Thanks for writing this. Seeing his dramas, he does have quite a remarkable output despite his limited acting…
Well most of his roles are comedic, even in Utahime which isn't as comedic as others his character has a comedic side to him. I still enjoyed him in that one too.
I love Nagase. He's one of the few actors I'd watch anything for. Though I haven't seen as many titles yet, I…
Thx I hope you enjoyed it. And like you, I'm hoping more people get to discover him and his dramas, because if they don't know him they're definitely missing out ;)
You know Ana, Kai Kai is very lucky to have you as a fan, he should know that. No one would've written a guide like this one better than you!
Note to self: Need to watch A Murder Beside Yanhe River ASAP I have a feeling (just from the pictures here) that it's one hell of a performance I get to see here ;) + I also need to check Legend of Nine Tails Fox.
I totally agree with you about Love Me If You Dare, I was also disappointed! But still he gave it his all and for that he, at least, was worth watching.
I don't need to add much to Nirvana and Disguiser, you said it all, but yea both were great watch. I loved Nirvana much more for the overall story and characters, but I loved Wang Kai more in Disguiser. He was perfectly embodying the noir-style spy in the drama.
Oh man about All Quiet in Beijing (wasn't it Pecking?), you basically explained everything I felt about this drama, and the reason for my dilemma. I actually was confused in the beginning of Nirvana in fire, and it took me about 4-5 episodes for me to adjust. So we can imagine how this drama confuses me, when really I know nothing of the history of China in that era. I'm only 16 episodes into the drama. On one hand, I feel totally emotionally disconnected from it, which doesn't motivate me to watch, on the other, it was a drama which complex characters, which doesn't try to sugar coat events, which makes it definitely something worth for me to watch. It is bias towards one point, but it definitely it interesting to see how political people think and deal with issues. I guess what's preventing me from watching is that, even after 16 episodes I was still confused :P
Anyways, AWESOME GUIDE Ana. I'm so looking forward to his upcoming dramas ;) Also a 2nd season of Ode to Joy :D
Curiosity got the best of me to try and see how bad this is, and the mind can be wicked at times to make me keep watching. This wasn't just bad, it was HORRIBLE. Every time romantic music plays for the main couple, I would be so disgusted!! The guy is insane! And anyone even associating with him must has some screw loose. I don't even blame the girl in the end, since I find everyone around her is crazy, so might as well join in with the craziness.
I just wonder how this can be acceptable in anyone's mind? The guy is a crazy criminal of all degrees! If I was her I would've either killed him or made sure he ends in prison for the rest of his life! But like I said, what drives me nuts is how the people around them were the ones that found it easy to forget, and treat all his crimes as so lightly. The thing is, even IF it was possible for a bastard like him to truly regret, SORRY is NOT enough. You make amends by paying for your crime! In Prison!
The writing overall doesn't make sense at all, and neither did any of the actions of the characters, specially the family of the leading girl. The mom pisses me off the most! I hate incapable moms that act as if they are good moms!
Funny thing is, I can't help but admit a strength to the drama, which is the acting. It may be my first time seeing the guy, be he convinced me of his serial rapist crazy immature brat nature, that I can't seem him in any other way.
+ The lead girl is not as dumb here as the other versions and has more of a pride
+Lead guy is not as mean and rude here as the other versions
+My favourite mom character in all the versions of this same story
+Her had here is also my favourite in all the versions I've seen
+His little brother is much sweeter than the other versions as well
+Background story of the friendship between the parents
-Tenten leading on Taliw until he changed his mind!
-Nothing much to the story other than the main love triangle/square or whatever shape it is (no school activities, sports, school friends, school struggles) It's not that I'd hate a season 2, but they kinda cut out too many things right now and jumped in too far to make a story.
-Finally, the fact the girl is not so dumb makes the whole relationship when they're together boring. Other Kotoko version did make me cringe a lot, but you always knew you're in for something interesting when she's around.
I like that ending. I think it's the type of ending that can stay with me long, specially the last image, cheerful and bright yet with a tinge of sadness.
I really liked the drama overall. What I appreciate most is the awareness it creates about HIV and AIDS, how Masaki got it, her family dynamic, and how she manages to live on normally among people. Kaneshiro was a feast to watch here, and he really puts out all his soul and emotions into it (specially the last couple of episodes). There was that scene during the last episode... I also really enjoyed the father-daughter moments.
I had 2 issues with the drama, and they are related to one another. First is the female cast in the drama, be it Fukada Kyoko, the actress playing her mom, and even Nakama Yukie (I usually like her but somehow her voice was so annoying all throughout the drama). The mom kinda ruined all the mother-daughter scenes I just couldn't buy it. Fukada had her moments, but overall it was uneven. I liked her character after the time jump, but she still sounded like an immature teenager, specially the way she cries.
My second issue is that up to the last couple of episodes, I couldn't buy into the relationship. As I said before, it was like a caring older brother towards her. I got more into it after the time jump, because her character matured a bit. Every time though she goes back to her baby mode I'm like Urgh!!
Felt like watching something different (from what I'm currently watching), and this fit the bill. It was relaxing, having the setting the lovely city of Kyoto.
It was pretty predictable and doesn't reinvent anything. Entertaining enough and sometimes cute. The one thing that annoyed me is the lead complaining "those people only care about money". Not only is that line cheesy, it's annoying, specially coming from a "business woman".
I get what makes this movie apart from others, but I don't know why it took me forever to finish.
It did have a tweak in my heart, specially when seeing a pet looking for its master. I feel it's very similar to a toddler looking for his mother... those kinds of things really affect me.
I think the most genius thing about this movie is the casting. Nishida Toshiyuki is always best at those bitter-sweet characters. I have seen Aso Kumiko doing fun, energetic roles, but she's perfect here as the shy, meek Yuko with a strong will. Most genius of all is Hasegawa Hiroki who can play with his face, making himself ugly loser one moment, and hot and cool the other. He puts his sole in the role he plays.
5 
1 
Unubore Deka is hilarious with so many colourful and funny characters. It's repetitive but the fun of watching it never ceases ;)
Note to self: Need to watch A Murder Beside Yanhe River ASAP I have a feeling (just from the pictures here) that it's one hell of a performance I get to see here ;) + I also need to check Legend of Nine Tails Fox.
I totally agree with you about Love Me If You Dare, I was also disappointed! But still he gave it his all and for that he, at least, was worth watching.
I don't need to add much to Nirvana and Disguiser, you said it all, but yea both were great watch. I loved Nirvana much more for the overall story and characters, but I loved Wang Kai more in Disguiser. He was perfectly embodying the noir-style spy in the drama.
Oh man about All Quiet in Beijing (wasn't it Pecking?), you basically explained everything I felt about this drama, and the reason for my dilemma. I actually was confused in the beginning of Nirvana in fire, and it took me about 4-5 episodes for me to adjust. So we can imagine how this drama confuses me, when really I know nothing of the history of China in that era. I'm only 16 episodes into the drama. On one hand, I feel totally emotionally disconnected from it, which doesn't motivate me to watch, on the other, it was a drama which complex characters, which doesn't try to sugar coat events, which makes it definitely something worth for me to watch. It is bias towards one point, but it definitely it interesting to see how political people think and deal with issues. I guess what's preventing me from watching is that, even after 16 episodes I was still confused :P
Anyways, AWESOME GUIDE Ana. I'm so looking forward to his upcoming dramas ;) Also a 2nd season of Ode to Joy :D
I just wonder how this can be acceptable in anyone's mind? The guy is a crazy criminal of all degrees! If I was her I would've either killed him or made sure he ends in prison for the rest of his life! But like I said, what drives me nuts is how the people around them were the ones that found it easy to forget, and treat all his crimes as so lightly. The thing is, even IF it was possible for a bastard like him to truly regret, SORRY is NOT enough. You make amends by paying for your crime! In Prison!
The writing overall doesn't make sense at all, and neither did any of the actions of the characters, specially the family of the leading girl. The mom pisses me off the most! I hate incapable moms that act as if they are good moms!
Funny thing is, I can't help but admit a strength to the drama, which is the acting. It may be my first time seeing the guy, be he convinced me of his serial rapist crazy immature brat nature, that I can't seem him in any other way.
+Lead guy is not as mean and rude here as the other versions
+My favourite mom character in all the versions of this same story
+Her had here is also my favourite in all the versions I've seen
+His little brother is much sweeter than the other versions as well
+Background story of the friendship between the parents
-Tenten leading on Taliw until he changed his mind!
-Nothing much to the story other than the main love triangle/square or whatever shape it is (no school activities, sports, school friends, school struggles) It's not that I'd hate a season 2, but they kinda cut out too many things right now and jumped in too far to make a story.
-Finally, the fact the girl is not so dumb makes the whole relationship when they're together boring. Other Kotoko version did make me cringe a lot, but you always knew you're in for something interesting when she's around.
I really liked the drama overall. What I appreciate most is the awareness it creates about HIV and AIDS, how Masaki got it, her family dynamic, and how she manages to live on normally among people. Kaneshiro was a feast to watch here, and he really puts out all his soul and emotions into it (specially the last couple of episodes). There was that scene during the last episode... I also really enjoyed the father-daughter moments.
I had 2 issues with the drama, and they are related to one another. First is the female cast in the drama, be it Fukada Kyoko, the actress playing her mom, and even Nakama Yukie (I usually like her but somehow her voice was so annoying all throughout the drama). The mom kinda ruined all the mother-daughter scenes I just couldn't buy it. Fukada had her moments, but overall it was uneven. I liked her character after the time jump, but she still sounded like an immature teenager, specially the way she cries.
My second issue is that up to the last couple of episodes, I couldn't buy into the relationship. As I said before, it was like a caring older brother towards her. I got more into it after the time jump, because her character matured a bit. Every time though she goes back to her baby mode I'm like Urgh!!
It was pretty predictable and doesn't reinvent anything. Entertaining enough and sometimes cute. The one thing that annoyed me is the lead complaining "those people only care about money". Not only is that line cheesy, it's annoying, specially coming from a "business woman".
It did have a tweak in my heart, specially when seeing a pet looking for its master. I feel it's very similar to a toddler looking for his mother... those kinds of things really affect me.
I think the most genius thing about this movie is the casting. Nishida Toshiyuki is always best at those bitter-sweet characters. I have seen Aso Kumiko doing fun, energetic roles, but she's perfect here as the shy, meek Yuko with a strong will. Most genius of all is Hasegawa Hiroki who can play with his face, making himself ugly loser one moment, and hot and cool the other. He puts his sole in the role he plays.