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Completed
Orange
35 people found this review helpful
by Paige
Jun 1, 2016
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.5
Another one of the manga adaptions movie, this one I didn't know what to expect when I deiced to watch it, although I did expect something seeing the strong casts they have assembled for this.

I have not expect to be able to see this soon, so I was quite surprised when I found this movie among the flight entertainment during my journey back from Tokyo. There was where I watched it, on the flight, and seriously, in public is possible the worst time for one to watch this movie. I was so close to tears, I actually have some leaking out the corner of my eyes and I tried so hard to hide it, OMG.

STORY 10/10
Let's move into break down before I went on rambling, seeing how I was saying that I was close to tears above, it is hard not to rate this story 10/10. I have not read the manga, so I do not know how close is it to the original storyline. But if a lot are cut out from the original itself, well you should know this movie only last an hour and 45 mins (about there), and you really have to give credit to the screen writer to still manage to create an impact within this short time.

I do not want to touch too much on the story, I am just very glad to see there are gems like these among the shoujo manga too, something that isn't just all bright and bubbly love story where the dump girl going after the guy and getting the guy at the end, if you think Orange would be light and easy to watch, I think you need to read the synopsis again.

CASTS 10/10
As I said I have high expectations from the cast, I've seen Tsuchiya Tao and Yamazaki Kento acts in other shows before, I certainly know they can act if given the right role, and I was not disappointed. Kento stolen the show with his acting there, those time when you look at his character and you just feel like wrapping an arm around Kakeru, to tell him everything are alright, that he has friends now and things don't have to be as hard as he thinks it should be. I am glad the other character did those in my place.

The emotions these actors and actresses managed to deliver on screen, making it an amazing movie. You can tell the struggles they going through are very real, and every bit of tears shed makes you wants to cry along. T_T

MUSIC 9.5/10
Good, the songs are good, the theme song is very fitting to the storyline, the tune and everything. I think I do need to rewatch this to judge the rest of the songs. I do not really remembering them throughout the movie, so I will be updating about this.

The theme song though, is very very beautiful.

REWATCH VALUE 9.5/10
I will definitely rewatch this again, with a box of tissue readied at my side. XD This beautiful movie, even though it hurts you on the inside. It is not entirely sad, more like a bittersweet, and with that slice of harsh reality making me wants to go back to it.

OVERALL 9.5/10
Perhaps it is just me who like those storyline that packed with a bunch of feels, I have to be honest and say this, I love any movie that makes me cry (though nothing too dark and too heavy, something like Orange packed with just the right amount of sadness and seriousness) so I am most possibly bias with my rating. This is not an easy movie to spend your afternoon, so be warned. Get readied with a pack of tissue when you start this. :)

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Completed
Watashi wo Hanasanaide
20 people found this review helpful
by Paige
Mar 24, 2016
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.5
Ahh~! Finally completed the last episode today, and I am still not sure if I am emotionally stable enough to write this, but well, I am writing this now when the feelings are still fresh.



This is definitely not a drama for the weak-hearted, or if you're looking for a quick show to chill with over the weekend, I believe this show is not for you, from the start it is already very obvious how the ending would be.



So let's go into details on how and why I gave this rating.



STORY 8.5/ 10

This drama, is based on the bestselling novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, under the same title, Never Let Me Go. Well, I haven't read the book, and I don't think I will ever gather enough courage to go through the pain this story subjected me to, as an avid dystopian reader however, I would say this is one of the best dystopian story out there. It is probably why the book was on bestselling list and even made into a movie by Hollywood and now into a drama.



The story, as most dystopian story should be, is dark and filled with underlying messages. It is about clones (specifically three of the many clones that has been saving the world from many diseases and accident that would cost someone's life), it is about how they are growing up, the environment they grew up in made who they are, it is about the relationships they formed with one another, how different people have different personalities and all. Nature vs. Nurture, a famous theme being fused into many dystopian fictions, it is found here.



I do not want to say more on this as I don't want to spoil it for you. So, if you're reading this review because you're on the bench about whether to watch it or not, I would say, go for it if you're up for that 10 hours of deep, dark story that's going to unfold. You can even try and start to watch the first 10 minutes of the show, I believe you'll get the gist of it enough to decide for yourself if this drama is for you right now. To those out there looking at this review because they find the first "childhood" part of the episodes being boring, I would advice you to watch through them, it is just for about 3 - 4 episodes anyway, and the childhood part helps build up many things that would only make sense later. Good luck.



ACTING/ CASTS 10/ 10

Well, perfect score? Why?



Because all the main casts in the story has done such a good job in portraying their characters of course.



When I am rating acting and casts, I am not rating the character, but how well the actor and actress are playing their character, whether they are making their character come across the perfect goody-two-shoes or the crazy-bitch you want to slap over and over again, or that bad-tempered, bad-mannered boy who scream and shout whenever he is angered.



Ayase Haruka and Mizukawa Asami has probably stolen more limelight in this show than they should have, but they are actually the important main characters of the story anyway. Miura Haruma is one of the main cast, but his role has always been "that boy who stolen Kyouko's heart", so I am not really surprise by the lack of scenes and actions he gets in the show.



I have to say, I am actually amazed by Mizukawa Asami, for the first time I ever seen her on TV she was that tom-boyish(?), shy girl in Shitsuren Chocolatier, her acting as Miwa was surprisingly jaw-dropping, for so many times I actually felt like pinning her down somewhere and bitch-slapping her, she is that good. I believe I am going to keep lookout for her future projects now.



MUSIC 10/ 10

~Baby baby never let me go~ Never let me go~



Such cleaver lyrics that would remind you of the title, that tone and voice little melancholy, you would just feel your heart aching a little listening to the tune, and the thing is, this line stay in your head days after you've done with the episodes. Personally I went and searched for the song soon as I heard it the second time. It fits the drama, I think.



The music in this show is more or less perfect to me, seeing how this is not a cheerful show of course the music would have to match. I have listen to sountracks puts together by Yutaka Yamada before (in Boku no Ita Jikan, any fans of Haruma would know), I have expected good from Yamada-san, and he has not disappoint this time.



REWATCH VALUE 6.5/ 10

Now, rewatch value... I would really love to put this up higher, I really do, I really really really do... But I doubt I will be rewatching this show the second time, not unless I am on my depress mood and really need to get a release. It is a great show, I assure you, but at the same time it hurts too much in that not-so-good way, I don't think I can handle a second round. >.<



OVERALL 9.0/ 10

Because I still think this is a good drama, because the casts and the productions has made so much effort in bringing this show to life (and I am pretty sure they never miss out much from the fiction work, I may not have read the book line by line, I've seen the movie and I've read things about it). It should deserve an award of it's own, say perhaps the best sci-fi adapted drama or something, because I think it is.



Last word of advice, if you're preparing to watch this, prepare yourself a whole box of tissue, or two, or a dozen. Enjoy!

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Completed
Strobe Edge
12 people found this review helpful
by Paige
Sep 12, 2015
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
Well, after all the expectations and disappointments I had from last year's high school love story/ manga-made-into-live-action, I finally found something. Strobe Edge is great among it's similar genre competitors, even though I won't say it is the best, it does leave with me a good feeling and scenes that I know I can never forget.

Let's go for breakdown now!

STORY: 9.0/ 10
I would say this is great, what I expected from a love story, it was delivered. Lovable characters, obstacles that preventing them from being together. At first I do really feel doom for Ren and Ninako, it gives me an ache in the chest to see how compatible they are for each other, all the little similar interests they shared, the chemistry between them. I also love the character developments, for all three main leads, Ninako, Ren and Andou, it is very well written.

Though what I do think they can probably thicken Ren and Andou's friendship to make it a deeper impact on the viewers. That's what preventing it from being the perfection I hope it to be.

ACTING/ CAST: 9.0/ 10
Gotta love the casts, even though I couldn't see much from Sota's acting, Kasumi did a really convincing job as Ninako, she's sweet and simple and adorable. I love her so so much! Yuki too, was able to make Ando such an endearing character, a little bit annoying, but he has grown to be my favorite character in this movie.

The chemistry between these casts are perfection, though I would expect nothing less from a movie lead by Fukushi Sota, he seems to always have these strong chemistry with his fellow casts. Not to mention, all these three already had experience working with one another back in Starman. ;-)

MUSIC: 9.0/10
The ending song, that ending song just fitting with the movie itself, that much I noted. Not much complain towards the music plays throughout the movie either. But seriously, I LOVE that ending song so so much!

REWATCHABLE VALUE: 9.0/10
Will definitely rewatch this, because it is sweet, it with adorable characters, those sweet moments that makes me grin like a school girl again, just bathing in the fluffiness and sweetness of high-school love, and wishing that I ever had love experience like that back then. Haha!

This is a movie I would certainly recommend to anyone who wanted something that just makes you grin to yourself for the 2 hours, or perhaps a girls sleepover, this makes a very good sleepover film. :)

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Completed
37.5°C no Namida
3 people found this review helpful
by Paige
Jul 3, 2016
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
What a gem have I stumbled upon?
37.5°C no Namida has certainly exceeded my expectation, although it could be because I didn't have much expectation of it when I start. I just happened to like, found this drama having high rating, looking at the casts and saw Narimiya Hiroki in it, and I am like, "hey, why not?" when I started it. Definitely not a bad decision. I do not have words on how much I <i>love</i> this drama right now.

STORY: 10/10
Because it is so good! It is so so good. I have to say, it is rather typical of Japanese dramas to infuse a darker side to their story line there, that however is always what got me hook right on the spot. Momoko's character is intriguing, there are many episodes which I spent wanting to know more about her past, what did she do? Why did her family treats her that way? I can't write more without giving the whole story away so bear with me. :-P Just note that Momoko is definitely that character that will go into your heart and stay there, and before long you will find yourself wishing for her to find her own happiness, I definitely ship her with one of the character there, which I am not gonna say more either, you better watch for yourself and witness the chemistry Momoko has with each and every characters in there!

ACTING/ CAST 10/10
I seriously have a feeling that the character Momoko-chan is tailored made for Renbutsu Misako. I know her from another movie, quite briefly, in Kimi ni Todoke and quite like her there, in this movie her acting has impressed me more. And of course, I have nothing to pick on Fujiki Naohito, Hayami Mokomichi and Narimiya Hiroki, all amazing actors who I have seen in several other shows already too, they are awesome here. Worthy of a mention here is that I <i>love</i> Suzuki Rio, who I've seen in action in Never Let Me Go, her take on Koharu Asahina is just so adorable that makes me wish for a daughter like her! I look forward to see her in other shows/ dramas!

MUSIC 9.0/10
They are pleasant, I love the theme song "Daijoubu", very nice and fitting to the drama. Definitely going to search and add it to my music collection - after I am done with this review.

REWATCH VALUE 9.0/10
I would totally rewatch the drama again once I have a chance. Such amazingly executed story, the acting, the story, everything, I love everything! That being said, I could certainly be bias on my rating and review here.

OVERALL 9.5/10
I totally recommend this drama here, though this is not really all fluffy and happy kind of drama, that's a warning, my heart got broken several times, and there are times where I was just filled with so much feels I can't describe it. I didn't cry in this drama, but that could just be me. I look forward to hear your comment on this drama once you've watch it!

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Completed
Kingyo Tsuma
2 people found this review helpful
by Paige
Feb 25, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

What's Right, What's Wrong? Or perhaps we are all searching for happiness in our own ways?

It's one of the drama I've been anticipating since I found out Shinohara Ryoko and Iwata Takanori are the main leads in it. I've always enjoys the roles Ryoko and Takanori played in the past and this one too, did not disappoint.

The plot leans towards mature theme, there's a lot of nudity and sex scenes within that makes this NSFW and not children-friendly. If you're under 18 years old reading this review, or still having any fantasies towards marriage etc, I'd highly recommend you to turn away from this drama now.

Onto the review:
STORY 8.5/10
The story is pretty solid in this one. I am not sure how the comic went, since I am not a big comic person, so I can't the the judge on how closely this matches the plot in the comic itself. But as a drama, the plot here is pretty well-done. The story centering around Sakura (Shinohara Ryoko), starting with the image-perfect life she has - she has a loving husband, is rich, seems to lead a happy life, etc. On the other hand, it is also showing that her husband, Takuya (Ando Masanobu) is having an affair in their apartment the day Sakura is having her birthday party (which is happening just 2 floor below their apartment, sincerely, like why is some men shitty like this?)

In the first 10 minutes, they've introduced most of the characters involved in this drama. Each of them would have 1 - 2 episodes dedicated to their relationships with their husbands later - apart from that Feng Shui teacher. What's up with that Feng Shui teaching and her insistence of Twin Ray anyway? The explanation she gave is not even the true explanation of the term. -_-

Anyway, there are hints throughout the first episodes on how unhappy and oppressed Sakura was feeling living with her husband. He would verbally (and later shown to be physically) abuse her to keep her under his control. After a particular rough fight about the goldfish, Sakura started bonding with Haruto (Iwata Takanori), who shelter her when she felt unsafe to return home to her husband.

I find the romance between Sakura and Haruto are pretty pure (age gap and their identity aside), in the sense that Haruto makes Sakura feels safe because he is all charming, sweet, protective, and warm. And Haruto, he has been admiring Sakura for years now (there's a big reveal on when they first met later), you can't blame him for running to her rescue after sensing her distress, right? I sincerely ship this couple, and I really hope to have an extra episode or drama-special for us to see further development between this two.

I also really love the characters' development we get to see inside. Not just for Sakura and Haruto (Haruto has a big, awesome speech he told his father that had me applauding throughout the whole scene), but also for the other couples living in the building itself. I have to say, good for Noriko who left that weird ass husband. Like excuse me, I was SINCERELY disturbed by how her husband wants to watch her and his junior having intimate contact so he can get turned on. Like, if you have issue, please go and seek professional help, man! Saya and Souta are sweet and I love that they eventually willing to match each other's pace again.

Yes, this is pretty solid a story-plot. I'd however, hope that they would extend this drama to one or two more episodes to not rush the romance and to also give us a better rounded ending. Overall though, 8.5/ 10, it is pretty solid.

CASTS 10/10
You all probably know that from my rating that I don't have anything to pick on the casts, love them! One thing though, Hisako's headache is pretty dramatic and I found that a little over-the-top (which, when I think it through it kind of matches her personality). Other than that, I'd say, solid casts. I am still a huge fan of Ryoko-san (has so much respects for her) and Takanori-san (he always looks so sweets in roles like this). Also, kudos to all the relatively realistic sex scenes, those must be pretty awkward/ tough to film.

MUSIC 8.5/10
The theme OST, Crazy For You by sino R fine is already on my favorite song list. There's another instrumental track that leave an impression as well.

REWATCH VALUE 8.5/10
Even though I am rating this at 8.5/ 10, once again the story is pretty solid although it might be a little heavy for regular rewatch. Also the NSFW scenes making this drama, erm... not suitable to play in public, you know? But I am sure I will revisit the drama sometimes.

OVERALL 9.0/10
Overall a solid 9 out of 10. I really like how realistic this drama is and how many issues it is touching on. Loveless marriage and infidelity is sincerely a big social issues in Japan (and maybe many parts of the world) nowadays.

There are values within that one can takeaway, like what is happiness to you? What is success to you? What makes a marriage happy? Also, I am a big advocate for screwing societal standards like marriage and infidelity, age-appropriate coupling (aka having the male be older than female), etc, so this whole drama is right up my alley. If you're not willing/ able to see beyond the societal standards, you might find this drama hard to stomach; but if you do, please watch and enjoy the many thoughts-provoking topics this drama will bring up for you. ;-)

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Completed
Heroine Disqualified
2 people found this review helpful
by Paige
Mar 12, 2016
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 6.5
Well... I am having a little dilemma when rating this. While it is certainly comical and enjoyable, there are things in this movie that I doesn't like that much. I am just going into the individual section and list down my likes and dislikes from there.

STORY 7.0/ 10
Story is enjoyable, many parts of this movie are rather comical that's actually what have me giving it a rather high rating, while honestly, this story is nothing too much difference than many other high-school romance movies out there. Girl likes boy, boy likes another girl, another boy likes this girl who has her heart broken... You get the gist. The saving grace really, is the funny scenes, the comical/ dramatic scenes (this is a movie talking about the hero and heroin after all). While maybe I am probably being picky, what more do I expect from a high school romance movie right? Seriously, I think there are much better stories of the similar genre out there, But if you really are just looking for something easy and relaxing, and up for some laughter and yelling at your TV screen, this is your movie, go on and watch it.

ACTING CAST 8.0/10
As I said, there are plenty comical scenes which I think Kiritani Mirei has done a good job portraying the role - good, however not amazingly good I think. But seeing I never really expect her to be able to play a role like Hatori, Mirei san has surpassed my expectation here. I look forward to see her future projects, Yamazaki Kento is good as ever, but Rita isn't a difficult role to play. Who I really really like in the movie is Sakaguchi Kentaro because he has this bad-boy/ good boy act down, he can be so adorable and dangerously charming at the same time. Fukuda Ayano acts well too, I like her a lot in this movie. So well, overall, a 8.0 out of 10 here. There are room for all these main casts to improve their acting on, but perhaps not on this movie, I look forward to see them all challenging bigger roles in the future.

Chemistry between the main leads are lacking a little, but chemistry between Mirei and Kentaro exist, which to me is a good and bad thing.

MUSIC 7.5/ 10
I have to say, there isn't anything really memorable, but nothing stands out as too annoying either, so 7.5.

REWATCH VALUE 6.5/10
Will I rewatch it? I would think yes, when I need something funny and easy to pass my day, this will be a movie I will go for, but other times, no, I think not. This is the cookie-cutter kind of story I can find so many others that's similar to this. So wells...

OVERALL 7.5/ 10
Well, it is rather a high rating all considered, but I really have had some really disappointing manga adaption so I don't want to put this way too low. I would say this movie is enjoyable, but not terribly outstanding. It is funny and easy - with a bit of heartaches in between. A nice movie to pass an afternoon.

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Completed
Taekwondo Damashii: Rebirth
2 people found this review helpful
by Paige
Jun 1, 2015
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
OK, the synopsis over here is totally misleading. These three who got into the forest are not brothers, rather they are best friends who all practice Taekwondo. I actually love the actual story much better, even though the starting is a little slow with it taking time showing the life story of Toshimichi, on how his relationship with his father, brother and sister.

Here's a more appropriate synopsis for this movie:
Toshimichi is a son of an ex-champion of the national Tae Kwon Do championship. To win the championship like his father, Toshimichi goes to a camp training with his friend Ishiba. But on the way to the camp, they got rockfall accident. When they become conscious, strangers appear and attack them one right after the other...

So let's talk about things which I like and dislike in the movie, hoping that it gives you some pointers on whether you should watch this movie or not if you come across it.

STORY - 8.5
While it started a little slow, I love how this movie took time to show us Toshimichi's family, on how much hope his father is having on both Toshimichi and his brother Shinpei, and then it did took time to show the back story, back to when three kids were kids, the kind of promise they made to one another. As I am a total sucker for any kind of bromance relationship portrayed in a story, and this one has a good one. The relationship between Toshimichi and Shinpei is beyond beautiful, which I must admit, is what added so much points to my rating to it.

There are certain part of the story which is too convenient actually, and I do not like story that's convenient. The part happened in the forest is a little ridiculous, but well having it at the latter part of the show it went away fast so I can ignore that and just enjoy the action scenes there.

CASTING - 9.0
Inoue Masahiro is the perfect cast for this show, having he is actually a taekwondoist in real life. All of his fighting scenes are believable - with a little special effect added when he was fighting in the forest - and you can just tell that it's him filming those moves by himself. As for the other boys, I believe they might also pull of the moves by themselves, but I don't quite know anything them, but they are sure easy on the eyes which doesn't hurt at all.

MUSIC - 6.5
Something that doesn't leave a big impression on me. I just know that I love the ending track, Take Me to the Moon which is performed by a K-pop group named MYNAME, otherwise I am not specifically in love with anything else that was played in the movie itself.

REWATCH VALUE - 8.0
Because I do love to rewatch it again given a chance, the story - especially the touchy bromance parts - and all the handsome Tae Kwon Do moves had sold this movie to me.

It is an overall 9.0 rating from me, though of course, having me being a fan of Inoue Masahiro since Kamen Rider Decade time, I do believe my opinion could be a bit bias. ;) I will still recommend this movie though, especially to those who like to see some realistic action moves, or if you're simply a fan of Masahiro, take some time and watch it if you have a chance to. <3

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Completed
Kamen Rider OOO: 10th Core Medal Resurrection
1 people found this review helpful
by Paige
Jul 17, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

Long Awaited Reunion... Except It Is Not.

I'd have to start this review saying that there will be major spoiler in this review, if you're looking at reviews trying to decide if you should watch the movie, my recommendation is for you to watch it. It is a good movie overall, I have a few complaints here and there, but you can tell how much love and effort all actors and actresses put into this one. There are some fun moments, plenty of throwbacks and even plenty of flashbacks that might make you want to go back and rewatch OOO. For a long time fan, this movie deliver many right things and nostalgia. You can expect to see character's growth and for some, their arc's conclusion.

For those who have watched the movie or don't mind spoilers, here we go.
Story 6.0/10:
The story is okay. It is not great, it actually has a lot of plot holes and wasted potentials, but it wasn't bad either. It's one of those movies that can be better if they would extend half an hour into the story, going back and explain a few plot points. Like how did the OOO King get revived, and why is he revived? I'd assumed that he's the one who has revived the rest of the Greed as well, but then why did he only revived 4 of them without Ankh? Is the King human, or is he now also a Greed when he lost control last time? They could also have shown us how they made Goda and how Goda found Eiji and took over his body. Did Goda escape from the lab where Kougami created the metals and flew into Eiji like the purple metals did? They can also expand on why everyone's okay with Ankh taking over Shingo's body again. Is Shingo badly injured again? Or does Ankh able to hold his whole body after Goda defeated the King? Yeah, the story kind of leave you with a lot of questions unanswered, and unless they make another movie/ media to answer that, I don't think we will ever have any answers to them.

The story is not all negative though, it is simple with a lot of focus on Ankh and Eiji, especially showcasing how much Ankh has grown to become more human. I get and like the idea about Ankh getting revived and now he wants to find, protect, and bring back Eiji. At the same time they need to eliminate the threat (the OOO King) and bring back peace. In true Ankh's fashion, he wants to make use of Goda (like a pawn) to achieve both goals. It is a very good drive for a character, I like it.

I also like Goda's drive in the story. As a Greed born out of Eiji's desires, and last time we've established that Eiji's desire is to have power, so that he can use those power to protect others. Goda have a similar goal too. Well, he wants power, but he certainly doesn't care about protecting others. He also has this strange attachment towards Ankh, which I wonder if it's born out of Eiji's desire to revive Ankh.

Anyway, yeah, the story is basic enough, we have our heroes having their plans, but they plan was hijacked by some asshole in the middle, and now they have to go up against the asshole so that they can restore the original plan and have a happy ending.

Except that this is a story set in an apocalyptic world and happy ending is not on the plate.

Look, I am okay with killing off characters, even if they are the main character. If it is a good death, well done! I am just not sure if I am 100% behind Eiji's death. I mean, it is rather in-character for him to sacrifice himself to save the little girl, it also bring his character's arc to a full circle - he lost his will to live and became a wanderer because he couldn't save a little girl he became friend with, now, he gets to finally save this little girl he became friend with after returning to Japan (this is shown in one of the prologue episode). I can see it being a fulfilling moment for Eiji, like he is able to reach someone who needs his help.

His death is also the key to Ankh's revival, I get it. It's that, "a life for a life" thing they were going for. Eiji uses his last wish (which is often known as the strongest desire a person could have) to revive Ankh and Ankh is back! Eiji got both his greatest desires came true, but that kind of make him a martyr.

Like, I am pretty sure Ankh would rather Eiji lives a full, happy life. Like in the original series, Ankh told Eiji that the hand Eiji needs to reach out to isn't his anymore, but Eiji continues to search and reach for Ankh's hand, and eventually sacrificing himself to achieve that.

I have very mixed feeling with the ending, perhaps I need more time to process the death of one of my favorite Rider. So yeah, I am giving it a solid 6 out of 10, counting all the plot holes and frustrations. Oh, and the fact that the treated the side characters are all just wallflowers there for nostalgic effects. I mean, they only have an hour. I'd personally like to have a longer movie so that we can see more plot points getting fleshed out and the side characters getting more things to do.


Acting/Cast 9.0/10:
They brought back almost all the original casts. I mean, we missed Dr. Maki and his creepy doll. Apart from that, all the important casts we had in the original came back and it is pretty awesome! I sincerely screamed when I see all the Greeds in their human form, because yeah, I didn't expect that.

Shu and Ryon, both are the movie's main focus, killed it! Apart from that, Hina had some moments, Gotou and Date had their moments, Kougami had his moments... And the rest of the casts (Satonaka, Chiyoko, the Greeds apart from Uva) are all there for a few scenes. These are what I mentioned about wasted potential.

So Shu played 2 roles here, Eiji and Goda. When he was Goda pretending to be Eiji, it was just PERFECT! Like, he sounds and look like Eiji, big cheerful smiles and all but there's something off about him; it's just perfect! When he was Goda, there was another seiyuu who's doing voice over, it was off but it is okay. Like I am pretty crept out by Goda which simply means that Shu was a great actor who was able to convinced me that he wasn't Eiji (the big brother-like idiot who only want to save everyone) anymore.

Ryon just play Ankh here mostly, like we had a scene in the start where he was Shingo, and then Ankh took over. I might be a bit bias here because Ankh is my favorite character throughout the whole KR franchise, but he is FABULOUS. I love how after revival, he is showing more emotions, especially when he found out what Eiji had to do to bring him back - that scene broke me T_T But yes, Miura Ryosuke is an amazing actor and he has not disappoint.

Hina, Date, and Gotou are all amazing, it is great seeing everyone back after 10 years. I just wish that they give more screen time to all these characters and the actors/ actresses to show us what they've got.


Music 7.0/10:
Music was alright, they've included a lot of music from the original series and it just bring back nostalgia. The new version of "Anything Goes" is melancholy and fits the ending. Nothing negative on this one, apart from the fact that they didn't add in Time Judge All during the Tajador Eternity transformation?


Rewatch Value 6.5/10:
I personally think there's rewatch value, especially if you watch this movie after the series, follow it with the Movie War Mega Max. I think future Ankh appear in the movie is from 2050 or something, so with this movie, we understand Ankh's expression when he saw Eiji once again after all these years.

But yeah, personally, while I think there's rewatch value to this movie, I also think I will need a break and allow myself to process Eiji's death first.


Overall 7.0/10:
So yeah, there we have it! Overall, 7.0 out of 10. It is not a bad movie and most who're bashing it probably hate the ending - and it is a very bittersweet ending just like how the series had left us 10 years ago, only this time it is reversed; It is not a great movie either because of all those plot holes and unanswered questions. But if you can look past those, like most of us do a lot of KR movies, this will be something you can enjoy and spend a few boxes of tissues on.

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Completed
Tokyo PR Woman
0 people found this review helpful
by Paige
May 4, 2016
Completed 3
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
After a long wait and much anticipation, finally I get my hands on this movie! \o/ An encouraging story, filled with hilarious moments, though yeah there could be time where you would feel like knocking the lead character on the head and yell at her demanding what the hell was she thinking. This movie has fulfill my anticipations, I find it worth the wait.

I won't lie, the reason why this movie has caught my eyes at all is because of the casts. When a movie feature three hot guys (my favorite Inoue Masahiro, Kimiyama Renn and Yamamoto Yusuke), it is just screaming out at me to go watch it. Though this movie certainly turn out to be more enjoyable than just sights of those handsome guys coming on screen, I won't say my opinion on this is entirely unbias though. XD

Let's get into breakdown before I digress further.

STORY: 8.0/10
An encouraging story, even though Rena's first intention for changing isn't for herself, it was for a guy. But still, that's understandable right, ladies? I think we all did that once or twice in our lives, that time our head were filled with ideas to change because we want to be someone different for this guy, this special guy who could be the one, who could be the prince of our lives. So there Rena went to interview at this very famous PR company because she wants to change, and somewhat, for some ridiculous reason, she was hired. Her life became magical, she somehow found herself is very good at her new job - though it is really just because she's lucky. And then you know how it goes, when you raise too fast up the ladder you're supposed to climb your head got filled up with it, and you make mistakes that you can't even begin to fix.

I've got to say, there are times I am pretty frustrated with Rena, thank God she grown to be better, that's perhaps why I would give the story part as high marks as this one.

Overall, it is quite an interesting story following this overly optimistic, cheerful woman and see how she fell and learn from her mistake. I like it for the way it is executed, but if you're not into watching woman making a fool out of herself, this movie might not be for you.


CAST: 8.0/10
Awesome casts, I have nothing to pick for this. For the first time Yamamoto Mizuki plays a lead she plays it really well, though this character simply just suit her I think, she is pretty, she is cheerful - with the cheerful voice and starry eyes to match. The sad thing is though, the male characters doesn't appear as much as I like them to. Yamamoto Yusuke acts that arrogant looking boss well enough (another that character just fits him, you know?) Kiriyama Renn plays the cool guy for once, and he actually appears as that handsome bachelor very well. Inoue Masahiro has an even smaller role, as Rena's boyfriend (but there are some lovely topless scenes in this, for all those Ma-kun fans out there ;) ;) ) I am pretty amuse at how much an idiot he can appears to be, adorable idiot, I would love and hate to have a boyfriend like that. XD

It is not outstanding bunch of casts, you will feel that they are just natural acting the role they are given, I would say the biggest surprise I have is from Renn and Masahiro. But overall a good casts (and I really isn't saying I am 100% unbias for this rating XD)


MUSIC: 7.5/10
Not memorable, but I distinctively remember that at some parts, the music fits the scenes just nice. Since this is not actually a music-theme movie, I would let this pass and say the music is really good enough.


REWATCH VALUE 9.0/10
Why? Hmm, overall a pleasant movie, I think I would definitely go back and watch it given the chance and time, even just to laugh at the funny scenes and marvel at how handsome Renn can appears and how adorable Masahiro is. It is a light and cheerful movie I would recommend to watch during a girls night, or simply anytime when you need a pick-me-up. XD


The overall is 8.0/10, quite a nice movie I would recommend watching (unless you really hate watching stupid woman making mistakes, for real). Thanks for taking the time and read this!

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