CROWS ZERO 3 Movie Review

Title: CROWS ZERO EXPLODE

AKA: CROWS ZERO 3

Genre: Action, Delinquents, School

Origin: Japan

Release Date: April 12, 2014

Cast: Higashide Masahiro, Saotome Taichi, Katsuji Ryo, Nagayama Kento and Yagira Yuya.

This movie is a sequel to CROWS ZERO 2, and the third movie in the series.

Kaburagi Kazeo (Masahiro Higashide) is a new transfer student at Suzuran High School. As he arrives he witness’ a fight between the current TOP Goura Toru (Yagira Yura) and another student. The fight is interrupted by Kagami Ryohei (Saotome Taichi) who arrogantly announces he will be the TOP. While commotion is going on, Kazeo refuses to fight but knocks out a student whose attacking him, with a single punch.

Former mobster Katagiri Ken (Yabe Kyosuke) encounters Makise Takashi (Takahashi Tsutomu) and while the two converse Makise offers Ken to work at the mechanics shop with him. It is soon revealed that Ken used to work for Ryohei’s father, who was the head of the gang, and had helped take care of Ryohei when he was little.

Due to issues at home, and some bad influence by drop-out from other schools, Ryohei decides to rein havoc at both schools, and Ken’s new gig. At the same time, Kazeo is refusing to fight, even though he might be the strongest amongst the students…

I gotta apologize for the summary, I really tried not to spoil, but it is very hard to explain this movie.

If I were to compare the movie with the other two I have to say it’s not as good, and I honestly can’t blame it on the cast. This movie is bad because of the story. Very little focus is used on the relationships between the characters, and they used way too much time on Makise and Ken. I know that they tried to give a bit back to the fans of the series, but with an entire new cast, I kind of felt that I never really got to know the new characters. It is hard to trump the originals I agree, but they didn’t give them much space to grow tbh.

Though the layout of the school was much better, and the quality of the surrounding was better - but still isn’t good of the overall doesn’t work. I mean they did try to go all out, but the ended up having too much.

On the other note, I admit it was refreshing having a new cast, and new storylines. I like that it was much ‘lighter’ as in actually being able to see the scenes - for example: the mob and the bars, which were so dark before… I guess the got a new scenographer… Or whatever it’s called…

All in all, okay movie, but not close to the originals.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Aogeba Toutoshi Review

Title: Aogeba Toutoshi

AKA: Brass Dreams

Genre: School, Music, Delinquents

Episodes: 8

Broadcast period: 2016-Jul to 2016-Sept

Cast: Terao Akira, Tabe Mikako, Mackenyu, Nijiro Murakami, Anna Ishii and many others…

Hikuma Koichi (Terao Akira) is a music teacher, strongly believing in involving all is students in all the performances they make, no matter how well they play. After having troubles with the music club Kanagawa Public Misaki High School invites Koichi to help them, in order to join the national competition. Soon Koichi notices the biggest problem of the club: the five members that don't want to return. The five had been a band, but due to other students ruining their performance, the five end up leaving everything that involves music. Because of their attire (being delinquents), no one wants them to return... except Koichi, who makes it his mission to get them back, and have all the students play at the contest. But it is not easy, as the five firmly refuse to return. How will it turn out?

Again, I apologize of the summary: I recommend you watch the trailer.

After watching almost every single Yankee drama out there, I kind of missed the genre. I tend to re- watch old ones, so this was a nice drama to come by, as it is new and fresh. I didn’t want another Gokusen, and this drama wasn’t like that.  Yes, there were Yankees, and a teacher “believing-in-the-students-and-so-forth”, but this one is a bit different. It felt a bit “heavy” as in quite an amount of emotions, I didn’t expect to feel. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster, I wasn’t ready for it. The cast was good too, much better than the average Japanese youngsters/newbie actors, so that contributed too.

The overall story was real, and I think this is one of those that is underrated, if you ask me.

All in all, a fine drama, with great cast, and decent story.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Shut up flower boy band Review

Title: Shut Up Flower Boy Band
AKA: Flower Boy Band: Eye Candy & Dakchigo Kkotminam Band
Genre: Youth, romance, drama
Episodes: 16
Broadcast period: 2012-Jan-30 to 2012-Mar-20
Cast: Sung Joon, L, Lee Hyun Jae, Kim Min Suk, Yoo Min Kyu, Lee Min Ki, Jung Ui Chl, Jo Bo Ah, Kim Ye Rim, Kim Jung Min . . .

The 6 friends and member of a boy band group, Eye Candy, have to transfer into the prestigious Jungsang High School, which they arent exactly happy for. In their school they are known as the group nobody should mess with because they wont hesitate kicking your ass. When Byung Hee, the leader of the group, finds out his muse, a girl he has fallen for, goes to the school he decides that they should transfer anyway. However it doesnt go as easy as they might have thought. At the school they meet their rival, another band called Strawberry Fields. Now it all starts, the fight for their friendship and passion for playing music.

Writing review for this drama is so extremely hard because I really dont want to ruin anything for you guys!.
This drama is my kind of drama. Period. Lol.. It's got it all I love, the delinquents, the fights, the friendship and all !At first I really didnt know whether to love or hate this drama. I seriously cried after the first two episodes and didnt want to watch anymore. But I couldnt not watch it. The characters are great, the story is great, I even loved the ending! I really couldnt figure out a happy ending because it was all so sad but I loved it. One weird thing is that it somehow felt like a low-budget drama(technically). I dont know why, it just seemed that way, maybe its just me, lets see what Bunji thinks. It wasnt too long either, it reminded me of japanese drama a bit, maybe because the episodes were same length. Anyway I cant write more without spoiling. I extremely major recommend this one if you like delinquent dramas :D

☆☆☆☆½ / 4.5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4.5 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict
This could have been an amazing drama, but of course they had to add a stuffy romance in it. I’m seriously annoyed with these love stories, like since when do kids think so deeply about stuff, omg… Maybe that’s why they chose such that way, but really I’m sick of these stupid “have to” separations. Even though I get WHY they split, I don’t get WHY had to announce it… Eish, and continuously those 2 boys loving one girl, stuffy!

Anyways, this is heartbreaking, heck GROUNDBREAKING actually, except for that typical romance part. I honestly believe it could have been more amazing if it wasn’t such a big part of the drama, just added a bit more, relations either with family or the guys, anything could have beaten it. Of course they should be romance, I’m not saying otherwise, but too much man, just too much…

Still my rating is focused on the overall drama, and that cool ending, any other ending would’ve just been too… Hollywood…

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts