Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu

私が恋愛できない理由

I’m not going to write a review about Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu but I would like to make an entry here to mark that I’ve finished it. And that I enjoyed it. Omoshiroi deshita.

The costume designs were lovely. The soundtrack, sang by Amuro Namie, were nice. I like “Love Story.” I find it poignant. I think it comes next to Utada Hikaru’s “Flavour of Love.” Both songs, especially Hikki’s, can move me to tears.

I like the twists and ending. I also like how Fuji Emi (Karina) told Hasegwa Yu (Tanaka Kei) about what she really felt. Yes, there were two and I like both. The first was awkwardly funny, but I like it. The next was quite serious, but I like how Yu eased the tension.

By the way, if I were to state “The reason I can’t find love,” I’d point at Fuji. I’m sort of like her.

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Originally posted on: 15 August 2013
Reposted on: 17 August 2013

Love Shuffle

Originally posted on: 29 July 2013

Reposted on: 7 August 2013

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YAY, PANDA!

I reckoned watching Love Shuffle because of Karina. And boy, it was so much fun. I laughed a lot and hard that I even cried. Their idea – love shuffle – was crazy but it was fun. The characters all have their stories and were all interesting. And their interaction/relationship with each other was equally amusing. I just got so absorbed that I still can’t get it off my head. *plays Eternal Flame*

As soon as I finished the pilot episode, I knew it’s gonna be fun. As early as that, I already cried because I laughed hard. It’s on the elevator scene. Just the thought of their plan.. Can’t even..

I’ve already seen Hiroshi Tamaki as Chiaki in Nodame Cantabile and Karina in Bambino! as well as Summer Nude [pilot ep]. Their characters in those dramas were so cool, especially Chiaki. So when I saw them as Uta-san and Ai-ai, respectively, I was sort of blown away. That scene when they were discovered by Kiku-rin looking at the photo, they were just so funny. These actors are versatile.

 

Love Shuffle was obviously a romantic-comedy but there were also a number of serious matters in this drama. There’s psychology, psychiatry, sociology, some political, and suspense. It was like a pizza. It was so amusing.

Each character was likeable. But if you pay close attention, there were some with traits that were annoying. I just took it as if having friends who are bare with their weaknesses. My favourite female character was Aizawa Airu (Karina). I love that she was straightforward. Like me, she wasn’t also trying to be cute making me like her more. But even she had things I don’t particularly agree with. I don’t like how she starts a relationship, as pointed out by Kikuta Masato (Tanihara Shosuke).

Kikuta or Kiku-rin was one amusing character. He seemed to be the most mature of them all, but I think that’s only because he’s a professional. Still, even though he’s a psychiatrist, I’m bothered with how he’s uncertain with some things when most or a lot of people in his profession could answer. But as the episodes went on, I thought it only showed him as an honest person, a genuine character. A lot of people assume the answer to things but don’t really act on what they know. Among the pairings, I liked him most with Kamijyo Reiko (Kojima Hijiri). I’m referring to their interaction with one another. I think its because they can both reach a common sensible level. Besides, a doctor-patient interaction should be left professionally.

Like Aizawa [read: Karina is in Summer Nude with Yamashita Tomohisa, who played Aizawa-sensei in Code Blue. So imagine my kilig.], Reiko was straightforward though not as blunt. As for Kagawa Mei (Kanjiya Shihori), I was bothered with her thought-process regarding romantic relationship.

I guess the same can be said of Usami Kei (Hiroshi). I didn’t like him most for his simple-mindedness and how he refused to at least understand complex reality.

Although Usami and Oishi Yukichi (DAIGO) were cute as Tara-chans, I didn’t like them individually. Not always though. Well I guess I just couldn’t bring myself to like guys like them. Yes, even when/if Usami gets serious.

I’ve already seen the other works of Yoshitaka Yuriko: Bokura ga Ita and GANTZ, so I was looking forward to her character as Hayakawa Kairi. As I watched her character, I kind of understand people who have the same condition as her. It also helped me see suicidal people’s train of thoughts in another light.

Like Karina, Hiroshi, and Yoshitaka, I’ve also seen Matsuda Shota in another drama before. Well, it was in Hana Yori Dango. If I thought his character as Nishikado Sojiro was interesting, him being Sera Ojiro was more interesting and fun. I also think he’s the one who keeps the relationship among the “pyjama party people” balanced. I’d love to have a friend like him, a friendship like they have. “Pyjama party” every now and then sounds fun.

It’s nice that four adult people are having the kind of relationship that they have. I’d like to have a friendship like that. That scene when the boys pledged to protect Airu was sweet. I hope my guy friends will offer the same, though I’m not really going to require them to save me. At least knowing that there’s someone willing is fine.

Bokura ga Ita

I think Bokura Ga Ita was the sweetest film I’ve watched in ages, next to Runaway Bride. There were of course sad moments, but those were the unfortunate events in the lives of Yano Motoharu (Ikuta Toma) and Takahashi Nanami (Yoshitaka Yuriko). Like what Yano said, “The pluses are greater than the minuses.”

My favourite character in this film was Takahashi Nanami. I like Yano but his decision-making lapses didn’t please me. I didn’t hate him though, well except for that scene in part one when his mother was out or would be coming late. But he looked awkwardly funny by the end of the scene.

When Yano and Nanami had their first intimate slash vis-a-vis moment, I was surprised how I didn’t feel uneasy with with the way Nanami looked at Yano. Had it been other movie or actress, I might have felt an internal cringe in me. On the other hand, I find it casual and relaxing. I think Yoshitaka has such effect. It was the same in GANTZ: The Final Answer.

Nanami reminded me that true love waits. She was just firm for her love for Yano. I think she was also the personification of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, which says:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Such love was so strong and powerful that it earned the name of being a compass. I’d say it’s true.

I also love how the cinematography of Bokura Ga Ita, both of Zenpen and Kohen, rolled smoothly in a pleasant way. I find the nature scenes, especially during daytime, refreshing. Even the night scenes were cozy. There was even a nostalgic scene, when Nanami was at the subway. It reminded me so much of GANTZ: The Final Answer.

Bokura Ga Ita Kohen

Because I got so attached to the first film, I couldn’t help but immediately watch the sequel. I bet, the fans of the Bokura Ga Ita Zenpen were so happy that they only had to wait a couple of weeks for the Kohen. The sequel was heavier in plot too, but I’d say Nanami’s character and presence made everything lighter. But I noticed that she’d matured and became stronger.

For the first time, I saw a visibly strong Takahashi Nanami. It was during a dinner with Takeuchi Masafumi (Takaoka Sousuke). Everything about her, from the inside out, including her aura exuded strength. It was not a brute type of strength but rather a firm resolution or conviction. I loved it.

Despite that, Nanami remained pure, in a sense that she still kept in touch with her true feelings. I’m glad she’s not a damsel-in-distress type, whose strength is always questionable to me. Nanami had pains and sorrows but her strength was within her. It’s also equally admirable that she remained hopeful and faithful.

When I saw the connection of both parts, technically speaking, I got so amused. It must’ve been the reason I saw the two movies as one. I also like how there are, as usual, words of wisdom to live by from Bokura Ga Ita. How both parts complete the story made it all the more sweet and sentimental.

Most importantly, I love how this film ended. I think it was just fitting and realistic. Had they ended Bokura Ga Ita differently, I might’ve been too pissed with the writers of this film.

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Originally posted on: 29 April 2013
Reposted on: 3 August 2013

GANTZ

[I’ve always admired Ninomiya Kazunari as an actor. I always get carried away with his acting, though not much in Stand Up!, so I thought I’d like to watch his other dramas/movies to check on his acting consistency but when I found out that GANTZ was on sci-fi genre, I thought it’ll be the last on my list because I’ve never been fond of sci-fi stuff.]

I can’t remember why I decided to watch GANTZ soon but I’m quite thankful that I did.

Ninomiya was impressive as Kurono Kei, who used to be a simple slash invisible guy. It was amusing how his character developed from someone unsure to someone with confidence. I remember their second assignment/case, when the “Boom Box” alien turned his face toward Kei. That “Me?” reaction was so funny, at least for me. I also think Ninomiya pulled it off without the annoying awkward effect. Only few actors can act awkward without being annoying.

Watching GANTZ kept me reminded why Ninomiya Kazunari was called an actor “who can act with his eyes and lips.” I’ve always been a fan of under-acting, of subtle facial expressions. Such always catch my attention. And this reminds me of Sakurai Sho and Ohno Satoshi.

Kurono Kei was an interesting character, showing complexity, compared to Kato Masaru (Kenichi Matsuyama) whom I find… dull. It’s like I couldn’t think of something to tickle my interest regarding him. I was curious though about the outcome of his relationship with his brother and what’s going on between him and Kei Kishimoto (Watanabe Natsuna).

At first, I actually thought that Kato was the acting leader of the team so I kept wondering when would he step up.

I hope the sequel of GANTZ will also be interesting. I wasn’t really attached to the plot although their third assignment reminded me why God forbids idol worship. There were also a lot of casualty and those who stayed weren’t as interesting as Kurona. That made me wonder if character development was only left to Kei.

Since this film was based on a manga, I can’t really judge the difference so everything I’ve written here were according to what I’ve witnessed and thought while watching GANTZ. By the way, it’d be better if they used more lights for this film.

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Originally posted on: 14 March 2013
Reposted on: 3 August 2013