5 stars for getting butterflies flying in my stomach, also with its great production value.
The story was kinda weird, I could say that the relationship between Erika (Fumi Nikaido) and Kyouya (Kento Yamazaki) was toxic but delivered lightly, typical shoujo genre. What makes me bond with Erika and Kyouya is because they are often together even though it is quite annoying because Kyouya thinks Erika is just his dog. Meanwhile, Erika hopes for more, this is shown by her very sweet attention and treatment to Kyouya and makes me fall in love with Fumi Nikkaido myself. Fumi-san was just so kawaiii and make my heart doki-doki.What makes me thinking to give this film 5-star is what I've type above "the production value", usually when I watch japanese manga live action high school romance it's either gonna be bland and flat or exaggerating everything, but this Okami Shojo is right in the middle, balanced.
I love all the settings: the school, Ayumi's house, Kyouya's apartment, Kobe, even just the street. The environment doesn't feel dull, has a great scenery, life inside it was not quiet or weird, just like what it is should be in real life.
The cinematography was top notch, they make useful of all the settings, take a lot of great shot from it, like my favorite one when Erika talk to Kyouya about dating in free time later after school trip, while they're sitting between the pillars in front of the door of a building and DOP taking shot of Erika and Kyouya from inside the building when the door opened and at that moment I realized that this film production team is no joke, it's simple but picturesque.
After that I remember the one take shot at beginning when Erika with her friend, Ayumi, tailing Kyouya to get the pictures of him and then the girls's runaway, I watch it again and it feels so satisfying. Also I realize how great the camera movement throughout the film, truly looks like a real pro. I take a note of the cinematographer name, his name is Yasushi Hanamura, well done.
Next is the sound, they put a perfect song or music for every scene, not just using orchestral sound but a lot of english fun song that I find it rare in japanese film. All the emotion of the characters, whether it's sad or happy it can radiate more with the help of music.
Then the actors, they played all the characters very well, especially Fumi Nakaido and Kento Yamazaki, as one of the thing that makes this film works.
Overall, a very good film imo. I have a lot to say in my mind but hard to put it in to words, so that's it. Thank you.
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The best thing I ever did is to love you..
Rewatch for the Fifth Time in the last 5 years. But this is the first time I watch it after make Letterboxd account, so I'm gonna review it.It's still one of the greatest romance film I've ever watch, every aspect in this film is perfect that the remake can't even close this masterpiece.
The sense of nostalgia, friendship chemistry is shown very well that I feel connected as I feel related with the characters because I experience the same thing while I was still a high schooler.
What is certain is that Giddens Ko managed to adapt his book to the big screen very well. Also the actors and actress acted really well and also played a role in building this film. The soundtracks was so good like the Those Bygone Years, i cried like crazy when the songs played in the flashback scenes at the end.
Now, cause I've watch the remake, I'm gonna mention the things that makes this TW version great.
First, every aspects feel balanced, romance and the friendship cooked side by side, so when his friendship is released, the romance can be crushed well; not like the JP that pushing the friendship too much and when the romance takes over, it becomes lame.
Second, TW version feel more like a romcom so it can be enjoyed by everyone not like the JP that I think gonna work if it choose to take the artsy direction, it's calm and slow that when the comedy show up, it feels awkward cause it's not dark comedy.
Third, the acting from the cast of the TW more natural and not exaggerating, the JP version is otherwise.
That's all I think about this film. Masterpiece.
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Family is everything, the most important and valuable thing in life.
The first part of the film really did a great job connecting me with the old couple Shukichi and Tomi.Their journey to Tokyo to see their children, but they're kinda push them away, although the children intentions are good to sent them to Atami in hopes of giving the old folks time to calm their minds, but their reason "busy" makes me feel mad, also the old folks didn't felt calm cause you know.. If you have watched it.
Glad there's Noriko, the center of this film Trilogy, she's became a widow here because her husband died in war. Noriko is the only one in Tokyo who treat the old couple very well like she's the real daughter / children of them, even though their relationshis is only in-laws, and in fact, Noriko's belong to freedom.
The old folks "real children" is like a reflection, they're selfish and unable or unwilling to pay attention to their parent, and there are so many children who still behave like that today.
An outpouring session between Mother and Noriko makes my heart squezeed. Noriko's kindness combined with Mother's warmth, a moment that could be the beginning of tears when watching this film.
Then later at the end there is a moment where the father gives a speech to Noriko, words that any parent will say to a person who has married their child and this moment broke my tears, it's warm.
Overall it's the best from Noriko Trilogy.
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Infidelity can destroy a marriage.
Yasujiro Ozu's work brought back the topic of marriage and it was quite a shock because it turned out to bring up the topic of problems that might occur in couples who usually destroy their relationship, usually called cheating.Well, what I like about Ozu's film is that it doesn't use dramatization, so it's more realistic and maybe feels relateable to some people. Like here, usually in other films it is portrayed in a vulgar and wild manner but here it feels simple but still has an impact when seen by people who have done it. (Not me, I'm single hiks ..)
Then from the wife's side, Masako, whose knowledge was built from conversations with neighbors and parents until finally she knew that the reality was well organized, when she left was understandable, and grateful she didn't ask for a divorce.
The affair between Sugi and Goldfish closes well and becomes one of the iconic scenes in this film, becoming a symbol of peace.
The drawback of this film, in my opinion, is that the emotional boost is lacking, I can cry when watching Noriko Trilogy but not here. But the moment when Masako chose to leave Sugi for a long time, was enough to inject a little emotion that was not much felt from the beginning of the film.
There was a feeling of despair in Sugi and it made me remember the words of one of the characters in this film but I forgot his name, he said "Your wife is your closest partner" and that's kinda hits me.
Sugi goes to Mitsuishi alone, then Masako follows him there was the sweetest moment in this film, indicating they have made peace with the bitter past and are willing to accept each other to start a new day together once again. Masako's reason for following Sugi to Mitsuishi was also touching, he got a letter from Mr. Onodera who said "Follow Sugi, before it becomes a bigger problem." must have made Masako think, and I'm glad she did because you never know what would happen to a man that have a burden of guilt.
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Another good works from Mr. Ozu.
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"The moment you said you loved me, your love is over. The moment your love ends, my love begins."
In the first half, I thought that this was a murder mystery film mixed with a simple romance, but it turns out to be very intimate. As the film progresses, the second half of it becomes more like a romance wrapped in a murder mystery.I gotta say that I like this film, to see this film more as a romance film, how it gave me the feeling that I usually get from conventional romance films. My emotions are raging, and my chest tightens as I witness this love relationship that feels both wrong and cozy, wrapped in a murder mystery that somehow becomes the sentimental playground of this love story.
One of the things that makes this film good, IMO, is that it looks too beautiful, combined with the good performances of the actors, making this film even more charming.
Anyway, this film made me absolutely sad, it hurts my meow meow. The moment Hae-joon found the stock analyst's phone, can I put "if only" to what it brings to the story? Knowing there's a chance they'll get the ending I dream of, if they wait patiently. I'm weak for this.
Idk what to type anymore. That's all. Thanks.
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I was expecting this film to be so heavy in terms to be enjoyed but actually it pretty much easy to follow but the hypnotic material that this movie throws into my head, like a ticking time bomb.
Just as Takabe comes out of Mamiya's house he suddenly gets a glimpse of things that make me also get almost the same image but a scary woman. From here my defenses have collapsed too, the next series of events tend to give me shock and start to make me uncomfortable, just seeing the dark side of the room that is not exposed to light in this film makes me shiver.
This film really had me drowning without realizing it and it was great. The last time I experienced something like this was when I watched Session 9 last year, simply shocking.
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I did enjoy it tho, and I didn't really think much about anything while I watched this, so I can ignore how the action sequence was fun but stiff and unconvincing at times and just enjoy the star power this film has. It's exciting to see Haeng-seon imo now has a real daughter, then the charismatic Sol Kyung-Gyu, Lee Jae-Wook ahjussi, and other popular actors that I forget where I saw them before.
Netflix wwwww55555
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The story is quite interesting, stand into more traditional mystical folklore horror with the inugami, but there's more conflict caused by the curse that's actually quite dramatic and complicated, and it also has a moment of surprise.
It's not pure horror though; it has a romance that's actually the one that drives this film forward; it was quite normal, sweet, and sensual, before finally there's a reveal towards the end that surprised me.
As a horror film, those frightening moments came from intense meetings of the characters, the Bonomiya family, that led to digging more into this Inugami thing, and delivered by the actors' solid performances, it was great.
Once again, this film deserve praise for how beautiful it looked; precisely captured the sublimity, the calmness of the rural village of Omine and Yuki Amami's beauty.
I think that's all, thanks.
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I don't like the two other story, the cast performance was okay but the moment that should be haunting was not really hit, you know, and it's really affecting my overall satisfaction of watching this film.
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I gotta say, I like this film better, surely at the beginning I came for the horror, but as time goes on, this film leaning more into romance and drama, and I like that.
Junchu and Sansan's relationship was not harmonious before because Junchu could not move on from Manli (the fiancee) and there was a disappointment because his mother lied to him about her illness so he would get married, but over time it developed into a sweet and heartfelt relationship (just not imagine it to be as good as those good romancce film); compared to I Miss U, which stay in the horror's path but trying to be melodramatic, so the feelings can't really hits because they keep trying to scare.
The horror, Fan BingBIng mostly appeared in her human form, pretty. When they try to make her creepy, the film is already overwhelmed with emotion, so she's becoming not scary. That doesn't mean she's an insignificant character tho, she's pretty much the one who helped Junchu and Sansan to be harmonious, she also looks friendly at first but later she can't accept seeing them happy (I really like her gaze from the attic), so she tries to get Junchu back and that's mean by becoming an evil ghost.
I'm glad that Sansan and Junchu had a chance to smile happily together before the film ends for good.
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"Na Bo-ra, JOAHANDA!!!"
It's cute, straight to the point and heartfelt.This Bora's love story, I either love it and hate it, love it for how this obviously gave me dokidoki feelings and I hate it in some parts where Bora tried to buried her feelings for the sake of friendship.
So, I just think this is well done, hit the right spots, enjoyable.
I never watch Kim Yoojung in K-drama but I've watched/finished a varshow called "Young Actor's Retreat" few weeks ago, I loved her there, so It's nice to see her here.
KIM YOOJUNG, SARANGHAE!!!
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This film kinda reminds me to those people who taught me basic skill to live, it's useful. Still I kinda afraid when the time comes to take me to the next level of adulthood, take care of my very own taxes, bills, family, house, etc.
I finish this film with smile on my face, this is not heartache story like what I expected, but rather a heartwarming story of self-maturity.
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"I received this letter..."
I'm gonna type what I think about every stories.1. The Overtaking (3/5)
Great opening, when those guys looking at the mirror to see the ghost, I get surprised like they did.
2. The Shadow Man (3/5)
It's give me goosebump when the banging also occurs in the real world, then the grandma & her daughter becoming so quiet as the camera zooming to the darkness.
3. The Tailing (1/5)
Is it because of trauma? Boring.
4. Looking Out Together (4/5)
For me, it's terrifying because what if the female teacher never move on and keep bothering him? Imagine that happen to me, it just aargh.
5. The Red Woman (3/5)
I hate something that ends with "If you listen to this story, she will come to you", my 10 years-old get paranoid because of that and I afraid to get to toilet for months because a story I read says that "the ghost will come to you in toilet after you read this".
This short kind of the same and a little bit like It Follows (2014), if you telling story to others then the Red Woman will angry and come to you, but if she killed someone you already told then the baton gets back to you. I guess it works like that. Crazy.
6. Empty Channel (1/5)
I don't feel convinced that listening to that woman who talking on the radio could make someone do something like at the end.
7. Hide and Seek (2/5)
At first it was a little funny, because as if the mystical thing that happened in the school was common, but for the new teacher it was clearly shocking, make him think that stay late at night is yabai yabai for a while, but then he's following that ghost kid, stupid.
8. Keep Playing (4/5)
Funny & scary, like why the hell those kids playing in graveyard, and watching them one by one fall, hurt, then go home was hilarious, because there are lots of them kids but they keep falling and bleeding somehow. When there's only 3 kids left to keep playing it was starting to get creepy, when there's one left it's BOOM, I'm gonna pass out if that was me.
9. Thief (2/5)
I like how this segment tells its story, but I don't understand where the part that should scare me.
10. Sealed (5/5)
Short, evident & solid.
HIs film quality could be up and down but class is permanent.
Great job Koji Shiraishi with that suitcase.
終了
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I also think this is one of the funniest Ozu's film I've ever watched besides Ohayou. Trio of Chisuu Ryu, Nobuo Nakamura & Ryuuji KIta once again makes me laugh with their casual typical-father conversation, that young wife & pills talk was so hilarious, even in this film 2 times I was fooled by their unexpected prank conversation which ended up with me laugh with them, such pleasure. There are some moments that have the potential to be a drama conflict but here is made funny instead like a sulking husband bullied by his wife and sister in a family way etc.
I love Ozu.
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Back to the drama, it was proven to be very good, they really did a really good job. The story was absolutely cliche, that rich man and poor woman story, but the actors chemistry just unquestionable, the editing superb, the soundtrack is a perfect fit that eventually makes me so attached to characters and also this drama only has 12 episode, so everything is solid.
This show makes me laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh and gave me goosebump everytime the romantic scenes take places and...
...... it's just a great guilty pleasure.
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