times. So while it does represent Japan at this important time in history, but the story definitely transcends beyond its setting.
The acting doesn't disappoint, to say the least. Of course Yuuya Yagira dominates the screen in his strong presence, but the others came through when needed. Really enjoyed Okayama Amane's acting here. I'm not too familiar with Seto Koji, but he was perfect for the character he plays here. Odagiri Joe plays a supporting role but his presence was notable (& beautiful). Finally Kadowaki Mugi with her minimal presence manages to distinguish herself.
I also loved the direction and camera work. The colours used in the scenes, mostly dim, at times disturbing red, or the desolating blue, were effective in representing the mood and feeling of the characters and events. The shots were poingnant and gives us a perfect idea of the place of the characters in the whole picture. It's more symbolic than anything. In any case, the combination results in this painting full of hope and anguish. It's relentlessly beautiful.
There is so much I appreciate about this movie, but it definitely isn't one easy to recommend. I'd say if you are interested in, not that period of Japanese history, but the mental state it was in, you'll definitely enjoy it. If you're looking for a movie about extravagant heroism, this isn’t the movie for you. If you are a fan of any of the main cast, chances are you'll enjoy the movie for the acting at least, just set your expectations right. Happy Watching :D
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The story is about our titular character forming a class with chosen students to conduct an experiment. With that we meet his students, the class 2-A and the problems caused that he and other teachers have to deal with. It takes us quite a while to find out what the experiment is about but it does add a bit of a mystery to keep your attention close to whats going on. What is most interesting in what is addressed here is trying to define maturity. Society has set up a certain age to it but from the beginning onwards we do observe how maturity varies from one person to another. Suzuki Sensei's mindset, like most teachers, is not ideal that's for sure, but what distinguishes him from others is his awareness of middle schooler's intelligence and maturity, and his ability to treat them seriously.
On the acting department, oh boy isn't it stunning. It is Hiroki Hasegawa's best role, from his expressions when we hear his thoughts, to his composure when addressing a problem. What's most impressive though are the students. Karin Ono, Honoka Miki, Kaoru Fujiwara, Takumi Kitamura, Yukito Nishii, and Tao Tsuchiya to name a few. That generation sure has a bright future if given the chance. On the teachers side Yasuko Tomita sure was impressive, but generally all did a very decent job.
This drama isn't only for those who enjoy school dramas, it's for everyone. We all can relate to it because we all went through similar phases and looked for a safe place to express our thoughts. Maybe we are all looking for a similar place even now that we grew older so we join clubs or online sites such as MDL for that reason as well. What is discussed here are things that left me thinking about even after watching each episode. It isn't preachy at all and doesn't give us a definite answer which is the beauty of it. The characters and the acting makes it most entertaining to watch.
;)
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I was certainly looking forward to the reunion of Mitsushima and Eita and seeing Tsumabuki in a drama again after so long sure is a delight. Whether the drama met my expectations or not cannot be answered with a simple Yes or No.
My main reason of watching was for the cast, so in that case I can't say I was disappointed. The characters felt real for me, the relationships authentic, and the chemistry is present. I was invested enough with the family that watching them every episode was bliss. Acting from the main characters was top notch. Asahi's character got many criticism of being over-acted, but I found it was actually well thought out. I think if he were played any other way it would've been too dramatic so I cannot imagine anyone playing it better than Tsumabuki. Other performances varied from great to okay but none felt miscast. Yoshioka Hidetaka didn't really add much to the characters so my shallow self wished it would've been a better looking actor that took the role XD He wasn't miscast but not too great either.
The story overall is heartwarming and sweet, but we had some story lines that were stronger than others, some more relatable than others, hence some episodes stronger than others. The story line revolving around the three older siblings were the most engaging. The story of the 2 youngest siblings was set-aside in the background and needed more attention from the writer. For that reason I found their resolve a bit shallow. Episodes about characters other than the siblings were less interesting. There were also a lot of cheesy dialogs running throughout the drama. It certainly isn't something new to Japanese dramas but dramas without cheesy dialogs have been done and this could've benefitted without as well
The soundtrack was used effectively here and the theme song added this timeless enchantment to the drama.
On the whole, not a perfect drama, but still touching and uplifting, with great performances and memorable roles. I will miss this drama for sure.
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-Wildness beyond imaginations.... check!
-Violence... check!
-Hopelessness...check!
-Spot on comedic scenes...check!
-Amazing performance from the whole cast...check!
-Magnificent use of flashbacks, colours, lighting and music... MAJOR Check!
-Memorable... We'll see about that ;)
-Story... I don't usually watch anything where there is no one to root for, much less enjoy it, but somehow this story was engaging so...check! But it was mostly because of it's characters rather than the story itself.
This is definitely a director piece. What I love about this movie is exactly what I loved about Confession. The not so linear timeline, the constant use of flashbacks, seeing only part of the picture piece by piece until it makes all sense, the effective use of music to indicate the absurdity of the situation, the colours used show the madness in the world. The movie doesn't shy away from anything, and the story is told by one hell of a messed up dirty old ojisan. Under a lesser director, this movie would've been like any other, average, forgettable. Nakashima has a way of mastering the image he's showing. A true artist who manages to connect with the audience through images.
Yakusho Koji's genius was beyond my imagination (currently checking out his movie list ;)) Tsumabuki was adorably delightful. I smile on every scene he's in. Sometimes I burst out laughing. Specially in his last scene in the movies. Hilarious! It just caught me by surprise. Odagiri, oh Odagiri, he may not appeared long in the movie, but it was long enough to captivate me. To the point that I didn't realize I was missing my chance to get some great screencaps of him XD. What a scene that way. Words cannot describe it. It was so effortless on his part. Playing crazy characters for him is like a kid getting his favourite toy on christmas!
That young cast! No fear for the future of the Japanese cinema as long as they're around. It's my first time seeing Komatsu Nana so can't judge much but she has the perfect demonic beauty that she uses effectively here. Hashimoto Ai always knows the best thing to say at the right moment. Hiroya Shimizu was also perfect his the use of his character is interesting.
It wasn't an easy watch but totally worth watching. If you're a fan of Nakashima movies, especially Confessions, you'll definitely like it. If you are a fan of any of the cast, they make such a spectacular job it's worth venturing into this movie!
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Tokyo Tower: Mom & Me, and Sometimes Dad
9 people found this review helpful
Acting wise watching Odagiri joe and Kiki Kirin was both heartwarming and painful at time. I first gotta say I find Odagiri so good looking here!! XD. Kiki Kirin is so amazing she's really the star here, with her lovely daughter (playing her younger self). I remember first watching her in Villain where she totally broke my heart and stle the whole movie for me so she already won me over. But here, specially once she comes to live in tokyo, you just feel all the joy she brings with her. And that source of her joy is her son. As for him, you love him for wanting her in his life so much. You love him for never feeling that he finds her a burden. I particularly love the scene in the poster, it speaks so much of their relationship! The dad character might've been a lousy husband, but you can't really hate him lol. As for the girlfriend, I just didn't feel it. I specially did not feel the honesty she's supposed to exhibit. But her character doesn't matter so who cares :P
This movie is pretty long and slow-paced. The movie is about 20 min over the 2 hours but though I didn't find it short but I felt satisfied with the ending. I felt that I didn't need more or less. Not for everyone, but if you're an Odagiri Joe fan, if you like heartwarming stories, slow paced slice of life, I think chances re you'll like it.
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The Story can sound pretty inspiring, and it sure is many ways. My only issue here, which cause a big plot-hole in the story, is that Japan is a first world country. Surely when a case such as Umi occured you'd have a professional help you out, at least inform you of the different ways to communicate with Umi. Many of the things Ittaku attempts to teach Umi should've been attempted first by Hana. It didn't seem like Hana ever thought of Umi as an actual human being. The senses which usually help kids absorb knowledge have been cut out from her, but it's not like she has brain Damage. In that sense she's just a normal girl with a thirst to understand this dark world she lives him.
Other than that though, everything else is perfect. The way the story progresses, the growth in both Hana and Ittaku, and especially the exploration of Hana's ex. In Hindsight he sure is a jerk, and a loser. However it's as if he's running away from this truth and will only be at peace if he accepts it. Two of the other tenants started off pretty annoying. It's funny how each would call on the other's annoying part, but it didn't help there case, that is until they change. Their character is like the reverse characters of a typical high school romcom story.
What made the story great is the obachans. Ittaku's who pushed him to have a meaning in his life, Umi's with her tendered heart, but mostly the landlord. She was too convenient, yes, but she's too lovely for me to be bothered about that point. She calls out on any bullshit, with a devious yet sweet smile, that you can't help but accept her comment and smile back. The Ojisan tenant was a nice highlight. Oh and Ittaku's best friend Baba is great!
Most and foremost amazing character is Umi, and the way she was portrayed was just perfect. She made me appreciate the small yet amazing things in life, like the breezy wind, the touch of sand, dipping the feet in the sea. The way she eats, though messy, is too adorable. It expresses her joy of eating something delicious. When she manages to learn something the pride in herself is priceless.
Acting is good overall. Other than Sumida Moeno who's the most impressive, I enjoyed the acting of Aso Kumiko who has yet to disappoint me. First time seeing Mineta Kazunobu but he was pretty convincing here. Yamauchi Takaya is the type that no matter what he does you can't really hate him. The rest of the cast suit their characters to say the least.
Anyways sweet short watch about simple people in a complicated situation trying their best to do well in life. Worth your time to check out.
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Story
We started with an interesting mystery but I just did not enjoy how it was handled. The first few episode never gave me the feeling that our lead girl was smart, but just that our villains at the beginning were too easy to take out. Later episodes had interesting villains, and thats when I felt that Mizuno wasn't up for it and was way in over her head, but it still kept me interested. The drama would've been better if they had ended it at episode 9, but they used what I'd call a cheap cliffhanger at the end of the episode, while many revelations in the last episode did not sit well with me. Its not because of how the story went, but more how it was handled and the reasoning behind it. Lets just say I wasn't happy with it.
Acting
Now that is why I watched this drama and why I was mad the drama wasn't well executed. Ueno Juri did great in that role. From the first moment she's onscreen she convinces she's to get people (though her actions aren't convincing :P). I don't think you can mix her with any other character she played before, she was a totally different person. Odagiri Joe on the other hand, Although I really liked, I felt he was restrained in that role. I guess I'm just used to him doing the craziest or weirdest role and this was waaaayy too tame for him. Iwaki Koichi and Kunimura Jun were excellent in their role. Nakamura Aoi was cute as always and fit the role perfectly. Even the cartoonish villains from the beginning were well acted just not added any depth. On that department I don't have any complaint.
Music & Art
I liked the music throughout the drama, the ending song and I love the alice in wonderland drawings they used but I actually never felt any connection with Alice's story and this drama. It just didn't add anything to the drama only a nice picture to look at, at the beginning of every episode.
Finally I don't give much attention to rewatch value since I rarely rewatch stuff. Also mystery dramas kind off lose most of their value after the first watch since you already know the end of it.
Overall I don't regret watching it because I enjoy the acting, but I just didn't like how the story when and how many scenes were executed. It did not feel genuine or unique.
Hope you enjoy the review & don't find it too harsh :P Its just how I felt about it ;)
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