1
realdeal
philippines
Tokyo is all bark but no bite
More than a love story this whole tale is a commentary on Tokyo's state during different period of time, the Manga which is written during the bubble era, the 1991 drama before it pops, and the modern version when the economy is more stabilized. Each represents Wild Energy, Uncertainty and Resolve which would resonate in the character of Rika. The story described her as the living image of Tokyo, and in these 3 versions there is a dialogue where kanji says Rika is Tokyo itself. Having said that Tokyo Love Story is not remake but a reimagine, reimagining the same characters and story beats in modern times, similar with Final Fantasy 7, and just like how gameplay in modern Final Fantasy changes over time and so for Japanese dramas, the mundanity of the old was replaced by more fast paced approach, and elements such as female empowerment was added to fit the theme different from its predecessors. Tokyo as a city has this scary and intimidating vibe, and that never change. It's still the hub for lonely people. But "Tokyo is all bark but no bite" they say, so it's up to you whether you allow it to swallow you, tame it or run from it.Just a heads up their journey as couples won't be that pretty at all, so if you want the same cute romantic stories then just watch until episode 3 and make that airport scene as your ending. After that the story will go into the more realistic territory, misunderstandings will develop, triangles will form, they will also go back and forth as a couple, and as a viewer it may feel personal to you especially if you relate to either of these couples. You'll witness the start of a toxic relationship, and you decide the source of that toxicity. You may take sides or no side; you may hate one or both of them.
The clash between their beliefs might be a fresh concept for a romance genre, but it's still the same misunderstanding between couples. It also feels a bit preachy, but that's fine since it's a mainstream drama, and by doing that they made Rika a bit comprehensible. The philosophical element of their relationship will fascinate you, its realism will immerse you, now the question is, would that be entertaining for you, because honestly the storytelling became weaker as the story goes, the second couple felt like a supporting characters, and it even dragged in the middle episodes. But for me before knowing it I already got invested in these characters that it made me curious what would be their fate, especially for Akana Rika.
Rika in this version is the anti thesis of everything we love about the romance genre, concepts like "destiny", "the one", "love never dies", those fairy tale words didn't exist in her vocabulary, then partnered it with her personality, moody, self assertive, independent, selfish but selfless then you get a complicated yet compelling character. She's flawed and many would misunderstand her, but that only makes her less of a manic pixie dream girl trope similar to the Manga.
Then there is Kanji the voice of us normies, sane people or whatever you want to call it. He is shouting all the time like a shonen character for hopeless romantics. Kanji is the traditional guy who just wants security and dependability different from Rika who is for mystery, exploration and freedom. Kanji is also obsessed with this thing called romantic possessiveness, he wanted to own Rika, but Rika doesn't feel the same way, she doesn't want to own Kanji, she just wanted to own the wants.
It's a bold move from the writer to incorporate the concept of "Modern Love" in this story and I like it, it enriches the psychological and philosophical aspect of this entire thing. I also love how they handled it, the drama could have criticize Romanticism so much and to be honest I had a feeling they are going in that direction, but the drama choose not to, it remained gray in the end and let the audience decide what to feel especially for its principal character Rika. Personally I get her, that mindset is common nowadays at least for me since I am surrounded with these kind of people and I notice there is one thing common to them, their work is somewhat related to art, just like Rika. I would say this topic is well researched or maybe the writer feels the same way. The problem is in Japan, people there would be too traditional, so I can't even imagine them being open to this type of relationship.
Production quality is not what you would expect in a typical Japanese drama it's WOWOW level or even Japanese dramas on Netflix. Cinematography is absolutely beautiful especially long shots, those shots that wonderfully captured Tokyo's vibrant and colorful lifestyle. Fashion is a thing is Tokyo Love Story, since they wanted to convey a particular period in time, from Rika's sophisticated office attire to Kanji's normie get up, I think they nailed that part. It also seems they wanted to play parallels with the 1991 drama, they not only altered Rika, but most shots are also during the night. Music is really good and I wonder how they found those English insert songs because it feels both are written for this story. Those songs didn't just provide modern vibe, but western vibe as well. I also love main theme "Touka", it's so catchy, so modern, sounds a bit like bump of chicken, and it brilliantly served its purpose as the cliffhanger song. The cinematography is beautiful and songs are exceptional but more importantly the casting for the main couple is spot on.
Japan has this stupid policy when casting actors in their dramas and god knows how many careers got derailed or even ruined just of that, but from time to time they do it right. Casting Ishibashi Shizuka for the role of Rika is the best thing they've done since Rena Nounen in Amachan. Their vision for Rika embodies Ishibashi so much, among the young Japanese actresses she's the one that exudes the strong modern woman type and her being an acclaimed indie actress means her acting style is more in a subtle category, the art of telling without telling, which fits perfectly for Rika, a woman who can't express herself properly. Ishibashi's contemplative look is so good that you would feel the psychological and emotional vulnerability in the character even her not saying a single word, so when she explodes in episode 10 you really feel it. She didn't just break the fourth wall; she drove a f-cking truck through it.
Kentaro is also a nice pick for the role of Kanji. I thought Ishibashi's captivating screen presence would eat him alive when I see his name in the cast but no he manage to stand his ground, he didn't disappear on the background. Kentaro's more japanese animated acting compliments Ishibashi's subtlety, un japanese acting style, it creates an interesting rapport between them. His goody-good image also fits this version of kanji which they describe as rice that goes well with anybody. Their chemistry might not be as good as those older classic Japanese dramas but to compare it with recent romance dramas with grounded characters then I think this is one of the best. I would give the acting a 10 if just for those 2 but since it's a collective effort I can't.
The problem is other couple, Anna Ishii is a great actress but she can only do so much with that boring character. I wish they put spice in her character and gave it a back-story just like what they did with Mikami. Her talent is wasted in this drama. Such a shame because I only watch this drama for her. Mikami in this version is more layered than the old Mikami. I kind of see why they put that disturbing scene in the drama but I don't agree with it, I don't think it's needed. If they want a stronger reason for Satomi to do what she has to do then why they didn't bother giving more backbone to her character. Sho Kiyohara is also the weakest actor among the four, I just wish he nailed that scene with Rika but the dude just can't cry, even the actress who played Nagasaki is better, now that girl can act. Mikami still fits him though. He's as charismatic as the old Mikami, like a model every time he's on screen.
It might seem I'm neutral, leaning towards trashing the show, but no because I really like this version. It has its flaws just like its characters, but for me I still consider it well made adaptation. Also, since I view it as a commentary my opinion on it just became better, not just this version but the 1991 drama as well. However if you want to know the difference between both, this one is less cheesy, more mature, less entertaining, but more realistic. For a story that is already 30 plus years old, it's given it would be a trope fest of a show, but for me there are 3 things they nailed right. It fascinates me, it immersed me, but more importantly, it makes sense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HBZt3H8VXo
To understand Rika's mind watch this
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This is by far the funniest Japanese drama I've seen this year and the reason for that is language they use is too graphic. There are moments where I can't believe the dialogue that coming from these characters, I cringe but then laugh out loud after. The setting is also another plus points for me given that I love anime, they work in CG Production Company for games and anime. You see them working hard but there are times where they are just slacking off and fooling around, and I don't blame them as working conditions in this industry is one of the worst. Like for example they rushed one project so that one of their colleagues won't miss his date, but not really it's just a usual appointment with a girl in a sex shop where he is a regular customer. LOL
It's more of a character driven than story driven plot, characters are not railroaded to certain goals or events, it's just these characters, their funny interactions, their development, those are what made this such fun drama. The cast are composed of quirky individuals, the female lead who is addicted to sex, the virgin friend boys love fanatic, the ex girlfriend obsessed muscle man, sex shop naive patron and this office fling playboy. Each episodes consists of segments where each explores the lives of these characters. We follow them in a slice of life way in which most of the time are just wild and WTF moments.
The acting is good for the most part, you don't need award winning acting for this type of drama anyway and all of them are good in comedy, their comedic timing is almost perfect. The chemistry between these actors is excellent, in which their characters compliments each other really well. The opening song at the beginning is as wild as this drama goes.
Conclusion In today's world where people are easily get offended by everything they see and hear, it seems this type plot wouldn't feel right, but just give this one a chance and you will see characters who respect and support each other for who they are. How I wish I have colleagues such as them.
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The key to the horror aspect in this movie is the tonal shifts between the carefree slice of life vibe into something more terrifying. The illusion is so grand that it will make you lower your guard for a moment and make yourself vulnerable until the zombie swarm comes in, and the madness begins. That is the only reason why I think people will find this movie terrifying and not because zombie design was scary or the prosthetics and special effects realistic.
Not only the movie is mediocre in the production quality, but the acting is, let say, cute and leave it at that. The character also lacked depth, and it may be because of the limited time the movie has to explore these characters. They also appeared to be cardboard cutouts, the stereotype "we can do this together" strong personality, Kurumi, the mature but also useless leader, Yuri, the stoic and cold-shouldered pessimist Miki, and the airhead, full of energy, the loli of the group, Yuki. All of them were guided by the caring and everybody's favorite teacher, Megu-nee.
I dislike how the movie handled Yuki's mental state. They didn't explore it thoroughly. It could have been a lot better if they explored it like how dramas such as Boku wa Mari no Naka done it. In the movie, it seems she's just having a tantrum and not a hallucination. I guess it all comes down to the fact that they choose to adapt this story into a movie. Having limited time is a disaster in the making in any live-action adaptation. There are also points in the film where it is clearly written for an episode. They just cramped up all those scenes into a 2-hour movie, which resulted in not only weak characterization but also an abrupt ending.
Objectively, the only good thing I can say about this movie aside from the original plot is the twist near the end. It comes to me as heartwarming (even if it's poorly acted). I didn't see it coming at all, but I guess at that point, I already lost interest in the character, so I was not paying attention. But since I'm a guy who likes this type of plot, I enjoyed it a lot, so if you are like me who just want to see cute girls doing cute things in a zombie setting, then you'll also enjoy this movie.
Gakko Gurashi falls into the category of a brilliant idea but not executed well. There is so much potential in this story, given the strong underlying message it wanted to convey. It comes close to heart since we've been on that road before. There will come the point in time where we need to stop to rely on and just move on with our life. Had they executed it correctly, this movie would have been one of the best zombie movies ever. Now I'll check the anime and see if it's better.
Note: I always try to be as objective as possible in my reviews or just the recent ones, so if I only follow my personal feelings, I would give this one a 9 or 9.5 lol.
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The Quintessential Japanese Drama of 2019
First, I want to let you know that in Japanese Drama, THEMES is always more significant than the plot. It's doesn't matter who Nagi would end up with or how the drama would end. What important is how the show will convey its message. This drama is not your typical two-boys-one-girl type of story or other overrated romance crap. You could choose your ship if that entertains you, but just to let you know, this drama was not meant to make your heart flutter, it was meant to speak to your soul.This drama is about the so-called "Hard Reset", not the one you do with your phone but the one you apply with your own life. The important decision you do to make a significant change and start anew. Completely changing your environment is essential, which is what the main protagonist did in this drama, a long vacation. It made her discover more about herself and broaden her perspective of the world, or to make it more precise; it made her have her dream.
Another theme is reading the atmosphere/mood or reading between the lines and I'm sure most of us are familiar with that feeling. When you enter a room full of strangers, most people will remain silent for a while. Judge people's faces, their expressions, their manner of talking etc. "reading the atmosphere" is everywhere, from school, workplace, family and even your relationship. Whether consciously or unconsciously, people do this all the time, this ability is ingrained firmly into us as a species. We as human, always look for a place we can call our own, and we need strong social bonds for that. We always try to "fit in" or wear all the right mask whenever it feels right.
"Stop Trying to Fit In, Aim to Belong Instead"
This drama will teach you fitting in will never get you home because fitting in is trying to adapt to a world that is not your own. Just like Nagi, you have to have your dream and not just live for other people. You have to forget the cool people; you have to find your people. Nagi found these people who help her reboot her life, the film buff grandma, scammer turned best friend Sakamoto, The most level headed mother and daughter (total opposite of Nagi and her mom), the bar owner mama and the most insensitive playboy neighbour. These characters don't only serve up as an exposition for the main character, but their story also conveys the theme of this drama, and the writer did a brilliant job on weaving them in a beautiful pattern.
The Pacing, Setting and Music add so much to the slice of life feels of this drama. Nagi's long vacation is a very well-paced drama; no time is wasted but doesn't felt rushed as well. It is entertaining enough to keep you engaged as you watch it. It also has mundane elements that if you notice would give a smile to your face like shirts worn by Nagi, it seems trivial, but those are valuable shirts you would find in thrift stores. Little details like this make me appreciate the drama more. The location would look very familiar to you after you watched the drama like it seems you also live there along with the characters. The cinematography is terrific in showing the green landscape, clear blue sky and by capturing the calmness and serenity of the laidback way of living. The OST is chill and relax, which complements the slice of life nature of this plot, but it can also get emotional when requires. I also never get tired of hearing the theme song "Reboot" sung by Miwa. It captured the whole theme of this drama.
The acting is ten out of ten, Haru Kuroki never disappoints. She is one of the best actresses in Japan right now and is indeed a national treasure in dramaland. Nagi's portrayal of inner growth is well portrayed, you might get pissed by her actions and decisions, but you always find yourself rooting for her. Haru Kuroki is very skilled as an actress, but it's her sincerity that makes Nagi such a lovable character. The title, Nagi's Long Vacation suggest this is only about Nagi, but this drama can easily be about Shinji as well, the only difference is Nagi only suppress her feelings where Shinji also hurts people around him. Shinji is a character you will despise at the beginning, but you would understand a bit about the character in the end. The writers gave him one of the best character development I've seen in recent years, and the way Takahashi Issei handled it is brilliant, probably his best performance ever. The way he controlled his emotions is masterful like at one moment his character angered you then you will laugh at his comic relief antics then you will feel him as he cries like a baby, what a man child lol.
Nagi's Long Vacation is the quintessential Japanese drama. They are the best when it comes to thought-provoking slice of life genre. You may find the characters caricatures until they slap you with realization quotes that will speak to you on a personal level.
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Japan's answer to Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue
Most people know Japanese dramas for being formulaic, repetitive, full of tropes etc. and that is because of the vast amount of high school and job oriented shows they release each season. Little did they know there is one aspect Japan excels a lot, and that is when their creativity takes over and start to think outside the box. They are by far the most innovative when it comes to script and ideas. This risk would sometimes result in some pretentious crap, but when struck gold, it would be a masterpiece that would stand the test of time. Masterpieces that makeup Japan's rich film history, but it's not only in movies as it happens in their dramas as well."Dakara Watashi wa Oshimashita" is the modern example of that. A story with a moving theme portrayed in an unusual setting. An underground idol who is desperate to improve and an office lady who seeks likes from her social media friends. Both are looking for that elusive attention, or should I say connection. The human connection theme is well portrayed and explored. It's not just a simple handshake, but a sincere thought of support to someone. Different people have different reasons for being a fan. To some, it's physical attraction, but for Endo Ai meeting Hana is the most significant turning point in her life.
The plot is timely and original. In today's world where the number of idol fans is on its peak, I think it's safe to say that this story will hit home on so many levels. The drama is well layered and also very raw. They show you all the good and the bad things about idol culture, from fun chants, idol festivals to unfair wage practices in idol industry. I also love how they didn't stereotype idol otakus. They portray them as ordinary people with regular jobs. It's too detailed and well researched with so many references about idol culture. It's been years since that anime movie "Perfect Blue" which many considered as a masterpiece for its time but mostly known for giving negative connotation towards idol otakus or idol culture in general. Now that 22 years later, Yoshiko Morisita counters that with her own masterpiece of a drama. For me "Dakara Watashi wa Oshimashita" is Japan's answer to Satoshi Kon's "Perfect Blue".
Before I thought all idol groups are the same, but watching this drama, I realized underground idol groups are a bit different. The drama did a great job in showing the appeal of these type of idol groups. You are not just an average fan who fangirl/fanboy in front of tv. You also go to their events and interact with them. It feels you are helping them to get better like you are also part of the process. Unlike other idol groups who have years of training to master their craft, their fans only appreciate the final product.
Though the writing in this drama is its strongest asset, it's those damn visual what takes it on another level. The cinematography is perfect. It's very poetic. I love the use of colors, especially whenever neon lights are present. I dare to say this is what they called cinematic storytelling, which you can't separate visual style to visual language. Sound design is also excellent, and with the help of brilliant editing makes such scenes very compelling. Not just powerful scenes, but it also has a fair share of scenes that will deliver goosebumps. Music used during those scenes fits perfectly. It underlines the mood and evokes characters emotion.
Speaking of characters, even if the drama achieved excellence in writing, cinematography, and music, the drama would have failed without good actors aboard. The good thing is this drama has good and capable actors. Sakurai Yuki and Shiraishi Sei's acting is on point, and should I say they have cute chemistry as well? That chemistry is a huge reason why these characters are well portrayed.
A fresh concept, brilliant writing, strong theme with excellent execution, this drama have it all. Its a toss-up between "Saka no Tochu no Ie" and this drama for my best Japanese drama this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-8Pt2B66RE
It's recommended to watch this MV after you see the drama. It has additional scenes that makes the ending more beautiful.
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In the opening shot, we see a woman whom will be an integral character later in the show, advocating for a woman’s right to openly express her sexuality within Japan cultural mores, shamelessly flaunts her armpit hair to people while saying love means accepting nature, to her it's an expression of feminity and identity. The drama depicts her as a symbol of strong female representation. But even with that, people might still be put off by the show's handling of sexuality at points. It would be too taboo and misogynistic to a different culture, but this drama is not trying to be morally correct, it only depicts a story as what happened, to watch this drama you don't have to agree to enjoy it.
Naked director is an 8 episode drama based on Japanese legend, Toru Muranishi aka "The Emperor of Porn", a controversial figure but considered by many as the most innovative director of Japanese adult videos. He has a fascinating life, went from a Japanese struggling salary man to a legendary director that soon will trigger the Japan's pornographic revolution. It's a fictionalize biography of him, not everything happen is accurate, and some events have been overly dramatized for the sake of entertainment.
Although it's a semi biography about Toru Muranishi, it also shows Japan's economic and cultural expansion, the movement in the porn industry as people move from magazine to video/media age. Rules are changing, everything is changing but not Muranishi's strong resolve. Well paced drama, doesn't felt too slow or fast. It's also has nice balance of slapstick comedy to the underworld dark side of porn. What I especially love about this drama is it doesn't shy away from the bad actions of this main character. They didn't try to portray him as a hero or justified his actions, but also didn't try villainize the character.
It's clearly aims towards international audience. It promotes Japanese culture from food, hustling bustling Tokyo to the infamous Japanese sex industry. The drama also felt inspired by American television, not as thematic and preachy like most Japanese dramas. The music is a blend between electronic and rock. On the technical side, cinematography was the strongest. It clearly depicts 80's vibe, from colors, landmarks and the way they shot famous 80's establishment like disco scenes.
Wonderfully acted all around, these talented casts brought their best in this drama. Yamada Takayuki captivates as ever, brilliantly portray Muranishi, from facial expression to the way he speaks he nailed it. But what's amazing about his performance is how he balances the humor and seriousness given the situation. Biopics needs strong lead actor and Yamada Takayuki delivers. I've seen almost all of his dramas and movies and I think this is one of his best performance and definitely his most daring ever. The one the surprise me the most is the actress who played Kaoru Kuroki, Misato Morita. Talking about a career defining performance, the actress gave it all like literally, that scene alone with Takayuki deserves an award. She's one of the strongest female character in a drama for me, feisty, and she don't give a damn what others will think. Her character is that interesting that they could make a drama out of her. Not just the leads but the supporting cast is a bunch of interesting characters as well, all of them have their own quirks, but don't just serve as comic relief characters, and if there's a standout among them it's Shinnosuke Mitsushima, the one who played that goofy character Toshi, he is the gangster, the do it all of the group. With strong leads and eccentric set of character forms this dynamic group that is fun to watch.
If you're a fan of biopics and you want to learn more about Japan and its fascinating porn history then you should watch this drama. Even if it's considered as the dark side it is still part of its culture. Not for everyone obviously, it's too explicit, and I think even late night Jdrama slot would not show this drama. If there's no Netflix this drama won't get a green light unless they made this into movie. And before someone say it's glorifying porn, it doesn't mean they make this drama that they already glorifying the act, it's just simply telling a story. It's best to separate your morals and reasoning from a story and try to see it through neutral eyes.
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The writing is superb in every aspect. I love how they handled this delicate subject. It's also very detailed as it tackles "Postpatrum Depression (PPD)" way too deep. We saw character experiencing PPD symtoms, like excessive crying, mother having difficulty bonding with her baby, Hopelessness, feeling not being a good mom, and having thoughts of harming the baby. We also see how other characters reflects to this case, their marriage life, their struggles, it gives so many different perspective on child caring. I can't think of any drama or movies that explored this theme to this extent, but not only the theme, it's the execution that makes this drama a riveting experience. They executed it really well, those flashbacks that were told in different perspective, the thought provoking quotes, the interviews and especially the breaking the fourth wall element. It won't tell you who's right or wrong, but rather it will make you form your own opinion as our world, in general, is not black and white.
It's also a social commentary on people's lack of awareness on PPD, and due to lack of awareness, as a result they inadvertently bring pain and misery to their love ones. It just reminds you that in life, more than love, empathy in really important.
On the technical side the drama is still impressive. The acting is solid, not just Kou Shibasaki, but all the supporting cast. My favorite is the judge who is struggling choosing between her career and family, the actress really played the character brilliantly that I ended up sympathizing with her. The editing makes this drama very compelling, several scenes cleverly woven together, and those transitions are very neat. Those brilliantly edited scenes are just enhanced by its music. It conveys a sad melancholy mood which shows character's feelings and evokes certain atmosphere. Ending song in every episode give you that final kick, as that song's lyrics supports the plot.
This is what I love about Japanese Dramas, they are not afraid to tackle sensitive issues, and when they nailed it, they nailed it really hard. I tried to be nitpicky but everything they did in this drama was just perfect, story, themes, execution, acting, music, editing, even camera work, it deserves a perfect 10. This is what they called a true emotional roller coaster. It will change the way you think as this drama gives you so many perspectives. It's an early but very strong candidate for my Japanese Drama of 2019.
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No need to worry if you don't like heavy drama, it won't be that of a heavy drama at all, the overall cozy ambiance compensates for its heavy subject matter. This is a slice of life/food drama after all, so you can just chill, watch and enjoy. This is very similar to the Japanese movie "Little Forrest", they will show you how they cook the food then proceed to story, but unlike "Little Forrest" where it is 70% cooking 30% story, this drama is 80% story, so it has more plot and you won't lost into the story.
If you think it's already a big deal when Ossan's love uses mainstream actors to a gay drama, then this is more big deal than that. They not only have mainstream actors but established A-list actors. To give you an idea Hidetoshi Nishijima has a reputation of a tough guy in Japan, similar to Jason Statham in Hollywood. I also think it's a genius idea to cast him as the closet gay, his demeanor matches the character very well. Uchino Masaki (Tonbi, Jin), another A-list actor, portrays the more feminine character. Among the two I considered him the better and the more versatile actor, and this character he portrayed just added up to the vast range of characters in his resume. The chemistry of them both is phenomenal, they argue and makeup like a real couple. They also made decisions that even straight couples will be able to relate.
One of the highlights of this drama is when Kakei's mom told him "tell your co-workers you're gay, there is nothing wrong with being gay", and the actress who said this savage line is none other than Meiko Kaji, famous for Lady Snowblood series, the granddaddy of revenge movies which inspired Tarantino when he made Kill Bill. If you just realize what Lady Snowblood represents that time, and how it connects to what this drama represents this time you would also say the casting for this drama is really something, it's freaking genius.
Watch it not because it's a gay drama, watch it because it a very good story portraying a couple having struggles in our society and how they overcome those hurdles to become happy. This is a little gem here my friends.
FULL REVIEW
https://thatjapanesedramaguy.blogspot.com/2019/07/drama-what-did-you-eat-yesterday.html
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This review may contain spoilers
What makes this drama different from other episodic type of drama is that every episode has its own unique theme, and not just an episode dedicated for fleshing out other supporting characters. My favorite is the episode about "mask" that every person put mask because of different circumstances, which it won't hurt if we remove a bit of that mask to have a better understanding of each other. Also in my years of watching Japanese dramas this might be the first time that a medical drama is about radiographers, people whom most of us, taken for granted, those who work behind the scenes taking your x-ray. I would never think much of those people if not for this drama. With all that said, this drama is a breath of fresh air among the very long list of job oriented Jdramas.The story is also intriguing. It's about a radiographer who has a medical license. He could become a radiologist if he wants, but he has his reasons, which I would not discuss because that is in a more spoiler territory. I have no knowledge when it comes to medical terms, so I'll take whatever this drama has said as facts, which is why I didn't have problems in terms of it being logical. Every episode is basically Iori insisting to have 1 more scan then doctors will disagree because of pride but in the end Iori will get what he wants and will discover underlying disease that didn't get caught during the first scan. The drama will teach you that it's not about the position, and just like what Iori said "As long as it is within my capability, I won't give up".
Romance is like your typical Jdrama, so if you're looking for a kdrama-esque romance you would be disappointed. It is Radiation House after all, and not Steamy House or Radiation "Doctor's love affair" House. Even with minimal romance, the main characters have great chemistry. Igarashi Iori played by Kubota Masataka, the smartest fool ever, a genius who has a knack for knowing the truth by reading MRI images, which ironically a person who can't convey his own feelings. And Amakasu An, played by Honda Tsubasa, a tsudere type of character, whom I still don't' know if she still can't recall him, or just being cold until the end. Honda has that reputation of a ham actress, but in my opinion she did well here, aside from some dramatic scenes where she could have done more. Kubota's portrayal on the other hand is spot on, from gestures to expression, he nailed it. Both of them had brief moments on screen, but it's always fun seeing their interaction together. Iori's hilarious reaction towards An is the highlight in every episode. Aside from the cast there's also fun side characters, which have their own charms, but sadly they became a bit irrelevant in later episodes. The music is just okay but forgettable. The camera work though is dynamic, which makes such scenes engaging.
The way the drama ended hints there will be a special or a season 2, but it is directed really well that you won't have problem if it won't have, they conveyed its theme really well in my opinion.
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This review may contain spoilers
The plot is one of the darkest, twisted yet fascinating as you would find psychological elements that would impact you as viewer. I say psychological because if you try to look into the mind of the characters, their action would just makes sense. I'm not trying to justify their actions because it's obvious these are your typical twisted characters in a movie. I also would like to point out there is no Forbidden love, younger man/older woman, student/teacher relationship and especially ROMANCE in this movie. Obsession & Lust is very different from love, just watch the scene on the beach where he tried to cut off his D**k, that was such a powerful scene. I see these tags are the reason why there are a lot of negative comments here. These are very misleading tags.The movie shows the dark reality, the cycle of abuse which is very scary. I believe the girl was also abused by her dad, and it's also the reason for her sexual orientation. It's her dominating personality that later on lead to her abusing the child. One of the most realistic portrayal of rape and abuse in a movie, it shows how it will affect the victim later in life. I also refuse to believe being a pedophile is hereditary, nope, genes has nothing to do with it. Everyone's psychology/mindset is a result of the environment they grew up in.
The Acting here is very strong, which is very important in a movie that has bold storyline. You could tell the actress, Sugino Kiki is a very passionate one as she's also one of the producers of this movie, and it shows in her performance. It doesn't seem nudity bother her either. Imagine producing a movie, casting yourself in a movie which you'll do a nude scene later. At first I thought the casting of Taiga is terrible because it seems he's portraying a character much younger than his age, they even put a kid's voice on him, which is understandable because there is no way they could cast real kid without going jail. But eventually thanks to Taiga's acting I forgot to notice those things. There is one important scene in this movie where he was really impressive, that was when his character was being raped by the female lead, that look on his face shows agony in a very realistic manner, that alone deserves an acting award for him. Hard to believe this is Imai in Kyou Kara Ore Wa!!. Goes to show how versatile as hell and criminally underrated he is. Most of the Music is composed of music from Mozart. It's very important to note that it conveys the psyche of the character once you hear it in the background.
People ask why we need movies such as these that it doesn't make sense at all, and some even said they want to unsee it. I understand people have different taste when it comes to movies but saying it doesn't make sense makes no sense to me. Maybe they didn't try to look for meaning because even weed type art-house films have meanings. Now if you ask why these dark twisted types of movies exist? SIMPLE because it's CINEMA. The prime purpose of cinema is not to entertain but to tell a story, humanity is always fascinated by different stories, which is why cinema is considered as the 7th form of ART.
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The opening sequence at the court is one of the strongest opening sequences ever. We see the unapologetic abductor and the vengeful and bitter mother. It's quite long but important to know where the characters are coming from. At first it seems the root is revenge but as the story progresses, it hints that it goes beyond that, more personal hence the title REBIRTH. Actually the whole English translation is REBIRTH (THE CICADA’S EIGHTH DAY), a brilliant metaphor they used in the movie, which you'll only understand at the final scene. It's a recurring phrase about cicadas, that after nestling on the ground for years, they only have seven days to live, that cicadas who survived at the eight day must be sad or are they?
The pacing is slow which only fits its tragic melodramatic story but may bother some as it takes time to reach its destination. The chronological order goes from past present, the 4 years of them together and the adult Akiyama searching for traces of the time vague in her memory. What makes this transition from past to present brilliant is how both these characters are alike. We see them at the same place at different time which only makes more beautiful by its great cinematography. I especially like how they incorporate the cultural traditions during their time in that island, it's very cinematic. There's also a lot of close up shots showing the expression of the characters, both conveying void, isolation and aggression.
Two of the best female performances I've ever seen in a Japanese movie. I could only imagine that this would be Inoue Mao transition from a cute TV Star to a serious actress. Her portrayal of her character is subtle and very raw, very different from the roles that made her famous. This is without a doubt her best performance. Nagasaku Hiromi (Su-Ki-Da) gave the performance of her life, her motherly loved portrayed on screen is very engrossing that anyone would forget the crime she committed. They didn't have a scene together so it's mindboggling how come they have this intense chemistry. The supporting cast are also brilliant especially the kid, they wouldn't have pulled off a great dramatic scene without a great child actor.
Mother's day is just around the corner so this movie is so timely and that's why I made this review. This is one of the best motherly themed stories which could compete with the likes of "Mother", " Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad", "Be With You" & "Chronicles of My Mother".
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The pacing is episodic or better seasonal, kind off similar to movies such as "Little Forrest". There's a time skip between each story or between time travels of characters. The movie felt it would be better as a series than movie at first like other movies with episodic structure but as I continue to watch I realized the pacing is just perfect this time.
Though this movie has its praise it also has negatives. The characters at first half is much better than Arimura Kasumi's character, not blaming the actress but the way her character is written, it's boring to be exact. It just get worst at the middle when the focus shifts to her romance with Ryosuke (Ito Kentaro), this time I blame the actor, he's just to green to play such roles, didn't get the emotion his character suppose to give, just imagine Takeru Sato in that character.
The acting by the supporting casts was superb though, Matsushige Yutaka & Yoshida Yu were such scene stealers. I didn't cry watching this movie but their scenes are the one that almost gave me teary eye. Thanks to them for their spectacular performance that those 2 scenes almost carried the whole show. Even Hayashi Kento did well at the beginning. The movie is simple, almost one location, but there are brief moments when it shows great cinematography.
This is another thought provoking Japanese movie that will give many lessons in life. If you like movies such as "If Cats Disappeared From the World" there's a high chance you'll like this movie too. I'm not saying it's as good or as emotional but it would be worth your time.
"Time is cruel. If we are slacking, now and future will be the past right away."
my favorite quote in the movie
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If there's a director who could rival Hiroshi Ishikawa(Petal Dance, Su-ki-da) in terms of the slow pace in a movie it's Naomi Kawase, and this movie of her is not an exemption. Having said that this movie could be the slowest movie you will ever watch so it's definitely not for everyone. You should also be in the right mood when you watch this as it is not that easy to digest type of movie. There are scenes that are full of ambiguity, and the chronological order became convoluted at the middle part, to be honest the way the scenes overlap from past to present too much is what I like the least about this film.
Even if you don't like the narrative there's no way you won't like the relaxing ASMR-esque vibe thru the visuals and the sound in this movie. There are only few directors that you would know whose film it is just by looking at its visuals and Kawase is part of that group. The aerial camera shot of the forest, sunlight dancing through the leaves, huge trees swayed by the wind like bamboo, tear-shaped falling raindrops, characters blend in a nature background. Kawase's documentary like camera work is also quite evident. It's no secret that Naomi Kawase movies are like the Makoto Shinkai of live action movies. It has minimalist music or almost no music at all; all you can here are the sounds of the forest, raindrops, chopping of wood etc. The movie did brilliant in capturing those sounds. Have you ever wanted to watch a movie and feel relax at the same time then this one is for you.
I can't say anything about the acting but brilliant. It is ten out of ten on that aspect. Nagase did a great job of portraying a strong silent type character who is longing for love. Binoche is compelling, plays this woman of words effectively, she always say fascinating facts in every conversation. Binoche is not your typical foreigner actor in a Japanese movie, just look at her imdb page and see her filmography. Nagase and Binoche have this unspoken chemistry together, they had converse in English a bit but there's something magical when they mix Japanese & French in their conversation, two of the best sounding language in my opinion. The best performance though comes from Mari Natsuki who played this self proclaimed 1000 year old blind woman Aki. Her peculiar characteristics played by Natsuki convincingly. She played the principal in Chugakusei Nikki, talking about a total 360 compared to that role.
Compared to other Kawase films, It is not as good as Sweet Bean, it even falls short compared to Still the Water, but definitely better than Radiance.
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A Fresh Take on the Zombie Genre
I've read many good reviews about this movie so I decided to see what's so special about it. I dive in with less expectation because the poster and synopsis looks weak, and also I am not a huge fan of the zombie genre. The beginning is a bit boring and to be honest very amateurish but as soon as that moment arrived I just realize the fact that this looks very low budget actually helps and I couldn't think it would work if they had the budget. I tell you this underrated gem is a cult classic in the making just like Fish Story when it came out. It also happens that both films have the best epic ending in a movie ever. The fact that I compare it to Fish Story says a lot to the quality of this movie. Best movie to watch with friends as this movie is highly entertaining and the best rewatch value I've given to a Japanese movie.I can't talk anything about the plot because it would be a huge spoiler even if I say a bit or even hint anything about it, let's just say there are three acts in this movie, first act is somewhat engaging but may get boring especially if you're distracted by the low budget-ness of the film, second is clever and fresh, and the third is the best and the funniest part of the movie. What I want you to do is dive in, give the movie at least 30 minutes and do yourself a favor and avoid watching any trailers because from what I've seen, all of them spoiled the movie.
This is the debut film of the director, Shinichiro Ueda, who manages to give this genre a fresh idea. He is hailed as a genius director from most of the reviews I've seen and as a reply, in one of his interviews, he said that he don't particularly like zombie movies and when people ask him what he thinks the future of zombie movies is, he told them he don't care lol. I don't know if he's a genius or this movie is just a fluke, but he would so god damn lucky if that's the case, like he's just a passionate guy who decided to pick a camera and started to do movies and as a result he is hailed as a genius and competes with koreeda in Japan's version of Oscars. His story could be a plot in a movie, reminds of that character in sion sono's "why don't you play in hell".
Every actor here is unknown. I checked their asianwiki page and most of them only appeared in this movie. There are parts where it's quite evident that they are amateurs, which actually helps and you would realize that after you see the movie, but there's also parts where they shown stroke of brilliance and that happened during the most important and the climax part. This movie became a big hit in Japan that most of these actors are now getting acting gigs and commercials and that's the best part.
A film that has managed to achieve something groundbreaking in the zombie movie genre, which you can find title "ONE CUT", a zombie film that has 30+ minutes long uninterrupted shot. It's not the same tearjerker zombie thriller like Train to Busan or the fun head exploding epic thriller like I Am Hero, but after you see this film you would value the technical aspects in a movie more and if you haven't seen anything like it would leave you in awe. An inferior Hollywood remake is inevitable. This is a masterpiece.
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Isao komori is a college dropout who spends his days playing video games and watching porn. He is living a carefree life. Every day he go to this convenience store just to see Mari, she has this angel like feature that made Komori decide to make Mari his idol. He became obsessed and his sole pleasure in life is to stalk Mari. One morning Komori wake up in Mari's body. Another Komori inhabit his old body, but it is not Mari. Mari has disappeared. Komori struggles to maintain Mari's ordinary life and starts to investigate Mari's disappearance.
If you think this different take on body swap genre is what I mean when I said original, then you are wrong. The essence of the story remains though like trying to find where Mari went, and that's why this story is genius. A combination of mystery and character study, mystery is very gripping while the character study is what draws you in. If you are into psychology you would really love this drama, it conveys all the pains and struggle of every teenagers. Everybody could relate because in the first place identity crisis is classically adolescent.
Technical-wise the acting is surprisingly strong. These three young actors did their part well, but what I'm more surprised about is Ikeda's portrayal of Mari. She manages to give this character authenticity by giving the character intensity if needed but by not making the character looks exaggerated. Very complex character that I imagine most young actress would fail to portray. Both songs are catchy too, nice touch to give the drama fun vibe.
Overall a different take to a trope (body swap) that you would think it is so clever but then you would realize there is more clever twist than that and you won't see it coming at all. Twist after twist is basically in this drama, so I wouldn't be surprised if most will find it complicated and may end up confusing to them, even at the very end.
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