Hana Yori Dango (2008 Movie)

Cast:
Inoue Mao as Makino Tsukushi
Matsumoto Jun as Domyouji Tsukasa
Oguri Shun as Hanazawa Rui
Matsuda Shota as Soujiro Nishikado
Abe Tsuyoshi as Mimasaka Akira
Fujiki Naohito as Kaburagi Kazu

Genre: Shoujo, Romance, Comedy, Friendship, JMovie

Summary: After all they've been through in the Drama series which I didn't watch entirely *cough* Forgive me MatsuJun, I was distracted by AkiraPi and didn't... just find time to later on ^^', it looks like Domyouji and Makino can finally get married. They have the approval of Domyouji's mother, even, and she gives Makino a tiara, known as The Smile of Venus which legend states will protect eternal love, as a wedding present.

Unfortunately, it gets stolen.

Review: I read the manga (quite a while back O_o) and I remember that I found Domyouji sweeter and more adorkable in the live action, and Makino more annoying. This hasn't changed in the movie. If anything, it has enforced the image even more.

Matsujun is freakin' adorable, and is such a brat, but he clearly loves Makino, while Makino is all wishy-washy and generally annoying. It's entirely possible I'm biased *cough*

The movie has no real point, and the story line is kinda erm-yeah-okaaayish, but it has it's sweet (if cheesy) moments, and F4 (Matsuda Shotaaaaaa *______* ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥) makes for awesome eye candy? ^^;

Music:
One Love by Arashi
Kisshug by Aiko

Rating: 5/10

Quotes:

~ At SongStories ~

 

Note: This might have rated better here if I had reviewed it as soon as I watched it, while still on the OOH SPARKLES! high. Pity I am lazy and waited around three days before forcing myself to write this (in accordance to the #FictionalMemories2010 program.)

Tada-san, erm, Buchou, um, *checks* yes, Fujiki Naohito is also in it! And looks awesome. *__* I found it interesting that apparently he played Rui in the 1995 version. I need to hunt that down sometime, definitely. Domyouji was played by the Yoroshiqueeeen guy!
[Hmm, they managed a movie about pretty boys with out any Jyannies back in those days. Imagine that!]

Also, yes, MatsuJun, babe: ENGRISH (he can speak it!). XD

Hotaru no Hikari

Glow of the Firefly
ホタルノヒカリ

Cast:
Ayase Haruka as Amemiya Hotaru
Fujiki Naohito as Takano Seiichi
Kuninaka Ryoko as Saegusa Yuuka
Kato Kazuki as Teshima Makoto
Takeda Shinji as Jinguuji Kaname
Itaya Yuka as Yamada Sachiko
Yasuda Ken as Futatsugi Shouji

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Office

Episodes: 10

Summary: Amemiya Hotaru is a Himono-onna (Dried fish-woman). This means that although she puts up a presentable face of a put-together mature woman at work, as soon as she gets home, she goes into complete relax mode, wearing track suits, chomping on snacks, gulping down beer straight from the can and lying around the house with her humongous dolphin shaped pillow, using newspapers as blankets.

Even her (extremely messy) house happens to be one she got at a bar, the so-called "contract" for it scribbled on the back of a napkin.

Following a separation from his wife, Hotaru's section chief at work, who also happens to be the son of the man who gave his house to Hotaru, decides to move back to his parents house, although his father is supposed to be traveling. Little does he know of his father's contract in the bar and the Himono-onna now occupying the place.

As both of them want to stay in the house, (Ahomiya because the house and it's porch is her favorite place is in the entire world and Buchou since it's his parents house) and since Buchou (Section chief) comes to the conclusion that as the Himono-onna cannot be truly considered as a woman and thus it wouldn't matter, they decided to live together.

Meanwhile, the Himono-onna falls in love with the young, gorgeous and smart designer who came back from London, Teshima Makoto. But it has been ages since she has even thought of such things, so what's a himono-onna, who is "finished as a woman" to do? Ask her Buchou for help of course.

Review: I LOVED this. It has been quite a while since something made me laugh this much. It's hillarious. Specially all the interactions between the Himono-onna and Buchou. They way Buchou called Ammemiya "Ahomiya" (Aho means idiot) and how she called herself that when she talked to him was also so adorable. And them calling eachother and themselves stuff like "Hotaru-who-is-trying-a-little-bit" and "Can-do-anything-without-even-trying-buchou" and stuff were so damn ADORABLE.

I also loved all the various stuff that Buchou called Ammemiya. Like Hebi-onna (snake woman, on the occasion she came slithering around the house coz she was panicking) or Kame-onna (turtle woman, when she crawled around the house with her phone on her back coz she didn't dare read the message she got from Teshima) or Tire-onna (apparently rolling around is the best thing to do when you feel complex emotions. XD)

Ayase Haruka was beyond awesome in this. Perfectly Himono-onnaish. *nods* So was Tada-sensei-ermm I mean the guy who played the part of Buchou. He was so annoyingly arragont and awesome while being actually kinda nice, made me totally fall in love with him too. Total redemption from his annoying NICE-ness in Prodai. ^_^

I don't know what to say about Teshima Makoto. He was certainly gorgeous, and also so damn awesome, that for the first nine episodes of the series I was all like "I want one of those~" but in the very last episode he managed to make himself so unlikable by being all tragic heroic good guy-ey. Seriously dude, I liked you, I respected you and then you have to go all tragic story book character on me. Pffft.
Ah well, I suppose it's a good thing you made me hate you, Teshima Makoto, so there is no Nakatsuism. *nods*

This was an amazing drama. Granted, there were occasional slightly boring bits, when they did office work and stuff, but the Himono-onna and Buchou made the entire thing worth watching. And the office stuff had some rather sweet side stories too. Loved this. It's a MUST watch. *nods like Kero-chan with folded arms*

Music: Yokogao by Aiko

Rating: 9/10

Quotes:

At work they put on the face of a lively office lady, but as soon as they go home, they change into a jersey as soon as possible. Hair too, like this *piles her hair up on the head* Samurai-style topknot, and they might even scratch their butts. A snack in one hand, gulping down canned beer with the other. On weekends, they don't even go on dates to try and meet people, but go straight home. When they don't have work, all they do is eat and sleep, eat and sleep... Not a SINGLE guy around her.

~Yamada nee-san explaining what a Himono-onna is

***
Amemiya: Manager...
Is it really okay?
You said you couldn't face your wife... if you had to live together with a woman...
Manager: Well... You're not a woman after all..
Amemiya: Eh?
Manager: Your clothes, your life style, not a SINGLE bit of elegance. You're like a dried up Himono.
Yes, You're a Himono-onna.
Amemiya: Himono... onna?
Manager: You are no longer a woman. You are already dried up. You're finished as a woman. Hence, I came to the conclusion that there will be no problem living with you.
Isn't it great?
***
More Quotes?
***

Note: I have finally discoverd what species I belong to... *oh ho ho ho*
Also, this may possibly be the only drama I watched without a Johnny in it and I LOVED it. Who would have thunk?
And despite the lack of johnnys when I hear Teshima's name I think of Teshi. I seriously need help.

Proposal Daisakusen

Operation Love

Cast:
Yamashita Tomohisa as Iwase Ken
Nagasawa Masami as Yoshida Rei
Fujiki Naohito as Honda Tetsuya
Eikura Nana as Oku Eri
Hiraoka Yuuta as Enokido Mikio
Hamada Gaku as Tsurumi Hisash

Genre: Romance, Friendship, Time-travel, Destiny, Jdrama

Episodes: 11 (+ Proposal Daisakusen Special)

Summary: When you've known someone practically your whole life you would never think that you would run out of time to say what you need to that person. Iwase Ken and Yoshida Rei have been together since 3rd Grade. Kenzo never thought that he would be unable to tell Rei how he felt. He had always waited for the right time, and now, she is getting married to someone else. At her wedding, he is so utterly full of regrets and remorse, that the fairy who lives in the church the wedding takes place in decides to let him have another chance. Kenzo is given the chance to travel back in time (or 'time-slip') through photographs of the couple shown in a slide show and tell Rei how he really feels.

Review: The entire drama, technically takes place at a wedding reception, but the time traveling takes us through their lives, which has been in my opinion a cruel trick by fate. Both of them love each other, but they keep missing each other and fear and awkwardness arisen from them being childhood friends get in the way.

Through out the drama, I felt like murdering Kenzo most of the time. He was just so damned annoying. He didn't tell her, just because he didn't feel it was the right time and he was awkward and clumsy and scared but I guess that is why I do like his character after all. It makes him more believable. Not more likable, but believable. (Because really, I have never been able to comprehend the people who told people to be with THEM coz they would always make them happy. Where do they get the confidence from? ~_~)

This was very frustrating to watch. They just didn't do what they were supposed to and let perfectly good opportunities pass by! Although I suppose it's easy for me to yell at them from the sidelines... Because one thing I realized watching this is that you simply, utterly and totally, know NOTHING. How can you know anything really? *pffft*

Slide after slide, opportunity after opportunity, he did not tell her. But although I dislike him, he is somewhat endearing to me, because I cannot help but understand why he did pass up the opportunities. It's strange. ~_~

But I can understand that it would harder for him. Most people say that if they had a chance they to do it all over again, they would do this, or not do that, but when you get the chance, it would be more difficult wont it? Because your confidence is already blown by the knowledge that it did NOT happen, and that maybe, no matter how hard you try, it won't change after all. And you would be scared of hurting people. And of hurting yourself. If going through rejection once was hard enough, it would be harder to re live it again.



Spoilers

In the very first time he time traveled though, I was totally mad at him, because if only he had said something to her then, all the painful situations would not have arisen later on. I remember muttering at the Kenzo on the computer screen to just grab her and kiss her for the love of god! -_-'

After he DID kiss her, in a later time slip, I thought it would finally lead to them getting together, but my hopes were dashed when he was brought back to the present and he was still at the wedding reception.

Later on, it got more and more painful, because the distance between them was growing and other people became involved. Like on the new year picture, he was told that Rei was dating Tada-san, and that was so damn heart-wrenching. Him going to the baseball place and trying to absorb himself in that, and to try not to think about it. He was honest to himself, and said that he loved her, and that he would always, always love her, and that he would never be able to forget her even if he wanted to so he wouldn't have to feel the pain anymore, and he cried there, which truth to be told broke my heart into tiny shards. Being childhood friends in love has to be really really painful... (remembers Gokinjo Monogotari)

Although, at the end, when he finally told her how he feels and I was SOOO touched, I couldn't help feeling a twinge of disbelief, I mean for crying out loud, he tells her how he feels on her WEDDING DAY.

For the love of god, man. -__-'

Tada-san is also a good guy. In his case, I have reverse Kikyo/Kagome feelings towards his existence. I have absolutely nothing against him at all, In fact I think he was too damn irritatingly good. I mean, his bride technically left him at the alter, and not only did he let her go, he even helped her make up her mind and SENT her after Kenzo by putting the cuff links in both his hands. ~_~

This is also a very emotionally touching drama. I was driven to tears while watching it. Through out the drama. And in the last episode, its a wonder that my room wasn't flooded, it was that touching. Although, through out the drama, attempts were made to lighten the mood which made me chuckle in spite of the tears. Such attempts include Kenzo striking the "Hallelujah chaaance! Nooooooooo" pose. That was funny and along with some other things kept the mood of the drama from getting too sad.

I guess the point of the drama is to tell you that saying 'IF I had second chance I would do it over again' is pointless. It's better that you let go of the past and move forward. Then only will the door to miracles open.

Proposal Daisakusen Special

The drama ended with Kenzo realizing he had to let go of the past and move forward. But even if you know that, HOW exactly do you move forward?

This takes place one year after the conclusion of the drama. Rei's and Kenzo's friends, Tsuru and Eri are getting married in Hawaii. Eri runs away just before the marriage, because she feels that Tsuru does not love her. Who should appear to save the day, but the fairy who gave Ken the chance to go back to the past to win back Rei. He lets Kenzo go back into the past one more time, for the sake of his friends this time.

Spoilers Again

However, Rei and Kenzo are stuck more or less in the same place they were when the drama ended. They avoid talking about marriage, and about Rei's near wedding to Tada-san. Although through out the drama, Kenzo had run with all his might, for Rei, he realizes that after that, he had been running away rather then moving forward. So while he is in the past for the sake of Tsuru and Eri, he also faces up to the situations he had previously run away from, like facing Rei's parents and Tada-san properly.

This brought a definitive end to the drama. Although I liked the drama ending, which left a lot of possibilities open, this made me all relieved. Since Kenzo and Rei had made such a mess of things before I was wondering how on earth they will be able to move forward again, even IF they had a chance again. They seem to be such experts at ruining perfectly good chances after all, and I was right! But at the end, Kenzo was a man and asked her to marry him, and said he would make her happy. *dabs eye with hanky* It was very very sweet. ^_^

Music:
Ashita Hareru Kana by Kuwata Keisuke (Theme song)
Chiisana Koi no Uta by Mongol 800 (Insert song)

Rating: 9/10

Quotes:

Today, the person I love most in this world, will marry someone else.

~Iwase Ken

***
The majority of humans don't understand the reality of something till it's over.

~The Fairy Dude

***
Humans... One thing you have gotten very good at through out history is making excuses.

~The Fairy Dude

***
If you keep on thinking tomorows always going to come your going to end up in pain. If you put things off for tomorow your an idiot

~ Rei's Grampa

***
Though she always has been by my side like this... I wasn't able to do anything.
Though she was always by my side like this, I didn't understand anything.
I really am the worst.

~ Iwase Ken

***
Fate... How can it allow pain like this to be possible? For the sake of one person to be happy, why is it that, if there is someone who is not grieving, it will not come true? But no matter how I look at it, I have to tell her these words. I love Rei, I love her so much it hurts.

~Iwase Ken

***
She has always just.. been beside me...
the one who knows her best is me.
But in the end...
these are just thoughts inside my heart,
because never once, have I been able to become honest about it in front of her.
Though I always have been near her, the words I thought I would say someday...
I haven't been able to say it after all.
That one thing, never did I say it.
I... I... was in love with Rei.
Honestly, if I say so, even now, I am still in love with Rei...
But, Rei, is getting married with Tada san today.
Though its excruciating for me, she will get married.
Because her place in my heart is so vast, the struggle for me to arrive at these words has taken an extreme amount of time.
Rei. Congratulations on your wedding.
Please... become happy
........
If you don't become happy...
If you don't become happy... I really won't forgive that.

~Iwase Ken

***

More quotes?

Note: There is a very amazing friendship between five characters in this drama including Rei and Kenzo as well... It's a truly enviable friendship, and really touching.