1
realdeal
philippines
This stupid law serves as the plot device for the character development of these characters, it taught them a lot about themselves, what they want in a partner and also what they lack as a person. It also raised a lot of question on peoples view on marriage, how it affects their lives and especially the role of minorities in a society where this law is implemented such as people who don't have Japanese citizenship, people who are sick and members of LGBT, so in some way this law is not pure negative but there is also positive like the awareness this law brought up. With so many layers and prejudices in this 8 episode drama, it may sound so ambitious but in my opinion they pull it off quite brilliantly.
Romance is not the main point in the story, it is the philosophy of marriage, but it doesn't mean there is no couple we can root for in this story. Acting is quite good from the actors but the stand out is definitely Nomura Shuhei, who brilliantly portrays this character who suffers from OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). Music by Yu Takahashi is so good and damn catchy that it always managed to hype every episode.
The ending is cute and you can tell this law is the best thing that happen to our leads. They grow up to a person they wanted as their partner, which makes them suited for each other in the end, and I love the phrase "Marriage isn't a human obligation, but you also have the right to get married".
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Meet Takumi Satsuki, played by Amane Okayama, a typical loser type character, an introvert who doesn't have experience towards girls. He enjoys playing Dragon quest where he role-plays as a female character. One day he met a character named Goro-san in game, where he was saved by him from a boss monster. He eventually became friends with Goro-san, whom he respects a lot because he is nice and very reliable, so when Goro told him he is looking for a place to live, he immediately offers to share his place to him. Little did he know Goro-san is a woman, Miyako Okamoto, played by Honda Tsubasa. Miyako is not just beautiful but also stylish, the type of woman whom you would not think she plays video games. They start to live together and they discover that their personality is not the same as their in game personas.
This drama is short, only 6 episodes, 20 minutes each, so in total this could be a 2 hour movie, but since this a drama format, the pacing didn't suffer, thanks to that. A fun and fast watch drama, full of clichés yet cute moments, good chemistry between the leads and hilarious side characters lead by a well known anime voice actor Miyano Mamoru (Death Note, Steins Gate, Soul Eater, Durara, seriously this dude is everywhere lol). This drama is also very relatable if you play video games especially MMORPGs. Watch our hero battle his anxiety towards women with the help of his online gaming friends and real life friends.
Watch this if:
-You find Honda tsubasa cute (long haired honda tsubasa FTW)
-You love cute romantic comedy
-You are interested to see Miyano Mamoru in Jdrama
-You love Dragon quest or gaming general and if you fantasize yourself having a relationship where both of you playing video games. #relationshipgoals
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So the whole movie is just like that, we watch them to get their driver's license together, but this is also a coming of age movie, and if you watch it in that perspective, this movie is still worth your time. This is a compelling movie if you focus on the growth of each character and not on the events in the movie which seems to be boring because nothing is happening. I would say seeing the growth of these two characters is fun to watch. Kiyotaka's curiosity gives this movie the much needed comedic touch while todoroki's uncertainty with the job he has chosen is relatable to young adults. I would also like to point out that even though this is a quirky comedy it is still realistic based on how they convey the little happiness in the movie like those mundane things they have in the movie.
The acting is also good at least, both of them acted as master and apprentice in the movie chihayafuru so it's weird but fun seeing them in this buddy comedy movie. This is also the most energetic character I've seen from Nomura Shuhei, he's is like a kid that is curious in every little things. As for Kaku Kento, the last drama I've watched him in is Kyou Kara Ore Wa!!, where he made that character Mitsuhashi as Mitsuhashi, so seeing him in this total opposite role is so refreshing LOL. They are both versatile actors, it's the type of movie where had they switched roles the effectiveness of each character would have still been the same.
Coming of age movies are not only relatable but they also tell stories of different people, stories of loss, passion, frustration, isolation and like in the case of Moriyamachu Driving School stories of acceptance, regret and more importantly doing what we want. Coming of age stories are endless and will continue as long as they reflect the thing we all as a human being experience.....growth.
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The Quintessential Japanese Drama of 2018
What makes Japanese drama different from its neighbors is how diverse its genre. From mystery thrillers, romance live actions, tearjerkers, weird WTF comedy to Job oriented ones. But my favorite is without a doubt the thought provoking genre. This genre is their forte in my opinion, those meaningful dialogues is always fascinating and this drama not an exemption, it has many dialogues that will make you think and it will teach you different philosophy in life.Japan is the land of symbols, if you've been watching anime for a long time you probably see this already, they are so good using symbolism as part of the narrative, to me it not just makes the show looks good but it elevates the story. Their method of using symbolism is more prevalent in Jdramas and Japanese Movies, that's why I always tell my anime friends if you want to learn more about Japanese culture don't watch anime but watch Japanese Movies instead.
Aesop's tortoise and hare is one of those fables that are known around the world. In the story the tortoise keeps going on no matter what happen, it teaches us hard work, perseverance and going the extra mile, the hare on other hand has this cocky attitude believing he will win against the tortoise even he sleeps during the race, but his carelessness made him lose in the end. Bokura wa Kiseki de Dekite Iru gives this fable different yet very fascinating interpretation. According to the drama the tortoise doesn't work hard and it doesn't even care about winning or losing, he just enjoys whatever in front of him. The way the tortoise see the world is very different from the hare, the hare doesn't even exist in his perspective. Meanwhile the hare always check on the tortoise and he always looks down on him, the tortoise is huge part of his world. This philosophy of "Not Caring What Others Think" is basically the central theme of this story, which is also very much applicable in today's world of social media where everyone always cares what other people will think and everyone always look at other people's life and compare it to them. BE A TORTOISE AND STOP BEING A HARE.
This is such a cozy and laidback drama, I would compare it to Wood Job, Little Forrest and Bread and The Soup and Cat Weather, as for anime I would say Yuru camp and Aria are good comparisons. The story is also very well written, the touching moments and funny moments are very balanced. Pacing is also nice until the last two episodes where the plot seems all over the place, but it's ok as long as the message is there I wouldn't mind. This drama is very Ikigai. The message is given in a very subtle way and I like how the scenes are not over dramatic. The way they connect the behavior in animal kingdom to philosophy in life is brilliant. This drama also has a set of interesting characters that plays a very good role in the story, not a single one of them is useless. The acting by Takahashi Issei is no joke. I bet only few actors can play the character he portrays. It's the type of acting where an actor carries the whole show. It is perhaps the most eccentric character I've encountered in Japanese drama, the development of his character is also one of the most interesting ever.
Lastly if you are looking for romance you would be disappointed but it's really obvious what he feels for her during the end. I am happy that they didn't force it as it is not what this drama is about.
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Some may compare this movie to fast and the furious but it is closer to a Ron Howard movie Rush. The pacing is similar to that movie where the story develops after each leg and while Rush is about rivals it's also somewhat similar to brotherly love.
Though with its heartful theme, the highlight of the movie are still the race scenes. I would say those racing sequences are executed really well, the camera shots are nice, the car zoom, skid, aerial shots and adrenaline pumping car crashes are brilliant. Though the visuals are very pleasing, there still some unrealistic events in this movie, like after a massive car crash you would see one character shirtless without any blood or bruises, but who gives a damn right as long as the movie is enjoyable and thrilling I am fine with that.
The acting in this movie is very impressive especially Higashide, never thought he could act this way. He is very expressive and you could feel his intensity as he shouts while giving instruction to his team. Mackenyu as the angsty younger brother did a good job too, I've seen him in Fugitive Boys, Todome no kiss and JoJo Live action so I already knew he was capable to play this type of character, I love his versatility as well.
I enjoyed watching this movie; time flew fast without realizing it's about to end. I wouldn't say it's the best racing movie though but compared to mainstream Hollywood movies such as fast and the furious I enjoy this better. Lastly if you are a girl this movie would be a heaven for you, lots of Ikemen from leads to supporting leads and would you ignore a shirtless Mackenyu? As a guy seeing that body inspires me to work out.
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"Don't judge the book by its cover"
First let me start this review with a mini rantThe only concern I see people having with this drama is that they said it normalize pedophilia. My defense on that matter is you would only consider a person a pedophile if he/she is occasionally attracted to children which in this case she's not because she was not attracted to him because he's a child. I know most will not agree with that argument but let's say you are correct and she's a pedophile. Does this drama normalize that psychiatric disorder? BIG NO. She's attracted to him but didn't take advantage in fact she was despised the whole time, the school, students and the society. The drama won't make you feel they are romanticizing that idea. As for the matter that it might affect the thinking of underage viewers. Do those kids have parents to guide them? Then what about stories like Robin Hood, mistress protagonist, serial killer etc. are those stories being normalize just because they were made? If you are inclined to call it a trash just by reading the synopsis then I am sorry but with that kind of logic I just couldn't help but think you are DUMB.
Chugakusei Nikki portrays the forbidden love between Hijiri, a middle school teacher and Akira, one of her students. The drama follows their story for the course of several years. There will be time skip in the middle of the drama, 3 years to be exact, when Akira is 18 years of age. The characters are well written, Hijiri was portrayed really well as an inexperienced teacher, adult yet not matured, and also Akira as rebellious and confused teenager. Side characters are interesting too especially Haraguchi and Shotaro, it's also interesting to see their love story develops. Their love is somewhat similar yet different. The plot is sensitive but the drama handled it tastefully, it is nowhere near as creepy as you might think. This show is also grounded to reality in that every emotion these characters portray is very relatable. What I also like is the pacing it's very balanced which makes every episode engaging. The drama also knows how to play with our emotions. The director is just so good on how to build tension and also how to end every episode. Expect roller coaster of emotions, it's highs is wonderfully high and it's lows is absolutely devastating, there's even couple of scenes where I was on the edge of my seat and to think this drama is not a thriller.
~ A good rain chooses the right time to fall and so it falls ~
~ When it comes to spring, the rain is certainly falling ~
~ It follows the wind and secretly enters the night ~
~ While the wind is blowing, the rain continues to fall until night ~
~ And moistens everything softly, without any sound ~
~ Silently, almost making no sounds at all, it makes everything wet ~
This poem in episode 1 summarizes the whole drama. It is a metaphor to the kind of love between Hijiri and Akira, a pure love similar to dramas such as Sekachu, Endless love series, Koizora, Be with you, Heavenly Forest etc. Pure love genre if you would know is what popularizes Asian drama. It basically portrays a couple that faced many obstacles. Pure love in sense that even after so many years they still long for each other. We haven't seen this genre for quite some time and I already see upcoming dramas with similar genre. This drama will trigger another pure love era.
Cinematography is just captivating. I love how they capture the green landscape on camera, the shot during sunset, falling rain drops, fireworks and that weird fish eye effect they always use. Those are not just gorgeous shots but also serve as a symbol to what these characters feel. That's beauty about Japanese drama, it is full of symbolism and just like what I always said, great cinematography is similar to great painting, it is not just beautiful but also captivates you, will make you move closer and examine the painting and not just say "oh this painting is beautiful". Music in this drama is just perfect, it underlines the mood and helps showing the emotions of each characters. It is a really great piece of background music. With great drama comes great ending song and "Prologue" by Uru is just like that. It's not just a great melody because if you read the lyrics it will make sense why they choose it as the ending song.
The acting is just brilliant but other than the acting, the casting needs more praise. They just casted right people for the roles, Arimura Kasumi for example, she has this cute, inexperienced image and if you watch the drama having that image made her portrayal of hijiri so effective. They also cast a rookie for the role of Akira, it a nice decision by them as it requires a certain rawness to the character. It doesn't mean Okada Kenshi is not a great actor though. He is indeed fantastic as he provides the intensity and angst to the role. They won't call him a super rookie is he is not. The side characters are also well casted, if you follow Japanese drama long enough you would be familiar with Yoshida you and Natsukawa Yui, they were both underrated actresses. Their characters played an important role to the story and they played them really well. Aside from Akira, it's the portrayal of those characters made this drama so much better.
Final episode will be tomorrow but I decided to make this review because what ever happen this drama will go down as one of the best Japanese drama I've ever seen and definitely my best Japanese drama this year. End game won't decide the rating this drama should get in my opinion because just like they said the journey is more important the than destination. More than just a drama but also an experience.
Edit
I've just watched the last episode and I don't want to spoil anything but it is indeed one of the best Jdrama ever!!!
Best Student-Teacher Romance Drama List
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Give this at least 1 episode
The narrative is fragmented at the beginning and it's also a slow burn but once those interlocking stories connect the drama will become engaging. It has gripping mystery like it will literally suck you in, every time a story connect to another will leave you nodding, it is so satisfying. Aside from the mystery I also like the chilling mood/atmosphere of this drama, it helps to arouse my curiosity. It is well directed drama; it knows how to lay clues and when to build tension.Theme is revolved around T R U S T like father losing the trust of his daughter, gossiping neighbors , characters committing infidelity, trust leading to bullying, talking behind someone's back in a professional environment, someone who blindly follows others or beliefs, it is everywhere and it is impossible to miss. There is also another underlying layer here which is what people want versus being practical, people always dream, it might fade but another dream will replace it or an imposing parent will kill it.
I will give its music a perfect ten. It plays a huge part on how this drama builds its tension. It is a brilliant piece of music which underlines the mood of this drama. That aerial shot of those houses was brilliant, it seems a small detail but if you think about it deeply, it is the theme this drama wants to convey. Great acting from the cast, from the supporting cast to leads like Odagiri Joe, Risa Naka, Kuroshima Yuina, Anna Yamada, but the best performance should go to Risa Naka. Anna Yamada is a great young actress too. I am excited to see her future roles.
Overall it is great mystery drama, if you think of mystery dramas, this is I think the best you can get this year and it can compete to the best of the best mystery dramas/movies around. My only complaint is its ending; it is underwhelming and feels a bit rushed. I was expecting a huge climax but didn't get what I want. Also, the reveal is predictable or maybe it's just me because I've already seen lot mystery dramas. Lastly, thanks to HPriest for subbing this drama.
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The Luckiest Character in Japanese Drama Ever!!!
This is not your ordinary type of romantic comedy, it is a love story between two opposite type of people, there is an age gap issue and you will scratch your head thinking how the hell she fell in love with him. Most of you will be turn off because of this and I don't blame you as I were like that during the first episode. Though I grew liking the guy's character as the story progress I also think this drama would be better with a younger and bit more good looking lead.Meet Yuji Tomioka(Teppei Arita), a guy in his late 30's, never been in a relationship, he is living a boring life. One night during his work as a security guard, he wishes to a shooting star to have friends. Then later we are introduced to a Azusa Hada(Tsubasa Honda) mysterious girl who is stalking Tomioka and secretly in love with him. Let me give you a warning to the tone of drama, it is weird and a bit jarring as it starts as a comedy then take a dark turn in the middle episodes. If you are familiar with the movie Himeanole this drama has the same tone but unlike Himeanole it keeps its fun elements even after that dark twist. The comedy here is really good like seriously it is one of the funniest shows I've watched and the situation where this hot chick is in love with this guy and this guy doesn't give a damn is best thing about this show.
The pacing is really good, flow of each episode is a breeze, and every moment is dedicated to the development of these two characters. I would separate this show into 3 arcs, first part is when he gain friends, second would be that dark twist, third is where their love blossoms. If you are looking for a quick watch, fun drama this would be it.
Though they look awkward together these two characters do have chemistry. When I said chemistry I didn't mean romance but the comedic aspect. It's always fun seeing them together. Tsubasa Honda is the hottest stalker I've ever seen, and if you are a guy you would envy the lead guy in this drama, he is indeed the luckiest character in Japanese drama ever. Also, If you are a fan of Tsubasa Honda this is a must watch as this drama shows her cutest form yet.
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M A S T E R P I E C E
I find myself having a different taste than most users here on MDL so I would totally not recommend it if you can't handle slow type of movie especially this one which is 2 1/2 hours long. This movie also contains sex scenes so definitely not for everyone. People with attention span of a goldfish would hate this movie.Jongsu is an aspiring writer; he also works as a part time delivery man. One day while doing his delivery task he bumps into hae min, who is apparently his childhood friend. hae min said she is going to africa and ask jongsu to look after her cat. Hae min comes back along with mysterious guy named ben. One day ben and hae min visits jongsu, later on ben confessed to jongsu his secret hobby.
It is the definition of slow burn no pun intended, utilizing the time to explore the life of the lead character, his affection to Hae min, conflicts with his family and his view to korean society. The film is a character study and Jongsu is just our extension in the movie. The movie is very philosophical in which the central theme revolves around "little and great hunger"(what we want / what we need), it is also very metaphorical, simmering with ambiguity, it's the best example of less talk see it in action and it also loaded with symbolism throughout. Though being the film a slow burn and with its 2 1/2 hours running time, it is by no means a dull or boring movie. It is a hypnotic experience and throughout the movie you will use your brain a lot as mysteries after mysteries unfolds.
Cinematography is topnotch. It's beautifully shot, able to capture the eerie atmosphere on screen. I also love the shots at dawn, it's enigmatic yet mesmerizing. Music just makes this thriller movie 100x better. It is haunting, builds tension, underlines the mood and evokes characters emotion.
Acting is masterful, might be the best I've seen in years. Let's talk about the lead girl first. Jeon Jong Seo as a free spirited gypsy is just brilliant, the way she pantomime eating orange is very believable, the philosophical element of the movie plays here, that's why that scene is important in the movie. She also not just good looking but also has great screen presence. Yoo Ah In who played Jongsu is equally brilliant. The development of his character is handled really well especially during the later part when his character became obsessed. Steven Yeun is not just a guy from walking dead, the dude can really act. I love the way he made the character more mysterious through his facial expressions.
Perfectly crafted movie, you would feel the labor of love put by a director making movies like this. It's that type of movie that you would get something new every time you watch it. Definitely the best movie I've seen this year and the best korean film I've seen in a decade. This is a masterpiece.
If you enjoy the though provoking element and the whole ambiance in this movie I'm sure you would love to read some Haruki Murakami novels.
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This film is focused on two characters so it is given that they are the ones to carry this movie which is they did. Yamazaki Kento and Hashimoto Ai are now established actors with talent to back them up, they are quite young here but you can already see signs that they will be great actors some day. Music contributes to the atmosphere of the movie with scenes that are accompanied by soft and melancholic music. Songs are catchy but also vital as it conveys what the characters are feeling, their emotion and every word in the lyrics makes sense. Cinematography is awesome too; I love the snowy landscape which will makes such eerie atmosphere.
It is not a romantic movie which might be disappointing for the fact that these two beautiful person shares good chemistry on screen but it's by no means a bad movie because you will get more than any mediocre romantic movies out there. A typical slow thought provoking Japanese film but it's only over an hour which is short compare to other Japanese movies.
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Iron Man meets Parasyte
One of the best live actions ever made, this is better than Bleach, Full metal alchemist and Tokyo Ghoul combined and the action is in my opinion better than Gantz. If you are a fan of action movies this is a MUST watch. There's literally no dull moments in the movie especially during the latter half which is non-stop action, I didn't even noticed 2 hours had passed. However this is not a perfect movie, it still has its shortcomings, there are things that were not explained properly like the source of their superpowers, but you wouldn't even notice it, the narrative will overshadow it which is good vs. evil, both were given godly powers, one choose to protect people and the other to kill. The movies also suffers from the clichés of a superhero movie like "destruction of major metropolitan area", "traumatic childhood of the villain", "training montages" but even with those clichés I still love how they insert family and friendship elements in the movie.CGI effect here is great, though I won't say Hollywood level, but still it's realistic enough to make such scenes immersive. Action scenes won't be that much effective without the music, it acts as a cue and provides an extra feeling of tension. Acting is brilliant the only issue I had is with Inuyashiki's actor because he overacts a bit during that dramatic scene with her daughter which breaks the moment to me. Takeru Sato on the other hand is brilliant, the way he plays the villain role is convincing, he is indeed one of the best young actors in Japan.
Awesome movie, must watch for any action film lovers. I also think it is best to watch it with friends.
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It is more of a drama than mystery BUT IT IS REALLY GOOD
One of the best dramas I've seen in recent years. From the first episode alone this drama series will make you engage to the story, they have done a great job of introducing the characters, showing their motives and hinting where the story will go. This is episodic in a way that each episode will focus on one character that knows Yukino, where each of them blame themselves as to what have become to Yukino's life. There are two mysteries present in this drama, first is who committed the crime and second is what kind of life she had. By no means has this drama have mindboggling plot twist and clever puzzles but what's fascinating here is to see what kind of life Yukino had, this drama will make you feel bad for her. The drama element is so strong here, and I'll be honest there are couple scenes that got me teary eyed especially seeing them still caring for each other after so many years.The drama has a bit of a dark tone which brilliantly supports the plot. The music underlines the mood in each scene, builds tension and evokes feelings of each character. Stellar acting from the cast especially Takeuchi Yoko and Tsubamuki Satoshi, both character have traits that unique to them and the way they act is remarkable. Once scene that impresses me the most is during their final scene together, I felt tension building up and having no music in that scene really helps.
To call it a masterpiece is a bit of a stretch but if you love mystery, drama and thought provoking stories then it is a must watch. Thanks to the subber of this drama, I wouldn't have watched this if it wasn't for him/her.
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Romance is weak but funny as hell
First I want to say I haven't watched the original movie so I can't compare but I know it is regarded as one of the best romantic comedy so I bet this is nowhere near in terms of chemistry and romance, though this Japanese remake is hilarious as hell. Not the best romantic comedy even in Japan, it lacks authenticity compared to other great rom-coms, but it is still better than most fast paced manga based romance movies we get these days, where the pace is the speed of shinkansen train.The strongest point of this movie is during the beginning where characters perform their own slapstick comedy, from Muro Tsuyoshi, Yamada Takayuki, Taiga and Sato Jiro(which is I think the funniest). Although the movie is strong in the comedy department, it lacks in romance especially the later part of the film when it was in it's climax. It was a bit boring and the romance is insincere.
The theme song they use is "One More Time One More Chance", if you by any chance know the anime movie "5 centimeter per second" it is the same song used in that movie. You couldn't choose a more fitting Japanese song for this story. Acting is great from both leads but it's a shame that their chemistry is not that great, this is the second time Takayuki Yamada and Nagasawa Masami both starred in a romance movie, first was in "say hello for me" where they also have no chemistry.
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Tales of the Misfits
Characters are self obsessed, angsty, self-destructive and in some sense rejected by society. I was truly absorbed by these characters throughout the movie, and being a coming of age film lover, I really like the character study treatment they have given on each character especially the interview part. Film was deep, very philosophical, it tackles existentialism quite profoundly. I also heard it was based on a manga so if that's true that would make it the darkest and the most depressing manga based movie I've ever seen. I also love the setting, it is set in an industrial area in 1990's, and vibe is a blend between depressing and nostalgic.I love the cinematography, it's very atmospheric, and camera work is documentary like, love character close up shots and the background. Music is simplistic but effective, it builds the tension for each scenes and the transition to the next. I also love how the ending credits song is upbeat such contrast to the whole theme of the film, it gives smile to my face.
Great acting from all of these young cast lead by the Fumi Nikaido which in my opinion the best young actress in Japan, she's really good with these type of characters. Yoshizawa Ryo is a revelation in this movie, I didn't know he can act like this, such intensity, reminds me of a young Kengo Kora. The rest of the cast did great job as well because it's not an easy feat to play these types of characters.
Not for everyone obviously, lots of gore and sex scenes. Also the narrative doesn't have anything to do with romanticism but existentialism. Slow but thought provoking film, it probably requires a rewatch to fully understand the message of the film.
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Just your typical fast paced, manga based romance movie.
I watched this movie because I want something light, though I got what I want still the pacing in this story bothered me. I haven't read the manga and I have no idea how is the development of each character there, so this movie got me scratching my head because some scenes doesn't make sense like suddenly one character likes another character, not enough development to make that believable. I also have hard time connecting to these 2 main characters, not enough scenes for me to truly understand their actions, the pacing is just too fast. Also, some characters are wasted like minami hamabe's character, I thought she is part of the main cast, but felt like she's just a cute stray kitten who walked passed me, no idea what happen to her after. It's still a pretty good movie though, fun story, cute moments, lovable characters.Technically, cinemagraphy is nice, Iove the camera work during those cute scenes. Music is also good, nice songs, though I felt it has too many songs, I think I heard 4 songs played throughout this movie. Acting is also good, you have both suda and tao as main lead and you can never go wrong with them, they also have great chemistry in this movie.
You might love this movie more than I do if you read the manga or if you're already familiar with the characters but it might be enough for you to love this if you are only after for a cute story, lovable characters, great kissess and good ending.
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