My Beautiful Man: Eternal (2023)

HiraKiyo Eternal !!!

For disclaimers, I am not a fluent Japanese speaker, but simply someone who understands a level of Japanese to understand the context and translate contents sometimes, so I might have gotten some details slightly wrong. I fell in love with Season 1 first after it aired, and went on to listen to the drama CDs.

The movie essentially focuses on 3 conflicts. One, HiraKiyo has to go apartment hunting after Naho and Tomoya prepare to move back to the house the couple is currently staying in. Two, Hira prepares to graduate from university and enter the adult world. He's chasing after Kiyoi who seems to be walking a step ahead by starting work earlier, and loses his confidence to shoot Kiyoi beautifully after seeing Noguchi's work. Third, Anna and Kiriya's story, which Kiyoi finds himself tied up in. This movie overall, focuses on Hira's growth as a character.

HiraKiyo does feel more like a couple who has dated for a while here, compared to Season 2, from their domestic acts to ways of showing affection. HiraKiyo has learnt from their past in the previous two drama series and have grown a lot in terms of intimacy. Kiyoi is a lot more direct with his affection and doesn't hide behind his tsundere ways, and Hira takes a bit more initiative this time. Hira does still idolise Kiyoi by calling him a "king" and himself a "fan", but the "God" nickname and treatment (in the extreme end at least) has stopped. I do think that compared to the drama seasons, there's nothing people will be able to call "toxic" and in a sense, I think they are turning into a more "normal" couple (or as normal as they can be with HiraKiyo lol) like what Kiyoi wants without Hira's extreme worship and Kiyoi's tsundere manners.

Noguchi was definitely the MVP here. He's the only one apart from Kiyoi who really understands Hira, so he's the only one to truly get through Hira's brain and see through what Hira is trying to deny. It's because of him that Hira can grow as a character. I think most of the important scenes with him were kept so everyone can also feel how important he is when they watch the movie. Also just a note for the Koyama fans who didn't read the original work, he only has two relatively quick scenes.

I absolutely loved how the soundtracks and flashbacks to Season 1 and 2 were used throughout. They're both effective in bringing nostalgia to fans of the drama series, as well as to provide context for those who only watched the movie. The soundtracks, paired with the beautiful cinematography, gives you goosebumps no matter what scene it is. Bitter was also unexpectedly used in the climatic scene, which I think was really smart of the crew, considering how well the lyrics and Hira's emotions there paired together. My favourite soundtrack of the movie would be "Time to Forget Myself" (恍惚の時間), as it's used in a particularly gorgeous and touching scene (both in terms of the movie and behind the camera since Riku is the one holding the camera there) with little words.

Considering how the movie was 103mins long, I think they managed to include all the important scenes from Nikurashii Kare, rearrange the scenes and make everything flow well. Having known the novel plot, I do think there were some scenes I would have liked to see in the movie or preferred the novel version, but watching the movie as it is was amazing nonetheless. I'm also glad they scrapped certain parts from the novel and rewrote it. Something I want to point out though, is that I feel fans of the original work should probably try to judge the movie as a separate entity rather than compare it to the original novel.

The side characters (notably Anna and Shitara) and Kiyoi's own more minor storyline (since the main focus in the book for Hira's) as an actor were definitely more developed in the novel, but having their scenes cut didn't really make anything feel like it was 'lacking' while watching, at least to me. Such scenes would perhaps have added more depth, but I do think, after all, there's only so much you can squeeze into less than 2 hours of a film, compared to a whole novel. So, I would think it's more important to focus on HiraKiyo as a relationship during that limited duration.

In terms of acting, I've always thought Riku and Yusei were impressive as actors but they genuinely outdid themselves here. Their chemistry has always been amazing, for if you know these two outside of Utsukushii Kare at all, you'll know they're extremely close friends as well. Both of their facial expressions just screams HiraKiyo's love for each other while somehow still showing its subtle complexities. Their range of emotions, with Riku showing Hira's devotion, insecurities, possessiveness, etc and Yusei showing Kiyoi's "ore-sama" side, adoration, hurt, etc, is just insane. There have been multiple directors going to watch the movie, so I do hope they take a liking on RikuYuse's chemistry and acting skills, and somehow pair them up again in a vastly different show. I would love to see them co-star again, as the two have also mentioned wanting as well.

Of course, the supporting actors were amazing too. I especially wanted to point out Nimura Sawa and Ochiai Motoki's facial expressions and the way they delivered their lines. I can't point out which scenes in particular made me feel this in particular without giving out major spoilers, but they were absolutely great. The entire casting was perfect. I wouldn't be able to imagine anyone else in the current roles they're playing.

The movie, like what I believe many Utsukare fans feel for Season 1 and Season 2, is very rewatchable. Heck, if a fan can go to the cinema and watch the movie 53 times within 2 weeks of the movie showing, I don't see how it's not rewatchable. The staff put in so much thought into each design, be it regarding the set, costume or story (e.g. https://bit.ly/3qMBLeT), and the actors outdid themselves in playing their characters as well as they did. There's just so many little details to catch, from both the background in each scene, to the acting and story.

My bit of criticism though (even though it didn't really affect my experience with the movie), is that I wish that they could have shown how they resolved the conflict better. To me, it just felt like after the incident with Shitara, everything was just resolved? I didn't expect the Hira's confidence issue to necessarily be fixed, since that is who he is, but it did feel like a spur of the moment thing, both when he promised to stay by Kiyoi's side because of the impact of the incident on HiraKiyo, and when he took Kiyoi's pictures. I guess they could have talked it out after Hira returned home like they had planned to before Shitara happened, but it's never shown so it's kind of left as a '?' for me. I don't really remember whether the self-confidence part was in the novel, so this could either be me criticising the novel and the movie adapting it as it is, or the movie itself.

Still, it's also because of this that I want to see more from Utsukare. The movie ending was good, but there's still slightly more content I want to see, notably Kiyoi releasing a photobook with Hira's name on it beside his as his photographer, and Kiyoi's growth as an actor. I don't really expect a new drama series season (despite how welcome that would be) nor having Nayamashii Kare adapted as well (which would be especially hard to adapt knowing the main plot), but a drama special would be nice...

What I can conclude though is, if you love HiraKiyo solely because they are HiraKiyo, you'd absolutely love the movie. Or even if you don't know HiraKiyo at all, this will be a lovely story to witness of two people who are so different, but somehow love and understand each other better than anyone else and will always return to each other.

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Flying across the world was worth it

Ok so first I don’t speak Japanese and the movie didn’t have subtitles. I haven’t read the novels or listened to the audio cd’s.

I came across Utsukare last year and was beyond impressed by the acting and story. So getting news of a second season and movie with a theatrical release felt very special and I decided to go to Japan for the experience.


When I made that decision, I intentionally didn’t want to read the novel or synopsis until after seeing s2 and the movie because I came into the world of Utsukare based on the show/visual medium and I wanted to continue my journey unspoiled without overly knowing the written material.


So opening night, I get some merch, get a ginger ale, and sit and let the movie show me a story.

Absolutely true a lot of the nuance and context of what was happening was beyond me.
Here is my tumblr recap - https://www.tumblr.com/anotherblblog/713949084636119040/ok-so-i-came-to-japan-to-watch-utsukushii-kare

Some are taking criticism at my recap because I don’t speak Japanese.

I went to Japan to watch this on the big screen because I wanted to see Utsukare big and bright and I got that experience.

With 2 seasons of HiraKiyo, I felt the movie picked up and continued their relationship well. Hira is more direct and involved and even with his insecurities still is there for Kiyoi and not yearning in place beneath him.
The mentors are really solid in their lives. The music is mostly new but with some familiar elements.


What I wanted for this experience was for it to feel like a movie. Big cinematic set pieces but I didn’t wanna lose the feeling of Utsukare.

I think the movie delivered on both.

The movie took set pieces and vignettes from the television series - HiraKiyo sleeping together and elevated it for the big screen. More tulle. Longer runtime. More heat. There are 2 high heat scenes and a handful of domestic fondness. They’re a couple. They feel like a couple. When they look at each other. When they touch. And it’s continuing a lot of the emotional tension in season 2 with Kiyoi wanting more. And Hira gives it to him. And Hira even gives it to him in a bathtub.

Where in season 1 Hira ran alone through the school a lot, in the movie he runs leading Kiyoi through a slo-mo cinematic fantasy run through the school but also through their past that they didn’t quite have in season 1. But seeing them again in their full school uniform and their casual wear felt real for me because it felt real for them.

The 10 episodes of seasons 1 and 2 led to this experience and I was very happy to have seen it, now three times.

I will love going back with subtitles and seeing how it’s translated for the international audience. But I’m content and impressed by what I’ve seen.

10/10.

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Forever my favorite japanese bl ever..

Since i just watched the new movie that came out for them on kisskh with ai subtitles, it was kinda confusing at times since the caption wasn't always correct, but its really easy to understand after. This movie was as amazing as the series and i really don't care what anyone says, if its a toxic relationship, no its not, its just a lot more realistic and not all happy like some shows are. Its such a deep meaning inside of this movie and all the shows and i absolutely love it. I don't write reviews at all but i just had too. Please make sure to watch it ( after watching both series of my beautiful man though). It will forever have such a personal space in my heart and it kinda hurts knowing this is it and i have to let it go, but thank you so much for making such an incredible show/movie. Its a one of a kind experience i hope for everyone to enjoy, thank you so much whoever read this and i hope you enjoy as much as i did!

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Addicted

And so with this movie, the story of Hira and Kiyoi comes to the end. What a journey it has been. Probably the best BL series I have ever seen.

The story of two flawed men who early on realized that their missing parts are in each other, the true soulmates, complete only when they are together. On the surface it is an odd pairing. Hira is ugly, submissive, apparently weak and probably slightly Asperger's while Kiyoi is beautiful, popular and a leader. And here is what makes this story so amazing: when you lightly scratch the surface you find a different kind of people here. Hira is a talented photographer and actually a very strong person both physically and emotionally and he shows that side of him only when he's around Kiyoi. Behind his beauty and talent, Kioyi is very much insecure and uncertain of his abilities. The blind trust and admiration that Hira expresses, let Kiyoi lower his guard and be his real self.

In this movie they finally find answers to all questions that had been bothering them but mainly: how to stay together? While Hira is happy just to exist on the same planet as Kiyoi, who is the King, like a star to him; Kiyoi depends on Hira to give him strength, who accepts him no matter what. The story follows them after they graduated from the college. They both are working hard now and are facing their own lacking skills which reflects in their relationship.

The story of Hira and Kiyoi is a tale of the ultimate toxic relationship which works because they are both aware of it, accept it and are on the same footing and equal in spite of appearing to be otherwise.

This movie is literally beautiful: the cinematography is extraordinary- soft colours, dreamy exposure. Sets correspond characters : Hira's messy house, the photographer's white geometrical and empty house. Clothes too!

When the first season came out, I remember liking it enormously but then thinking I must have misunderstood it after reading what others were saying about it. Kieta Hatsukoi came out at the same time and everyone prefered it to this one. They are on a different level and cannot be compared: KH is rather straightforward and ordinary. My Beautiful Man has the depth no other series managed to touch. It is not an easy drama to watch, one needs to actually SEE what they are trying to show without it being in your face. And therein lies the beauty of this series.

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Hyped by the Novel, Disappointed by the Film

I just watched this in Japanese Theaters (Opening Night!!!), we have to wait a little longer until it comes out on DVD.

I'm not gonna lie, it felt like the producers were riding on the hype of the drama, that they forgot how to make a compelling story. The Drama was great, the Novel was amazing, but this movie. . . had too much kiss scenes and way too many plot lines and plot holes that it felt rushed and empty. The feelings of happiness, jealousy, and envy that we had of Hira and Kiyoi's love were replaced with just feelings of "What did I just watch?"

Having read the novel and listened to the drama CD, it felt like the producers were trying to backtrack on the changes they made in the drama, so they can just continue with the plot of the novel. However, after backtracking, there was no time to fill the audience in on the important character and their thoughts, so the producers just hoped that the audience had read the novel and threw in the scenes that we wanted to see and prayed we didn't notice the characters were just empty shells of the characters they were in the novel. Finally they hoped that all the beautiful cinematography and kiss scenes would make the audience forget that the plot wasn't very good.

If I were to sum it up into one sentence it would be: Too Many Ideas, Too Many Unnecessary Kiss Scenes, Wasted Potential!

Just listen to the Drama CD. It takes the novel and actually gives us what we want to see from Hira and Kiyoi. It's so much better than the movie.

I'm not saying the movie was bad, as someone who's read and listened to a better version of this plot, I'm not very satisfied with this film.


•❅✧❅✦ Story •❅✧❅✦

Taking place after Season 2, Hira is notified by his cousin, Naho-chan, that she is divorcing her husband and that Hira needs to move out of the house because she is moving back in. Devastated, Hira informs Kiyoi they need to move. The couple begins house hunting together. Meanwhile both Kiyoi and Hira are progressing in their careers. Hira is about to graduate college and is slowly getting better at his photography job. Kiyoi is getting more popular thanks to his work with his co-star Anna.

At work, Hira sees his photographer boss take beautiful pictures of Anna. He gets jealous that we won't be able to take beautiful pictures of Kiyoi and turns down an opportunity to help his boss take Kiyoi's pictures. Kiyoi is devastated to find out that Hira turned down an opportunity to help shoot his pictures, but is also devastated to find out that Hira said he doesn't have anything he wants to shoot.

One day Anna is caught by the paparazzi with her idol boyfriend. It becomes a huge scandal and they are forced to break up and Anna's work is halted resulting in all of Kiyoi's jobs being halted as well. When Kiyoi visits Anna to try and cheer her up, he is caught leaving her place by the paparazzi and is also thrown into the scandal. Anna's fans begin to attack Kiyoi on twitter and even his fans start gossiping about him. One of Anna's deranged fans, Shitara, takes things too far and kidnaps Kiyoi.

So just reading the synopsis there is a lot to unpack. All of that plus more was in the novel and portrayed well in the drama CDs. However, the film failed spectacularly. There was only 2 hours to fit all of that into the movie and not a lot of time was spent building up the characters. Major characters like Anna and Shitara did not have any character development that no one cared if Anna got into a scandal. Shitara's character was also highly neglected, so when he plays the victim card and goes on a rant about how Hira should understand how he feels as a fan after kidnapping Kiyoi, it just gets lost and feels really out of place. The whole kidnapping arch with Shitara feels very rushed and left field that it needs its own movie or another hour.


Personally, I felt that the director spent too much time on the kiss scenes and couple scenes that he neglects the whole plot. There were way too many kiss scenes. A lot of the kiss scenes that should have been in Season 1 (Novel 1) were brought into this movie. Kiyoi looking in the mirror as they make out is a reference to events in Novel 1, but was unneeded in this film as he's already pretty comfortable with himself being with Hira and calling Hira his boyfriend. Also that whole mesh veil that Kiyoi and Hira keep kissing under is visually appealing, maybe symbolic, but has no place in this film. It just looks like a random cloth that I would take off when making out with my man. That mesh looked good in Season 1 and felt natural because it fell onto them after Kiyoi kicked the boxes. In his film, nothing falls on them, so that mesh looks so out of place. Lastly, the whole montage where Kiyoi and Hira are running through their high school as adults and we see flashes of them back in high school was very beautiful, but unnecessary. I would have liked a lot of the time spent on the kiss scenes to be spent on building up the characters.


•❅✧❅✦ What Should Have Happened (Novel vs Film) •❅✧❅✦

The film itself isn't bad, but because they followed the plot of the novel without giving lots of characters any backstories, the film felt a little empty.

The film still follows the plot of the novel, but mostly from Hira's point of view. If felt like Kiyoi wasn't important in this film. A lot of the film focused on Hira and Anna's issues that they forgot to deal with Kiyoi's issues.

Kiyoi's issues are supposed to be that he's not getting his own acting jobs. All of his jobs are gained with Anna's help and he feels like he's riding on her coattails and he doesn't like it. He wants to make a name for himself without Anna. Anna actually tells him that Kiyoi's not a great actor because he puts on a strong front and his not vulnerable enough to be a victim, so he can't get sensitive roles. During the kidnapping arch with Shitara, Kiyoi is supposed to feel like Hira doesn't love him. Kiyoi heard from Kira's photography boss that Hira no longer has anything he wants to shoot. Heartbroken, Kiyoi feels like he's in love with Hira on his own and that Hira has moved on. He doesn't know what to do since Hira is his everything. After being kidnapped, Anna and Hira are supposed to come and save him. Kira is supposed to go insane with worry and cry inconsolably leading to Anna changing her mind about Kiyoi as a person and as an actor. The film however, did not include any of that. They axed all of that to look at it from Hira's point of view. Because of this, the scene where Kiyoi cries inconsolably is cut very short and feels a little strange. A really big missed opportunity.

Similarly Shitara's connection with Hira isn't included, so he is a big "Who are you?" in the film. Hira is supposed to feel a connection with Shitara and how he loves Anna. However, Shitara is supposed to be an extreme version of Hira's stalker tendences. Hira is made out to be the "better fan" because he loves Kiyoi as a person, regardless of who Kiyoi is dating, even if it's not him. It's a weird thing to explain, but it makes sense in Hira's weird worldly view.

Also, Anna and her boyfriend also play a bigger role in the novel, but are relegated to just being around to push the story forward. They aren't too important, but because Anna and Hira become friends Anna's storyline is more interesting. She isn't just some random character that randomly had issues that we don't care about unlike this film.

•❅✧❅✦ Overall •❅✧❅✦

Having read the novel and listened to the drama CD, maybe I had too high expectations for what I saw in theaters. I know the actors of Hira and Kiyoi can play out the drama perfectly but because of the lackluster script, I just can't help but feel disappointed. Scenes that I was looking forward to seeing weren't there. Everything felt rushed and like no one put any heart and soul into the story. The actor's were great as always, but I'm sad I couldn't see them shine at their fullest. I really wanted to see Yagi Yusei crying and being Kiyoi from the novel, that when it was glossed over I wanted to cry. If Yagi Yusei were given the opportunity to be Kiyoi from the novel, he probably would get more acting jobs after this film.

Either way, it was a nice film, but maybe I had too high expectations.

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Eternally Mine

My Beautiful Man: Eternal serves as a solid continuation and conclusion to the story of Hira and Kiyoi. It gave a more introspective view into Kiyoi as a character and also allowed Hira to bloom and grow. By the end, though there is still that master/servant undertone to their relationship, it feels like they understand each other better and are on more even footing. The cinematography mixes grounding tones with more ethereal ones that suit the characters and story. It's nothing groundbreaking, but I found it thoroughly enjoyable and sweet.

The movie is a pretty direct continuation of Season 2. Very little if any time has passed between the two. Kiyoi is still working on his drama and Hira is working as an assistant to Noguchi. There's a decent amount of focus on the two of them, on where their relationship is going and how it's changed over time and also how, despite those changes, some things never change. We're also allowed a glimpse into Kiyoi's thoughts, giving a better understanding of him as a person and his feelings for Hira. Hira continues to battle with his self-confidence and giving voice to what he wants, to be the only one who photographs Kiyoi. There's also the sweet friendship between Kiyoi and Anna which, while not explored too deeply, was still an aspect that I appreciated. Kiyoi being kidnapped by Shitara was something that I think most were anticipating, if not quite to that degree, then certainly expecting something to happen. It, combined with Anna's scandal, allowed the movie to explore a little more the dangers of social media and the frenzy and damage it can cause as well as the dangers of idolizing those in the entertainment industry to an unhealthy degree. Hira explains it very succinctly when he states, "Once you start imposing your will on her, you are no longer her fan."

I appreciated the growing equality between Kiyoi and Hira. As I stated previously, there is still very much that master/servant bond between them, but it grows to feel less of an obstacle to their love and more just a part of who they are and they accept that. Hira's subservience does lead to a few more understandings with Kiyoi, but it seems that overall Kiyoi has become accustomed to it and finds it less objectionable. Through Noguchi he comes to understand Hira a bit better as well as misunderstanding him again, but that scene does show that he wants to know and understand Hira. Kiyoi's kidnapping allowed Hira to show that he was still the Hira who had defended Kiyoi in high school. He was willing to kill or be killed protecting him. But what that scene also highlighted was that Hira's need is not one sided, Kiyoi needs him just as much, even if he doesn't express it as much. I liked that Anna was brought back. I appreciated her strength of character and the friendship that she had developed with Kiyoi. The way they could talk to each other easily was very sweet and wholesome. I also appreciated that she knew what she wanted. She wanted both to be with Kiriya and be an actress. The fact that she didn't shrink away from stating such and that she wasn't willing to give up either was refreshing.

Hagiwara has been fantastic as Hira from Season 1. His eyes are deeply expressive and he brought so much to the character of Hira. The scene where Anna calls him to tell him about Kiyoi is a testament to his acting skills. The change wrought in him is simultaneously subtle and dramatic, because no one messes with his Kiyoi. Yagi has steadily improved over both seasons and again in the movie. His acting style feels more nuanced and natural and he was more expressive with both his face and eyes. That growth really helped to give more depth to the character of Kiyoi.

The cinematography was gorgeous. There are some truly stunning scenes. Again, that scene where Hira gets the call, I loved the lighting change. It gave a whole other dimension to the scene. I also generally liked the music choices. Particularly the song used when Shitara and Hira were fighting, it was unconventional, but also worked very well. The ending with them at the school was really lovely. The way they incorporated the flash backs with the present was well done and simultaneously sweet and entertaining.

My Beautiful Man: Eternal is not perfect. It sometimes feels a bit cluttered with plot lines and there are a few holes, but ultimately I found that none of that really affected my enjoyment of it. It wrapped up Hira and Kioyi's story fairly neatly with the promise that, despite the uncertainty of the future, they will remain together. If you've watched Season 1 and 2 of My Beautiful Man, I think you'll enjoy this conclusion. And if you haven't, there's enough background given that you don't strictly need to have seen the first two seasons. You'll just have missed out on the a lot of the character growth and more details on how the two came together. This will certainly be a movie that I'll come back to in the future.

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Culmination of an addictive master-servant BL Story

I truly enjoyed the movie which is the culmination of the story of Hira and Kiyoi. After two seasons which I definitely appreciated, I was left really wanting to see more of them. The movie was highly satisfying therefore as it reaps the rewards of all the build up done by the series.

The story was well paced and encapsulate pretty well how their relationship as evolved while keeping in a kind of poetic way an S&M undertone with the subservient vs. dominant aspects of their dynamics. It also approaches (even if not that deeply) interesting topics around the entertainment industry and its darker aspects regarding fans and excessive idolization.

The casting did a good job. I still think that Hagiwara Riku is the main highlight acting-wise. The way his expression can shift and his eyes darkens at some points were properly shivering and kind of captivating. I will for sure be looking through his body of works to see more of him ! Yagi Yusei has improved compared to the two seasons of the drama: I think he made real progress in showing and expressing feelings in his role.

The film-making and production value were very good. There are a lot of scenes beautifully filmed that leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. Some of the darker sequences had a big impact and the romantic moments were really lovely shot. The music is not overly present but the few songs were nice and kept the same ambiance as in the series, doing the liaison between the drama and the movie.

I would recommend this to people that loved the series. It is the culmination of the love story and is pretty satisfying. I still feel that I'm left wanting to see even more of them, so that they can even go deeper into the psyche of the two main protagonists and the evolution of their interesting dynamic. I'm a bit sad that it is probably the end of the road with those characters... But still what an enjoyable ride ! I think I am going to read the novel if possible !

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You're going to enjoy it !

That was a really cute ending to a beautiful story. !
When you first met the characters, you may think it's going to be cliché or cringe but they really put a lot of effort to craft the characters, their personnalities, their stories and their relationship perfectly.
The relationship is super cute to watch and you just love them together. You want even more when it ends.
Also, the other characters storyline are really interesting to follow and add to the main plot without dragging the story !
I can see that the entire team did this movie (adn the all serie) with love and passion and I'm thankful for that !
I hope to see them in an other story soon maybe as grown adults ?

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Good character development, but I was expecting more in general

Note: I went to see the movie in a Japanese cinema, the version most likely slightly differs from the net/DVD version.

Definitely can't say I liked this more that the TV series. The movie doesn't have much of what I was eager to know after the two seasons - no character backstories and surprisingly little communication about Hira and Kiyoi's relationship status. I was expecting some more development of this topic after S2. First thought it might be because of the focus on the character's feelings, but that wasn't the case either, unfortunately. There are so many things happening at once plot-wise that the production probably found it hard to emotionally stress everything properly. A little disappointing overall, but definitely not boring to watch.
I liked that there's more focus on Kiyoi's personality and feelings, but was a bit upset we didn't get to hear his thoughts like in S2. Also REALLY happy that he's not toxic anymore and focuses on proper communication (which obviosuly wasn't the case before).
Hira's character development: good. The strong supporting characters: amazing. I really enjoyed the photographer man and Anna's influence on the plot. The story was well-paced, but could be a bit more thrilling. But this franchise generally lacks powerful culminations, so it's not too noticeable.
Overall, very enjoyable! The cinematography in the movie was much more high-quality than in the series, now it's not only Kiyoi, but every third shot that you can feast your eyes on. Very easy and pleasant to watch, nice weekend movie. And obviously, if you enjoyed the series, this is a must-watch to calm your heart and observe that character development we've been waiting for for a whole two seasons.

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A Trilogy Masterpiece

If you had asked me way back when if I would have given this whole trilogy a thumbs-up, I would not have. I dislike intensely exploitive and abusive-themed series, especially gay ones, for entertainment purposes, but this one was so beautifully choreographed and focused. It is a love story defined by them, experienced by them, and simply words are inadequate to identify their relationship. I do not know how to describe their relationship beyond inadequate words like fervent, inseparable, and unending. Their ‘red string’ to borrow a concept is tied inexorably between them. If there is a connection greater than ‘soulmates’ these two share that. This, along with the other two, are masterpieces of artistry and cinematic storytelling.

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Nothing beats that ending scene

This is a rare 10/10 for me. It may be because Kiyoi and Hira are already in a established relationship that I find myself caring for the two more than I did within the two seasons of the show. But even in just presentation I feel as if the movie outclasses the series exponentially. I like the addition of Kiyoi having a friend besides Hira who he truly cares for, being Anna, and having the movie exclusive villain being her crazed stalker fan. It's a really nice contrast between obsession and love for the characters of Anna's stalker and Hira. I also like how the movie, while still focusing on the relationship between the two male leads, shows that they are indeed separate people, with their own goals and aspirations in life. None of which felt rushed or stumbled to get through, as it was all well-paced and natural. When we were reaching the last thirty minutes of the film and I started to question how Hira would solve his main dilemma of the film of not feeling like taking pictures of anything. But as soon as the idea had popped into my mind the film was able to solve it surprisingly well with less time than it took me to write this review.

The cinematography is also absolutely STUNNING in this film. The last twenty minutes or so will forever be engraved within my mind. As it calls back to their school days within the series while still reminding us about how far they've come within the present. Playfighting with the school water hose and running around classroom desk. And despite the amount of cherry blossom petals being absolute ridiculous, it just made the scene even more incredibly beautiful. The cherry on top being the fantastic music playing throughout. All in all, an exceptional scene that felt fulfilling and in my opinion, perfectly concluded the series. This probably goes without saying but I would suggest watching the first two seasons of the show before watching this film, as I feel like the experience would be a lot more rewarding. Even if you may have dropped the series. Its far beyond worth it.

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