HERO Movie Review

Title: Hero

Genre: Legal, Crime

Broadcast date: September 8, 2007

Origin:  Japan

Cast: Kimura Takuya, Matsu Takako, Abe Hiroshi, Lee Byung Hun, Otsuka Nene, Katsumura Masanou, Kohinata Fumiyo, Yashima Norito and Ayase Haruka.

After the entire incident with the Kimura family on Yamaguchi Island, Kuryu Kohei (Kimura Takuya) returns to the Josai branch in Tokyo, and teams up with his former colleagues and former paralegal Amamiya Maiko (Matsu Takako) who is not forgiving Kohei for not keeping his promises to her.

When homicide case lands on Kuryus desk after another prosecutor has personal business to take care of, Kuryu is shocked when the accused pleads not guilty after having plead guilty before. That being a common thing for prosecutors they decides to not think too much of it, but soon they find out that there is so much more going on behind the homicide. And for some reason the secretary of a former minister is helping the accused…

Compared to the drama and the special the movie has a bigger focus on actual court room situations, which happens after indication of suspects. And to be honest it kind of gives a better idea of how capacious a prosecutor’s work actually is. Also compared to the other cases this one is kind of a bigger scale type of case, and involves all the prosecutors, which yeah we do see in the drama and special, but here it really goes all the way, and I like that the original cast is in it. Besides that I would’ve liked them to make it a bit faster, it really goes on a slow pace. Of course there are tense moments but there are way too many of those quiet and dull moments they could have cut out or replaced.

But all in all a good movie that you could watch with ease…

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

HERO SP Review

Title: Hero SP

Genre: Legal, Crime

Broadcast date: 03 Jul 2006

Cast: Kimura Takuya, Tsutsumi Shinichi, Ayase Haruka, Suzuki Kosuke and Bengaru.

Five years after being transferred from the Josai branch, Kuryu Kohei (Kimura Takuya) is relocated to Yamaguchi: a town that is practically owned by the Kimura family. In the office he is put together with a paralegal who’s not only uptight, but is called a ‘weirdo’ by his coworkers as he rarely does anything that can be called social.

When a murder occurs in small town Yamaguchi, people are shocked to find out that the towns favorite Takida is arrested. Takida works for the Kimura family, and is liked by people more than the son of the founder. So everyone in the office refuse to take on the case as they most defiantly will be hated by the towns people for prosecuting him. The case is eventually given to Kuryu and as thorough as he is he decides to look at the case from every single angle..

Hmm, I liked it better than the drama, but that is only because they kept the originality yet had it be quite more ‘modern’. I was worried that I would be bored since the other actors weren’t there but it kind of refreshed everything and made it quite funny. Though I didn’t expect that kind of outcome of the SP, I have to admit I was entertained most of the time. So kind of worth it, and if you have watched the drama, the SP is kind of a must in this.

All in all, quite good.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

The Incite Mill Movie Review

Title: The Incite Mill
AKA: 7 Days Death Game
Genre:  Psychological thriller

Origin: Japan
Release date:  16 October 2010

Cast: Fujiwara Tatsuya, Ayase Haruka, Hirayama Aya and Ishihara Satomi.

While searching for a well-paid part-time job, Satoshihisa Yuki (Fujiwara Tatsuya) meets Suwamei Shoko an OL, who tells him about a job that pays 112,000 yen pr. hour, in seven days, meaning 16 million in a week. Mesmerized by Shoko, Yuki agrees to the job, and together with Shoko and 8 other people, he is taken to a place called “Ankikan”.

The ten people are informed that they will be monitored 24 hours a day for 7 days straight in a psychological experiment, under lockdown: so basically they can’t escape. They are informed of rules: firstly they have to be in their rooms by 10 pm. Secondly when a crime happens they have to solve it, and if they figure out the criminal, they have to vote whether or not to imprison him. Lastly, the game finishes after 7 days or when two survivors are left. Paranoia starts, but they agree on mutual trust, until one of them if found dead the next morning…

One crazy ass movie! What the… Yeah, I did expect a lot of the things that did happen, but seriously? What’s up with Japanese and their enjoyment in seeing people murder each other! Man! Lol, and Fujiwara seems to like these kinds of movies, since he is mainly acting in that type of movies! Haha.. But that’s why we love him, right? :P Anyways, I liked it, had crumbles in my tummy and I actually had to stop several times, since it became just too freaky for me… Like, stop and walk around for a minute, and continue watching. Phew!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

JIN 2 Review

Title: Jin 2
Genre: Sci-fi, medical, time-slip
Episodes: 10 (ep 10 in 2 parts)
Broadcast period: 2011-Apr to 2011-Jun
Cast: Osawa Takao, Ayase Haruka, Koide Keisuke, Nakatani Miki, Uchino Masaaki and Saburi Kenta.

Two years have passed, and Mikata Jin (Osawa Takao) is still stuck in the Edo period, not knowing how to return home. The Jinyu-do is progressing their penicillin manufacturing and people are starting to have more and more faith in his capabilities, now the question is, WHY has he been sent back and CAN he really change history? Ryoma has started his movement against the Tokugawa Shogunate, which is worrying Jin, and the fact that Ryoma’s assassination is closing by isn’t really helping the case. His relationship with Saki (Ayase Haruka) gets more interesting, and the medical world around him is starting to see the Jinyu-do as an eye sore.

One word: Epic! Woaah, I seriously got chills while watching th first few episodes, and as the assassination was to happen I was getting more and more nervous (mainly because I wanted to see who killed Sakamoto Ryoma, since we don't really know in real life). I loved the aftermath too, the entire why did this happen, and this. On the other hand, it was getting REALLY confusing! I think it was because I'm not Japanese, so I wasn't really getting it all, like you would if you had it in school. But on the other hand, it really is neat. Totally me, also because I LOVE history, especially Japanese history. Don't take it wrongly; it's good even if you aren't a history freak like me. The acting, cast and not to mention the amazing storyline is phenomenal.. definatly a worth watch, highly recommended..

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Jin Review

Title: Jin
Genre: Sci-fi, medical, jidaigeki
Episodes: 11
Broadcast period: 2009-Oct-11 to 2009-Dec-20
Cast: Osawa Takao, Ayase Haruka, Koide Keisuke, Nakatani Miki, Uchino Masaaki, Saburi Kenta ...

Minakata Jin is a brain surgeon, most people at the hospital pity him though because for two years his fiancée, on whom he performed surgery has been in a vegetative state. He is at the hospital most of the time even sleeps there and is known as the one who wouldnt mind taking other people's shifts. But one day something occurs. After having performed surgery on a man whose identity is unknown, as the man tries to escape after waking up Minakata Jin chases after him and accidently falls. When he wakes up he is to find himself in a whole other era, the Edo period. As he is walking around he saves a man from a samurai family and he then lives with that family while he tries to figure out what happened to him.

So ive heard a lot of about this drama and i decided to check it out. For the first 20 minutes of first episode i though i would give up on the drama right away but then the action starts and as you can see like all the operations in the Edo period and all you become paralyzed. The drama gets really awesome and interesting but the weird little foster thing is just creepy and i still dont get it. Also the ending is just GAH! its not a real ending its just like another episode ending and you dont get any answers you just have to watch season 2. But i guess that's what they wanted. But still AH! . The drama did get just a little boring in the end. Or not boring but just like, come on give me the answer already. The operations though and everything else was fine and awesome to watch.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥/ 4 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict
Defiantly a favourite! Lol, but seriously, this drama is good, didn’t really expect much when watching it (watched it as it aired), but it’s so freaking good made! Like I wonder HOW much money is used, bet at least couple of millions. The dialogues, screen-play and not to mention story, terrific, and makes you wonder and ponder. Like Jenji said, you have no clue how and what, and simply have to watch the second season. Totally recommendable!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥/ 4 out of 5 hearts

Aikurushii Review

Title: Aikurushii
AKA: Sweet
Genre: Family, romance
Episodes: 11
Broadcast period: 2005-Apr to 2005-Jun
Cast:Takenaka Naoto, Harada Mieko, Ichihara Hayato, Ayase Haruka, Kamiki Ryunosuke, Matsumoto Rina, Sugiura Naoki, Shiho, Hongo Kanata, Oguri Shun and Sawajiri Erika

This drama revolves around the Mashiba family of 7: Tetsuo, the loud father (Takenaka Naoto), Meiji, the free-spirited grandfather (Suginara Naoki), Yumi, the sick mother (Harada Mieko), Michiru, the clumsy oldest sister (Ayase Haruka), Go, the ‘almost’ yankee brother (Ichihara Hayato), Horo, the strong kid (our narrator)(Kamiki Ryunsuke), and Uta, the cry-baby youngest little sister (Matsumoto Rina). Horo has never cried before, or to say he doesn’t know how to, so as his mother becomes sick, and everyone starts to cry, he finds himself in a situation where he doesn’t know what to do. He befriends ‘the weird kid’ Nagumo Shu (Hongo Kanata), who lives with his single mother, and Sakamaki Nana (Shiho), who tries to make her guardian angry by doing stupid things.
The story focuses on how the family copes with the mothers hospitalization, and how there are big problems in different families, even though they live on the country side.

Omg! Like this star cast is UNBELIEVABLE! I guess this is how they became famous? :P
I loved the drama, though I have to say some parts of the love story kind of made me annoyed, mostly the Ayase-Oguri love story. It was sweet and all, but damn that girl had a fast change of heart. But otherwise, I found everything brilliant, from the fights at the dining table; to the search for “Rainbow-Soldiers” (if you watch it you’ll understand). And I finally realised what it means when actors shine through the screen. When there are a lot of actors, it’s hard to make all of them look good, which sort of failed for Ayase (though her performance was decent – don’t get me wrong I’m a fan!). Ichihara Hayato, Oguri Shun and Kamiki Ryunsuke shined trough, and made me like them even more.
This drama is TOTALLY a family drama, and it’s REAAAAAAALLY heartfelt, so if you want to watch something like that, this is a GO!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars.

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts