A bittersweet movie, filled with innocence, warmth and the uncertainties of growing up. about a bunch of kids playing hooky from kindergarden and taking their farewell trip across the country. As usual, Sakamoto Yuji did not disappoint, though this wasn't his best. All the kids were stellar.
Thank you for your comment!I don't rate dramas based on enjoyment. I rate them very objectively. There are tons…
That's fine. Ratings are very subjective, and everyone should have the freedom to rate however they want it.
And thank you for such a kind comment. I am glad my comments are of help :)
Dark and gritty dramas... damn there are tons of them. Where do I even start HAHA.. I'll just list some that come to my mind instantly (number of them are on this list)
Zeni Geba Fence Watashi no Otto wa Reitouko ni Nemutte Iru Kono Yo No Hate Garasu no Ashi Byakuyako Hokuto MARS Saka no Tochu no Ie Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi
I'll stop here.. don't want to bombard you with titles!
I keep seeing your comments (very informative, thank you so much for those!) on j dramas' pages so I came to find…
Thank you for your comment!
I don't rate dramas based on enjoyment. I rate them very objectively. There are tons of dramas that I rate 8 - 9 but enjoyed them a lot more than those on a 10.
And yes, of course we are all bound to have different experiences when we watch content because we come from different walks of life and have gone through different journeys that have shaped our views and our personalities. For instance, I enjoy a lot of dark and gritty content that questions one's morality, which many people would view simply as "wrong" but to me, that's a depiction of what it is to be human, and how one's mind can be so complex. That's why I am happy to recommend dramas / movies, but I don't expect people to love them the way I did, and I appreciate people having a POV that is very different from mine :)
If you're talking about cinematography only, these are some stunning dramas (amongst the many) that you can try…
I did not like 'First Love' as I found the scriptwriting very weak for a J-drama, but it was visually stunning so I suggested it. But I am glad you enjoyed it :)
Here are some solid J-dramas that I would recommend for the overall script, acting, story, and experience - https://kisskh.at/list/LQJEl7R3
He is a fantastic writer. Zeni Geba is one of the best revenge dramas I have seen and Kimi no Te ga Sasayaite…
He is a great screenwriter indeed. 'Zeni Geba', 'Nijiiro Karute' and 'Kimi No Te Ga Sasayaite Iru' are literally my favourites from him! I've given all three dramas a 10/10. and I don't give 10s easily.
Some other solid dramas from him that are worth watching (in order) - In This Corner of the World Beach Boys Home Drama Iguana no Musume Neechan no Koibito Fight Song
If you're expecting a cold-blooded, dark revenge story, this is not it. I'd recommend 'Zeni Geba' instead which…
The twist in E8 / E9 with the reveal of why he chose her and his reasons for choosing her were interesting. It made me realise.. in retrospect, she was able to get her revenge because he allowed it. He knew from the get go what she was up to, but he did not try to stop her. Rather, he challenged her to go ahead. And then in E9 he "stopped" her when he pointed out how she was no different from him. It made me feel like he used her to get revenge on his sister and mother, and in his own way, grounded her and stopped her when he didn't want her to go any further. It felt like he was challenging her to prove him wrong and yet at the same time, he did not want her to lose herself completely. It's very telling when he proposed marriage to her again.
Even though they didn't get together at the end (thank you writer), I felt like this was more of a battle between the leads trying to one-up one another rather than a revenge story. Very telling when she gave him the USB in the last episode and forfeited. And he followed suit. Both of them were using "revenge" almost as a form of closure.. I could feel that both of them still had a little bit of love left for each other, especially him when he retreated. Same for her when she was shaken by his proposal in E10. A part of me feels like she settled for the nice guy because she had some feelings for the toxic ML and didn't want to go back to him.. we'll never know. Maybe I'm wrong.
I wish we had an episode more before that ending, and that would have allowed for a greater build-up to him forfeiting though the signs were there when he met her again, when she refused his proposal, and when he had the cake with his son..
Pretty average drama that had potential to be more if there were a few more episodes..
If you're expecting a cold-blooded, dark revenge story, this is not it. I'd recommend 'Zeni Geba' instead which is one of the best dramas in the revenge genre.
I am going to try and write this review without "spoiling" it though it's hard because this is one of those dramas that is hard to review without an understanding of what transpired. This isn't wholly a revenge though it does center around the revenge theme. It shifts from being dark into being much more of a human / psychological drama towards the end. The FL does not lose herself in revenge unlike the usual protagonists from this genre, and picks herself up before she reaches a point of no return. This is where her revenge may appear mild or lose its effect for some, and it really is a matter of perspective how you perceive it and how it shifts your enjoyment / like for the drama. I would say the same for the ML, who goes from behaving like a psycho to appearing like a flawed human after he strips himself off the burden he has been carrying. At the end, it felt more like a battle between the leads where no one won, or lost because both forfeited, and realised that there's more to life. I do wish this had an episode or two more to flesh out that ending.
"What goes around, comes around"; befitting for this drama. The lesson it leaves you with is that taking revenge does not make you any different from the person who broke you. Stop when you have the chance to, and turn your life around before it is too late. It is hella idealistic, but grounding and realistic in its own way. Again, a matter of perspective.
This is not a stellar drama, but is it all that bad either. I'd recommend this if you're a fan of either Ihara Rikka and / or Kiriyama Renn, who delivered solid performances and made this worth what it was, or want to watch something slightly different.
i agree everything i see that she has been in the last 20 years has low ratings
I wouldn't know about the chances of a project succeeding, but Japan literally makes the most diverse range of dramas and most of them find an audience so I don't see the problem.. Also like I said, majority of Japanese actors experiment with a range of roles.. she's probably one of those rare ones who never stepped out of her comfort zone, and I find that unfortunate because unlike cinema from other countries, Japan doesn't typecast actors that much. Maybe she's ok with that, and that's perfectly fine. To each his own. That was just my opinion.
LOVEEEEEEEE the physical fight between the ML's sister and wife in E7 HELL YES
E9 - OOOOH interesting plot twist That kind of a dynamic between the leads.. it's the first I've seen. I AM ENJOYING THIS
E10 - I was hoping this would be a power battle between ML and FL after the end of E9.. but hmmm...Oguri is getting on my nerves. No idea where this is going
I am beginning to wonder if the ML was using the FL to get his revenge on his sister and mother.. i mean he knew it, and yet let her get her way, and on top of that proposed to her in E9. It's beginning to feel more like the ML's revenge plan instead of the FL which is an interesting twist. Also even though this isn't as dark as I expected it to be, I find it interesting how she tookher revenge but didn't go all the way either.. she didn't become a person who lost herself in it.
i agree everything i see that she has been in the last 20 years has low ratings
It's not about the low ratings at all, it's about the roles. She barely picks substantial roles that allow her to show her range beyond a hot, gorgeous woman, unlike most Japanese actors and actresses who play such a variety of roles.
3 
8 
1 
1 
1 
https://kisskh.at/list/LQJEl7R3
And thank you for such a kind comment. I am glad my comments are of help :)
Dark and gritty dramas... damn there are tons of them. Where do I even start HAHA.. I'll just list some that come to my mind instantly (number of them are on this list)
Zeni Geba
Fence
Watashi no Otto wa Reitouko ni Nemutte Iru
Kono Yo No Hate
Garasu no Ashi
Byakuyako
Hokuto
MARS
Saka no Tochu no Ie
Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi
I'll stop here.. don't want to bombard you with titles!
I don't rate dramas based on enjoyment. I rate them very objectively. There are tons of dramas that I rate 8 - 9 but enjoyed them a lot more than those on a 10.
And yes, of course we are all bound to have different experiences when we watch content because we come from different walks of life and have gone through different journeys that have shaped our views and our personalities. For instance, I enjoy a lot of dark and gritty content that questions one's morality, which many people would view simply as "wrong" but to me, that's a depiction of what it is to be human, and how one's mind can be so complex.
That's why I am happy to recommend dramas / movies, but I don't expect people to love them the way I did, and I appreciate people having a POV that is very different from mine :)
I've been watching her since she was a little girl.. time flies.
Here are some solid J-dramas that I would recommend for the overall script, acting, story, and experience -
https://kisskh.at/list/LQJEl7R3
THAT MAKES ME EVEN MORE EXCITED
'Zeni Geba', 'Nijiiro Karute' and 'Kimi No Te Ga Sasayaite Iru' are literally my favourites from him! I've given all three dramas a 10/10. and I don't give 10s easily.
Some other solid dramas from him that are worth watching (in order) -
In This Corner of the World
Beach Boys
Home Drama
Iguana no Musume
Neechan no Koibito
Fight Song
https://kisskh.at/list/LQJEl7R3
Thank you for the recommendation :)
It made me realise.. in retrospect, she was able to get her revenge because he allowed it. He knew from the get go what she was up to, but he did not try to stop her. Rather, he challenged her to go ahead.
And then in E9 he "stopped" her when he pointed out how she was no different from him.
It made me feel like he used her to get revenge on his sister and mother, and in his own way, grounded her and stopped her when he didn't want her to go any further. It felt like he was challenging her to prove him wrong and yet at the same time, he did not want her to lose herself completely. It's very telling when he proposed marriage to her again.
Even though they didn't get together at the end (thank you writer), I felt like this was more of a battle between the leads trying to one-up one another rather than a revenge story. Very telling when she gave him the USB in the last episode and forfeited. And he followed suit. Both of them were using "revenge" almost as a form of closure.. I could feel that both of them still had a little bit of love left for each other, especially him when he retreated.
Same for her when she was shaken by his proposal in E10.
A part of me feels like she settled for the nice guy because she had some feelings for the toxic ML and didn't want to go back to him.. we'll never know. Maybe I'm wrong.
I wish we had an episode more before that ending, and that would have allowed for a greater build-up to him forfeiting though the signs were there when he met her again, when she refused his proposal, and when he had the cake with his son..
Pretty average drama that had potential to be more if there were a few more episodes..
I am going to try and write this review without "spoiling" it though it's hard because this is one of those dramas that is hard to review without an understanding of what transpired.
This isn't wholly a revenge though it does center around the revenge theme. It shifts from being dark into being much more of a human / psychological drama towards the end. The FL does not lose herself in revenge unlike the usual protagonists from this genre, and picks herself up before she reaches a point of no return. This is where her revenge may appear mild or lose its effect for some, and it really is a matter of perspective how you perceive it and how it shifts your enjoyment / like for the drama. I would say the same for the ML, who goes from behaving like a psycho to appearing like a flawed human after he strips himself off the burden he has been carrying. At the end, it felt more like a battle between the leads where no one won, or lost because both forfeited, and realised that there's more to life. I do wish this had an episode or two more to flesh out that ending.
"What goes around, comes around"; befitting for this drama. The lesson it leaves you with is that taking revenge does not make you any different from the person who broke you. Stop when you have the chance to, and turn your life around before it is too late. It is hella idealistic, but grounding and realistic in its own way. Again, a matter of perspective.
This is not a stellar drama, but is it all that bad either. I'd recommend this if you're a fan of either Ihara Rikka and / or Kiriyama Renn, who delivered solid performances and made this worth what it was, or want to watch something slightly different.
Also like I said, majority of Japanese actors experiment with a range of roles.. she's probably one of those rare ones who never stepped out of her comfort zone, and I find that unfortunate because unlike cinema from other countries, Japan doesn't typecast actors that much.
Maybe she's ok with that, and that's perfectly fine. To each his own.
That was just my opinion.
HELL YES
E9 - OOOOH interesting plot twist
That kind of a dynamic between the leads.. it's the first I've seen.
I AM ENJOYING THIS
E10 - I was hoping this would be a power battle between ML and FL after the end of E9.. but hmmm...Oguri is getting on my nerves. No idea where this is going
I am beginning to wonder if the ML was using the FL to get his revenge on his sister and mother.. i mean he knew it, and yet let her get her way, and on top of that proposed to her in E9.
It's beginning to feel more like the ML's revenge plan instead of the FL which is an interesting twist. Also even though this isn't as dark as I expected it to be, I find it interesting how she tookher revenge but didn't go all the way either.. she didn't become a person who lost herself in it.
That might change your mind HAHA
LMAOOOOO