Eight Ranger Movie Review

Title: Eight Ranger

Genre: Action, Comedy, Superhero

Origin: Japan

Release date: July 28, 2012

Cast: Kanjani8 (Yokoyama Yu, Shibutani Subaru, Murakami Shingo, Maruyama Ryuhei, Yasuda Shota, Nishikido Ryo and Okura Tadayoshi), Tachi Hiroshi, Becky and Higashiyama Noriyuki.

The year is 2035 and the Japanese population is about 75mio. Due to the low birthrates, the economy decreases and as a result the country is divided in two: the poor and the wealthy. The rich live in the central city protected by the law, whereas the rest is left to fend for themselves. Whether or not you are to live in the upperpart or lower part is determined when the child is 6 years old: they take a test, and if you pass you are allowed to live in the city with your family, if not, you don’t have a choice but to live outside.

Yokomine Makoto (Yokoyama Yu) failed the test as a kid, and now lives outside the central city. Addicted to gambling he is hunted by loan sharks daily. That is until he meets Captain Silver, a superhero who saves people in need. He then decides to go to ‘Academy for superheroes’, in order to become one himself, but also earn money. Here he meets 6 other people whom he is told he is going to be the leader of, and realizes that all 6 have debts, which is the reason for joining the academy: Marunouchi Shogo (Murakami Shingo), who is addicted to online shopping. Yasuhara Shun (Yasuda Shota) who is addicted to the color blue, and spends all his money on blue items. Nishikino Tetsuro (Nishikido Ryo) who was part of a one-wonder band, and lives believing he is famous. Okawa Ryosuke (Okura Tadayoshi) a naïve guy believing everyone, and falls for every scam. Shibusawa Kaoru (Shibutani Subaru) an alcoholic. And Muraoka Suki (Murakami Shingo) who is desperate for a girlfriend, he spends all his money on beauty salons.

As the criminal world begins to steal children off the streets, and the police are unable to do anything, the superheroes of the Academy of Superheroes’ called Eight Rangers are set out to save everyone. But for some reason the group of 8 don’t all seem like superheroes… Can these so called ‘heroes’ save the world?

I’ve recently started to watch Kanjani8 because of the laughs they give me on Japanese variety, even though I have watched Nishikido’s dramas and some of Yokoyama’s, I never really watched them together. J-idols are really good at acting together, expecially of they are in the same group, so I simply had to watch this.

Kanjani8 are known as fools, or ‘funny’ group, and really I didn’t expect any coolness out of this movie, so this was quite what you’d want to watch if you are a fan. It is light-hearted, and a bit silly to be honest, but that doesn’t make it any less good. It has a childish feature, so I guess some of the targeted audience is children.

Besides that I had quite the laughs, like due to the different colors of the actors I already knew, but also the interesting characters I got to know. So, yeah a fun movie.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Yorou Uranaidokoro Omyoya e Yokoso Review

Title: Yorozu Uranaidokoro Onmyoya e Yokoso

AKA: Welcome to fortune teller Omyoya

Genre:  Mystery

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2013-Oct to 2013-Dec

Theme song: Kokoro Sora Moyo by Kanjani8

Cast: Nishikido Ryo, Kurashina Kana, Chinen Yuri and Kashiwagi Yuki.

The people in the shopping district of Oji, a town in the Kita-ward in Tokyo are a group of close knitted busybodies who help each other out in every way they can, and rarely face any issues or problems. That all changes when a man called Abeno Shomei (Nishikido Ryo) opens a fortune telling store in the heart of the shopping district. On the first day of opening Sawazaki Midori (Minamino Yoko) a huge fan of the supernatural and her son Shunta (Chinen Yuri) visit the store, and as the fortune telling goes on Shunta calls Shomei a fraud and punches him, breaking an expensive ornament. When Shomei notices something in Shunta he tells them that he can pay off the broken ornament by working at the shop.

Shortly after the entire shopping district is against Shomeis store because they are sure of Shomei being a fraud. But for some reason Shomei is able to solve people’s problems, and for weirdly enough everything about Shomei seems of. What is he doing there, and what does he really want?

This is one of those nice dramas that get you hooked immediately. Not that it is all exciting, but it makes you kind of interested and you feel like the drama has an honest approach, even though it is fantasy. Honestly these kinds of dramas make me remember why I love jdrama more than any other kind of dramas. The cast was great and even though half were only there for comic relief, the other half did a good job. Nishikido Ryo is awesome as always, and watching Chinen all grown up made me happy.

I’m trying to keep all the cards for myself, so if you think about watching this I won’t say more. It is recommendable :D

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Inu wo Kau to Iu koto Review

Title: Inu wo Kau to Iu koto

Genre: Family

Episodes: 9

Broadcast period: 2011-Apr to 2011-Jun

Theme song: My Home by Kanjani8

Cast: Nishikido Ryo, Mizukawa Asami, Kuge Kokoro and Yamasaki Ryutaro.

This story is about the Hongo family: the father Hongo Yuuji (Nishikido Ryo), the mother Hongo Sachiko (Mizukawa Asami), the son Hongo Masaru (Yamasaki Ryutaro) and the narrator, the daughter and youngest Hongo Mako (Kuge Kokoro).

Yuuji works as a salary man, and has a hard time, getting all the dirty work by requiring the resignations from factory workers - which mostly ends up with him kneeling, or the one people vent their anger on. Sachiko is a housewife, but also works part-time several places in order for the family to survive. Though poor, the family is scraping money in order to take a family trip, by saving pennies.

One day Mako sees a stray dog that keeps returning to the same spot, abandoned by his owner. She ends up saving the dog from dog catchers and decides to bring it home. And changes the family for good…

This is one cute family drama! It has all the real-life issues that people have a hard time dealing with, and surprisingly very educational - not in the teaching aspect, but more of an inspirational characteristic… I honestly have a weird feeling that Nishikido Ryo has some secret family somewhere and he is preparing all his fans by making them watch all these family dramas, so that they won’t be shocked to see him with family. Besides that this drama has great actors, the kids even, which made it more enjoyable. The dog in this drama wasn’t the complete focus, yet part of the bigger picture.

Overall pretty enjoyable!

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

JOKER Yurusarezaru Sosakan

Title: Joker Yurusarezaru Sosakan

English Title: Unforgiving Investigators

Genre: Crime

Episodes: 10 + SP

Broadcast period: 2010-Jul to 2010-Sep

Cast: Sakai Masato, Anne and Nishikido Ryo

This drama follows the saying: “If you want to beat a monster, you have to become like it”.

Known as ‘Saint Date’ Date Kazuyoshi (Sakai Masato) is a senior police officer who is disliked by his fellow officers, not because of his character, but because of his personality. His ‘never-angry’ attitude, gives off a unreliable feel, which is different than most police officers. That is something Miyagi Asuka (Anne) can agree on: joining the police as a newcomer and getting Saint Date as her mentor is not something she wished for. Also the only person who seems to actually like Date is Kudo Kenji (Nishikido Ryo) a forensic, who’s actually good at his job, except his unprofessional ways over shine his work.

The story is about the injustice that happens too very often and the question whether or not it’s okay to take law in your own hands.

When I started the drama I had a bad gut feeling, and you really need a strong gut for this one. Not in the blood/gore/dissection kind, but the feeling helpless and confused leaves you really without words. Even though the drama gets a twist and stuff, and somehow doesn’t only focus on the stories of the victimized families, you sort of end up thinking: Is this really okay? Like I was all confused in the end, like I had no clue what to think of it, and when the twist came, instead of feeling anger or sadness, I felt..  frustrated. I don’t know how to explain, but the leads that died, died for nothing really, even though they tried to do the right thing… Omg, sorry, don’t want to spoil this for you! Heheh…

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Zenkai Girl Review

Title (romaji): Zenkai Girl

Tagline (English): No money, no education, a star of good-looking guys? A guy like that is out of the question, right?
Genre: Romantic comedy, Family
Episodes: 11
Broadcast period: 2011-Jul to 2011-Sep
Ending song: Tsubusa ni Koi by Kanjani8
Cast: Aragaki Yui and Nishikido Ryo

Ayukawa Wakaba (Aragaki Yui) has since young dreamt of being not only rich but strived to be number one in everything. After getting top score in the finals in law school, she had been admitted to one of the biggest law firms in Japan: only to find out it is going bankrupt. Frantic, and unable to believe that she, Ayukawa Wakabe, doesn’t have a job, she starts to make calls. In a state of panic, she is soothed when she gets a job offer in another large firm. When she arrives she is accepted, only to find out it is as the nanny of the chairman’s 5 year old daughter. Unable to be left defeated and afraid of being jobless, she accepted, in hopes of getting the chairman’s acceptance. Already in the beginning she is met with hostility from the girl, who seems a lot smarter than her average age. In the kindergarten she meets Yamada Shota (Nishikido Ryo), a kind hearted and good looking guy, who is the full time dad, of a 5 year old boy in the same kindergarten. This meeting destined meeting changes both of them, in terms of dreams, hope and love…

Most defiantly one of my favorite dramas so far! I did enjoy every minute of this drama, even though it has ALL the typical clichés, it somehow has greatness over itself. I can’t really explain it. Somehow real? All the relationships, the scenes, and the dialogues were authentic somehow. It has a  fresh feel to it, even though I kept thinking of Nishikido from his drama ‘Last Friends’, but he manages to shake it of him, in a way I became ‘Nishikido'd’, hahah.. Absolutely love it. I mostly recommend it :)

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

1 litre of tears Review

Title: 1 litre of tears
AKA: 1 litre no namida / Ichi Rittoru no Namida / A Diary with Tears
Genre: Human, family, romance, school
Episodes:11
Broadcast period: 2005-Oct-11 to 2005-Dec-20
Cast: Sawajiri Erika, Yakushimaru Hiroko, Nishikido Ryo, Jinnai Takanori, Narumi Riko, Fujiki Naohito, Koide Saori, Sanada Yuma, Miyoshi Ai, Matsuyama Kenichi ...

The 15-year-old Ikeuchi Aya (Sawajiri Erika) has just been accepted to High School and is living her life fully, always being positive and having an active life. But then destiny strikes. She notices that her body slowly doesnt function right. Her body often doesnt register the moves she wants to make. She finds out that she has a disease called spinocerebellar degeneration. A disease that has no cure. She will slowly not be able to walk, speak, write and even eat. But Ikeuchi stays positive and is determined to never give up and fight till the last breath. And so she continues to go to school but will face a lot of difficulties as even her friends at some point cannot offer more of themselves in order to help her. But she has one great support. Which is her friend Asou Haruto (Nishikido Ryo), he is there for her and makes her forget that she has a disease.

I watched the movie a long time ago and i got one thing to say : Watch the drama! , haha the drama was so much better than the movie. You cannot not cry while watching it. I definitely recommend it. I like the whole story, the plot and also the actor i think were suited for it. Nishikido Ryo, at start it was kinda awkward, weird. But he is actually quiet good. The whole drama is really like inspiration for other people and kicks ur conscience hahah. Okay its really short. I dont know what to say. But its just a great drama with a great message !

☆☆☆☆½ / 4.5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict
This drama is one of my first. I got it recommended, so I gave it a shot, and I have to admit it was worth my time. It's well written, emotional and somewhat relatable. The actors are perfect for their roles and their chemistry is great, though it's a little to sudden(I think if they knew each other earlier on, it would have been more interesting), but heck. There isn't much negative here, so there isn't much to say about it :)
All in all, great watch ^^

☆☆☆☆½ / 4.5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide Review

Title: Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide
AKA: Dont forget about Niini
Genre: Family, human drama
Broadcast date: 2009-Aug-29
Cast: Nishikido Ryo, Tanaka Rena, Yamada Ryosuke, Shirakawa Yumi, Kuroki Hitomi and Jinnai Takanori.

Kawai Keisuke, Niini (Nishikido Ryo) has just been accepted to a high school and is celebrating with his family, his mother, father, younger brother and grandmother. They are sitting by the table and talking about Niini's future. After high school he wants to study at Tokyo University. He is a young boy who absolutely loves to study and is always aiming high when it comes to school. But that night as he is sitting by his table and is studying for school, suddenly he isnt seeing clearly, his head hurts, he cant hold his pencil and he starts shaking. Then he falls down on the floor. His mother hears some noise so she checks upon him cause she noticed earlier that he had a headache. When she comes into his room she sees him lying on the ground and shaking. Niini wakes up at the hospital. He notices that his parents are hiding something from him. He later on finds out, he got a brain tumor. So now his life is turned upside down. He is forced to skip first year of high school to get treatment. After a year the tumor has disappeared and Niini starts at the high school. But there is still a possibility that the tumor might return. And it sure does. 3 years later. Just as he is about to go to Tokyo Uni. He again has to fight against the tumor,, again and again. And he gets frustrated. So one day he run back home from the hospital. He goes into his room and the first thing he does is take a huge book and smash the window. He totally freaks out on the room. Ruins everything. And his mother comes in tries to stop him and he (freaking) punches his mother in the face!!!! . But then he decides to go to the hospital and fight against the disease.

*Sob, sob* . It actually made me cry!!. And think .. A lot.. Like what do u tell a person who is dying when they say "u dont knw how i feel!" and when they ask "why did this happen to me? why me when i have dreams. why not some other guy who's got no purpose in life?" and "i dont knw who i am anymore. what am i supposed to do".. aayyaaaaaa.. Seriously there is like nothing u can say that is going to make that person feel any better. Its the same question they ask and people are never able to give an answer. So i was actually surprised by this movie/sp drama. it made me thnk about stuff like that. and it must be hard to work at the hospital when people start thinking like that. like why exactly did it happen to them, u cant really answer that. In this drama Niini kept saying "U just keep telling me those empty words: Do ur best aso" but what can u else do. Sit down start crying with them. That wouldnt help much too. But anyway this drama is like mostly about not giving up on helping even though the one that needs help doesnt want it. And the best help is probably just being by their side and making them smile, that way it will be a little less hard for them to get through the day. And omo not to mention the time where the mother says "Hit me! i dont care! i will keep on saying "do ur best!"" and he freaking punches her!! in the face!!! his mother!!! But the reason i watched this was of course because of Ryo-Chan ! I thnk i got a crush on him >.<

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥/ 5 out of 5 hearts

Attention Please Review

Title: Attention Please
Genre: Comedy
Episodes: 11 (+ 2 specials)
Broadcast period: 2006-Apr-18 to 2006-Jun-27
Cast: Ueto Aya, Nishikido Ryo, Maya Miki, Aibu Saki, Uehara Misa, Koizumi Kotaro, Aso.

Misaki Yoko (Ueto Aya -Azumi) is a boyish girl, she grew up with 3 brothers and is the lead singer in a rock band. But because one her 4 boy friends has to move to tokyo the band breaks up. Misaki had started liking the boy who is leaving and he tells her as some cabin attendants pass by that he would like to see her in a cabin attendant's uniform. This 'inspires' Misaki to become a cabin attendant. But it is not going to be easy. She talks, walks, eats, dresses different than all the other cabin attendants. And so she is being made fun of and people doubt that she will ever become a cabin attendant. But that just makes her wanna become one even more. So she starts working hard at the 'cabin attendant school' at the airport and there she also becomes friends with two other girls from her class, a pilot trainee and an engineer. She also starts developing feelings towards the engineer even though one of her friends are trying to confess to him, well she cant control her feelings and the other girl is always hesitating. But the engineer turns the girl down when she confesses cause he too got feelings for Misaki. Well Misaki has to go through tough training and it takes a while before she can become a real cabin attendant but in the end it is all worth it.

FUN FUN FUN !! Again i choose to watch a comedy. Tanashgataaa ..! Lots and lots of fun. So much fun watching Ueto Aya with this kind of role. Im used to seeing her slaughter people ahahahha. But she was so much fun in this drama. Omg and not to mention Nishikido Ryo.. I think this is my first drama with him in it.. if im not wrong. But omg i liked it! he is so cool ^^ . Seriously watching this drama i laughed so much. Even though its like a 'serious "job drama" ' it couldnt have been more fun. Ueto Aya is also a great actress. I think actually it was only her who had a 'funny' role. All the others were really serious while she was 'gokusen kinda??' i dont knw why it reminds me of gokusen.. Maybe because of those moments when the actor turns to the camera and makes funny comments and funny faces. Well, to me, those kinda dramas always rate high ..

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict
This drama has you keeping a smile all the way trough. From her clumsiness to her bickering relationship with the engineer it's huge fun and cuteness. This drama actually made me like Ueto Aya, and made me love Ryo even more. Actually I fell head over heels for him, because of this drama. I still remember, even though it's years back since I watched this drama, the scene where he tells Aya about his wish to become a pilot, but it wasn't possible because of his eyes, some sort of small problem, which didn't make him blind, it just didn't allow him to become a pilot. My baby it’s okay, so sad and AMAZINGLY acted. I wish that some other J.E would act that way (hint: Kamenashi) Lols, okay he did good acting in YNSH, but that was the script that made THAT scene amazing, whereas the scene Ryo did is his all the way :)
And Jenji, out of all dramas, GOKUSEN?! Eiish..

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Orthros no Inu Review

Titel: Orthros no Inu
AKA: Dog of Orthros
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Episodes: 9
Broadcast period: 2009-Jul-24 to 2009-Sep-25
Theme song: "Hikari Hitotsu" by Takizawa Hideaki
Cast: Takizawa Hideaki, Nishikido Ryo, Mizukawa Asami, Yaotome Hikaru and many more...

This drama is about two completely different people, having one thing in common, they have a special ability. Aoi Ryosuke (Nishikido Ryo) is hardworking and serious teacher, with a strong feeling for justice. His life changes one day, as his student, Shirakawa Kana (Haru), overhears two guys, Kumakiri Masaru (Yaotome Hikaru) and friend, discuss a murder . She confines herself to Aoi, who tells her, that it would be hard to prove anything without evidence, but tells her not to worry. Soon after that, Shirakawa tries to get evidence, ending up in coma.
A detective undercover, Hasebe Nagisa (Mizukawa Asami) tails the drugs, and ends up at a party, where Kumakiri is selling drugs. She ends up being almost killed, but is saved by Aoi, who by touch kills the friend of Kumakiri. Aoi then tries to turn himself in, but the police cant lock him up, because of lacking evidence, and the fact, that it cant hold in court. They end up calling it, "The Devils hand".
At a point Hasebe hears about a man talking about "The Devils Hand" and meets Ryuzaki Shinji (Takizawa Hideaki) who is a convict, in jail. She soon finds out that his hand is "The Gods Hand", that it is able to heal every sickness or wound. By that Hasebe gets the idea to let "The Devils Hand" meet "The Gods Hand" and the story finally takes a huge turn...

I can say i really enjoyed this drama. I have a tendency to guess the ending of a drama before it begins, but this time, even though I sort a guessed some of the twists, I really was blown away by many of them. Takizawa is brilliant as the "demon-with-healing-powers" and Nishikido as "angel-with-demonic-powers". Makes you wonder, whats worse? Killing a person or not healing a person? The ONLY negative (but it still is a big one) is the ending. You would usually, in every drama have the main characters change either their bad habits or become different, bad or good. In this drama I seem to have, missed something out, because, I didnt really see the difference in the end. Or a different enviorment.. But all in all.. A total worth of watch!!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts