Image-heavy, by Choice.

[dvampyrlestat]

Doggone it. There's a reason why LJ-cuts exist. 

I hate spoilers. 

I'm just sayin'.

Pimping time!!!

Click images to enlarge. Hig-def, people!


Maou Episode 3, 1280x720, hardsubs now OUT!! Get it while it's smokin' hot!



I never knew much about TOKIO. So funny. En-sensei, go on with your TOKIO-spree, and Sarah-chan, continue feeding our En-sensei, 'kay?

I already watched KOIZORA (the film). Yes. I know. You've seen it. Everybody's seen it. I had to follow a system. My downloading system. No bypassing, 'aight?

In a nutshell: Shy and innocent Mika catches the eye of seemingly-delinquent Hiro. Soon they become an item at school, and what follows is a story of a young and (bitter)sweet love.

This film is more than 2 hours long, if I'm not mistaken. It boasts of a gorgeous cast. Aragaki Yui. Miura Haruma. These two leads alone light up the screen. 

I've never seen Aragaki Yui before this, except for the first two episodes of Code Blue. And I don't like her much there, neither her character nor her portrayal. Is it just me, or does anyone else find her in that drama a tad lifeless? Maybe that's how her character was written?

But I digress.

This film is told entirely from her point of view, so she's in almost every scene. She IS in every scene. She starts out as this sweet and wide-eyed girl, both charming and easily charmed. Her character's growth is to be noted, though as we watch her become a woman, influenced by the incidents and rollercoaster ride that her relationship with Hiro brought her.



Hiro, on the other hand, is your typical bad-boy-tamed-by-good-girl. Everyone loves that concept. Although, except for the bleached hair, Hiro never really struck me as a delinquent. In fact, he was quite straight-laced when it came to handling his relationship with Mika.



Something is to be said about their chemistry. They look good together, and onscreen, they crackle. Miura Haruma can be thoroughly charming when he chooses to, and be intense when the scenes asked for it. This guy has presence.



I had a problem, mainly, with the storytelling. The premise is not anything new; it has been rehashed many times before in various dramas or teen flicks. Koizora, however, attempted to take a step above that convention, and injected some serious themes. Like rape, marital problems, pre-marital sex and pregnancy, and miscarriage.

I think that's where it faltered. During the first act of the film, with these impressionable young lovers peppering the scenes with their cute togetherness, one gets the vague feeling that no happy ending could come out of this. Which is ok, I guess. After all, as I've said, this storyline's been used and reused many times before.

It suddenly felt saturated, with the introduction of those serious themes. They seemed to feel the need to pile on every element that could only spell nothing but "tragic love story." However, piling on too much caused most of the story arcs to feel rushed (hence, unexplored). It was like, ok, let's tackle the rape issue, the parents' divorce, deal with it, then move on to the next arc.

When I saw Hiro years later wearing a bonnet, I was rolling my eyes like crazy. Ok. Pile it on. Pile it all on.

But don't get me wrong. It was still an enjoyable watch. Romantic, too. The setting, the shots, the cinematography...The performances were more than passable. Koide Keisuke as the selfless fiance stole some of the scenes, and as I said, the chemistry of the leads was noteworthy.

I'm actually intrigued by the Koizora drama. Maybe I'll watch it when it is subbed, just to see if the saturation in the film would be worked out now that they are given more than 2 hours to thresh out the story.

Funny, I was wondering at first where I've seen Miura. Then I remembered. In the drama 14 sai no haha, he impregnated the 14 year old lead. He does the same thing here. Way to go. Lolz.

Just because. *sigh*

This time, 8th month-old Yuuto-kun gets the (mis)fortune of having Aiba and Nino as his minders. (Oh, yeah, Aiba finally gets his cert. He's oneproud childminder.)



Oh wait! Before that!



Red. This time, it is red, people. At SCP, it was yellow. Next time, I've a feeling it'll be green. And he'll let us peek at it yet again.



Aiba: Ok. Don't put your fist into your mouth. put this instead, it's bigger. TRUST ME.
(No, he did not actually say that. LOLZ)

Aiba's water gurgling sound is scaring Yuuto-kun. I hope the child is not scarred for life from this one-day encounter.



I don't believe it was the music that finally made Yuuto-kun stop crying. It was...




Yes. The Hamburger Hands.



Yuuto-kun picked the perfect time to fart.



You know, the best way to find out if he pooped is to Look, not contemplate. 



And not smell. 

....

On second thought, 'smell' works, too.

Remember Koharu-chan? and Sho? Sho was on top. This time, Aiba isn't.



Aiba, get your ward's age right. You're a certified child minder, for pete's sake.



Damn. the hair salon for kids. Damn. Damn.



A future heartbreaker in the making.



That's 7000yen? Dear gawd, I would've loved to see Sho get his hand on that and he'd surely go EHH?!!?!?!?!?!? at the price.



Add the figures. Then compute how many times you can go watch an Arashi con using that money.

Ah. The hands. Baby hair, on manly hands. 




Yes. I was looking at the hands.



*sigh*



I want a baby brother.
So I'd have an excuse to have Arashi as childminders. Yes.

Arashian Roulette!!!!

I'll call this "Them 'full' ones VS Arashi skinnies"



I'm not sure...but at one point, Aiba suddenly went "Mackerel is absolutely expensive!" (?) and I wonder if he was losing the point of this game yet again. It won't be the first time.

The three AnS left-corner-hoggers in one frame. Yay.


This cap made me grin. I can't explain why.



Oh. He breaks my heart.



And it breaks it even further since he's looking so damn proud.





I like Jun's shirt. In front,


At the back,


I can think of a few people at work I'd want to turn my back on, wearing that shirt. *is plotting*

Smug. Smug. His tonkatsu was safe. XDD



See what I told you about big mouths?



Don't even attempt it, Oh-chan. Leave that crown to Aiba.



See? Told you. It won't fit.



No wonder these guys are skinny. They watch their calories. Oh boy. It must be Jimusho thing. ("YOU! Watch the calories!!")

I'm off. Gotta work again today. Saturday. Work. Yes. Darn. 

Meanwhile, have fun, Thi!!! Your turn!! Three, right XDD (and now, I can watch Rookies....lolz)

And I'm using the icon dear Haru made for me!!! I love mountainssssssss!!!!! Thank you!!!!

Comments

[harajunko86.livejournal.com]

I just love the way you put the Himitsu screencaps~~!
It's just so interesting to see them from a fan's perspective.
'Hamburger hands soothed the crying baby~~' XXDD
OHNO IS 40KG!?! OMG!! &^#~^&^((_*$! Plasma TV! PLASMA TV!! I feel so sad seeing Ohno like that... *sobs*

D:

[aishoni.livejournal.com]

did i spoiled Maou4 for you. i thought mine was vague D:
sorry if i spoiled you m(_ _)m

i can see Ohno cheekbones. Not good. NOT GOOD T^T
EAT SUMMORE RETARDED PUFFERFISH. EAT!

oh Nino and his colorful undies. please do have some babies. don't let the Ninomiya line die. please.

[tinybluemarble.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I guess some parts of the movie were saturated, but yeah, I'll definitely have to check out the drama version, too.

I just love how Miura Haruma is such an awesome actor (and still so young, too).

[evolardnek.livejournal.com]

Ohno please eat something!! -throws sandwiches at him- you can't be thinner then Nino! Ah~ the hamburger hands and Aiba made me shiver when they were taking care of that cute little boy XD my ovaries XD i can't believe Aiba spent that much on clothes! because we all know Nino wasn't going to! the mother looked shocked like "What did you do to my baby!!" XD only arashi!!

[ariange]

Oh for the love of High Definition >.< that my 6-year-old-studies-computer can't handle, dang it! But still wouldn't want less, I guess I can wait 'til I'll be at home or something (or bribe/tie to the chair/molest someone to use theirs XD).
I made my friend watch 1 & 2 with me but I probably shouldn't have brainwash her with few D no Arashi beforehand...

Define "everybody", I haven't seen that film... or better not, I don't want to be shoved in some weird category again. xP

Ah, child minding, I wouldn't complain at this being a regular XD I love watching cute guys with adorable babies; and was pretty tired of ageha crap - this was a first in a long time I didn't even bother to DL the episode (I mean the ageha sp).

The plazma tv is pretty scary, I'm his height (and a girl dammit!) and weight a lot more. But I guess that's JE for you *sigh*

Your icon is beautifuul~

I keep clicking and clicking at the Maou cap...aaahh...the quality...^^

[mee-goreng.livejournal.com]

I was watching the hands too XD;;; Ohno's hands fetish XD;;;

Me too!!! I was crushed he was proud being called a plasma tv.... and proud of his underweight... 40-50kg.. FTW?! EAT MORE OHNO SATOSHI!

[genuyn.livejournal.com]

Ahhh~ I'll just post a quickie here cause I've been dying for days without Arashi news and videos. I haven't downloaded anything yet, but reading your post makes me happyyyyyy! Arashi childminders!! Ninoooo! XD The fart screencap was just hilarious. I wish I had a younger sibling so Arashi would come babysit too loool.

And omg Arashi cowboysssssss! Who's up for a one on one hour in the ranch? LMAO.

And Ohno hands. Hands. Yes.

Oh and I watched Koizora a while too lol. I just find it funny that the ItoEn tea Miura's endorsing is actually sold here. I think I bought like 5 bottles 'til now. Haha.

And I also thought it was funny that he impregnated the lead in 14 no sai haha. Although I didn't figure it was Miura until somewhere after the first ep XD I don't know why.

Anyways. Back to my semi-hiatus.... XD I hope I'll survive without Arashi!!

[aatash.livejournal.com]

W-Where is this from? He looks so happy and it looks like the members are laughing with him (as always). *____*

[litany-sh.livejournal.com]

Oh-chan was 'proud' of being called a plasma tv *headsmash* arrg

Loved Aiba and Nino with teh baby, soadorable, omg, I want kids, and I want to live in Japan, and to be famous, and THEN Arashi might come to look after my baby too!! ^_^;;

[loissama.livejournal.com]

do you know where i can watch koizora with subs?
thank you...

[waku-waku.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched Koizora yet. but I LOVE YOUR SPOILERS, as you know <3
childminders.. I was worried about the 8mo. old. 8 mo. olds still need breastfeeding ne? (and as if arashi can give him that lol)
skinny western guys. gosh, but you know what? they still look good ne??

[tomokaku.livejournal.com]

I want that shirt of Jun's XDDD

A future heartbreaker in the making.
He looks adorable <3

Aiba seems to really like kids. But for some reason I wouldn't dare to let him babysit anyone alone <:D ..Wait a minute.. 40kg.. Is that Ohno's weight??? O.O

[silgari.livejournal.com]

Loooooove the "Just because. *sigh*" cap!!! Love it, love it, love it!
Haven't watch Himitsu episode yet! As soon as i see it, i'll be back an put some feedback here!! ^__^

Saw the Toma file! Thanks! Tokio is growing on me! They are really funny and Nagase Tomoya is just hot! I love how in Tiger & Dragon he kept doing something with his lips... God. I'm melting right now.. AND T&D has another great guy... lovely Okada Junichi!

Have a nice week Jeffer!

[yuckie-chan.livejournal.com]

They watch their calories
*sighs* calories isn't even in my vocabularies T-T

[tofu-sandwich.livejournal.com]

I am COMPLETELY freaked out by the idea of him weighing 40kg. I can't even figure out what else to say.

[nino-arashi.livejournal.com]

gawd ohno is only 40kg.. eat more><
lol anybody realised?
in maou ep 3...
ohno was driving lolx..