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For fans and fans of manga / anime prepare your vocabularies of cursing, because Live Action disappoints.
I hoped this was better than it turned out to be, as the story looked intriguing and the way this movie was based was very popular. However, the result was quite annoying. The story had some originality at the beginning and had funny moments mainly due to the cast very well chosen ... However, most of the events in this film were exactly the same as you will probably find in any other Japanese manga film: the festival, the school fair, the trip, etc. I would prefer the story to focus more on the main character and his journey to move and become a better future. Finally, the love story was fine, it had twists and surprises, but in the end it turned out to be phenomenal crap.
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likeable back-to-school fantasy
I am glad I disregarded the negative reviews to watch reLife〜for me this was a lovely thoughtful film、yes it is fantasy and repeats some typical episodes in Japanese school life like festival、 trip and so on but not dwelling on each of them too long and treating them within an original theme of so-to-say a person living inside while at the same time standing outside youth〜 yes it is fantasy but still has something to say to both young and older ages I believe。 its main weakness for me was the very ending with its just too neat and predictable ”resolution”。 This role suited Nakagawa well like other teen roles he has played and ”made his own” as I feel his screen presence very much has childlike freshness、 but maybe he has now reached his own graduation in real life （unfortunately not yet seen in his most recent role in the disappointing 「Oyabaka Seishun Hakusho」）and I will be interested to see how he makes the transition from ”youth” drama to ”adult”roles and hope he is successful without losing his youthful attractiveness〜Was this review helpful to you?
What I really liked was how the movie included the ending for the two MC's, which the anime hasn't currently produced, so a finished story was really nice to watch. I really wouldn't go back to watch this movie just because the acting wasn't particularly good and the choppiness. Instead, I'd go back and read/watch the manga/anime if anything.
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This review may contain spoilers
I gotta say. This movie hit me hard. Granted, the pacing was a bit slow at the beginning and character development was slow. I also wished that the movie would have given more character buiding moments either solo or as a group. Positives: But then the movie started to develop the romance and the kinda cliche " friend group " adventure where they grew together. It had the cliche event like the school festival and trip which I didn't mind. I liked the characters, particularly Kaizaki and Hishiro, and the other casting choices as well. I felt that they, the main and supporting characters, were done well and fit their roles perfectly. The acting itself was slightly lacking but the awkwardness and tension was fine for this kind of movie.
SPOILER ALERT. DO NOT READ MORE IF HAVEN"T WATCHED.
Negatives: But the ending left me feeling a bit bitter and empty. Yes, the movies' ending implied that Kaizaki and Hishiro ending up triggering their supposedly lost memories which would lead to them falling in love again ( like they did in the manga ). But I wished the movie would've given at least 2 more minutes for them to say something like, " Have we met before?" instead of saying " Ummm.... ".
Another thing that kinda upset me ( this is a bit of a rant by now ) was the fact that Oga, Onoya and Kariu don't remember that it was Kaizaki who gave them the line of " Cherish the present ". Yes, it was a requirement of the program that they forget him and Hishiro but I hated that the group was broken up even if they had a proper farewell ( I teared up there, not gonna lie ). But the fact that their memory of him is gone and all that's left to them is a single line... it hurt and it was frustrating. But the movie was still good as a whole.
Lesson of the movie: Memories will fade. Of people, of experiences whether good or bad. But what matters is that you enjoyed yourself. Even if you can't remember the person who said somethign to you that motivated/ changed you, it doesn't change the fact that it impacted you. It's the impact that remains, not the details.
Haizaki wanted to leave behind something of himself, which he did in the form of that line " Cherish the present ", knowing full well that they would never meet. But it made its mark and that's really the best you can hope for.
So even if you can't remember the specifics of a good memory where you enjoyed yourself with friends, that doesn't diminish the fun you had. It doesn't taint the experience you had. What matters is that, at that point of time, you made a memory to cherish and it stayed with you to remind you that you did enjoy yourself. Whether it's complete or incomplete. Memories will fade, but its impact is what matters. So make those experiences. Experiences that will last you for life.
Conclusion: I tried to encapsulate my feelings and thoughts of the movie in this comment. I apologise for how long it is. But I feel as thought this movie ought to be recognised for the lesson it taught me and can teach to anyone who watches it. It was a good, thought-provoking watch. But even for casual movie watches, it was a nice ride.
9/10 - Definitely recommend.
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I haven't read the manga, and haven't watched the anime adaptation, so this is solely for the movie.
First, what I liked:
As usual with Japanese productions, the use of light and colours was exceptional. It's especially noticable in Kaizaki's old workplace, where drab greys dominate -- and the light is changed according to the mood of the scene.
I also liked how background music was only used very sparingly.
The ending was also well done -- we really don't need more than the "ano" at the end. We had been told that they will retain their memories. so anything more would be redundant. I also would have liked if the film had ended after Yoake had left his reports on his desk. We don't need to be told everything, we can think for ourselves sometimes.
I don't mind so much that the six characters stay relativly bland. In a film with a runtime of two hous, there will be limitations. I do think that the other subject could have had a deeper backstory -- or the writer could have committed to only focus on the main protagonist Kaizaki and his journey of change.
Even so, none of the characters' stories managed to capture my interest -- except for Yoake, whose story I'd really like to hear. (Really, I think he is the most fascinating one, and *his* story of change, what he feels and thinks when he, the one who is supposed to be the unemotional observer, begins to like his subjects? *That* would have been interesting.) For a story about character development, it is a huge minus that I feel kind of meh about the main characters.
I can imagine that other people can relate more to Kaizaki's struggles and the story of the last year at school and their message of "Treasure the Now" than I do, so this is extremely subjective.
For me, I wouldn't have missed anything if I hadn't watched the film, but it wasn't so bad that I regret it either.
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Arata Kaizaki get the chance to re-life his life. He went back to the 3rd / last year of high school. Some of us will gonna said that the best time, some of us will said no not really.... But yeah High School sometimes is the best year to repeat your life. We still got our youth, the future ahead of us, the friends that we can make, etc....
But the concept of the movie quite unique and strange. Haha... Arata Kaizaki (AK) went back in time, but it's only like dream, where nothing actually change nor he can make memories to anyone around him. So yeah it's like a dream, he can experience it but also at the same time like watching the movie.
What I really like from this movie is the spirit AK gave us. He know he can't change anything nor make memories to anyone around him, but he still he still decided to make a difference. He still decided to make friends, help his friends change & gave them the courage that they need sometimes. The positive energy he gave really make a change. Even they don't remember him in the end, but his courage & motivational word stick with people around him. And after that he also finally get to know himself more & found his purpose, what he will do when he get back to his life.
What can be better! For me only 2 things can make this movie better & get the 9 ⭐️ that I originally want to give:
1. I would like see the photo. Haha... They took the pic at the graduation (I think) I really want to see that photo. Will AK be there or not...? Is he only disappear on people memory or also in the photo...?
2. The weird ending. The last sentence is really make me want to bite or scream or kick the director. Why...? Why...? Why...? They must leave us with that weird conversation...? Why not ending it with the meeting of AK & the new teacher...? Or at least gave us full sentence that go fade out still gonna be better... I just don't like the hanging ending like this....
Overall this one good movie to reflect your own life...
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And I heard that there's an Anime ver. too but I didn't watch it yet ..
So about this movie , like what I said the plot is very good cause of its originality it started well and I enjoyed the first part but then become like any school days story and I saw these a lot in the manga that I've read previously .
But the casts were good , the ending was suitable & this's a movie which a lot of us can relate to ~
I can say its an okey movie > don't have a high expectations !
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Well, I'm not read the manga or watch anime yet, so I didn’t have any expectation about it. The story is somehow absurd, but really cute in my opinion. Taishi's confused expression is so epic. And the moment their friends left Kaizaki and Hishiro behind at the bus station is reeeaaallyyyy funny hahaha (o^▽^o) But honestly, I prefer the look of 27-years-old Kaizaki (^o^)
The casts’ acting are so great, they’re the skilled your actor/actress.
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