That Random Asian Girl: Movie

Showing posts with label Movie. Show all posts

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Vianna March 31, 2018 Review

Why You Should Watch Sakamichi ni Apollon before the Lent Season Ends

Are you someone who is into a slice of life with a coming of age story? Someone who wants to know what it’s like in the 60’s era? Someone who is into music? Want to reflect while binge-watching an anime guilt-free this lent (if you are a Christian/Catholic)? Okay mate, you are in the right place, here’s a series worthy of your time this lent and vacation—Sakamichi no Apollon/Kids on the Slope.

Sakamichi no Apollon is a Japanese manga series by Yuki Kodama, it ran from September 28, 2007, to July 28, 2012. An anime television series adaptation was aired last Spring of 2012 with 12-episodes. The live-action film opened last March 10 of 2018.

The story was set at the beginning of summer, 1966. Kaoro Nishimi, 1st-year high school student Kaoru Nishimi moves by himself from Yokosuka to Sasebo in Kyushu to live with relatives because of his father's job situation. Until then, Kaoru was an honor roll student who tended to keep to himself but meeting notorious "bad boy" Sentaro Kawabuchi starts to change him. Through his devil-may-care classmate, Kaoru learns how much fun it is to play jazz and finds the first person he can call a real friend. The two main hero might have a bad start but soon develop a cherished friendship, founded with love of music, love, and respect. //No, this is not Yaoi.// Now enter in Ritsuko Mukae, a girl with an important role that will complete the amazing trio.

Before anything else to those of you who don’t know what is lent. Lent is honoring the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ. Later on, you will know, why I personally recommend this series to those otaku honoring the lent.

Now, why you should watch this series? (especially before lent ends again)

1. STORY OF FRIENDSHIP.

The main element of the story is friendship. You will learn two or more (a lot) about cherishing friends. According to the series, UNLIKE LOVE AFFAIRS, FRIENDSHIP IS FOR LIFE.

2. SIMPLE YET UNFORGETTABLE ANIMATION

To be honest, the animation is really not exceptional however, it's very adorable and appealing there's is a unique taste in it

3. REMARKABLE MUSIC. YOU WILL APPRECIATE JAZZ MUSIC WITH THIS ANIME.

Need I say more? Listen to the music below. It was composed by no other than, Yoko Kanno!

4. THE TRIO AND THEIR BACKSTORIES.

Why is it always appealing to have a trio as main characters? Anyway, each of our main characters has a very unique backstory and it's amazing how the mangaka manages to merge their characteristics and came up with an amazing masterpiece. PLUS, SEN AND RITSUKO are Catholic Christians in the story.

5. THE ENDING | HIGHLIGHT FOR SPOILER // Father drummer!

I SWEAR TO GOD, IT HAS THE BEST ENDING OUT THERE!

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What are you waiting for? Binge-watch this anime now before Easter this year ends!

Monday, August 28, 2017

Vianna August 28, 2017 Review

Your Lie In April Live Action | Review and Feels

Your Lie in April or Shigatsu Wa Kimi no Uso Live Action film was released last year. It’s a story about a boy named Arima Kosei, a piano prodigy at a young age who always wins on all the piano competitions. Every child musicians knows him. But when his mother died, he had a mental breakdown and suddenly stops playing at the middle of a piano competition. The death of his mother has caused him not to hear music anymore even though his ears are perfectly fine. He psychologically acquired a hearing illness. Years later, she met the girl under the full-bloomed cherry blossoms who changed his life, Miyazono Kaori!

Kaori is a lively, pretty, free-spirited violinist who plays the way her personality reflects her. She made Arima played the piano again and led him back to the world of music and discovered that there is more to following every notes written on the score but rather playing by your heart on the stage being you.

This series has a very special place in my heart. I already poured my heart out writing a review about this when the manga ended and the anime series was still ongoing. I’ll be grabbing some points on my previous post but this will still be my impression with regards to the Live Action version.

The first frame of the anime and the live action are the same. It shows the blooming cherry blossom that gives off a very spring vibe, the season where the story starts.

I am not the type who compares from version to version. The manga is awesome in its entirety while the anime added surreal feelings. The live action itself is perfect in its own way. My goal here is just to point out the differences I have observed, it doesn’t reflect any views.

For me, the manga and anime has the most feels when it comes to love. I felt more love on manga and anime. In the live action I think it focuses more on the friendship. I think it was really hard to squeeze all the development that happened each character on the manga to the live action, so it’s really acceptable. I don’t know if the actors knew how to play but they are awesome on their instruments. It looks and feel so real.

Speaking of actors, I know how Yamazaki Kento is like everywhere, he’s been up to a lot of live action adaptation but I can’t get enough of him. One Yamazaki Kento, onegai. He’s a perfect Kosei. He played his character well.

With Kaori’s actress, Suzu Hirose, I thought that Kaori’s soul was with her. I’ve known her when she played one of my best heroine, Chihaya of Chihaya Furu. She’s a really versatile actress so no doubt she captured Kaori’s character well. Anna Ishii as Tsubaki is the bomb. She is like character straight out of the manga, the number, the character, her beauty is perfect. Taishi Nakagawa as Watari is awesome too. Hes handsome as Watari.

Overall, it was nonetheless a good adaptation even if some characters were not shown like Aizawa Takeshi and Emi Igawa. It brings the same lessons to me. Same sad feeling of how it ends. Same message it gives to the audience (or just my interpretation) which is to always be you. Play or do things with all your heart without minding the people around you, never do things half-heartedly because you will never know what might happen, what if the chances of redoing it will never come. Live everyday as if its your last day because you will never know what tomorrow brings. Cliché but its true. Do what you love, theres no excuse in doing what you really love. If theres a will, theres a way. No matter how frail your body is, even if your body is giving up but your mind and soul are pushing you, move forward.

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I highly recommended Your Lie in April Live Action Adaptation not only for the fans of the anime but to everyone. Emotion stirring story!

Friday, August 25, 2017

Vianna August 25, 2017 Recommendations

5 REASONS WHY WOLF CHILDREN IS A MUST-SEE ANIME FILM

BUY A COPY ON FUNIMATION HERE: Wolf Children Movie Blu-ray & DVD

Wolf Children (Japanese: おおかみこどもの雨と雪 / Ōkami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki / “Wolf Children Ame and Yuki”) is a 2012 Japanese animated film directed and co-written by Mamoru Hosoda. The film stars the voices of Aoi Miyazaki, Takao Osawa, Haru Kuroki and Yukito Nishii. The story follows a young mother who is left to raise two werewolf children after their werewolf father dies.

Wolf Children had its world premiere in Paris on June 25, 2012, and was released theatrically on July 21, 2012 in Japan. It is licensed by Funimation Entertainment in North America and was released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 23, 2013. It was screened in the UK at the end of October 2013 with a DVD and Deluxe Blu-ray/DVD edition from Manga Entertainment following on December 23, 2013.

After watching this masterpiece, I decided to list down the reason why you guys should watch this anime film.

1. REMARKABLE STORY TELLING

The sequence of the scenes were so stunning. The transition of the story is perfect. The story is utterly natural. No magical items or tradition nor fate and destiny denying scenes or any complicated whatsoever.

2. TENDER TALE WITH A MATURE THEME

Cute little children wolves are just so adorable you just want to swallow them whole yet in a serious note, the film is has some dark parts that become very heart-wrenching and would lead you to the feels land.

3. RELATABLE AND TOUCHING LIFE LESSONS

Every story has a lot of lessons to impart to the audience. This anime film will not only leave you sniffing but it will also give you a lot of lessons such as coming of age, single motherhood, resiliency, embracing your roots and acceptance of who you really are.

4. OUTSTANDING ANIMATION AND VISUALS

Seen a lot of awesome animation/visuals in anime films and Wolf Children is one of them. The artwork is simple but everything is photorealistically drawn and polish by a loving artist hands.

5. SHORT-LIVED ROMANCE AND EMOTIONAL CONTENT

Though the love story of Hana and the werewolf man was short and right after his death is where the story really starts, their story is simple and touching. Plus, the emotional scenes in the film amidst the adorable clips is two-thumbs up.

Bunos- The soundtrack, BG’s, score and music are also great! The ending song makes me wanna cry more.

Here’s the trailer:

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This anime film is a delightful family drama not just for anime fans but for everyone as well. I totally recommend this and if you have watched this film, tell me your thoughts on the comment section and let’s pat each others back!

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Vianna August 23, 2017 Review

Detective Conan : The Crimson Love Letter | Anime Movie Review

Another full-length Detective Conan movie was just out this year, this time it focuses on the romance between Hattori Heiji, the Great High School Detective from West, Conan/Kudo’s rival and best friend and Toyama Kazuha, Heiji’s childhood friend (sweetheart). It also features the world of competitive Karuta. The movie is the 21st from the Detective Conan Franchise. The film title is, Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter.

Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter is directed by Kobun Shizuno and produced at TMS Entertainment. The film was released in Japan last April 25, 2017 and now showing on selected SM Cinemas in the Philippines just yesterday July 19, 2017. Detective Conan is an ongoing manga series by Gosho Aoyama. It was serialized on 1994 and going strong until now.

The movie is set in Osaka, Heiji’s hometown. It started with a bloody murder which apparently the culprit’s face was not just a black shadow, it was revealed right there. While Mori Kugori is preparing for the interview, and the whole gang was tagging along, except for Sonoko who managed to have some exposure but was sick during the movie, a bomb threat is called in, forcing an evacuation, to everyone at the TV station. As the bomb detonated at Nichiuri TV during a Karuta Competition that was being held and shot at the said TV studio. Heiji and Kazuha were stuck inside and were saved by Conan just in time but this time neither the culprit nor the reason/motive was shown on the incident.

Momiji as shown on the mangax

After the bombing, Conan and the gang met, Momiji Ooka, a Karuta champion who will be Kazuha’s love rival, she already appeared recently in the latest Detective Conan manga chapter. Momiji claimed she was Heiji’s fiancée. A string of fate brought Kazuha and Momiji to face each other in a Karuta competition. That leads to Kazuha taking an intensive Karuta training with Shizuka, Heiji’s mother, who was a former Queen.

As Conan and Heiji investigates further, together with the Kyoto Police Department about all the incidents that happened they will unveil the secret connected to the Karuta Competition and the root of it all (as usual).

As a huge fan, I did not miss to grab my tickets as soon I found out that they are showing it at the nearest SM Cinema on my area. Every year there’s always a movie and it gets cooler every year. Though, even if you haven’t caught up with the series or the manga, The Crimson Love Letter is definitely a stand-alone story.

As someone who followed the series for almost a decade, the movie did a great job to get viewers, hardcore fan or not, into the story. I noticed the introduction part which is always present on every movie, they matched the visuals to the theme. Contrary to plots, mystery and the solving the issue from previous DC movies, The Crimson Love Letter is the straightforward type. All the golden eggs were given out and pieces of puzzles are all there, as someone like me who followed this series for almost a decade, you’ll just have to be keen to know what was really going on BUT there were some parts that was hidden and unpredictable which is classified information, so I encourage you to watch it on the big screen. The plot of the movie was really for the characters developments.

I find the dialogues hilarious as well and very well written. I can hear fellow fangirls laughing out loud. The actions scenes was there and as usual, Conan and Heiji will always do the impossible, jumping from buildings to buildings and such.

What made me excited about this movie is the involvement of Karuta. From the time this movie was announced and saw the trailer, I know this movie will be a bomb. I felt all the Chihayafuru feels upon hearing some poem lines on this movie. Though it features Karuta, the movie was not generous enough to explain some terms and jargons about this competitive sport. Thanks to Chihayafuru, which was a really good series by the way, I can relate to all those Karuta terms and whatnot.

Major spoiler alert (highlight if you want to read): To be honest, I am not convinced that Kazuha could go to the championship match. If you have seen Chihayafuru, Karuta is really not that easy. And for Kazuha to win those matches she must be a genius and the Karuta Gods are with her during all the matches.

Anyway, to sum it all up, Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter is a very enjoyable, hilarious, rom-com to watch. If you are expecting that there’s SHINRAN moments, please don’t. I think this movie was really to highlight, HEIZUHA OTP. Since the movie was set in Heiji’s hometown, there a lot of kansai accents, eargasm, ah. There’s a live action version of Kazuha and Momiji at the credits, it was really short but looks so cool, look forward to it. Professor Agasa’s quiz is there. Always wait for the ending credits to finish, please. A true Detective Conan fan will wait for the movie or even an episode at the end.

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To conclude and lesson learned, one should use always say the right words at the right time to avoid misunderstanding. It’s very logical but in relation to the movie as to why, see it for yourself. Let’s support and watch it legally so they will continue to screen our beloved anime movie specials here on the Philippines.