J Overland
Hirokazu Kore-eda never disappoints
God, Hirokazu Kore-eda is seriously one of the masters of modern cinema. His movies are as simple as they are brilliant. He knows how to find beauty in the smallest things, and his films always leave me with a warm feeling, even if they're usually sad and/or melancholic. The characters and societies he portrays in his work always feel so real and genuine. It also helps that he knows how to pick one great cast, as clearly shown here. In fact, this particular cast is so f**king good that I can't even pick an MVP, they really are that good. There's not a single line or facial gesture that doesn't feel natural and real. I had been looking forward to Broker for so long, and it actually ended up being even better than I expected. This is certainly one good way to start the year.Was this review helpful to you?
The story is so beautiful. I've always loved stories about broken people who form a family-like bond (and Sakamoto is an expert at them) and this one is VERY good. The drama is filled with beautiful thoughts and ideas in the dialogues, some of which me very emotional I must say. The last two episodes alone are heart-breaking, but the whole drama is poignant in a way only Sakamoto can achieve. He's certainly the best screenwriter in Japan, maybe in the entire dramaland. His characters are so humane and feel so real, especially his female characters. I will always appreciate that he gives a voice to people (especially women) in a way that Japan rarely does. But overall, 99% of the characters in this drama are absolutely lovely.
Now, about the acting. Anone is full of beautiful performances, the entire cast is just perfect (as usual in Sakamoto's dramas, it's obvious actors love his scripts and characters). This is by far my favourite Hirose Suzu performance that I've seen, and I hope she keeps giving performances like that in the future. Sadao Abe and Kobayashi Satomi are also really charming and really good. But it is Tanaka Yuko who stands out the most. I've always thought she's one of the best actresses in the whole world (her performances in Mother and Woman are two of my favourite ever), but after Anone I can't help thinking she's also one of the most underrated actresses too. She's just so...expressive. You know exactly what's going through her characters' head even if she doesn't speak. Lastly there's Eita, who I love, but I have to say this wasn't his best performance, specially compared to the rest of the cast. Oh, and as always, the child actors in Sakamoto's dramas are always brilliant. The kids who play Haruto (young and slightly older) and young Harika are naturals and so talented. The people who cast his dramas are seriously good at finding young talents.
Overall, Anone has been a fantastic, beautiful experience that (IMO) only Sakamoto Yuji can provide in dramaland. It will be really hard to forget this characters and their bond, and I really can't wait for Sakamoto's next drama.
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The story is something that hasn't really been seen in Asian dramas (that I know of at least), and while there were quite a few clichés throughout the show, the writer always made sure the story stayed unpredictable, avoiding basically every single thing fans and casual viewers thought would happen. Sure, there were parts of the story that were messy (the first few and last episodes, mostly), the writer makes up for that with great doses of (very cute) humor and two fantastic leads. Nam Shin III certainly goes down as one my favourite characters EVER and I don't think I will ever find someone like him in any other drama. As for So Bong, we all know she was a controversial character at the beginning. However, I always appreciated how realistic she was, because I've met lots of people whose ultimate goal in life is earning money in any way the can. By the time the show ended and she had gone through great development I ended up caring about her a lot.
But, let's be honest, the biggest reason why the drama works so well is simple: the superb cast. Seo Kang Joon gives the best performance of his entire career, and I really hope he gets tons of awards because he's just too good no to get them. I also hope people stop treating him as if he is just a pretty face, because I've always thought he was a great actor and after this drama he might even be one of the best young Korean actors working today. As for Gong Seung Yeon, I became a really big fan after watching Circle, and she didn't disappoint at all here. I can't wait to see her next projects, because she has great taste when picking scripts. Also, their chemistry was just through the roof. The rest of the cast were also very very good, but SKJ and GSY steal the show.
As for the music, I really liked many of the songs and I think they fit the show very well. The production values were pretty high and the cinematography looks really great, even if the CGI was rather uneven throughout the show.
In conclusion, this drama has ended up being one of my favourites of the year and probably all time, and I will really miss Nam Shin III and So Bong, our Tin Can couple. I also miss the drama overall, how it made laugh very often and how it made spend the rest of the week waiting for the next episodes. I will certainly look forward to SKJ's and GSY's future projects even more than I would have before.
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The storyline is crazy, you never now what's going to happen. I love how it's really difficult to know what's going on and there are questions left unanswered. I was also surprised by the more supernatural aspects. Also, despite the very long runtime, I was NEVER bored, and in my opinion the movie kept the perfect pace. Now, I have to warn you: the story is disturbing, nightmarish and even dantesque. It comes REALLY close to being a horror film, and there are some pretty graphic scenes, so if you're not into that kind of stuff, be really careful.
The cast is BRILLIANT. I've never seen Kwak Do Won in anything, but his performance here is great, and he really carries the film, even if his character is rather unlikable. Hwang Jeong Min is good too, but his performance is probably the weakest of all the main actors. He was much better in Veteran. I love Chun Woo Hee, and her performance is truly mesmerizing, but she's in the film less than 20 minutes (and the film is 2 and half hours long), so, even if her character is very important, I really wish she had much more screentime. Now, the real MVP of this film is Jun Kunimura. I had seen him in a few Japanese movies, but his performance his is INCREDIBLE. It's just so layered, you never really know until the very end if he is good or evil.
The soundtrack is fantastic, and it really helps set the tense, chilling atmosphere of the movie. It's also really well used in the most intense moments of the story.
I also need to comment on the cinematography. The film looks SO beautiful. Seriously, it's so well shot, and it fits the content and the tone of the story really well. It might just be the best cinematography I've seen in a Korean movie. Basically, the director (and also writer) did a brilliant job with every aspect of this movie.
About the rewatch value, I gave it the maximum score because I believe this is kind of the film where you discover new things everytime you watch it. Despite the imposing, I plan to watch it again soon to try and understand everything better.
In conclusion, The Wailing is one the best films I've seen this year (maybe in my life), and I really recommend it to everyone who's looking for something different and brilliant. But, like I said before, be ready for A LOT of darkness and disturbing content (plus the long runtime).
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The story was great. It was really cool learning about Tetsuko's life and how the TV business started in Japan. I loved the style of the show: it's very lighthearted, and it quickly makes you hooked. I laughed a lot, specially during the first 4 episodes. There are few moments during the last few episodes that are more dramatic, but they're just as heartwarming as the rest of the show.
The acting was absolutely top-notch, just like I expected. Mitsushima Hikari's performance is arguably her best beside Soredemo, Ikite Yuku and Woman. It's clear that she had a lot of fun playing this character and that shows on screen. She carries the entire series on her own, but the rest of the cast was also very good, specially Yoshida Kotaro, Hamada Gaku and Nakamura Shido. It also made me really happy when Nishikado Ryo showed up for a couple of episodes, since he's one of my favorite actors. He's as charming as ever, of course.
As for the music, there is one performance at the end of each episode, and I really liked how they were incorporated into the story.
I also want to comment on the style of the show. It mixes a lot of different elements: there are times where it feels like a documentary, while at other times it feels like a biopic or theatre. It's a very original approach to the story and it makes Totto TV different from any other dramas.
In conclusion, Totto TV is probably the best drama I've seen this year, thanks mainly to a brilliant, charming performance by Mitsushima Hikari. I really wished it would've been longer because it's awesome. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, short watch.
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The story isn't something that hasn't been done before, but it's really entertaining, and there were more fantasy elements than I initally expected. I think the pace was perfect, not too fast and not too slow, so you can get to know the characters but it never gets boring. That being said, I must warn you, it ends with a cliffhanger (season 2 starts in January).
The acting was pretty good too. I have never thought that Ayase Haruka was a really good actress, just an alright one. And I really didn't see her playing a credible action heroine. And yet, she really surprised me. She's great throughout the 4 episodes, and she has a very strong presence that makes for a great lead character. Most of the rest of actors were good too. I've always liked Higashide Masahiro a lot, and he's really good here. He's very funny and charismatic. Takashima Reiko was really funny too. Kimura Fumino is pretty good too, specially in the first episode. Kobayashi Kai is a bit annoying, and not the best of child actors, but I must admit the role was very difficult. Lastly, I won't say much about Fujiwara Tatsuya, because I've hated him for a long time, so I'm too biased (he overacts SO MUCH, it's incredibly annoying). Thank god he doesn't appear much.
The music was spectacular, it felt like listening to a movie soundtrack. Actually, most about this drama felt like a movie. All the technical aspectas were miles better than in the average j-drama. It's clear that they had a pretty big budget. The cinematography was great, and so were the costumes (even if a few of them were a bit ridiculous). The special effects were great, considering it's a J-drama (effects in j-movies aren't much better...). But mostly, I was shocked by how good the fight scenes were. They're the best fight scenes I've seen in a Japanese prodcution, drama or movie.
To sum up, I was pleasantly surprised by Seirei no Moribito in almost every way. I can't wait for the second season, even if there are still 8 months left. I guess in the meantime I'll have to watch the anime adaptation.
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The story was alright. I usually love slice of life romances, so I had no real problem with the plot (unlike many people, who complain that the drama doesn't have a plot at all). The thing is that the story was VERY fun and entertaining, even if at many points it was too over the top. I must admit there were a few episodes that I felt were too unbelievable (especially episodes 11 and 12), but they were still fun. And well, the 'villain', was ridiculous.
The cast was mostly brilliant. Song Joong-ki absolutely steals the show. He's extremely charismatic, and I 'm sure he could have chemistry even with a wall. Many people don't like Song Hye Kyo, but I think she did the best with what she was given. Jin Goo and Kim Ji Won (especially her) were great as the second lead, although I didn't found their story that interesting. From the supporting cast I must praise Seo Jeong Yeon and Lee Seung Jun, because their characters were one of my favorite things in this drama. On the other hand, I felt Onew was incredibly over the top, especially in the earthquake episodes.
The soundtrack was brilliant. I'm used to watching mostly j-dramas, where there is only 1 insert song, or 2 at most. But here there were a lot, and I think I loved every single one.
Another thing that must be pointed out are the production values. The show lookes GREAT, it really shows that it had a very big budget, and it even felt like a blockbuster at times.
Like I said, the story is very fun and entertaining, so I'm pretty sure this has a fantastic rewatch value.
To sum up, I think DOTS is a very entertaining drama, even if at times it's too over the top or unbelievable. And honestly, it's worth watching just for the cast and the production values.
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The story isn't something that we haven't seen before, but it's well told. The first episode was fantastic but, sadly, the next few episodes don't live up to it. The second half is much more entertaining. As always, Sakamoto-sensei's dialogues are beautiful, and he's arguably the top screenwriter in Japan.
Most of the cast was great. Takahata Mitsuki's performance was probably the best, specially in the forth and fifth episodes. But I also need to comment on Arimura Kasumi's acting. I really don't understand why people dislike her so much. She did a GREAT job in this drama, she's probably the best after Takahata. Anyone who has seen this and Biri Gal knows that she's a pretty good actress when she has the right projects. Kora Kengo and Nishijima Takahiro were good too. I was really sad about Sakaguchi Kentaro and Morikawa Aoi, because most of their scenes felt like filler material, and they really didn't have much to do beside a few great scenes.
The music was solid, but not extraordinary or anything.
Overall, I think this is one of Sakamoto-sensei's weakeast dramas so far, but it's still better than most of the romantic dramas released nowadays, I recommend it to those looking for a slightly bittersweet slice-of-life romantic drama.
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The story has way too many stupid moments. The start of the film (the first 30 minutos or so) was quite good, but it just got worse after that. The characters do a lot of stupid things, and the visual effects look quite ridiculous. I understand that they had a rather small budget, but it's just that he film looked ugly. The best part of the film were the titans. They were so creepy, and I loved that.
The acting was pretty bad all around. I've never thought of Miura Haruma as a good actor, and he's very over the top in this film, even if he's somewhat charismatic. Mizuhara Kiko is beautiful, but she's not a good actress. She shows almost no emotion. I was also surprised by how bad Hasegawa Hiroki was. I've always thought he was quite good, but he's awful here. The best acting came from Isihara Satomi, who clearly haves a lot of fun playing her character.
The soundtrack was OK, even if there were times where it didn't fit too well with the film. The credits song by Sekai no Owari was not too good, though.
Despite all the negative aspects, the movie was pretty fun and entertaining, thanks to the titans, so I don't think it's a complete waste of time.
To sum up, Attack On Titan is disappointing in almost every aspect, but it's also fun so I recommend it to those who are looking for something fun to pass time.
P.S. There's quite a lot of blood and gore, so if you don't like that this film is not for you.
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The story is definitely not very original. But it works. It has some VERY funny moments, but what made it so good were the characters. The relationship between the three main characters was just so GREAT. I really liked the ending too.
The cast was part of what made the characters so good. Cha Tae Hyun is very convincing in his role, and Park Bo Young (who was also really good in A Werewolf Boy) was great. I loved her death stares. The kid, Wang Seok Hyeon was, to put it simply, delightful.
Music was a big part of the film, and the songs used in the film were pretty good. I'm not sure if Park Bo Young really sings the songs in the film, but if she does she's got an amazing voice.
It's a very funny film, and it's not very long so I'm sure I'll watch it again soon.
Overall, Scandal Makers is a very fun film, with some great characters and a really good cast. I highly recommend it.
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The story might not be the most original one ever, but it's told in a very refreshing way that makes it work. It's not a comedy, and it's not a tear jerker. It's both, you laugh (A LOT) but there are also many sad moments. I fell in love with this story. Also I really liked how the director mixed the characters lives when they were young with some historical moments.
The entire cast was AWESOME. The adults and the teens, both. The stand-outs are definitely Shim Eun Kyeong and Kang So Ra. But they all played the characters very well. I was really impressed.
The music was OUTSTANDING. This film was filled with music from the 80s, which was really cool. The song ''Sunny'' will be stuck in your head for weeks if you see this film.
I will for sure watch this film again soon. It's very entertaining, but it also has some awesome with whom you fell in love throughout the film. I really recommend it if you're looking for a entertaining film with a solid story that's both comedic and deep. Serioulsy, this is one of the best films I've seen in a long time.
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The story is very disturbing: there are rapes, murders, beatings, drugs, prostitution, etc... That kind of content COMPLETELY fills the film. Besides, none of the characters are likeable. Not even a bit. You might pity some, but that's it. I HATED them. And yet, I couldn't stop watching. No matter how disturbing and violent the film became, I could not take my eyes away. There's something mesmerizing about it. And the story itself is rather interesting.
What makes the film so mesmerizing is probably it's OUTSTANDING acting. The cast alone is already jaw-dropping.
EVERY ONE is amazing. Koji Yakusho gives a completely committed and award-worthy performance as the completely hateful Akikazu Fujishima. Miki Nakatani is in the film for about 10 minutes, but you can't forget her.
But the young cast are the ones that truly deserve praise. In this film you can find the actors that are probably going to be the future of japanase cinema. Nana Komatsu is hypnotizing as Kanako. You hate her as much as you love her, no matter what she does. And trust me, she does some stuff that's utterly disgusting. Fumi Nikaido, Ai Hashimoto and Aoi Morikawa don't get too much screen time, but every single one of their scenes is fantastic, and their acting is SPECTACULAR, especially, Fumi Nikaido's. Hiroya Shimizu gives one of the BEST performances in the film. Trust me, he's one to watch. Mahiro Takasugi and Shono Hayama don't appear much, but they're scary in this film.
The soundtrack is also pretty good, and it fits the film really well.
I also have to mention the cinematography and the editing of the film. Both aspects are VERY impressive in this film (they always are impressive in a film by Tetsuya Nakashima).
I don't know if I'll watch it again soon, because it's very disturbing and hard to watch, but I liked it.
To sum up, The World of Kanako is a extremely disturbing film, but its direction and its cast, which is one of the best casts I've ever seen, are more than enough to give it a chance. If you like Tetsuya Nakashima's work (specially Confessions), don't even hesitate, because you're probably going to like it as much as I did.
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Nodame Cantabile: The Final Score - Part II
2 people found this review helpful
The story is amazing. It's very funny, and it never gets boring. The movies are a bit more dramatic, but they are just as amazing. The characters are very well developed, and I love each one of the them. It was very cool that story was set in Europe from the Specials on.
The cast was GREAT. Ueno Juri is brilliant as Nodame, and it's arguably the best performance of her carrer. Her expressions are priceless. She was even better in the movies.Tamaki Hiroshi. did great as Chiaki too. Takenaka Naoto was EXCELLENT as Stresemann. His performances is very exaggerated, but extremely funny. The acting, in general, is over the top, but it fits the tone and style of the story perfectly. The entire cast is fantastic.
The music is OUTSTANDING. This is the best soundtrack I've EVER heard. I mean, it includes music by Beethoven, Mozart and other geniuses of music. Simply spectacular. I think I've become a fan of classical music.
The cinematography was beautiful, since the films were shot in Paris and Prague (which is one of my favorite cities).
Nodame Cantabile is a very funny and delightful story, with amazing characters, great acting, and a spectacular soundtrack. You won't regret watching it. I'll definitely watch it again someday.
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The story is great. It is extremely funny, I laughed a lot watching and it also has it's dramatic moments. The characters are fantastic. Nodame is so eccentric, but she's also lovable. The story and the characters develop brilliantly, and it was also more original than I expected.
The acting may be a bit exaggerated, but it fits the tone of the drama and the story perfectly. Ueno Juri is PERFECT as Nodame, I don't think anyoine will ever play her as well as Ueno. Takenaka Naoto was AMAZING, I laughed every single time he appeared. Koide Keisuke also surprised me. I had seen him in ''N no Tame ni'', and I still can't believe it's the same person.
The music is no doubt the best aspect of this drama. I've never really listened to classical music, but I think I've become a fan thanks to this drama.
To sum up, Nodame Cantabile is a very fun and entertaining drama, with a great story, great acting, and a fantastic soundtrack.
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The story itself is the weakest apsect of the film. The first half of the film was a bit slow, but once the Tribes war starts, it gets REALLY entertaining and fun. Sometimes the story it's a bit silly, and that's why I didn't like it as much as other things in the film.
I'm pretty sure that the cast had a blast making this film, because it clearly shows in their performances. Many of the actors aren't real actors, they are rappers, martial artists, models, etc, but they fit in perfectly, and their performances are great. To me, Ryohei Suzuki gives the best performance as Merra.
The music is SPECTACULAR. This is easily the best soundtrack I've heard in a long time, and I don't even like rap or hip hop music. A great part of the dialogues are said through rap, so if you hate rap, this film isn't for you. But if you don't hate it, you should give it a try, even if you don't like too much.
Another thing that definitily deserves mention is the production design. The sets are GORGEOUS. I was surprised when I found out the film was made on a low budget, because the sets look expensive. They are really beautiful and well done. And the lighting is gorgeous too.
To sum up, if you're looking for a fun but bizarre experience, Tokyo Tribe is the film for you, and it comes with good performances, fantastic music and gorgeous visuals.
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