Image-heavy, by Choice.
Jul. 26th, 2008 08:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dvampyrlestatDoggone 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.
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!!!!
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!!!!
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no subject
Date: 2008-07-26 07:14 pm (UTC)thank you...
no subject
Date: 2008-07-26 11:15 pm (UTC)as for the drama, i don't know yet. :) but it'll turn up anyway, so i'm not looking yet.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-27 11:13 am (UTC)simple story but quite good i think
you know what, you're right!
she's in ALL scenes and still a little bit chubby than right now in code blue...better her than toda erika
no subject
Date: 2008-07-27 11:28 am (UTC)Oh yeah, it is way better than those films like Sugar and Spice...or something....
On a personal level, I DON'T LIKE Toda Erika, too. There's just something about her....But when she acts....I gotta hand it to her. She's good. I hated her in HYD2. I wanted to strangle her in Liar Game. Now in Code Blue, she annoys me then makes me sympathize with her....She's a good actress.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-27 03:40 pm (UTC)Lots of people fall for arashi because of watching HYD, and first impression sticks, hard to change it.
if i_heart_aiba wants jun's shirt, i want the plasma!
one for me??
no subject
Date: 2008-07-28 12:33 am (UTC)I'd bet my top dollar if Liar Game came out before HYD2 there'd be more love for her from Arashi fans.
Hey. Maybe this drama with Nino-Ryo would somehow alleviate that. :)
Haru and I both want Jun's shirt. And me, too! the plasma TV! Topped with tonkatsu!!!
.....i feel somehow bad wanting the shirt and not the wearer himself......