[SP] Saigo no Yakusoku

9 January 2010

Starring: Ohno Satoshi, Sakurai Sho, Aiba Masaki, Ninomiya Kazunari, Matsumoto Jun, Kuroki Meisa, Fujiki Naohito, Otsuka Nene...

This Tanpatsu drama is about the hijacking of a building belonging to a Pharmaceutical company with hundreds of employees. The drama focuses on five young men trapped in the building when the hijacking took place.

Satoru, an annoyed, overly tanned, cleaner. He spent most of the 90 minutes of the hijacking in the air duct with his colleague who is good at picking locks.

Yukio, a persistent Insurance agent who was just about to give up pestering Fuyuko (an employee) to invest in his insurance policy.

A barista named Akira just made a mistake with the customers' orders when the hijackers took action. Noticing that something was wrong, Akira hid in a toilet cubicle as he contacted the cops.

In the security control room, Shoji was overlooking the tight security system of the building with his lazy smartass boss, Shinichiro.

Nozomu was just in the building by chance, sending a package to the daughter of the president of the company, Yuriko. Yuriko lashed out at Nozomu when the package he sent was less than what she expected.

What unfolded was 90 minutes of thrill and suspense as these five young men worked hard at their respective aims, whether it is to walk out of the building alive or to help a hot damsel in distress or to perform his job well so as to have a clear conscience. Will they be able to survive the hijack and what was the intent of the hijackers when they committed such a crime?

Err... there's that suspense-creating question at the end of the synopsis. Cool eh?

*****

Whoa! Whoa! If the criminals had a better reason to hijack the building, this drama would've been that much better. The reason was lame, but how unpredictable the whole thing was really wowed me. I really prided myself as someone who has watched a lot of dramas and movies and was almost always able to spot the big kaboom before it happens. But this time, I missed. I missed by 3/5 of it.

Nino was as usual, impressive. The facial expressions, the body language, everything! He's amazing. Ohno wasn't bad either. Jun was mediocre. But I had to cringe sometimes, especially during Sho's and Aiba's scenes. Aiba's towards the end, the man can play stupid alright, but not determined. Sho's was... okay, I have "Yatterman" stashed somewhere, but I've seen his other works. He was quite good in "The Quiz Show II", but wasn't anywhere as good in "Kiiroi Namida". But Nino never fails to amaze me. This is the reason I like Nino, no matter how whiny he is, no matter how much of a lazy, cocky troll he is. He has something called talent. That is irreplaceable. The man can freaking act.

Kuroki Meisa is as bland as can be, as expressionless as can be. I might go as far to say she is worse than Aiba. If she isn't pretty, she'd be out of a job. But this is reality and looks trumps talent for girls. Fujiki Naohito was a pleasant surprise. I didn't have time like I used to to follow all of their news, so I watched the movie with really next to no clue as to what will happen. I just knew there's a building and there will be some hijackers. I still prefer hot older men to hot young men. =D

I get the posters and banners now. (Not the ones at the train station, that's just a gimmick.) I get the title too. How very Arashi-like, the parts where all five had interaction. Most of them were just playing themselves, except Ohno, I guess. Teehee.

Fat spoilers in hidden text. Highlight to read.

Shit, I knew Sho and Ohno were going to be some of the hijackers, I never thought it'd be all of them. That caught me by surprise. I love surprises. What I find unreasonable is that... so there were consistently three people in the control room with Nino. That makes four of them. And Sho has been consistently trapped with the rest of the hostages, Ohno spent a lot of time in the air duct and Jun has been with Meisa... that leaves only Aiba who was able to guard the room! It doesn't make sense, please.

Next thing that doesn't make sense... seriously, would you hijack a building for a team captain that died a decade ago? I mean... and they tried to make the five come across honorable and kind in nature, just that they need the truth. Riiight... okay. I'd prefer it if they were freaking terrorists, or money-hungry robbers. Something cool! But no... Arashi can't be baddies. What do you think they are? Morita Go? Lol.

Okay, and like... the hijackers were waving the gun around without firing, even when the people were sorta rebelling. I get it, I get it, these people did not intend to kill. But there were hundreds of hostages, normally, people would just lunge at the wimpy people who won't fire won't they? Doesn't make sense for hijackers to not fire, doesn't make sense for the hostages to not rebel at wimpy hijackers. Doesn't make sense.

Reitings: 4/5

[TV] KAT-TUN SP - Senpai Oshiete Kudasai

12/01/2008

This is one of those new year specials... KAT-TUN basically invited TV personalities that are famous for being famous to their show to 'teach' them about life and how to survive in the industry.

Yes, they teach you how to bargain at the wet market, how to act surprised for a birthday party and then there's Nicholas Cage.

They invited the gorgeous Kuroki Meisa to the show as a promotion for the drama "1 Pound no Fukuin" which stars Kamenashi Kazuya.

They also sang the theme song to the drama "LIPS" on the show. That was the first time the song was revealed on TV. Frankly... its kinda catchy, but only during the chorus. The verses are kinda boring...







*I did resize the screencaps because... you see... its difficult for this page to load sometimes... blasted piccies...

Its kinda entertaining to watch though at times I wish that they could be nicer to Junno and stop calling Nakamaru plain...

I mean... Nakamaru is not plain... T_T But gosh he was so nervous when he was trying to entertain Nicholas Cage... xD

When they were singing... their microphones look like... um... see when they sing and they put the microphones near their mouths they look like they are... um you see, the mic is kinda big... and long... um... And Junno's outfit made him look like some Jedi...

Junno has a bit of Bidou in him when he flirted with that Hisamoto woman. And Koki should just go bald like he did when they first debuted, I still think its his best hair style. (Mainly because I watched "Byakkotai" again last night and Kuroki Meisa is in there too...)

And... xD um... yeah... Kame just turns slutty when he sings. Seriously! I like him when he was doing the cooking but when he sings... everything is swallowed by the sluttiness... and then I just... want the cooking Kame back.

I kinda thought I saw Victoria Beckham at some point... and then it was a big disappointment when I found out its just Ueda...

Really Spice Girls and KAT-TUN... that'd be nice to watch.

[Movie] Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru

[Moved from my old blog.]

Starring: Aoi Miyazaki, Hiroshi Tamaki, Kuroki Meisa...

I was confused when I first saw that the two main characters have the same name as the two main characters from Renai Shashin starring Matsuda Ryuhei and Hirosue Ryoko. Yes, the guy is named Makoto and the girl Shizuru.

In fact, until today, I have yet to find out what are the connections between the two movies other than photography.

Anyways, the movie is so sad I don't think I can watch it again. T_T

The beginning was not sad, but near the end, the storyline became so bittersweet... And then there's Aoi Miyazaki. I read that Aoi was filming this movie thats why she gave up Nana (along with other reasons).

So to make this movie, the price is NANA2. So, it is expensive. Means, we have to watch.

Sorry, I couldn't find a better picture. But the guy's face is really funny. Not as funny as that Ryuhei Matsuda's but still funny.

Oh... sad. I shall go dwell in my sadness again cos I just watched a few scenes from the movie.

[SP] Byakkotai

[Moved from my old blog.]

Why am I so free to the point I am writing hundreds of words long reviews? - Ending Details.

Starring: Tomohisa Yamashita, Koki Tanaka, Hiroko Yakushimaru (also the Narrator)....

Yamapi overload. xD Violent movie, lots of bloodshed. It is a movie set in 19th Century Japan, expect lots of cutting stomachs and stuff.

However, this is one of the few dramas/movies that I did not fast forward while watching, this is because it is based on history. It is so interesting I had to watch it until 6 a.m. this morning. I want to watch it again later.

The Byakkotai or White Tiger Brigade was a group of 16-17 year olds (By Japanese age, which I learned, needs to be subtracted by 1 or 2 years to match the real age.) who performed seppuku to follow their lords after they have fought to defend Aizu. They thought their lord was dead so they followed him. But their lord was actually alive back then. (Sneaky fellow)

Seppuku is a ritual suicide, performed by Samurais to regain their lost honour or to follow their lords in life and in death. What happened in those rituals is that they cut their stomachs open with their own knife. Imagine it, slicing your abdomen open, watch the intestines fall out from your body, organs, and then die.

Performing the Hara-kiri.

Women slitting their throats in the name of honour.

Mineji... T_T is so... worthy of sympathy. It seems that not only in Japan or wherever, boys grew up to be tough, reliable men faster in older times. 15 year olds are men who could hold a sword/gun and fight so that their family can be safe. Nowadays, 20 year olds are boys who watch "Naruto", play "DotA".

Of course the women are not much better. But it is not my fault that more is expected out of men since... FOREVER. xD

*****

The two part movie starts with Shintaro Sakai sitting on an overhead bridge, looking gangster-ish with a girlfriend who was described by Shin's granny as 'whore-ish' looking. As they were sitting there, with an attitude, Shin was spotted by his very traditional granny.

Granny Sakai followed Shin home and discovered that his grandson is rude and does whatever he likes while disregarding others' feelings. Granny lectured Shin's parents on their parenting skills and went on and on about 'How could the descendants of the Byakkotai, the Aizu Clan warriors be so irresponsible, without honour and yada yada,'

Look out, he has an attitude...

She had decided to stay for three days to lecture them about their family's history with the Byakkotai. This was when Yuusuke Shinoda, Shin's friend dropped by, only to be caught by Granny Sakai and she was planning on including him in the lecture as Yuusuke is also a descendant of a Byakkotai warrior.

Shin and Yuusuke quickly escaped to Aizu, where they thought was the place where Granny Sakai cannot find them. Thinking that they have escaped all the Byakkotai-ness at home, they went to Shin's granddad's home only to find themselves being dragged to the Byakkotai museum by him. When they reached the museum the found two paintings of two of the Byakkotai warriors hanging on the wall. The paintings looked eerily like themselves and that was when some sort of awareness hit them.

Enlightenment.

The scene then traveled back in time to the time shortly before the Japanese Civil War. Minenji Sakai and Gisaburo Shinoda was preparing for their first day of the Nisshinkan, which I think is some sort of high school for Bushido ways. Where they teach you to cut your own stomachs and stuff.

In olden Japan, there was a power struggle where clans fought to get to the Emperor. So the men in the Aizu Clan were all summoned to Kyoto (which was the capital of Japan before Tokyo was) to protect the Emperor. But the Choushuu clan were pissed off because of that. Then stuff happened. Aizu then became the trusted clan of the Emperor until the Emperor mangkat (is there a word for a royal death in English? I am not sure.) This was when the Saitama clan, which used to be allied with Aizu betrayed them and joined forces with Choushuu.

Mineji Sakai was brought up by a mother who appears to be cold to him, even kinda mean. But it was explained later that the mother wanted to toughen him up, so that he can fight without a care. That is because, only when one has nothing to live for that they can fight loyally and wholeheartedly for their lord. Or at least that was what his mother thought.

Going to school.

It was so sad, his seemingly unreturned affection for his mother. One winter, he went to the mountains to find herbs for his sickly mother, he almost fell into the cliff for it. When he got home, all his mother had to say was that if he died that way, he would have wasted his life for a meaningless cause. I was like "Oh, you poor Yamapi!" I know its Mineji and not Yamapi, but still~~

Risking his life looking for herbs for mommy.

When you go to war in olden times, you must be prepared to die. They didn't have tanks or atomic bombs. It was hand-to-hand combat, or rifles, lousy ones, in the late 19th century. That is why in the movie, they keep training the boys to die without a care. Which I think is really depressing. Living to know that you would not live for long. Going to war knowing that you will die. But you'd live a better life, knowing that your time is limited, you will learn to treasure all that is around you.
The rest of the movie is set in olden times while only about the first 10 minutes or so are in modern times. I was almost reaching the end of the first movie, while it was still set in the olden times, suddenly, out of nowhere, 'You Raised Me Up' was played, sung by a woman. I was like... wow, that's suitable. xD

Then the scene came back to the present, for about 10 seconds you see Gangster Shintaro and Yuusuke again. Then it went back to the training of the Byakkotai, newly formed, eager to fight, not fearing the death that awaits them. (There is nothing more sad than Yamapi, looking all noble and prepared to die.) The song, though unsuitable, was moving.

Prepared for war.

The second part of the movie shows the young warriors going to war. Naive and inexperienced, a lot of them soon realized that war is not as they imagined. The group got split up and Gisaburou led his group back to the castle after their captain got lost while looking for food. Mineji found himself alone after he tried to tie his... sandal-laces. Desperate and alone, Mineji tried to die honorably by performing Seppuku. This was when a dog his mother let him keep came running and knocked his knife away. He decided to live and protect his nation.

He named his dog Kuma which means bear in Japanese. I planned to name my dog Duck, if I ever have one.The city burns.Preparing to slice their stomachs open.

On Gisaburou's side, the group reached a hill overlooking their city and saw it on fire. They thought their lord has passed, and so, 19 of them decided to perform Seppuku, and they did, then and there. 19 young boys either slit their throat or cut their stomaches open.

Looking all manly and hawt, you go, Mineji!

Mineji came back to the city and helped to defend the women and children against the Satsuma and Choushuu clan. They lost. The ALIVE and well lord of the Aizu people surrendered. The Aizu warriors, ashamed of their lost, cut a piece of red carpet and brought it around with them to remind themselves to never forget this incident.

Woo, he won't forget...

Scene races back to modern times, Shintaro and Yuusuke stared at the piece of red cloth in the museum, dumbfounded by the story of their predecessors. Shintaro returned to his house all determined to be a better person. He greeted his neighbors, the security guard, and thanked his mother for food.

Although he said "I don't know how long this sort of attitude would last though..."

Story ends.

*****

I did a little research on the event just so I could understand the movie a little bit better. I refuse to watch something I don't understand.

What I find hilarious is that these boys in the Byakkotai were taught since young to NOT by all means speak to a woman/girl/female thing outside their families.

These boys were taught since they are 6 years old to listen to their elders, to bow to them, to not lie, to not behave in a bad way, to not pick on weaker people, to not eat anything outside (which means missing out on McD's, GASP the HORROR) and to not talk to women.

Gasp! He talked to a woman!!!

xD And then, and then, Koki Tanaka's character Gisaburo Shinoda talked to a lady during informal artillery training. When he confessed about it in class the reactions of his classmates was as if he committed adultery or something. Hilarious. I don't know if they fear women or spite them. The punishment was a slap on the hand. xD

Oah, angers me while merely thinking about it, though. T_T I thank God I am born in this era, where it is women like Paris Hilton who made headlines.

The bespectacled sidekick of Ryo in "A Litre of Tears" is also in this movie if you look carefully! Those extras are everywhere! They plague the JMovie industry!

Yamapi is extremely sexy in the costume. The costume worn by people back then, I think they call all clothes Kimono back then. And his hair looks funny, but, but, but... T_T

OMG! He looks so much better with black hair.

That girl in "Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru", Meisa Kuroki (That angmo looking girl) was in there, she was the lady Gisaburo spoke to.

Since Gisaburou died, so did Sayoko, how did his descendants came about I wonder. I understand Shintaro, how about Yuusuke?

The actress who acted as the mother in "A Litre of Tears" was also in here, as Yamapi's mother, in both era. Mineji and Shintaro were both acted out by Yamapi.

Remember when I said something about any wimp can act? Well, that is one thing, but not any wimp can act convincingly. Yamapi can. In the past, I could not comprehend as to why he is so popular. I didn't understand to extent to which fangirls drool over him.

I don't drool over him, but his dramas are all pretty good. Very good, actually. His characters are hard to dislike. This guy is set to be the new Takuya Kimura. Can't sing for shit, but his acting is not bad. It is obvious that Johnny's is backing this guy as their future star. With the 3rd (Shuji to Akira - Seishun Amigo) and the 4th (Solo - Daite Senorita) best selling singles of 2006 and the BEST SELLING single of 2005, "Shuji to Akira - Seishun Amigo" (It sold most in 2005 and yet still made it to 3rd in 2006, imagine how great it is. Wow is the only thing I have to say about it.