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BrightestStar
Turns out, there's really no place like home
The story starts with a bunch of students that couldn't be any more normal who greet a mysterious transfer student. Afterwards, bit by bit things start getting weirder with people who associated with him. One thing we know, this tenkousei (transfer student) is on a mission. Things get a bit complicated, but the style the direction used made it easier to absorb throughout each episode. There were many interesting characters which could've been nice to explore more. Some of them were pushed to the side to give screen time to additional characters, which was unfortunate but understandable given the time constraint. I love science fiction when sets it's own rules and logic, and operate within those guidelines which was what I found in this drama.
What I liked most in here was the directing. It managed to bring in all those elements that I enjoy watching in my shows and placed them together in such a fitting smooth laid-back manner that made such a complex story easy to digest. I also love the way they filmed the whole show, as if it was back in the 70s which brought this nostalgic feeling to it. Other than the use of cellphones, this dorama could've easily been mistaken for a sci-fi from that time. Whether it's a good or a bad thing is subjective. For me it felt like it came perfectly with the other elements of the show.
As for the acting and performances, there were countless really good ones but of course the one that stood out, and was the heart and soul of the dorama was Hongo Kanata. I cannot begin to describe how awesome he is here. Keeps you puzzled such a long time wondering if he's a human, an alien, a cyborg or some other sort of being. His gestures were flawless and the emotions he releases through his face were heart-rending. Other than him, the ever glowing Sugisaki Hana has been growing on me in every role I see her. She's particularly endearing here, her character being a bit different from previous role I've seen her in. Even with those two performances, Nakamura Aoi wasn't over shadowed for me. The reason isn't because of a bias but more since his character is one I connected the most with. I liked his laid back lazy, sometimes awkward personality. He was a natural in it. I felt Sakurai Minami was the most overshadowed since neither her character nor her performance stood out in any at all. There were many other great performances but it'll be too long to talk about it ;)
The ending they chose wasn't the best in my view but it doesn't bother me either. I think this dorama could've been perfect if given more time (more episodes or even seasons) to be fully explored, but the story needed to come to an end
As for the music it was great. The opening song and the video with it were awesome. I love the ending song. It really is uplifting and cheerful. Even if you don't watch the show, believe me it's worth checking out the song ;)
So to conclude and summarize the whole thing, if you like a laid-back drama who contains interesting elements such as coming of age with sci-fi twist, then that's exactly what you need to watch. If you're a fan of Hongo Kanata, it's also woth checking out ;)
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I wasn't impressed with the writing. the dialogs were too long and the stories bounced from being sweet to being overly sentimental. Some of the stories were pretty standard while others were better. Personally my favourite was that of the two highschool girls. It contained so many complicated emotions and didn't settle to be convenient. There is also the mystery behind Ayumi's parent's death that seems to haunt him, which had an interesting reveal, could've been given a darker more interesting twist.
On the acting department it did not disappoint. I originally wanted to watch this movie for Matsuzaka Tori and he did a great job here + he has the cutest smile EVER! Seeing the heartwarming Kiki Kirin in it brought me so much joy. There is also Hashimoto Ai with weirdly huge eyes blowing me away with her acting. The rest of the cast did a great job with their characters as well.
Overall sweat movie with strong performances ;)
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Needless to saw the acting was stunning at best, like Abe Hiroshi, Nishida Toshiyuki and Takeuchi Yuko, and spot on at worst like Fukada Kyoko. The story could've been standard if it wasn't for the acting. The chemistry between characters was palpable and the twist in the end was nicely done.
I didn't like the idea of the choice of the last witness used. It made it just too easy and cheapened the result. Another complaint, is the length, which I think could've done better without the extra 20 minutes added.
Overall worth the watch Once In A Blue Moon :P
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I think this is one dorama who's concept may have been better executed if it was done in the 90s. I feel the actors being very restricted in the way they express themselves and act the characters, the pattern used in the dialog and so one. I think it's a similar to the dorama to "Ice World" but missing the "it" factor that we used to see in 90s dramas. That "it" factor is, for me it's passion expressed freely by the actors. I don't mean romantic scenes, not at all. I mean let the actors freely and passionately embody the characters so all interaction seems more instinctively, and enable chemistry to grow naturally.
It is my first drama with Nagayama Kento and I don't feel able to judge his talent based in this role. I couldn't help remember Eita every time I start watching an episode. They do have a strong resemblance and even their voices are similar. Nagayama Kento may be a bit better lookin' but I like Eita more ;). This drama also shines the light at who I think is underrated Renbutsu Misako. She was amazing in the movie "Murder of Snow White" and here though the role is less challenging giving her the spot light is nice. Lastly Hirosue Ryoko I had a lot of mixed feelings about her here. Her dramatic scenes are flawless, from crying to acting delusional. I had issued when she was acting surprised and supposedly having a poker face. Her surprise face was similar to that of a rookie actrice, as if someone telling her "now open your eyes wildly and feep them open". The standout in the cast could be the wife of one of the victims at the hospital. The rest of the cast was standard.
As for the ending, I just want to say I just didn't like it. I was okay with the final outcome but it could have been better. I just felt the ending being underwhelming.
All in all though it's a sweet short watch with a nice story.
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The movie tells the story of a number of individuals that get involved with our hero, the king of apology, Ryoro Kurojima, in different timelines through different point of views which makes the whole movie into puzzle pieces that all goes into place by the end of it.
Of course this movie wouldn't have been the same if it wasn't for it's cast. Abe Sadao sure was brilliantly casted but we also have the lovely Inoue Mao in a yet totally different character that we're used to, Takenouchi Yutaka, Takahashi Katsumi, Matsuyuki Yasuko, Okada Masaki as well as others and each one has his own distinct way of being hilarious.
And when you thought it couldn't get any more hilarious, the ending is beats that expectation. It's funny that throughout the movie they give you the hint, you just never catch on until the director decides to let you catch on.
I totally recomment that movie for anyone, but specially for those you appreciate Japanese comedy. As I mentioned earlier, for whats worth, I found the movie also had a nice message to transmit that isn't even done subtly but somehow doesn't feel preachy.
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Before I go on further I'll first introduce the 3 main characters here. Those characters and the casted actors were a perfect fit with what the dorama is trying to portray.
Muraki: Maybe the most mysterious of the bunch. Lazy, laid-back, uninterested, which is most perfectly fitted to be played by my dear old Odagiri Jo. Being usually unconcerned about anything, I enjoyed his interactions with the other two.
Megumi: She's the opposite of Muraki. She's full of energy and always up to something different. For some she may be hard to take on at first but she does grow on you in a big way. She doesn't change or anything, but you learn ti accept her as she is as a viewer.
The boss/Director: He's an interesting old man. I never get tired of listening to him. He's full of wisdom and somehow can have empathy with creepy weird men. His reactions to what Megumi is up to each episode is a delight to watch and he's the only one we get to know a bit about his past.
As for dorama itself, each episode deals with a case. The cases are mostly pretty simple, but need some digging. My only complaint here is that many episodes become repetitive with a number of similar cases.
I found the music to fit perfectly with the dark mood and general ambience of the show.
Finally I need to mention, as a Tv Tokyo midnight time slot, it has more freedom to become more artsy as well as more racy then your usual dorama. Specially compared to your usual detective dorama, although this one has hardly anything similar to the usual detective dorama.
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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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Choosing it to be set in the late 80s or 90s bring this nostalgic feeling with it. It is a time where people were pretty outgoing, but before the technology where it feels that people were more hopeful and had more dreams. We do meet the character's older selves that may have lost that magic just carrying on. It could be because of age but could also be because of the era. The setting and characters made me enjoy the me enjoy the movie and not notice one thing until after finishing two thirds of the movie. The movie did not have a story. We are not told why were visiting Yonosuke's life at that timing. It's not about accomplishments and what not, but even though the movie was a bit too long, it felt like the ending was incomplete. It was more like watching the first 3 episodes of a drama then watching the last scece of the last episode, wondering what happened in between and how did this lead to that.
Seeing as what attached me wasn't the story, it was mostly the characters. They were fun and acting was top notch from all. Kora Kengo was pure delight and seeing Ikematsu Sosuke (Shingai!!) is such a different role was a surprise. Ayano Go's character was the silliest because he took himself too seriously which cannot be done when Yonosuke's around :P
In the end, the movie was entertaining for the most part but felt like it took me nowhere and the ending left me unsatisfied.
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The main characters were well casted more or less. This is the first role of Nishikido Ryo that I actually liked. I also think he has an attractive voice when he talks so I didn't mind his "reverse preaching" :P (no I don't follow his music). Kurashina Kana may appear overbearing at first but grows on you. I also found Chinen Yuri okay for the role and don't have much complaints. I like the interactions between the 3 and their relationship and trust that grows over the course of the series. As usual, affection was hinted between Shomei and Michiko but nothing substantial that's been followed through. I would've loved it if they had explored it instead of just hinting it. It would've been fun because their interactions in general is plenty of fun.
Another role I feel that I have to mention is Michiko's grandpa. He doesn't get involved much in the stories each episode but somehow has such a strong presence that you feel the drama wouldn't have been the same without him. The other regulars were mostly there to add more noise and over acted A LOT but it somehow felt appropriate. One of them I liked a lot is Shunta?'s mom. She has this motherly figure sweetness without letting go her her immaturity and silliness.
A light drama that doesn't take itself seriously but bundles a mystical atmosphere and fun characters and comes out with an entertaining and inspiring outcome.
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This drama had a lot of issues that I couldn't ignore, but I still enjoyed watching each episode on a weekly basis. I did not regret watching this and found it entertaining. It was more like cotton candy, that's sweet and fun to eat, but disappears quickly. You still have a faint sweet taste left in your mouth but nothing much and not for long.
On a more detailed analysis, while Scientific is in the title, we hardly deal with science. The most we get is some profiling. The dorama is typically episodic and cases vary. In order to make ST standout, instead of making complicated and require exceptional smartness to solve, they just really dumbed down the whole police force. For that reason most aren't that memorable to be honest. I remember one case where the evil guy admitted when really all they had was circumstantial evidence. What irritated me most was how the ST members were childish, and them acknowledging it was not enough, their behaviour was unacceptable that it was hard to suspend my disbelief
Acting vary from pretty good to alright. I felt that most other characters were just too young for the role, or to even be taken seriously. It felt more like they were playing pretend. We didn't get character development from all the team members, maybe 2 or 3, and the rest was their to fill space. We also had some other members of the police force where we get interaction with the characters which I found most entertaining but nothing too deep.
Okada Masaki is a sweetheart even though his character is a complete moron lol. It may be my first time seeing Fujiwara Tatsuya but I liked him here. He and Okada had great chemistry. I enjoyed their interaction and their scenes together were fun to watch. Hayashi Kento not only was he misplaced age wise, he also totally UNDERUSED. I still liked his interaction with Okada, but wished he was more forceful but they completely mellowed him down compared to the SP. Another underused actor was Watabe Atsuro who, after seeing in Bitter Blood thought he can do much more interesting and entertaining roles than he's offered.
The story isn't done yet, a movie will be coming up soon. The episodic format makes it that you don't really need to retain anything for the movie, so you don't really need to wait until the movie is available to watch the whole thing.
All in all, easy to watch without much commitment, entertaining but too silly.
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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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You watch most of the drama without knowing who's telling the truth and who's truly innocent. Every episode makes other people more suspicious without writing off the first person you were suspecting. Other than Eiki and inspector Ujou, I was suspecting everyone else of being suspicious, even dead characters. In that sense I loved the buildup of the mystery.
The romance department did not disappoint. The more you think that in Eiki's place you'll run away as fast as possible from our main suspect, the more you understand his fascination of her and get taken by it. Their scenes together were electrifying and their clashes and confrontations were exciting. Leads had so much chemistry from their first scenes together you can just feel it right away.
So when I have so much good to say about the drama, why didn't I rate it higher? Well to tell you the truth, up until episode 10, I had decided on a rating no less than 8.5-9 however episode 11 made me think otherwise. I won't spoil anything I'll just say the final reveal was a let down. The ending itself I like, but the revelation left me wanting something more. You can say it felt it took the safe route but as a result I just didn't care.
But all in all, I don't regret marathoning it. I love 90s dorama, they sure had the passion that we seem to lack in today's dramas. Also The buildup of the mystery was nicely done so as a mystery lover, its definitely is an enjoyable watch. Also watching Takenouchi Yutaka and Matsushima Nanako in their younger days is a pleasure itself.
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People have false memories. They only tell things that benefit them.
The internet exposes the truth. The internet accuses falsely.
Throughout the movie, we listen to people's point of view of the main suspect of the murder. At first I took what they said at face value, or at least as people enjoying gossip and making assumptions based on what they think. Part of it was true, while the other part was people just wanting to make someone look bad since it made them look better. The more people and the media demonize one person, the easier it becomes for others to make the worst assumptions.
Throughout most of the movie, we follow Ayano Go's character who works at a channel station to uncover the murder mystery. However he wasn't looking for the truth, he was looking for a story that'll make him successful. His interviews and editing of films he puts up are bias and just lead to pointing fingers at one suspect. His reason of doing this is simple. It's just juicier and he get the positive attention he wanted. As for the attention he got, people are just bored and that was adding excitement in their lives. I don't think his character was made to be worst than anyone else, he just is, and so are others. Basically many had their own complex they worry about, and expressed it differently. Sometimes it can lead to dire consequences.
The acting from the whole cast was great, but especially Inoue Mao. One thing I wonder though, how the hell is she considered "plain" lol. I guess she tried being as plain as possible. We also got a reunion with her co-star from her Hana Yori Dango Days. We don't even see the actrices in even one scene together, but I still felt chemistry there and felt for both their characters. Weird huh. Maybe just my bias :P
Finally I just want to say I loved that movie. It got me absorbed early on and the more I watch the more I want to find out more. I felt I was one of those netizens making assumptions of the findings until we get someone reveal more and I'd be like, no wait a minute, I got it all wrong!
My trail of thought was all over the place so I hope this review is helpful and not confusing :P
PS: I found the first 10 minutes is hard to follow because it's a time where 2 characters are having a conversation while one of them is writing tweets and getting reply. Trying to follow both at the same time is not easy so I was worried the whole movie would be like that but thankfully is wasn't.
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I like Funakoshi Eiichiro here. He's the only character that felt natural and is playing a cool character ahead of its time. The rest was pretty standard. This movie motivates more to look up Kora Kengo movies :P For that reason I don't feel that I wasted my time watching this movie.
The music.. I didn't notice it AT ALL!
I don't really recommend for any value that I found in the movie, but if you are a fan of any of those actors, it's worth the watch ;)
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What I loved most about this movie is exactly the same as what I loved about its prequels: the characters, the comedy, the weirdness, the direction and overall execution. I love Its weirdness it's really something I can only see japanese do well. In the movie they went a bit more extreme in the weirdness but at this point it's something you're familiar with and love so you'll welcome it with open arms.
I liked that we see more of the relationship between Touma and Sebumi. Their affection for each other is transparent between each other as it is for those around them. It's nothing romantic but still strong chemistry.
The endind did leave a lot unsolved. The little girl's role which I'm sure will be explored in the next movies, but also the fate of some characters (I don't want to believe in the worst happening).
Acting was excellent as always. I cannot imagine anyone other than Toda Erika and Kase Ryo playing Touma and Sebumi. Their interaction is so natural and their bickering and fighting is a joy to watch. Kamiki Just enjoys playing Ninomae as much as ever. Fukuda Saki is getting more comedic as Mirei (as she was in the special), Nonomura still seeming to be more as he appears but were not sure what it is yet.
To summarize this movie is still at the middle of the story and I'm finally ready to watch the 2013 movies :D
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