Jun
29
2008
L: Change the World
Posted by luna6 | 2 Comments
Movie: L: Change the World
Release Date: January 31, 2008
Country: Japan
Director: Hideo Nakata
Starring: Ken’ichi Matsuyama
Runtime: 129 min
Editor Rating: 5.5
Users Rating: 6.52 
(21 votes)
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Following the successful 1-2 combination punch of “Death Note” and “Death Note: The Last Name,” comes that series’ first spin-off “L: Change the World.” Yes, “L: Change the World” features everybody’s favorite hunchbacked, candy loving, Gothic genius named “L.” The movie isn’t a prequel per se, nor is it a sequel per se, rather “L: Change the World” runs in parallel with “Death: The Last Name” timeline wise, but involves L’s adventures outside of the Death Note realm. So much so that even ff you have never watched the Death Note movies or read the comics, you still won’t have any problems following “L: Change the World.” Most of the characters in the movie are new and the storyline easily stands on its own.
In “L: Change the World,” the pale skin L has only 21 days left to live (reference “Death Note: The Last Name” for reasons why). His beloved assistant, Mr. Watari, also dies shortly into the film (again reference “Death Note: The Last Name” for reasons why) and leaves L alone to ponder his fate. Then a young Thai boy arrives at L’s HQ, having the innate ability to survive a deadly virus outbreak and is a mathematical genius. Meanwhile, a good friend of Mr. Watari’s, Prof. Nikaido, sends his young daughter Maki to seek the assistance of Watari. Since Watari is no longer alive, L takes the case and also temporary custody of the young girl.
During this time, Maki’s father kills himself to prevent an environmental extremist group from obtaining an antidote for a deadly virus. If the group known as “Blue Ship” obtains the antidote then they can spread the virus without fear. The leader of “Blue Ship” is the evil Matoba and he is assisted by a well respected doctor named Dr. Kujo. Once Matoba and Dr. Kujo realize that Maki holds the key to the antidote, they make plans to infiltrate L’s HQ and take the young girl back. Of course, our hero L has other ideas.
Even more so than the first two Death Note films, “L: Change the World” is a big budget “Hollywood” action type of film, featuring one dimensional villains, explosions, chases and races. There’s absolutely none of the cerebral mind-games that was featured so heavily in the first Death Note film. Rather, “L: Change the World” takes the commercial feel of the sequel, “Death Note: The Last Name,” and pumps it to another level. The quality of that commercial level isn’t so bad that the film stinks, but compared to “Death Note” its several steps lower.
Certainly, don’t go into “L: Change the World” hoping to see your favorite Death Note characters (outside of L). Tatsuya Fujiwara as Light Yagami appears on a computer monitor for a few seconds, Erika Toda as Misa Amane appears onscreen for less than a minute, and Shunji Fujimura as Watari appears onscreen for maybe 3 minutes. From there, it’s completely L’s world and with it, the cardboard characters fitting for a Hollywood like film. The most laughably over-the-top performance would go to Megumi Sato’s performance as the attractive but vicious assistant to Matoba.
And if you’re wondering about Ken’ichi Matsuyama’s performance as “L,” its pretty much what you’ve seen in Death Note but with more cartoonish mannerisms (the way he typed on the keyboard was overkill for me). He’s still a charismatic character that will likely bring viewers out in droves. One of the best moments in the film for me was the scene where L, Maki, and the Thai boy stopped in the Akhibara area of Tokyo. Watching the true otaku geek himself, L, walk around the mecca for otaku geeks was genuinely compelling, but of course this moment is short lived - this is an action film after all & there’s a chase to tend too.
L:Change the World from Yesasia
Cast:
Ken’ichi Matsuyama - L
Mayuko Fukuda - Maki Nikaido
Shingo Tsurumi - Prof. Kimihiko Nikaido (Maki’s father)
Youki Kudoh - Dr. Kimiko Kujo
Masanobu Takashima - Matoba
Megumi Sato - Hatsune Misawa (Matoba’s helper)
Yuta Kanai - Tamotsu Yoshizawa (Matoba’s helper)
Bokuzo Masana - Asao Konishi (Matoba’s helper)
Renji Ishibashi - Prof. Shin Kagami
Sei Hiraizumi - Prof. Koichi Matsudo
Kiyotaka Nanbara - F.B.I. Suruga
Shunji Fujimura - Mr. Watari
Erika Toda - Misa Amane
Yoji Tanaka - Taxi Cab driver
If you like this movie you may enjoy: Death Note, Death Note: The Last Name
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2008 Movie Reviews, Japanese Movies, Movie Reviews, Movies |
Jun
28
2008
Ha, Jung-woo
Posted by luna6 | Leave a Comment
Name: Jung-woo Ha | 하정우
DOB: March 11, 1979
POB: South Korea
Height: 184.0cm
Blood Type:
Users Rating: 8.75 (4 votes)
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Movies:
National Athlete (2009)
Boat (2009)
My Dear Enemy | Meotjin Halu (2008)
The Moonlight of Seoul | Beastie Boys (2008)
The Chaser (2008)
Forever the Moment (2008)
Breath | Soom (2007) - Husband
Never Forever (2007) - Jihah
The Fox Family | Gumiho gajok (2006)
Time | Shi gan (2006) - Ji-woo
The Unforgiven | Yongseobadji mothan ja (2005) - Yu Tae-jung
She’s on Duty | Jambok-geunmu (2005) - Detective Cho
Mr. Gam’s Victory | Superstar Gam Sa-Yong (2004)
Madeleine (2002)TV:
H.I.T (2007)
Lovers in Prague (2005)
Actors, Korean Actors, Profiles |
Jun
28
2008
The Chaser
Posted by luna6 | 23 Comments
Movie: The Chaser
Release Date: February 14, 2008
Country: South Korea
Director: Hong-jin Na
Starring: Yun-seok Kim, Jung-woo Ha
Runtime: 123 min
Editor Rating: 9.0
Users Rating: 8.4 (42 votes)
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Upon its theatrical release in Korea (Feb. 14th, 2008), “The Chaser” simply took the box office by storm and packed Korean cinema houses for 3 consecutive months. Currently the movie is the highest grossing film of the year in Korea, yet that highest grossing title doesn’t always correspond to a great film or even a decent film. Just think back to 2007 and recall that the two highest grossing films in Korea were “D-War” and “May 18.” Two films that were simply aweful. Despite that, in the case of “The Chaser,” something tells you that there must be something special about the film. The movie doesn’t possess gaudy special effects or actors that would bring many people to theatres by name alone (at least when the movie initially opened). More surprisingly, “The Chaser” centers around a serial killer, a topic that’s quite common in Korean films these days (Our Town, Seven Days, Rainbow Eyes, Black House, etc). So why exactly did “The Chaser” attract so many movie goers? The answers (please take note Korean movie execs) are found a few paragraphs below.
In “The Chaser,” a former cop turned pimp Jung-ho (Yun-seok Kim) is having one of those days. Two of his girls have gone missing (one with his car) and a third girl calls in sick. He’s strapped for cash and owes money to unscrupulous characters. Jung-ho then makes the fateful decision to call the sick girl, Min-Jin (Yeong-hie Seo) and demand that she meets another client.
Later that evening, Jung-ho drives off in his recovered Jaguar only to find the missing girl’s cell phone in his car. When he gets back to the office he looks through her phone to find out the identity of her last client. The last phone number is 016-9265-4885, the “4885″ ringing a familiar note in Jung-ho’s memory. He then checks through his client list notebook. Both of the missing girls’ last clients were 016-9265-4885 and further more… Min-jin is now meeting that same person.
What the Chaser brings to the table is a potent combination of a “you gotta grab-your-armchair” like intense script and performances from the entire cast that is worthy of “encore!” chants. The movie is directed by newcomer Hong-jin Na, a name that will likely become much better known in the coming months. The beauty of Na’s “The Chaser” is that the movie leaves out all the gimmicky parts of recent Korean thrillers (the hokey plots twists and CSI like over visuals) to focus on nothing but the core of the film: an intense chase to uncover bodies before the killer is released. Yes you heard that right. The killer is actually apprehended in the first quarter of the film! When have you seen a movie where the killer is found, chased, and then apprehended in the early portions of the movie? The real drama, certainly unique for its genre, begins once the killer is captured.
Elevating “The Chaser” to even greater heights are the performances by main actors: Yun-seok Kim and Jung-woo Ha. Yun-seok Kim as the film’s protagonist brings a performance on the level of Choi Min-sik at his finest hour. Meanwhile, Jung-woo Ha as the unstable killer gives an amazingly nuanced performance. You wont get any of the over-acting found with most serial killer performances. The normalcy that Jung-woo Ha brings to Young-min’s psychotic character feels entirely unnerving because he could be any of the “normal” guys you see walking on the streets. Supporting cast was just as good, with Yeong-hie Seo (Min-Jin), Hyo-ju Park (Detective Eun-shil) and In-gi Jeong (Detective Gil-woo) all bringing it to the table.
If there is a fault with “The Chaser” it would only lie with the film’s resolution. While the ending isn’t disappointing per se, it did seem to suddenly fall in line with the conventions of the serial killer genre..
Prior to “The Chaser,” if you were asked to name some of the best Korean thrillers ever made, you’d probably mention Jong-ho Bong’s “Memories of Murder” and Chan-wook Park’s “Sympathy for Mr Vengeance.” After you watch “The Chaser,” you’ll likely find yourself mentioning one more movie in that group.
Cast:
Yun-seok Kim - Jung-ho
Jung-woo Ha - Young-Min Ji
Yeong-hie Seo - Mi-jin
Hyo-ju Park - Detective Eun-shil Oh
In-gi Jeong - Detective Gil-woo Lee
Yu-jeong Kim - Mi-jin’s daughter
Bon-woong Ko - Meathead
Yeong-seon Kim - Young-min’s sister
Hee-seon Son - Grocery store owner
If you like this movie you may enjoy: Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Black House, Seven Days, Boys of Tomorrow
2008 Movie Reviews, Korean Movies, Movies |
Jun
26
2008
Mongol
Posted by luna6 | 2 Comments
Movie: Mongol
Release Date: August 10, 2007
Country: Mongolia, Russia
Director: Sergei Bodrov
Starring: Tadanobu Asano
Runtime: 126 min
Editor Rating: 8.0
Users Rating: 7.75 (12 votes)
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“Mongol” is the highly anticipated new Genghis Khan film made with an international flavor. The film features noted Russian director Sergei Bodrov, Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano in the lead role, Chinese actor Honhlei Sun in the supporting role of Jamukha, and first time Mongolian actress Khulan Chuluun in the important role of Borte (Temudjin’s first wife). Filming took place over a large span of land that formerly consisted of the Mongolian Empire: China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. The end result of all this you may ask? A movie that is part breathtaking, part hallucinatory, and always intriguing.
“Mongol” takes place during Temudjin’s (Genghis Kahn) early life, from 1171 all the way up to 1206. At the age of 9, his father takes Temudjin to a distant Merkit village to pick a future wife. Along the way, they stop at a smaller village where Temudjin meets Borte, a young girl that is one year older than him. Temudjin decides then and there that Borte will be his wife. After the appropriate ceremonies, Temudjin leaves for his own village and promises to come back in 5 years time to marry Borte.
While Temudjin’s group travels back to their home village, they stop at another resting place and sit next to a rival group. Temudjin’s father accepts the other group’s hospitality drink, even though one of his men advises him to be weary of the other group. Shortly later, when Temudjin’s group is back on the road, Temudjin’s father becomes ill and suddenly collapses to his death. When Temudjin returns home, he finds his village in chaos because of the power vacuum left by his father’s death.. Temudjin is then imprisoned, with the clan’s new leader planning to kill him when he becomes of age. By fate, Temudjin escapes his imprisonment and travels across the Mongolian desert to unite with his half brother and exact revenge on those who imprisoned him.
Sergei Bodrov’s “Mongol” comes across as an unique film, staying mostly true to historical accounts of Genghis Khan, while occasionally taking liberties for dramatic effect (specifically Temudjin’s 10 year imprisonment). The film is based off “The Secret History of the Mongols,” the oldest surviving Mongolian literary work and “The Legend of the Black Arrow” written by Russian historian Lev Gumilev. Using those two literary works as a jumping board, Bodrov then tells the story of Khan’s early years, infusing the film with his own mystical feel. The soundtrack pumps up the mysticisms with a score that could have easily inspired the Beatles’s “White Album.” Visually, the nomadic lifestyle of the Mongols is re-created faithfully, while the depiction of the masked Merkits sent chills down the spine. The actual battles that Temudjin fought are shown only a few times in the movie, but when they are depicted they are done in a up close and personal way. Blood is quickly splattered everywhere, as Temudjin slices his foes with the his deadly scimitar in an ultra realistic manner.
Concerning the personal life of Genghis Khan, Bodrov makes a point to accentuate Temudjin’s more progressive nature. Temudjin didn’t think twice to accept Borte’s first child as his own, even though the child was likely fathered by Merkits. He also trusted Borte to advise him on all matters, including those involving warfare. Although being Japanese, Tadanobu Asano seemed perfectly cast as Temudjin. He morphed into his role in a way where you never thought “that’s Tadanobu Asano,” but rather “that’s Temudjin the future Genghis Khan.”
Drawbacks in the film existed with the mystical nature in which important moments of Temudjin’s life went left unanswered. His escape from imprisonment, the removal of the wooden contraption around his neck, his survival from a fall into icy waters, and his escape from a Tangut Prison were all moments where the movie provided no real answers on how they occurred. The flip-side of this is that because those important moments were left unanswered, viewers were left to theorize about the mystical nature of Temudjin in the same way Mongols of that time theorized about Temudjin’s life. By the time the film came to its conclusion, I didn’t mind the open-ended nature of the film and instead soaked it up for all it was worth. Temudjin was indeed a mystical figure and Bodrov’s “Mongol” paid tribute to Temudjin in the same manner that “The Secret History of the Mongols” paid tribute to Temudjin: with the abundant use of folklore and (visual) poetry. Regardless of how the 2nd and 3rd installments of the planned trilogy on “Genghis Khan” pans out, “Mongol” distinguishes itself by mixing together the historical and mystical to create one absolutely riveting film.
Cast:
Tadanobu Asano - Temudjin
Khulan Chuluun - Börte
Honglei Sun - Jamukha
Ba Sen - Esugei
2007 Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies |
Jun
25
2008
Su-yeon Cha cast in “Boat” (w/ Satoshi Tsumabuki & Jung-woo Ha)
Posted by luna6 | 3 Comments
The upcoming Korean/Japanese film “Boat,” which we reported about here, has casted its main female lead. Drumroll please. The lucky lady that will work alongside Satoshi Tsumabuki and Jung-woo Ha will be South Korean actress Su-yeon Cha. If you have seen “Eternal Hearts” you’ll know who she is (she played Su-ji), as well as starring in this year’s “Beautiful” (Ahreumdapda).
For the Young-nam Kim directed film “Boat” Su-Yeon Cha will play Ji-su, the girl that gets smuggled into Japan from South Korea. Her character is described as courageous and assertive. Our earlier report on “Boat” described the movie’s plot as :
… Jung-woo Ha plays Hyeong-ku, a man firmly situated at the bottom of the social ladder. Hyeong-ku works as an errand boy for an organization involved in smuggling contraband between Korea and Japan. A guy that helps Hyeong-ku is Do-oh-ro (Satoshi Tsumabuki), a member of the same organization. Trouble brews for these guys when Hyeong-ku is ordered to smuggle a Korean woman from Korea to Japan. The film is reported to have an interesting mixture of buddy film and film noire.
“Boat” will start filming on June 28th in Nigata, Japan. Expect to see this movie sometime in the first half of 2009.
Movie News, News |
Jun
24
2008
Geun-seok Jang stars in “Baby & Me”
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This little bit of news should get the girls excited. The very popular Geun-seok Jang (Doremifasolasido/Crazy Waiting) is set to appear in a new film titled “Baby & Me” (Agiwa Na). Starring alongside Geun-seok Jang is Byeol Kim last seen on the big screen in “Dasepo Naughty Girls” and currently on the KBS television show “Chilwu, the Mighty.” “Baby & Me” will be directed by first time director Jin-yeong Kim, who has produced such films as Mapado 2, My Son, and Don’t Tell Papa.
“Baby & Me” is a straight up comedy centered around Geun-seok Jang’s character, Joon-soo, becoming a sudden father. In the movie, Joon-soo is a tough 19 year old high school kid that loves to cause trouble. He often gets in fights, once with 17 other guys, but always comes out as the victor. Then one day Joon-soo’s parents decides to go out of town. Joon-soo decides then and there to throw a party at his parent’s home. He then goes shopping for groceries and comes upon an unexpected surprise. A little toddler sits in a shopping basket wearing the name tag “Han Wooram” and points to Joon-soo as his father!
He then takes the baby home and tries to find the baby’s real parents. When he can’t find the parents, Joon-soo even tries to abandon the baby but always fails. He then takes the kid to school which causes further scandal and a suspension. But during this time an unexpected event occurs between Joon-soo and Woo-ram…
“Baby & Me” is based on a Japanese comic of the same name. The film started shooting in January of this year and finished in April. You can expect “Baby & Me” to be released this August in South Korea.
Movie News, News |
Jun
24
2008
Jeong-min Hwang set to star in “Gongjung Gokyesa”
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One of the best actors working in Korea today, Jeong-min Hwang, is working on his next picture titled “Gongjung Gokyesa” (literal translation Air Acrobat). The film will co-star actor Deok-hwan Ryu (Our Town/Like A Virgin) and actress Ji-won Uhm (Traces of Love/Scarlet Letter). “Gongjung Gokyesa” will also feature acting vets Dal-su Oh and Je-mun Yun in supporting roles. The film is also directed by first time director Dae-min Park (having previously directed two short films).
In “Gongjung Gokyesa” Jeong-min Hwang plays Jin-ho Hong, the first Private Investigator of the Joseon era. Jin-ho Hong is noted for his uncanny intuition and also very high price tag. Playing Jin-ho Hong’s sidekick is medical student Kwang-su Jang (Deok-hwan Ryu). Actress Ji-won Eom will play Madame Deok-sun, a married lady of virtue who also secretly works as an inventor. The movie is reported to be a unique period piece / detective thriller.
“Gongjung Gokyesa” has started filming and should be released by the first half of 2009.
Movie News, News |
Jun
23
2008
“The Chaser” released legally via Internet one week before DVD release date
Posted by luna6 | 5 Comments
In a sign of the times, Korean website Cine21 has negotiated the rights to offer legal downloads of “The Chaser” via the internet starting on June 23. This is a full week before the release date for the DVD release. Cine 21 and investment company Vantage Holdings worked for 2 months to secure the rights for “The Chaser,” which is the highest grossing South Korean film so far this year.
Korean movie studios have been bleeding red for the past year and the potential to receive added revenue on top of ticket sales is a much needed boost. While film companies in the U.S. make less than 50% of their net profits from domestic movie ticket sales, South Korean companies make over 80% of their total revenues from ticket sales. Although people in Korea rent DVD’s from local neighborhood stores, sales of DVD’s have been rapidly declining. The boom of illegal file downloading has also hurt DVD’s sales considerably. If online sale of “The Chaser” become remotely successful, expect to see many more movies offered for download from authorized Korean websites. (P.S. I’m dying to see the CHASER!!!)
Movie News, News |
Jun
23
2008
Hye-jeong Kang & Hie-sun Park set to star in “Why did you come to our house?”
Posted by luna6 | Leave a Comment
Hye-jeong Kang is quite the busy actress these days. She has a romantic-comedy titled “Kill Me” set for release sometime this summer/fall, and then she will work on a U.S. film, which we reported about here. It’s now reported that she will also work on a new film with the working title of “Why Did You Come To Our House?” (literal translation of “Woorijibe wae wassni”). Her co-star will be Hie-sun Park, seen most recently in “Seven Days.” The film will be directed by newcomer Su-ah Hwang and set to have a unique mixture of thriller, romance, comedy, and fantasy genres.
In “Why Did You Come To Our House?,” Hie-sun Park plays Byeong-hee, a home owner who is having mental problems because of the sudden loss of his wife. Meanwhile, Hye-keong Kang plays Su-jang, a girl dumped by her first love. To get revenge, she lays near his house waiting for him. Her plan is to bury him into the ground. It just so happens that Byeong-hee and Su-jang will then cross paths.
“Why Did You Come To Our House?” (”Woorijibe wae wassni”) is set to start filming on the 27th and is expected to be released in November.
Movie News, News |
Jun
23
2008
“Dachimawa Lee” opens August 14th (S. Korea)
Posted by luna6 | 5 Comments
Likely the second most anticipated South Korean movie for summer 2008, “Dachimawa Lee” has made August 14th its official opening date. What’s so special about “Dachimawa Lee” you may ask? Well, the movie is directed by none other than Seung-wan Ryoo, maker of such films as “City of Violence,” “Crying Fist,” “No Blood No Tears,” “Arahan,” and “Die Bad.” There’s also Won-hie Lim (Le Grand Chef) playing a suave (Mike Myers type?) secret agent. If the thought of Won-hie Lim doesn’t wet your appetite, well the supporting cast surely will.
Supporting cast features a troika of lovely South Korean actresses: Hyo-jin Kong (Happiness/M/Family Ties), the lovely Si-yeon Park (The Fox Family/A Love), and the wild and crazy Bo-ra Hwang (Shim’s Family/Radio Days). You might also to think to yourself whats a Seung-wan Ryoo film without the appearance of his brother Seung-beom Ryoo? Well fear not, Seung-beom Ryoo (Radio Days, Crying Fist, Arahan) also appears in the movie in a supporting role.
“Dachimawa Lee” was originally released as a short internet film back in 1998, directed by Seung-wan Ryoo and featuring Won-hie Lim and Seung-beom Ryoo. The 2008 version promises a lot of summertime fun & action on the level of “The Good, The Bad, and The Weird.” More about this film will be posted closer to release date.
Movie News, News |
Jun
23
2008
Sky of Love (Koizora)
Posted by luna6 | 3 Comments
Movie: Sky of Love / Koizora
Release Date: November 3, 2007
Country: Japan
Director: Natsuki Imai
Starring: Yui Aragaki, Haruma Miura
Runtime: 129 min
Editor Rating: 3.0
Users Rating: 7.86 (36 votes)
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Warning: If you are averse to ultra-sweet love stories, “Sky of Love” may be hazardous to your health. (think uncontrollable laughter all the way to the urge to upchuck your lunch). The film is based on a super popular mobile phone story that had a reported audience of 11 million Japanese readers. If true, I can just imagine all the packed Tokyo subway trains filled with commuters crying into their mobile phones while reading Koizora. Scary thought indeed.
In “Sky of Love” high schooler Mika has yet to encounter true love. She runs into Hiro, a rebel with white hair, during class break but is of put off by his unusual demeanor. Mika then loses her cellphone only to find it again with all her contacts deleted. Then a mysterious person calls her daily, serenading her with his witty observations. This does the trick and Mika is floored by this mysterious person. Finally, the person on the other end of the phone asks to meet Mika in person.
The next day Mika is shocked to learn the guy calling her daily is the punkish white hair kid she ran into earlier. Yet, it doesn’t take long before they become a couple and more. Tragedy soon strikes when Mika is raped by three guys, hired by Hiro’s ex girlfriend. This tragedy only strengthens Mika & Hiro’s bond and makes their relationship that much stronger. Then a few months later, Mika becomes pregnant with Hiro’s child. The teenage couple decide to have the baby and ask their parents to accept their marriage. But, things turn for the worse again when Mika has a miscarriage.
The next semester, Hiro inexplicably gives the cold shoulder to Mika. Mika even finds Hiro kissing another girl at a house party, in which she only learned about through a friend. When Mika confronts Hiro about his recent behavior, Hiro tells her that he wants to break up. The devastated Mika then wallows in isolated pity until she comes across nice guy Yu Fukuhara. Mika slowly opens up to Yu as they become closer. Before there relationship has a chance to develop further, Mika uncovers a startling secret about her first boyfriend Hiro.
“Sky of Love” starts out better than expected. Topics like rape and pregnancy are not what you normally expect in a saccharin sweet jun’ai pic, which worked in the movie’s favor. But, with the episodic nature of the original cell phone novel, the movie then quickly devolves into choppy chapter like segments riddled with every single cliche from its genre.
By the time the big secret is revealed towards the end of the film, most viewers will likely find that they just don’t care. During one particularly excruciating scene, I could only guess that there was a laundry bag of stinky socks placed under the hospital bed to make these parents produce such classic expressions of grief.
The film does feature two likable leads; Yui Aragaki and Haruma Miura. Yui Aragaki having impressed this reviewer in “Tokyo Serendipity,” does what she can to make the script passable for non-diabetics. Haruma Miura, burdened with a ludicrous blond mane and way too much makeup, still gives enough of a performance to make many teen girl’s heart flutter in glee. Visually, the film has the look of a daytime drama rather than a feature length film. This is likely due to director Natsuki Imai, having previously directed many popular Japanese television dramas like “Midnight Sun” and “Orange Days.”
For this reviewer at least, the end credits just couldn’t come soon enough. The film feels a lot longer than its runtime and literally moves in slow motion during its lengthy middle portion. What starts out as a promising “All About Lilly Chou-Chou” like film, degenerates quickly into a heap of ultra-sweet sentimental crud. If your craving a genuinely touching jun’ai pic you have a lot to choose from. Recent films like “Heavenly Forest,” “Tokyo Serendipity,” and “Rainbow Song” are all worthwhile and infinitely more enjoyable than “Sky of Love.” Now, excuse me while I go barf.
Cast:
Haruma Miura - Hiro Sakurai
Yui Aragaki - Mika Tahara
Keisuke Koide - Yu Fukuhara
Karina - Minako (Hiro’s sister)
Yuko Asano - Yasue Tahara (Mika’s mother)
Yosuke Asari - Nozomu
Yumi Asou - Akemi Sakurai
Aki Fukada - Saori Tahara
Haru - Aya
Aoi Nakamura - Nozomu