9 posts tagged “drama review”
Right, same thing with Smile, very casual review... not as much flail. Huh. Strange. o_o I honestly thought I would be DYING over The Quiz Show. DAMN IT MATSUJUN!!! >_<!!
Kamiyama is the host for a TV show called The Quiz Show and the first guest is a singer/musician called Andou Kosuke who killed his partner. The Quiz Show (in the drama) is structured in a way where the questions, as they get "harder" begin to reveal the "hidden" parts of the guest and by the end they have to confess whatever wrong they did or walk out. Kamiyama is actually a guy who suffers amnesia and Honma (the director) is somehow connected. What Kamiyama does remember is a girl who is drowning. The is unknown for now.
Not a bad start. It was pretty interesting but I can easily see how repetitive it can get. For now nothing.. really seems to be pulling me a long. I mean.. the "amnesia" thing doesn't really interest me much but we'll see.
Episode 2
The show starts off with yet another flashback. A bit more is revealed. The guest this time is a cell-phone novelist named Mika. The problem with her is that she did not actually write any of her stories and she is wracked with guilt and what not. Apparently Kamiyama met her as a kid when he was on a camping trip with some nameless girl. In fact it seems everyone who will be guesting was someone Kamiyama had met at some point.
It's getting there. The amnesia storyline still isn't pulling me along that well. Sho's acting is awesome though and I seriously love Kamiyama. He's such a jackass *laughs* I'm sort of wondering how many people Kamiyama actually met on his little trip and how Honma ties in (by the way, Yoko - Honma - so fricken hot). Little thing about the guest - ... she just pisses me off.
Episode 3
The guest this time is a "free school representitive" Miyamoto Keniji (played by Narimiya Hiroki!). Basically his character is a guy who helps run a free school that apparently lives on donations. Obviously the entire thing is a huge smuggling scam in reality and the guy is found out. The snippets of memory continue coming and the girl's name is Misaki. Don't know what happened but Honma knows Misaki. A love triangle? A sister? Who knows? It was raining. Ayaka's character saw Kamiyama (very lifelessly) being shoved into a car. She's obviously wondering what is going on. We also learn that apparently Honma is in the show thanks to Saejima. How exactly are those two linked? o_o. As well, an incident "2 years ago" was mentioned. What incident was that? Gah.. so many mysteries.
Alright. So. I think this drama is just getting better and better as the story continues. Also the director. Saejima, love her so much for some reason. Don't ask why, I just do. Also, I'm loving Ayaka right now for her Shukudai-guesting. Anyone else think that Saejima appearing with her kid might be significant to the story in the future?
Episode 4
Flashback in the beginning. Honma, Kamiyama and Misaki were classmates? Or schoolmates? The guest this time is a fortune-teller of some sorts named Yuutenji Nokko. She is a fake and apparently was a very nice lady until she realized her life sucked and she was too lonely. That was harsh wasn't it? I don't really care about the guest, what I'm more interested in is the whole HonmaxMixakixKamiyama thing going on. Did Kamiyama really kill the girl (as the end seems to show)? Also, Ayaka's character is started to become really suspicious and seems to start snooping around a bit. Wonder how that's going to turn out.
Alright, now the amnesia storyline is actually turning interesting. All these character ties and relationships that appear. Crazy plot twists. This is getting really interesting. Seriously. Loving this. KamiyamaxMisakixHonma - WHAT HAPPENED? So many speculations I could make up. How does Saejima pull into the mix. How is it that Kamiyama managed to meet every single one of the guests during his little camp trip? So many questions, not enough answers... can't wait for the next episodes!! Little thing about the guest - The "Jyunishi power" thing pissed me off to no end.
Episode 5
Flashback, apparently Kamiyama really did kill Miyaki (says Honma). Those two seemed to be going out. Onto the guest for today's episode is a "genius" surgeon "Godhand" Tomobe Koichiro. This guy left his professor to die. Anyways, aside from the guest so much unravels in only the first 9 minutes. Apparently nothing is known about Kamiyama but Honma was an AD for the old Quiz Show (season1) and somehow Saejima is linked to that too. Also there seems to be some relation between Saejima and the Galaxy TV president.Throughout the episode we learn that Kamiyama's first name is Satoru. Apparently Honma saw Kamiyama over Misaki's dead body. Saejima, Ayaka's character and Kamiyama are starting to find things out.
Oh god this is just getting better and better. So many twists and turns and I can't predict anything at all. One that bugs me is all the guests.. take so long moping and trying to defend themselves and it's sort of annoying. Little thing about the guest - He's got problems. Lots of problems. Guys like him should not be doctors. -_-''
Episode 6
The guest this time is a NEET who lives off his mom, Katsuragi Makoto who kidnaps Saejima's little girl Minori. The format for this episode was just a teensy bit different. Instead of just interrogating the guest it seemed in the beginning that the guest had dominance over the TV staff but than it changed in the end thanks to Kamiyama. Pretty interesting, the episode went by pretty fast. Again still wondering why all the guests were gathered in the same place as Misaki and Kamiyama. Another person seems to have appeared in the memories but they are still blurry. Also, Yamanobe has appeared in front of Homa o_O
This episode was pretty interesting due to the fact that it was just.. different from all the other episodes which made it more entertaining. Nothing much was revealed although Yamanobe from season 1 did appear. Little thing about the guest - He's retarded. I agree with Ayaka, can I punch him? Ungrateful !@#$ >_> Can't wait for episode 7 =D
Episode 7
The episode starts out with Honma telling Yamanobe that he won't screw up and with Kamiyama starting to become a bit rebellious. He's very close to regaining most of his memories. The guest this time is a pilot named Shibata Yuuki. We learn in this episode (after a majority of headaches that were honestly quite annoying) that Kamiyama, Honma and Mizuki were on a plane (with all the other guests of the Quiz Show) and the pilot of said plane is Shibata. Due to the epic FAIL of the plane company the aircraft crashes onto the lake where all of them are stranded. The guest this time honeslty didn't do anything wrong it was his shitty companies fault. Really, this episode just exists to quickly patch up all the places that need patching. We also learn in this episode that Saejima was there was well, she was a reporter at the time. It also seems that Honma is a lot more powerful in the TV station than he seems and Saejima is apparently the next guest =O
Oh.. things are just heating up. Honestly this episode was a bit hard to get through due to the constant headaches that were just pissing me off so much. A lot of things were cleared up though and I wonder what's going to happen to Saejima next episode. What dirty secret does she have to expose? o_o? EPISODE 8 NOW!!
Episode 8
Saejima is fired and she returns today as the next quiz for this episode of todays "The Quiz Show". In this episode we learn that Saejima is the wife of the "chief" and that she is not the actual mother of her daughter. Honma wanted to punish Saejima for using Misaki's death as a way of upping her fame. At the end when Saejima is forced to "reveal her secret" Kamiyama saves her and keeps her secret closed, pissing Honma off a huge amount. Kamiyama is started to get most of his memories back and he is starting to become rebellious.
OMG - ShoxYoko moment are like.. damn. But Kamiyama is becoming rebellious and I felt bad for Saejima. Next episode seems even better - the guest? Kamiyama =D Ah.. only two more episodes left until the shocking conclusion. Also, some hints of Ayaka's character (whom I still cannot for the life of me remember the name of) becoming director soon?
Episode 9
Takatsugi? Whatever, Aya's character is made director of the Quiz Show for this episode. Saejima comes back as producer and... Kamiyama is the guest! Seven questions that tell us so many answers... sort of. We learn so much more about the whole KamiyamaxHonmaxMisaki incident and at the end, we are left with: Kamiyama, Honma and Misaki go on a grad trip to Shinai lake. Kamiyama asks Misaki to be his GF but she says no (cause she likes Honma). Kamiyama says something that pisses Honma off and the next day (Misaki's b-day) the three were supposed to go on a plane trip but Honma (cause he's pissed) doesn't go. The resulting crash happens. Misaki becomes a vegetable and supposedly, Kamiyama is pissed at her so he takes of her oxygen mask and kills her and than tries to commit suicide by jumping off a building and fails. SUPPOSEDLY - but... does that really happen?
..Is it just me or do the episodes of the Quiz Show seem harder and harder to get through? I thought I liked the series but... I don't know. The episodes seem to crawl by so slowly now.. (-_-;;) The ending is just too predictable in my opinion.. I haven't even watched the first series but things like this can be predicted easy (for me at least). Bah, I'll still finish the last episode though ^^
Because this drama is so awesome, I'm going to write actual reviews. Basically I'm just gonna have the episode summaries and than my small comment of the actual episode at the bottom in the large font. Seriously this drama is just too good to not write a review about it.
characters:
Matsumoto Jun : Hayakawa Vito (but I like Bito so I'm going to write Bito =D)
Aragaki Yui : Mishima Hana
Nakai Kiichi - Ito Kazuma
Oguri Shun : Hayashi Seiji
The beginning opens in 2015 with Bito being in jail for an unreason unknown. Then it goes back to 2009. Basically this first episode introduces the characters and of course, starts the storyline off. Hayakawa Bito a half filipino young man works at Machimura Foods with two of his friends, Bull and Kinta and the very warm and loving Machimura family. On part time he works at a bar. Bito meets Hana in a bookstore and than she follows him and applies for a job at Machimura foods, Hana cannot talk. The lawyer Kazuma is also introduced early in the story and is the boss to Shiori, daughter of the owner of Machimura foods. Things seem to be fine until Bito is accused of being a drug dealer of crystal meth. At the end there is a very touching (and a bit tedious...) scene where Bito is unjustly accused and captured to bring into court. You also learn in this episode that Bito used to be part of a gang and the leader was a guy named Hayashi Seiji (played by Oguri Shun) this is really important later it. ^^
A very good opening in my opinion. It introduces all the characters nicely and it's actually a lot more deep and touching. I thought this drama would be very cliche but from the first episode onwards I find I am loving this drama a lot.
What happens in episode 1 continues onto episode 2 where Bito is in court. Because Bito had such a bad name when he was younger (in his teens) police unjustly make up stories and try to frame him. Hana (Aragaki Yui) knowing that Bito is innocent follows the real drug dealer Kondo and hopes to dig out evidence. She manages to find evidence to prove that Kondo is guilty and that Bito is not. Kazuma then enters more into the story now. At the end a news report appears that a school has suffered a bad case of food poisoning. Hana and Bito's relationship started to develop a bit in this episode but than something happens at the end (always the end..) that makes Bito a bit hesitant and distance with Hana. >_<
The second part of this episode was so good. Hana was like a stalker but she's a brave stalker and I commend her for her awesomness. The HanaBito scenes are just so cute and I seriously love these scenes so much. Ah.. can't wait for episode 3.
In the beginning no one knows how the food poisoning happened and the beginning mostly details into a bit about Kazuma and Bito and sort of develops their relationship a bit more. There is more descrimination against Bito (that seriously make smy blood boil) and we get to see a hint of something that may have happened in Kazuma's past. He seems to have this complex about things being "pure Japanese". There is also some developement with Hana and Bito and Hana tries to win Bito's heart (and she does such a good job, I want to hug Hana so bad, she's so cute). Then near the end we realize that it's apparently Machimura foods that is the source of the food poisoning and this problem will continue onto the later episodes. Also in this episode we get to see a bit more of Hayashi Seiji and how much of a bad-ass he is. At the very end, Hana faints for some unknown reason, seemingly in pain. As well, in 2015 we get a small scene where Bito asks "Hana would've been much more happy if she hadn't met me" which makes me think something very bad happened to her. Did she die? o_o Did BITO kill her?
I'm loving this series more and more. The scenes between Hana and Bito are so much love and they're so cute together and than the more serious issues about Bito being a half filipino really makes me hurt inside for some reason. Also at the end when things start becoming serious, this drama is really like an emotional rollar coaster ride. It's a drama with such a misleading name "Smile" Hah. Underneath the "happy" is a very dark and depressing undertone.
Bito and Hana's relationship is a bit strained in the beginning due to that guy... who I forgot the name off. Hana's guy-friend and so Machimura mama+papa tell Hana to be more assertive. They also attempt to get the two together on a "shopping trip". Hana faints though when a bunch of reporters come swarming towards her and she is sent to the hospital. Hayashi Seiji (who was released from prison a earlier) spots Bito on TV and decides to give his little friend a surprise visit at the end of the episode. Meanwhile when Bito is at the hospital with Hana he reads a letter which Hana had previously given to him. We see some more hints of Kazuma's own personal problems and Machimura continues getting into more and more trouble. Also we learn about Hana's past and why she lost her voice in this episode. As much as I'd like to continue summarizing, all I can say is, we really hit some deep points in this episode about one of the many themes in this story.
Okay first of all. Shun is crazy hot *laughs* Hana and Bito continue to make me squeal and aww at their cuteness (okay, it's mostly just Hana but whatever) and when Bito was talking with Kazuma when they were drinking I could feel myself tearing because it was just so sad what happened to Hana. Next episode will again follow the trend of "happy and sad" but... I SHUN!! YAY!! ^^
Things just keep getting worse and worse don't they? Shun as always is just.. my god, I love Shun. He is just so bad-ass and the JunxShun moments are so much love. The ending was a shock and I teared up because .. oh god and reporters are total asses. And with that, episode 6 =D
Okay first off. Jun, wet hair, HOT! Seiji is a creeper who stalks girls (o_o) but holy crap Shuni s a great actor. Jun... he cries a lot and... it's a bit of a turn off. I hate watching Jun cry because.. not that he's bad persay but he's not that great either. Lots of begging ensues in this episode as well. BitoxKintaxBull moments are HELLA cute, especially when Hana asks Bito out (YOU GO GIRL!!). Overall, not a bad episode, but it's obviously the beginning of a new and final arc of this drama. (by ze vay... WHAT DID BITO DO TO LAND IN JAIL AND NOT WANT TO SEE HANA?!)
Starring: Ninomiya Kazunari
2009 Drama SP
Alright, to the actual story. Nino plays a 22-year-old with Cerebral Palsy, a disease in the brain that mostly affects someones body but also impairs Nino's character's speech. Nino's name in this drama is Hide. His goal in life is to become the top selling salesmen just like his dad, so he gets a job as a door to door salesmen even though he has a disability that effects his phyiscal appearance and his ability to speak. Whether he becomes succesful is up to you to find out. (although I'm probably going to spoil the ending later on anyways -_-'')
Again. Nino's acting? Marvelous, brilliant. So believable it's not even funny. I was so affected at seeing him act like he had a disease, I mean.. just watching him was undescribably disturbing. I mean, obviously I got used to it seeing as how I finished the drama but for the first 5 minutes I was just so.. freaked out. I mean, normally you know that an actor is acting but I don't know. I knew he was acting but at the same time, it was actually a physical problem which just made everything more see-able and thus I guess more believable for me?
I found it amusing that they needed subtitles whenever Nino spoke though. =P *giggles*
And Nino looks so good with the girl (whom I forgot the actor of) but seriously, Nino and her look so cute together. I seriously wish they got together in the end. I found the end kind of sad but I guess it was almost to be expected? I mean, it didn't come as a great shock and I didn't cry bucket-loads. This drama didn't really give off the "feel-good" feeling as Marathon but you know, I still enjoyed it a lot. Maybe not a favourite but it was definitely good and enjoyable.
Again, applaud Nino's brilliant acting skills and I hope he never has to do anymore disability dramas ever again. -_-''
Overal mark: 5/5
It's easier to update a drama review as episodes come out. I'm really liking Uta no Onii-san starring, Arashi's own Riida - Ohno Satoshi and some guy from Kanjani 8 who I constantly can't remember the name off.
Director Manabe (Kimura Yoshino): I like her. She's funny, interesting, you know. I just like her and her personality the way she is portrayed as a character. How sadistic she is and how much she bullies Kenta. She's an admirable woman. Working hard and what-not and you can tell she really liked the show. She really helped Kenta along and then towards the end, Kenta helped pull her along. ^^
Ayane (???): In the beginning I liked Kenta's girlfriend, I really wanted them to be together. After a while, I hated her. She was annoying. At first it was because she dumped Ohno but then was like.. semi-stalking him and crying over him and then it was because she was "weak" if you will. As the episodes went by I wanted to tell her to "grow-up" be like Kenta and just face your problems. By the end, well.. yeah, my opinion of her turned into nothing. She was just another character.
Saito Mamoru (Maruyama Ryuhei): ...He's in Kanjani? ..uh.. Never noticed him. But I like him. He's sort of cute in the "I want to squish your cheeks" sort of way ^^ As a character, he's not bad. His acting wasn't all that bad, he sure did the whiny voice down to the tee. (I hope that's not his natural voice o_o) and his all smiles and whatever. You know, yeah, I like him.
Singing Sister (Katase Nana): I think I have a song of her's, from Hikaru no Go or something. I don't know. Interesting enough character. I sort of like her, I mean.. she exagerates a lot but not enough to piss me off. I actually like her. She's amusing. ^^ Like. She exaggerates, but, you know.. she's friendly and overall quite nice. =D
Prince guy (???): I swear I've seen this guy somewhere. Was he that guy in Hana Kimi? That "Oscar" dude? Cause he seems like it. You know at the beginnig when girls sqealed at him as he got out of the car.. are they blind? You have Ohno Satoshi standing right there and you go for the retard? Ohno looks sooo much better than him >_> Girls are squealing for the wrong man. His random occurances are sort of "eh" and I don't know. My opinion of him is sort of "whatever".
Anzai (???): The main antagonist to this simple drama. At first, I sort of liked him, but then eventually, as he falls into the role of main antagonist, I obviously ended up disliking him. Manipulative bastard he is >_> But towards the end it's like "blah" you know, whatever, you were a bastard during episode 7 and in episode 8 you are now, yet again, just another character.
MIchiru (???): At first I was wondering who she was, and then I thought she was a nice girl but in Episode 4 she pissed me off a hell lot. But she redeemed herself in the end ^^ Although. I wonder why does she wear so much Makeup ... like.. really. (-_-;;)
things in brackets are not the title of the episode :)
I laughed in this episode. The beginning was funny. "Yabai yo~! Yabai yo~!" Ohno is love. You see him looking totally awesome as a rocker and then the "EHHH?!". It was amusing., a good into to all the characters and it gives you the right amount of "something is going on" feeling to get you interesting and waiting for the next episode. I seriously think the exaggerated facial expressions are <3, and I want to see Ohno in a monkey suit again! He looked so HUGGABLE!! *Squee!!* But seriously, first episode was a good intro to the characters, to the story and... it makes you want to watch episode 2 just to find out who that weird little girl is, why Ohno was hired etc. etc. It's a good grabbing episode in my opinion (^_^)
Episode 2 (Kenta's Problem gets better)
Another good episode =D I like it just as much as the first and find myself praying it's going to be Friday so I can watch episode three. (^_^). Basically this episode is centered around "Uta no Onii-san" - Live Broadcast, and what happens leading up to it. Shows Kenta being a bit more obedient even if he doesn't agree with what he is doing and at the end Ohno gets to sing. Watching Ohno with kids makes me smile and go "aww...." it's so sweet. I really hope Kenta and Ayane get together in the end... and at the end when Ohno is singing... I think he's more suited to ballads than kids songs (^^;;)
Episode 3 (Kenta's Relationship Problem)
Prince Himuro gets kicked of the program, the princess takes over and Kenta is being mopey and just down-right depressing as always. He gets scolded. He sees "Giselle" and get's even more depressed. He thinks about quitting. He does. His girlfriend talks to him, breaks his heart even more and then Kenta returns to his job while his GF breaks down and cries. You can tell I'm sort of getting bored of this repetitivness. Sort of. The episode was interesting enough, but if this continues on for another episode.. um.. it's a bit stretching the faith of the watchers. The girlfriend, Ayane, is really starting to piss me off now. Like. She says Kenta doesn't have a dream and then is like "Thanks for making your dream mine" and I'm just like WTF! You keep saying Kenta doesn't have a dream and he DOES! It's EXACTLY THE SAME AS YOURS! (-_-;;) Maybe I'm not understanding something... *sigh*
Episode 4 (Michiru's Problem)
Valentine's Day episode! The little girl (Michiru) pissed me off a lot in this episode, I don't care if it was for the plot, she still pissed me off being all spoiled and blah. I guess, the entire episode has this "sweet" sort of feeling to it. I mean, it's about Valentine's day so what should I expect right? I totally died when I Kenta was with Michiru at Daigo's house cause Ohno looked like her dad and I was just like "OMG DADDY OHNO!" It was so awesome. Haha. Oh my god though, Manabe-san loves someone? If it's Kenta, I'll shoot myself (-_-'') I have to admit though, this episode was funny ^^
Episode 5 (Urara's Problem)
I liked this episode. A lot. At first I thought it would be annoying and just centered around "Urara" and her life-story and blah, but it wasn't. It actually turned out to be a pretty good episode. Starting out with Kenta's sister going to an Omiai(?) - arranged wedding and then a short tangent on people mistaking Kenta and Urara as a couple. Zoom forward to Kenta realizing his father is under debt.... I could feel the tears coming when Kenta and his dad were fighting, but ... the tension sort of died when his sister started crying. (-_-;;) Her crying was so fake and terrible that it just killed the tension of the scene. Anyways. Won't say how this episode ends, but I will say this, Ohno's singing was much better this episode as well. (^^) I liked it. It was sweet. And LOL at the questions being asked to them 'How many eyes does a storm have?" - ONE! ONE! GO TO SCHOOL PEOPLE! Next episode looks pretty interesting. I'm still sort of lost at what's going to happen between KentaxAyane, but we'll just see how that turns out in the next three episodes ne? ^^
Episode 6 (Mamoru's Problems)
The episode in which Mamoru faces problems. He gets all depressed cause Kenta's so popular. Suck it up kid. Nah, it's not as bad as I thought it would be, I thought I would more pissed off at Mamoru but I wasn't. I guess I can sort of understand where he's coming from but his angst/depression whatever wasn't so.. exaggerated, strong. blah. You know. Get more insight in Giselle and whatever is going on with them (that i still don't get) and you finally hit an actual problem in the story. Guess what it is? Uta no Oniisan will stop airing in March =O *gasp* You get intro'd to this problem at the end though. Yes, that is basically the episode. Oh. I love it when Manabe-san keeps appearing and Kenta's like "WTF WHY ARE YOU HERE?" and she's all like "himitsu" and you know what? I love any scene with Manabe-san and Kenta. And omg, Kenta and Mamoru in teddy-bear suits at the end. OMG HUG HUG HUG! I totally just wanted to squish the both of them. and then Kenta comforts Mamoru and it's so cute. *squeals* Right-O can't wait for next episode with SAKURAI SHO
Episode 7 (The 'Big' Problem)
So, everyone in the staff realizes that Minna de Utao will be ending and Manabae goes through a lot of shit and everyone's feeling pissed cause you know they all love that show and don't want to part from it. Ayane goes missing cause she can't deal with Anzai (evil directors) manipulative-ness and the other two guys ask Kenta for help. Ending of the episode is a bit sad with all the dramatics and Manabe trying her best for the show's end and everyone being sad that the show is going to ened. Sho's appearance at the beginning = <3. I like the flow of this show and this episode in general. I mean, it started out happy but then ended up so.. sad but it didn't feel rush or anything. ^^ Next episode doesn't look too bad though...
Episode 8 (The Finale)
The beginning was sort of "eh.." in the sense that... even though the show was ending and indeed did end, it felt all very anti-climatic but towards the middle/half-way mark things picked up a bit, especially after Kenta dragged everyone back to the studio and asked for a concert. I thought it was great seeing how much he has changed as a person and when he rejected Ayane's offer of returning back to Giselle and what not, it really just sort of ... moves you? (not exactly but... you feel something). And then during the live, Kenta's speech was just, that was moving. I hope it's true as well, that the times will change as my generation grows older. ^^ Can I just say? Everytime Kenta
The drama basically focuses on never giving up, making excuses and growing up. Become more mature and face your problems, don't run away like Kenta did at the beginning and be half-assed about whatever you're doing. Stuff like that and it works. It addresses more modern changes, such as the financial crisis and what-not as Kenta always says "this generation" and it's something I like because it's true. Even if my generation was born into such a shitty time I don't want to grow up and watch everything crash and burn. In fact, I'm worried that's going to happen, we do have to grow up and.. you know. Grow up. Change.
It's a sweet, simple-ish drama that will make people smile (in my opinion). It might not fit every drama-watchers palet, especially those people that like "serious" dramas (I am not one of those people) but I think in the end, if you're looking for a brainless, simple just damn right happy drama watch this. Even the ending is very "aww..." and that is the main reason I liked it. It was simple, it wasn't too dramatic. It wasn't over-done, it just... was and I like dramas like that. It also didn't try too hard to be funny which was good. ^^
overall mark: 5/5 =D (yeah, I really liked Uta no Onii-san xD)
Starring: Ninomiya Kazunari
2007 Drama SP
Let's get straight to the point shall I? I. Love. This. So. Much.
If you want some hard evidence that Nino is a brilliant actor please watch this because I was literally blown away at Nino's brilliant acting as an autistic person. I didn't even see him as Ninomiya Kazunari, idol, singer, actor, I saw him as Shotar the autistic boy who loves to run. Sometimes I seriously just wanted to hug Shotaro because he was so adorable.
It really is a touching story, I felt really moved at the end and I just felt so happy and content. If you're an emotional person (which I am not) you might cry just from the sheer happiness of it all. You watch as Shotaro runs, at first you think it's for his mother but then you realize that he really does love to run. Although Shotaro can't express his feelings through words, you realize that in the end he runs the marathon because he wants to. Because he enjoys it.
Relentlessly practicing.
Getting blisters on his feet.
Running until he cramps so bad he can't move.
and then going to the finish line.
2 hours 59 minutes 16 seconds.
I always read about how Nino's acting his better than Jun's and I never really knew what to think because I haven't watched many of Nino's dramas before, but after watching this? I am ready to completely agree. Nino is a brilliant actor. Now, I will go on a Nino-drama watching spree. (^^)
Rating - 5/5 (cause it was just that good in my opinion)
starring: Ninomiya Kazunari
March 2006
It's a true story.
I'm not very affected by things like these, people dying from diseases and what not. (Although the last two episodes of 1 litre of tears did make a waterfall run) but this wasn't so bad. I think that if I wasn't so attached to Nino/Arashi I wouldn't have been so affected at the end. Which makes me say, I didn't actually cry. Tears appeared, but only one or two came out of my eye. It was still a very touching episode though, I enjoyed it very much.
What really got to me was the boys name. Kazunori.... could you get any closer to Kazunari? Like really (-_-;;). And watching Nino slowly die for 6 minutes really killed. The entire time I thought I was going to start sobbing but I didn't miraculously. By the time the tears were threatening to fall, the elder brother killed the atmosphere. When the elder brother came home 1 month after Kazu died, and he started sobbing so dramatically, I was like "DAMN IT YOU KILLED THE MOOD!!!" because he did. His crying was just so dramatic and bad and.. ugh.
But I did nearly cry at the very end when the mother was taking grad pictures. I sat there, on my chair for like.. 5 minutes without moving after the SP ended cause... I just couldn't move. I was just speechless I guess.
To an actual review, it's very good. Nino's acting was very good. The character Kazu really moved me. He was fighting cancer but he got into University and even when he was going through all that pain. And at the end, I felt so sorry for him. He looked so.. pitiful lying on that bed, and I was so moved and all he did was think about his parents and his brother. It's a very touching story. I really think it's something all Arashi/Nino fans should watch if you haven't already, even if you aren't a fan, it's still a touching story to watch.
I'm not being biased here, I really think that even if I didn't like Nino I would still watch this because it was enjoyable. It wasn't slow and draggy, I was actually surprised when I realized I had already gone through 1 hour of it.
The slowest part was really, probably the 6 minutes in which Kazu was slowly, slowly dying. Such a long, painful 6 minutes. *sniffles*
Rating - 4/5
It didn't bring me to tears xD - Now, off to watch Marathon!
Well.. Originally I thought this blog would only be for fangirling Arashi - but I guess not. =P I'm currently watching Tiger and Dragon starring Okada Junichi and Nagase Tomoya from V6/TOKIO respectively and I'm seriously loving it so much. The scriptwriter is Kudo Kankero-san (same as the one for RnK) so maybe there is a pattern? Anyways, Review... start-o! (Will update as I finish each Episode ^_^)
Oh for the characters... I only listed the ones I actually had stuff to stay about xD Really the main characters are only Tora, Ryu and probably Shishou
Toraji/Kotora/Tora (Nagase Tomoya): The first drama I've seen with Nagase and I'm seriously loving him to bits. He is so perfect for the role of Tora, it's like the character was written for him. When I watch, I don't even see him as "Nagase" the guy from TOKIO but I actually see him as just... Tora. I love Tora, he's just so... funny xD Nagase plays a pretty bad-ass character.
Ryuji (Okada Junichi): I tried watching Kisarazu Cats Eye but honestly.. I wasn't all that interested in it. (Blasphemy for an Arashi-fan ne?) but I did enjoy Okada's acting in it so I was always semi-interested in him. Watching Tiger and Dragon.. i love Okada. He is just... so funny =P He plays Ryuji so well. Ryuji as a character... he's.. pretty deep but he is so funny. I love scenes with Ryuji and Megumi cause it's just so funny. Also, who can forget Ryuji's weird.. fashion... (o_o;;)
Shishou (Nishida Toshiyuki): Shishou! I forgot his actual name cause Tora always calls him Shishou but I really like this guy. I don't actually know the actor but... I think he plays the character very well. I don't know why I like him so much, but.. he's sort of like an ideal sort of weird grandfather ne? (I know I'm weird xD) But his scenes with Tora are pretty funny/interesting and overall he is quite an interesting character, in a more funny aspect.
Megumi (Ito Masaki): Normally I hate characters like these. The ditzy sort of kind, but I don't know. I like Megumi a lot. She's just hilarious, how she's so self-absorbed. It's probably because of the actor. She plays Megumi as a ditz so well it's almost endearing in a way. The way she treats Ryuji. Sometimes though she can say the deepest stuff and then in seconds it's like.. back to being the idiot. I just find scenes with her interesting and always entertaining.
Chibi T/Takeshi (Kiritani Kenta): Okay, seriously when I saw this guy I screamed cause I was like "YES TAKAYAMA!!" Kiritani Kenta does comedy so well in my opinion. You see him very little but just the fact that he appears on the screen makes me grin like an idiot xD I have to admit though, Kenta doesn't look half bad as Takeshi. He's a very side-character but I couldn't not mention the infamous actor for Takayama of RnK desho?
Ta-Chan (Omi Toshinori): In RnK this guy is George-san! I really like this guy on both dramas. As Ta-chan he's funny, and you see him more than George-san but he's still interesting. You actually see him each episode and he is just amusing. Again, he was just one of the people I had to mention because of his link with RnK
Plot/Story:
Eh... it's sort of hard to explain the episodes of Tiger and Dragon but I'll try my best (-_-'')
Episode Two (Manju Kowai): This episode centers around Donta (Ryuji's elder brother) and is mostly about him. You learn more about him, his work (as a horrible comedian) and what-not. I think I should say here that each episode is pretty... episodic as in they do not link together. This episode was a bit weird, especially Tora's re-telling. You'll understand when you see but the shrieking girl at the end going "I HATE YOU I HATE YOU!" really got on my nerves... (-_-;;)
Episode Three (Cha no Yu): This story centers around Okada's character Ryuji and you really learn a lot more about Ryuji, such as his personality and how he feels about his work and what not. What I thought best about this episode was the end where Tora threatens... the famous designer guy, or more like "teaches him a lesson" for playing Ryu around and it was sort of sweet because it was like... "aww.. Tora really cares" and it sort of shows how great of friends they've become.
Episode Four (Gonsuke Chochin): This episode centers around Shishou and the Yakuza boss (whom I forgot the name off). In the SP you learn that Shishou has a debt with the Yakuza boss (who is his golfing partner) but you are never really told in detail why they have such a relationship and in this episode you learn they were high school friends and it just goes into more detail on their past - and of course - their present.
Episode Five (Umaya Kaji): This episode... is about a comedy duo from Kansai. And.. it was a bit confusing at first. It's... sort of hard to explain this episode. Um. This comedic duo (which is family friends of shishou or something) are having problems .. and the rakugo story explains how to make sure the husband loves his wife. As I said, hard to explain. I tried... really. Oh but the husband is (I think) Katsuragi from Kurosagi.
Episode Six (Akegarasu): This episode is about Hayashiyatei Donkichi, a (I'm assuming) 40-year-old Virgin (LOL) and centers are the Rakugo family-members trying ot get him a girl. It's really sweet and guess what? The girl that Donkishi meets, she's from Kurosagi. I think she's that money-rubbing woman if I remember correctly. Creepy (o_o;;) Oh I think she's in RnK to, the first lady that cons Shizuna? But I'm not so sure =P (Got off topic) But really that's the episode in a nut-shell. Oh. And Tora tries to make Ginjiro (Yakuza boss's son) independant. Could this be a important plot-point for the future?
Episode Seven
Episode Eight
Episode Nine
Episode Ten
Episode Eleven
I didn't do this for Maou (and maybe I should...?) but I want to write a full report on the drama Ryuusei no Kizuna Arashi's own Ninomiya Kazunari. This is really going to be a full summary starting from my reviews on the character, to the plot and I'll go episode by episode. After all, if I'm going to write a review I don't really want to be half-assed about it. So, if you're willing, have fun reading this (probably very long) review. douzo!
Ariake Taisuke (Nishikido Ryo): I've always liked Ryo. Don't ask why, I just sort of did. I've only seen him in One Litre of Tears (and I only watched 3 episodes) so in acting, he never really left much of an impression on me, but I must say, he acted out Taisuke very well. I like Taisuke's character a lot (^_^) He acted the dork, and caring older "brother" very well. Also the swindling scenes were awesome, especially the one when Taisuke had to act like some sort of hip-hop gangster sort of guy. I don't really have much memory of Ryo's acting in 1LoT but... from what I saw in RnK... he's pretty awesome.
Ariake Shizuna (Toda Erika): I've been a bit biased against Erika Toda ever since I watched HanaDan Returns where she tried to tear
Togami Yukinari (Kaname Jun): I've never heard of this guy. And honestly, in the beginning, Yukinari sort of... pissed me off. Towards the end.. I'm a bit apathetic towards him, like, I'll remember him but it's only because he's a sort of vital character. Nothing against the actor, I don't really know who Kaname Jun is anyways but Yukinari just... seemed.. he wasn't a very interesting character in my opinion. But I liked him enough, he had his interesting scenes (pole hugging anyone? =P) but.. yeah. Great acting though. (I tried to redeem myself!)
Hayashi George (Omi Toshinori): George-san! Awesome. Wonderful. Perfect =D I like this actor in Tiger and Dragon to. (^_^) Although George is only a side-character I really enjoyed him mostly just because he was funny and his background reactions to things were so over-exaggerated. The actor does this sort of stuff really well. I was really happy that George appeared in the last episode (even if apparently he wasn't...?)
Hagimura Shinji (Shitara Osamu): Er.. he was... sort of annoying in the beginning. Like. During the drinking scenes with Kashiwabara. I've seen him on VS Arashi - he's the bananaman dude right? Um. Yeah. Hagi-san... he's... alright? Didn't really leave an impression on me.
Togami Masayuki (Emoto Akira): Again, not much of a real impression. I ... really don't have anything to say about him actually (^^;;)
Kashiwabara Yasutaka (Miura Tomokazu): Ah... sneaky, evil, detective. >_> He hurt
Takayama Hisanbou (Kiritani Kenta): I... LOVE THIS GUY! Hilarious, everything about him. He's also in Tiger and Dragon. Really, Kiritani Kenta... wonderful actor. His exaggerated expressions and narrations and what not. Seriously in the last episode I was SO happy to see him. Just... every scene with him is hilarious. At first I didn't get what was so special, but as the Takayama scenes continued I fell more and more in love with his character and of course, Kenta's awesome exaggerated acting skills xD
Sagi (Nakashima Mika): I didn't really get the point of Sagi, but does that mean I dislike her? No. In fact I lke Sagi's character a lot, just because she's interesting and I found her interesting to watch. She made me smile and laugh honestly. The last scene in the last episode with her makes me smile, I really wish they actually showed a definite scene with KoichixSagi as a couple just cause, it'd be interesting and I really want it to happen xD
The opening. Hilarious. I love this episode. It starts out quite seriously of course, I mean with the murder of two people but... then, it spirals off into just ... complete hilarity. What with the whole "Post-It's?!" and then "CONDOMS!!" , I re-watched this episode... about 3 times the week it came out. To novel-fans they might not like it because.. hey, you'd expect a right out "suspense, suspense suspense" like Maou right? But with this first episode it wasn't like that at all and in a way I'm glad. This swindling scene was pretty sweet and creative, if not a bit weird as well.
Episode 2
Start off with the three siblings wanting to scam Takayama and then we head off deeper into "solving the case". The chidlren scenes were so sweet and touching, and.. *sigh*. When lilKoichi was tell lilShizuna that their parents were dead, it was just like.. "aww.. you poor things..." the children, I must add, are pretty good actors ne? In this episode we are also introduced to Togami Yukinari, scenes with him were interesting and pretty funny, even if (IMO) his character a bit annoying. By the end, the "scamming Takayama" scenerio has started, get ready for a lot of laughs.
Episode 3
A start of with the continuation of Takayama. We get to laugh hard at his delusions and what not and it's over (not), then we move back into "solving the case". We learn a bit more about Koichi's parents, their debts and what not and Shizuna gets depressed cause she didn't realize her parents were gamblers and that their family had so many money problems. The children scene in this episode is the best. It's really really wonderful, how they mix in the kids and the adults. You really had to see for yourself to understand, first you have lilKoichi comforting lilShizuna and then it just suddenly changes to Koichi and Shizuna and... oh.. I loved it. By the end of this episode the plan to scam Yukinari has started and we also get a glimpse of Yukinari's dad, Togami Masayuki. If you're observant, you'll realize.. he looks a bit familiar ne?
Episode 4
We start off again with the continuation of trying to scam Yukinari and it's all pretty nice but once you've seen Takayama, nothing adds up to that. Sagi finally says some lines and helps Koichi out with this scam, in which you are hinted that SagixKoichi will come up (even if you have to squint to see it). At this point, the three siblings are pretending that they don't contact each other so Koichi sees Kashiwabara and they have a chat about Shizuna. We continue on a childhood friend of Shizuna wants the three siblings to scam someone she's having an affair with and they agree, so we cut to a very small swindling scene, which isn't all that interesting. Then we reach the end, Shizuna is at Togami-tei trying their Hayashi Rice and what's this? She cries because the taste it so familiar and then *duhduhduh...* - Taisuke recognizes Togami Masayuki as the "killer"! -end
Episode 5
The three siblings discuss about Togami Masayuki and Koichi goes to try out the famous "Hayashi Rice" itself to see if it's the same. Takayama comes back for the final scene (again not) and Shizuna and Yukinari's relationship just keeps moving on forward. Koichi and Taisuke need to find some evidence that Masayuki is the killer and they discuss that where as Shizuna finds herself pooring out a story about why she cried while eating the hayashi rice. Oh also, Kashiwabara starts getting closer to Taisuke (this is significant to the plot =D) and Yukinari mentions Shizuna's story about the "familiar Hayashi Rice she had as a kid" , look at Masayuki's face, he looks uncomfortable ne? highly suspicious!! Oh and even more suspense, at the very end, Shizuna's biological dad's wife walks in and tells Koichi that her husband is the killer! WHAT?!
Episode 6
We start of with Shizuna's dad's wife telling Koichi why her husband is the killer but at the same time, Shizuna's dad tells Kashiwabara why he isn't the killer and we realize that Masayuki is definitly suspect #1. Shizuna tries very hard to hint to Yukinari that his dads Hayashi rice isn't his, but the guy totally doesn't get it. Koichi and Taisuke continue struggling to find a way to find hard proof that Masayuki is the killer. Yukinari is told he is not allowed to re-create his dad's Hayashi Rice so he tries to make his own, using Shii as a test subject and waiting for her to cry.. in Koichi's kitchen. (hilarity ensues) and... halfway through this episode, Shizuna learns that she is not actually related to Koichi and Taisuke. It's also here that we realize that both of them probably harbour a bit more than brotherly feelings for Shizuna. Shizuna gets all depressed and finds herself pouring out her story (although a bit changed) to Yukinari. By the end though, Shizuna gets over the whole "shock", we learn a bit more about Koichi's dad and his relationship with Togami Masayuki (ie - why Togami would kill daddy Ariake) and then a plan arrives in Koichi's head as to how to frame Masayuki and show that he is the killer.
Episode 7
The entire episode is basically putting down fake evidence so the cops will be lead to Togami Masayuki and the development of Shizuna and Yukinari's relationship. Koichi tells Shizuna that she's off to Canada, but before she goes she kisses him *gasp* - oh no! She fell in love (although she vehemently denies it). We see a bit more of Sagi in here with her crazy driving skills which = awesome. At the end, the final part fo Koichi's plan to drive Masayuki into jail is told and Koichi wants Shizuna to go to Yukinari's house and plant the Ariake recipe book somewhere. How will Shizuna do this?! (o_o)
Episode 8
The cops close in on Togami Masayuki and start investigating him, entering his house and what-not and Yukinari is all depressed and is gushing to Koichi (which he does a lot, I just don't mention it) and then suddenly - eh? Didn't Koichi say his parents were killed and he lived in Yokosuka? Yukinari makes a connection, but
Episode 9
If you thought that Yukinari taking out the recipe book was bad. It gets worse. Takayama recognizes Shizuna and confusion ensues. Yukinari takes care of it swiftly and quickly and then proceeds to "interogate" Shizuna although it all ends pretty fast as she pours everything out and Yukinari is like "zomgwtf maji ka?" while Koichi and Taisuke can just wait. Later Koichi angsts at what is going to happen and then he has a meeting with Kashiwabara to ask for help to stop Masayuki and then he meets Yukinari and reveals himself as Ariake Koichi and tells him everything. Yukinari, surprisingly, agrees to work with Koichi to bring his father out (good) and Koichi starts "acting" for the first time *yay* Everything comes down... we've got Masayuki cornered and then... - wait what? Masayuki isn't the killer? LIES!! (watch someones reaction when this is said *winks*)
Episode 10
Final Episode. Dramatic Episode. Touching Episode. Loved it. We finally learn who the real killer is. Kashiwabara. The entire episode is basically just to explain why and what happens later. Kashiwabara killed the Ariake parents for money for his sons surgery. Lots of tears and confessing and in the end, Kashiwabara is allowed to live (torture cause he wanted to kill himself but Koichi wouldn't allow it). After all this, Koichi confesses himself as a swindler and goes to jail for two years while Taisuke had to do some community service or something. Shizuna was let of easy thanks to her brothers and Yukinari (they become engaged =D). Oh, and might I add we get a very, final scene with Takayama in which I laughed incredibaly hard at just because I was glad to see him again, one last time? xD Hilarious, love this guy. The very, very end shows a sweet scene of the re-opening of Ariake with Koichi as the head chef, with Shizuna and Sagi (aww...) working as waitresses.
ORION - Nakashima Mika: At first.. I was very apathetic to this song but like any other song in a drama or anime, once you are forced to hear it every episode, you fall in love with it, or at least grow to like it. For me, it was the first case, I seriously love this song now and listen to it all the time. It's such a lovely song *hugs* Nakashima Mika is a very awesome singer and the parts where they inserted this song fit very well. I especially loved that scene in the drama where Sagi herself was singing the song cause it was just sweet.
I watched it, Ao no Honou (The Blue Flame). Truthfully I actually don't like watching many of Nino's dramas because they are.. to serious in my opinion. (Yamada Taro Monogatari was COMPLETELY fine). It's definitely NOT because he is a bad actor - from the few works I've seen I can say he is an incredible actor. I don't mind watching stuff like Yamada Tarou but anything more... serious then that I sort of shy away from.
My reason for watching Ao no Honou is actually because I read comments that said Nino turned into a physochotic killer xD I have to admit I was intrigued... although it's not completely true, I am glad and not glad after watching it. Many said that it made them depressed at the end for various reasons... I too became depressed but... not for any particular reason. The thing about the movie Ao no Honou is that at the end... it just GIVES you a depressed feeling. I'm not joking. After finishing I realized... I was feeling quite... down, not extremeley depressed persay - but I definitly wasn't happy. There was no particular reason for my depression it's just... the feeling at the end, the way it ended, everything leading up to the last minute. You just... feel sad. It's sort of complicated xD.
I enjoyed the movie, I've never seen Nino like that. Yelling, angry... the scene with him holding a bat about to hit his dad was wonderful. I have to admit I was sort of... afraid of Nino at that moment. Jun might've played a violent Domyouji but I was never afraid.. watching Nino in that scene honestly... it terrified me a bit.
It's a good movie to watch, honestly, if you're a fan of Nino or Arashi I seriously reccomend watching it because Nino does an EXCELLENT job - also it's his first role with Suzuki Anne. =P
The story is very straight forward. Nino plays a teenage boy (I think the last name is Kushinori? Don't remember, gomen ^^'') who's alcoholic abusive step-father returns home and starts... well.. causing bad stuff. After his step-father harasses his little step-sister (Suzuki Anne), Nino takes it into his own hands to get rid of his step-father and hatches a murder plan. The boy Nino plays is very interesting, at the beginning I noticed he was... a bit un-stable already, but by the end of the movie you could sort of see (if you think about it) that Nino's character wasn't very ... his wasn't mentally stable by the end of it. (not like he's a retard but... how should I say... ). It's hard to explain. You'll understand if you watch the movie and I really hope you do because I really enjoyed it ^_^
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