Do you want to see what death is like? - Ai Enma
It reminds me a little of Hellraiser, if the Cenobites are summoned if someone manages to solve the puzzle, then the Cenobites will appear, granting sadomasochistic pleasures, shows a great practical effect and take the ones who summoned them to hell.In this film, there's Ai Enma, the Hell Girl, a mysterious woman who can send someone who you have a grudge against to Hell in exchange for forfeiting your own soul to Hell once you die. But unfortunately the way she taking people to hell is not very satisfying, makes me say "Just like that?".
The other things in this film not making me interested, it's just a procession bringing people to hell that I can say just "okay".
I love you Koji Shiraishi-san, but I'm really not satisfied with your work on this one.
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This review may contain spoilers
Movie adaptations just don't work for Jigoku Shoujo.
As someone, who's seen complete Jigoku Shoujo the anime series and is ready to read the manga, I feel like a movie adaptation just doesn't do any of the characters justice. TV series would have more space to introduce everyone properly and imerse you more in the story. Which this movie is honestly lacking and I'm not sure who should be the target audience, but about that later.N O T S P O I L E R F R E E / N O M A J O R S P O I L E R S
Did you ever felt hatered so strong, held such a powerful grudge, that you would be able to curse someone for hell? What if I tell you there's something called Hell Correspondence, that only those filled with anger and pain can access when the clock strikes midnight? Would you do it, would you send someone to hell? Not for free of course, it would cost you your soul. You will get to live your life in peace, but once you die, your soul will also go to hell, because once you curse someone, the curse will come back right to you.
Sometimes pain makes us do irrational things and it's quite easy to be blinded by our emotions. And once the rumor about Hell Correspondence brokes out and becames a urban legends, you can be sure there will be someone, who will try to access the page once midnigh comes. Mikuriya Sanae is one of those people. Scared for life after her attacker slashes her face with a kitchen knife and mocks her in his apology letter, she decides to make a deal with Enma to take him to hell, cursing herself with the same fate. On the other hand, Ichikawa Miho makes deal with Enma to save her friend from being sacrificed by popular male idol in live show...
Okay, so, what we got - brief introduction to how Hell Correspondence works, no lore, no history background, no other explanation about Enma Ai and her team, their reasoning and how this whole thing works, what all they can do and how the hell works, because for everyone hell looks differently. So the most interesting things were left out.
Enma Ai was actually my biggest disapointment, her character felt bland, ghost like (which she isn't) and not creepy enough. The flower animation for when she took people to hell was quite nice, but I honestly missed the bell on her bracelet ringing when she did that, and Wanyuudou as the carriage that takes you to hell. I also have to wonder why none of the Hell's Correspondence client weren't given the chest tattoo as symbol of closing the deal with Enma. I guess it didn't suit any purpose in this story, in anime it was rather important detail.
Overal this movie was lacking any characters that you could feel for, except for Kudo, but yeah, he also doesn't get to live for long. No good soundtrack, no background that makes Jigoku Shoujo interesting, just B grade movie that I feel will piss of fans of this series and confuse people that never heard of the original. Unfortunatelly live actions will always have problem to uplive to their ancestors.
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This review may contain spoilers
This movie was so awesome even though it was confusing at some parts. I really loved the story line and want to see more (so I'm 99% sure I'm going to watch the drama version lol.)
I loved all of the actors but i can't help but to be confused as to who the goddess was he was so obsessed with. And why Hell Girl and the other 3 were somewhat always around him??
Even with the main girl, she always saw Hell Girl before she even summoned her. So i don't really understand that.
I loved her and Haruka friendship..... at the start. But I never understood why she fought so hard for that friendship when she found out what kind of person she really was. Like come on.... she beats her own mother. Wtf even. -_- she even WANTED to be sacrificed. Why send yourself to hell over someone who doesn't want help?
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Revenge At ALL Cost
I have not seen the anime but by the previous review I need to.The story revolves around revenge which starts out with the scarring of a woman's face. The MOST HEINOUS crime of all of Asian culture. Her attacker provokes her by saying she deserves to live the scars cause she will always think of him when she sees them. She will get revenge in exchange for her own soul going to the same place she is sending his.
Thus begins the never ending cycle of revenge Japan loves to showcase. "When seeking revenge, dig 2 graves".
There was no lead time between each incident, thus it felt cramped and hindered by the short time span of the movie. I had no context who the four harbingers were that accompanied lady death. Its Time passer, but only if nothing else is available.
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Unexpected good film!
Unlike the anime there is solid character development, the story is pretty immersing and interestingThis film as a solid ground as for the plot and was interesting till the end, The story line doesn't have any plot-holes from what i saw.
The characters are somewhat relatable and well written, You can get attached to the main character easily.
The side plots are interesting as well and written as good as the main plot also.
The acting is pretty good, the OST is cool too.
If you liked the anime but felt like something was missing this surely will satisfy you!
I recommend watching the movie
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Not a bad adaptation
As someone who follows the anime, I think this movie accomplishes what Jigoku Shoujo ought to have. Although this version has better and darker plots than the 2006 series, there are a few key points that are missing, such as the tattoo and the boat scene, that make the movie slightly unsatisfactory. Overall, it's not a bad adaptation. Tamashiro Tina did a good job of delivering the similarity of the Enma Ai eerie vibe from the anime version. The supporting characters - Hone Onna, Ichimoku Ren, and Wanyoudo, could have more engaging plots than simply being the assistants with little dialogue.Was this review helpful to you?
