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It was an overall feel-good movie, I enjoyed it.This is what I love with Japanese youth films. They don't stay away from the theme, and just like most of their dramas, their movies are fast-paced, focused yet they don't feel forced.
I simply love the movie because they were able to capture and emphasized the beautiful reasons why "friendship" is all that without losing focus on the cute love story/love triangle. Everyone has great chemistry especially the four boys.
The movie shows me again how nice it is to have this kind of friendship. Watching it made me remind of the friends I had and the moments we share. It was also nice how they were able to add the girl to their clique and they were able to show some real bond among them.
When it comes to the love story, well I didn't technically have a second lead syndrome but I must admit that I was cheering for him (the second male lead Yuta Koseki) and if I were the main girl, I would fall for him for he excels in almost every aspect for me. Plus, I'm not really a fan of the main lead, he slouches at times here and didn't have much chemistry with the main girl and his acting is just so-so.
Also, shout out to Sugino Yosuke here, he stands out even though he is just a supporting actor.
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It is a solid movie for its script, combined with top notch acting from Kim Hye Soo, Yoo Ah In and the supporting cast. Nothing spectacular but I find it really interesting how they made the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis into a gripping, compelling movie. Honestly, I only watched this because I of Yoo Ah In, I simply wanna watch him act and showcase his prominent acting (which he did not disappoint), though I did not regret watching this movie, I may not even bat an eye to this if not for him. The movie reminded me why Kim Hye Soo is a top actress, she sure commands the screen when she's on. The drama despite feeling a bit documentary is surprisingly not monotonous. I may not be able to grasp some things, needed to pause here and there to chew what they were talking (not really good at with the subject matter - "FINANCE") but you will find yourself entertained a bit.
On the side note, I now only realized after watching this movie that we were also affected with the Asian Financial Crisis back in the same year. Layoffs and shut down of big companies. Well, it shows that this movie has fed me something to remember and ideas I only get to know because I watched this.
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Hajimete Koi wo Shita Hi ni Yomu Hanashi
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P.S. Yoon Kye Sang is hot especially in those shirtless scenes, lol
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On a sidenote, Hyo-kun, the male lead is really handsome, like a mix of Kentaro and Kento. They couldve casted him as one of the F4 or C5 rather, oh well.
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It wasn't bad and boring just most have said about this movie. It was raw may be that's why they felt that way. It was a movie full of metaphors though I don't get everything at all. The movie left me with few questions about that damn cat - from the beginning till the end I was hoping for an answer but the movie ended and left me puzzled. May be he did not do it to Ben. May be its part of the story he was writing as was shown in the scene (YAI starts writing in Hae mi's room). A big imagination. Whatever it is, the movie felt short despite the 2hours+ movietime they have intended. Maybe its the reason why it was snubbed in the Oscars? lol just my thought. Was this review helpful to you?
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Also, I dont know if its just me but I think the drama isn't a grand scale drama, like most chinese dramas starring a well known star, you can see it has a very limited budget from the set up and the very simple back drops and castings. I dont know why Victoria hops on in this kind of drama but well, good thing is it has made her a hot search actress even made it to top 3 search in Vlinkage.
I really cant get the "LOW, SEEMINGLY MONOCHROMATIC TONE" of the drama. Victoria;s very low tone acting, even if she is angry, surprise, sad, happy, its all LOOWWW TONE and her voice is SOO SMALL like I dont know how to describe it. Johnny Huang is the same, his acting is really weird, not really in a bad way but his acting is really of LOW TONE, buahaha I dont know how to put in the rights. His facial expressions, even if he is angry, jealous, surprise, mad, theres very minimal reaction and acting you can see from him.
I dont like the way the voice acting and tone of Victoria and Johonny Huangs acting lol. The drama is low budgeted but they lucked out.
The story is good but dull at the same time. It lacks life, yes thats it. The story lacks life coming from their main stars. Sigh, next time if there is season 2, cant they have it filmed in China? or maybe they could choose a better location, better costumes, and more settings?
My rating is 7.
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I simply loved it. It made my heart felt heavy all throughout the movie. it was raw, it was great, it was refreshing and they have captured the essence of friendship pretty well. It would be great if they had a drama version following the flow of the movie, it would be greater then. The movie would make you feel how awesome to have good friends beside you, how great it would be to fully understand other people and the fact that its ok to fully open to others. So sad that its only 2 hours and you can only make much with the given time but definitely one of the best manga adaptations I have watched. Now I fully have a grasp what a parallel universe is.
I'm satisfied with the ending but I dont know if I can be fully happy with it. I have mixed emotions really.
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The acting was great, nothing cringy and both actors played their part so well. Just that thinking about it, I cant really see their in love, yes you know they love each other but maybe, I believe its on Eddie Peng's side. The movie was shot pretty well, It was one of the reasons why I came to like the movie though I feel like it was quite lengthy but it kept me wanting for more and the ending left me hanging.
Of all the movies I mentioned in my comment, this movie has made some tears fall. I don't know but it felt real, those moments of them in the classroom, their friendship and the things that happened throughout the movie. It made me miss high school days, my friends, old friends, and wanting some reunion with them, them memories. That one thing is the strength of this movie, it captured what it meant to fall in love for the first time :)
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The story, as we all know, isn't knew, childhood friends who turned to lovers but before that they need to settle their own real feelings and to achieve that they need to break some hearts first.lol But, that's what I love about this movie. Simple, funny, comedic at times and even though you have watched any other movies with the same story, this movie doesn't feel redundant after all. I love the exaggerated expression of the heroine. She was really good in her portrayal in this movie (although I haven't read the manga but I never thought of any slapstick moment in her acting here). For the guys, Yamazaki Kento was good, (I was going to comment on how should he put more effort in his character but Im going to believe that's how Rita should be portrayed based on the manga. For Kentaro Sakaguchi, this is my first introduction to him, but just like Hatori said, "he's freaking handsome". He is perfect to be Kosuke Hiromitsu, he has really played the role well. His acting and characterization is much better that Yamazaki Kento thus it can't be helped for the audiences to fall for him and have that "second lead syndrome feel". And yes, I liked him more.The story was perfectly made and I feel satisfied with everything. I just think they could've made some great moments/additional scenes out there but since they were following the manga, then it cant be helped.
I was just quite disappointed that they didn't even once played the movie Ost. I jsut love that song and its been on repeat in my playist. I was really waiting for it to be played somewhere in those cute heart stopping moments but, it didn't. It could've made the movie more romantic. Grr, they should really have added it then my rating would be higher. You will feel more their emotions with it.
I miss watching Japanese dramas, you know with those nonsense plots, exaggerated stories and reactions. But despite all that, you will smile, laugh, cry, you will feel like an idiot and despite al of that, they will tell you lessons.ahhhw those feels from Hana Kimi and Ataschinchi no Danshi did you hear me? hahaha
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