Monday, May 31, 2010

BOSS




Spring 2009

As I was watching Boss, I felt that it was predictable and I couldn't get into it at first, but as I kept watching the series, I gradually ended up enjoying this drama. Boss stars Amami Yuki as Osawa Eriko who works with a nice cast of actors including Takenouchi Yutaka, Toda Erika, Tamayama Tetsuji to name a few. Heading a newly created police division with a group of unusual detectives, Osawa Eriko takes on violent and difficult cases and proves to be a force to be reckoned with. Tall and beautiful, she must not only solve crimes, but also teach her small group of detectives to work efficiently as a team.

Recommendation: Boss was a fast paced, funny, and smart drama. The use of computer graphics was creative and each case that needed to be solved was interesting, but I wasn't very fond of the fact that almost all the episodes showed who the criminal was in the beginning because it took out the suspense of discovery. Obviously reality must be suspended to a certain degree when watching dramas, but there were some episodes that I thought were a bit over the top. Still, the series was entertaining and got better as it progressed. I recommend this drama especially if you like something fairly light, funny and creative despite the series being revolved around crime.

STORY: 0.5
ACTING: 1
DIRECTING: 0.5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 0.5
EMOTIONAL FACTOR: 1.0

3.5 OUT OF 5 CROWNS

Monday, May 24, 2010

NOBUTA WO PRODUCE



Fall 2005

I must say that Nobuta Wo Produce is one of my favorite dramas of all time. I watched the series again to refresh my memory, and it's amazing to see how the main actors like Yamapi, Kamenashi, and Horikita Maki have gone to become big time stars. Even Toda Erika who only had a minor role in the drama is a super star these days. The drama follows three high-school students who don't have anything in common and would not have been friends if not for a unique circumstance. Kiritani Shuji (played by Kamenashi Kazuya) is a popular student and gets a long with practically everyone in class. The only person he can't stand is Kusano Akira (played by Yamshita Tomohisa) who is somewhat of an oddity and acts annoyingly around Shuji. A new student, Kotani Nobuko (played by Horikita Maki) transfers to their school. She is a reserved, quiet, and depressed student who gets bullied constantly. To do something unique and different before they graduate, Shuji and Akira decide to "produce" Nobuta (which is a nickname for Nobuko) or make her a popular student. These three unlikely amigos go through a unique adventure of ups and downs that eventually paves a path to true friendship.

Recommendation: I didn't expect much from this drama, but the story and the directing really blew me away. I thought the drama was creative in that each episode alluded to some kind of humanistic purpose or gave advice about the meaning of life. There were uplifting and moving scenes and it really went deeply into what young people think and do as they try to "grow" as human beings. It is interesting to see how Shuji wanted to change Nobuta and make her popular, but at the same time, he eventually changed himself as well. I highly recommend this drama and consider it a classic!

STORY: 1
ACTING: 1
DIRECTING: 1
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 1
EMOTIONAL FACTOR: 1

5 OUT OF 5 CROWNS

Friday, May 21, 2010

CODE BLUE SEASON 2



Winter 2010

Code Blue Season 2 continues the story of the four flight-doctors in training who are working diligently to hone their skills and graduate from the fellowship program. After Kuroda leaves his position, a new supervisor named Tachibana played by Shiina Kippei oversees the four young doctors. The series again takes the viewer into the fast paced and hard nosed environment of the emergency medical service where a split decision can result in utter tragedy or ultimate joy.

After watching the first series, I was looking forward to the second season. I was not disappointed. I felt that the overall theme of season 2 focused on the personal lives of the main characters which also included the flight nurse Saejima. The first season was good but I really enjoyed the second season even more since the series delved into the characters past and personal issues in depth while having to work in an environment that needs to maintain a balance between separating oneself from the personal issues of the patients. Every episode was emotionally charged and most of the elements in this drama worked very well. I later found out that Lily Franky was in this drama which was interesting too.

Recommendation: Just like the first season, if you don't like blood and surgery, you may not want to watch this drama, but it is really good and worth the time to see it. It's amazing how tragic life can be, but when watching this drama, it was sad but not depressing which some dramas tend to make me feel. There is a good mix of tragedy and hope as well as some comedic scenes. I am glad they also added a few scenes that were outside of the usual hospital or emergency situation settings. The bar scene in episode 7 was one of my favorites.

STORY: 1
ACTING: 1
DIRECTING: 1
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 1
EMOTIONAL FACTOR: 1

5 OUT OF 5 CROWNS

Monday, May 17, 2010

CODE BLUE



Summer 2008

Intense and inspirational, Code Blue takes the viewer into the world of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS). Starring Yamashita Tomohisa (Aizawa), Aragaki Yui (Shiraishi), Toda Erika (Hiyama), Asari Yosuke (Fujikawa) and Higa Manami (Saejima), flight doctors in training must learn quickly and efficiently to save as many people as possible. Personally and professionally, these doctors face a myriad of issues that test their determination to pursue the goal of riding the "Doctor Helicopter."

This drama was one of my favorites. After almost every episode, I imagined that there are probably doctors and emergency workers who must go through traumatic events on a constant basis. Of course I understand that this drama is fictional, but it really has to be a stressful job. This drama offers the viewer different perspectives during an emergency situation, from the doctors, patients, and worried family members viewpoints, it takes into account the fact that every human life cannot be saved; it's as real as it gets.

Recommendation: I highly recommend this drama, but if you hate seeing blood or surgeries make you cringe than this drama may be hard to watch. Each character is unique and I really liked the acting, the pace, and music with the theme song Hanabi by Mr. Children. Code Blue was a constant reminder of how life can be fragile and taken for granted. The characters are developed well and they grow through their trials and tribulations. I look forward to seeing the next season shortly.

STORY: 1
ACTING: 0.5
DIRECTING: 1
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 1
EMOTIONAL FACTOR: 1

4.5 OUT OF 5 CROWNS

Thursday, May 13, 2010

INNOCENT LOVE



Fall 2008

Can a drama ever be over-dramatic? This was my final impression of Innocent Love starring Horikita Maki (Akiyama Kanon) and Kitagawa Yujin (Nagasaki Junya). The story revolves around Akiyama Kanon who is trying to move forward with her life after a tragic event in her past, but the past always seems to come back and haunt her. With the support of Nagasaki Junya they try to clean up their personal issues and move toward a brighter future. I am a Maki-chan fan. I think she's good at playing different roles whether it be a bullied school girl or a girl pretending to be a boy, but I didn't think this drama showcased her talents fully. This was the first time I saw Kitagawa Yujin and he wasn't terrible, but at times I felt he was just acting too hard and I couldn't get into his character as much as I wanted to.

There is a mystery to this drama and some characters can be creepy such as Kiyoka, played by Uchida Yuki or the choir girl Mizuki played by Kashii Yu. The creepiness was good though because it added some excitement to a mostly slow paced drama. I did like the various sets like the piano bar and Junya's house as well as the theme song called Eternally played by Utada Hikaru, but I couldn't stand the down jackets that Junya wore; they were an eyesore. The story overall was good and I empathized with the characters struggles with their past issues and secrets.

Recommendation: If you like slow paced dramas with mysteries and creepiness this is a must watch. It is a love story, but not in the usual sense, there are different levels of love expressed in this drama which I thought was interesting. Horikita Maki was good and all the other actors/actresses weren't bad. I just thought some scenes were over-acted and predictable.

STORY: 1
ACTING: 0.5
DIRECTING: 0.5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 1
EMOTIONAL FACTOR: 0.5

3.5 OUT OF 5 CROWNS

Saturday, May 8, 2010

BUZZER BEAT



SUMMER 2009

I like the fact that sports can create dramatic events that are inspiring and moving. Incorporating a fun loving cast headed by Yamashita Tomohisa (Kamiya Naoki) and Kitagawa Keiko (Shirakawa Riko), Buzzer Beat takes you on a journey of love and reminds us to never give up on our dreams.

Chemistry was the first word that came to my mind when I was watching this drama. The cast worked really well together. Whether there were scenes with Naoki and Riko, Riko and Mai (Riko's roommate), or Mai and Shuji, there was hardly a dull moment. The opening theme song by B'z (Ichibu to Zenbu) sets the mood for this drama. I was constantly excited to listen to the theme song whenever it was played. Emotional scenes were abundant and a good drama will make you feel all kinds of emotions. The episodes kept getting better and better especially from Episode 4. There were heart cringing moments as well as moments of relief. The acting was done well and I didn't think the cast overdid their parts. There were plenty of scenes with male upper body nakedness that would probably drive women crazy, but being a guy I was more jealous than anything else! I thought the setting at the basketball court with the large ad displaying a child with balloons was a nice touch. It seems that good dramas tend to have this one setting that reminds you about the drama when you look back on it.

Recommendation: Buzzer Beat was one of my favorite dramas. I just thought the music, acting, writing, and directing fit well together. The story took me back to a time when dreams were strong, and hope offered a once in a lifetime opportunity, just like a buzzer beater.

STORY: 1
ACTING: 1
DIRECTING 1
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 1
EMOTIONAL FACTOR: 1

5 OUT OF 5 CROWNS

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

TOKYO DOGS



FALL 2009

Tokyo DOGS stars Oguri Shun (Takakura So) and Mizushima Hiro (Kudo Maruo) as police detectives who are forced to partner up to solve a mystery involving a young girl named Matsunaga Yuki played by Yoshitaka Yuriko. Takakura is an accomplished level headed detective who was working in New York City until he was held responsible for a botched drug case and was sent back to Japan. His father was murdered by a Yakuza boss named Jinno and he vows to catch him one day. Kudo Maruo is a hot headed brash detective whose personality is totally opposite of Takakura's. Their relationship gets off on the wrong foot from the beginning, but through dangerous experiences they learn to work together to resolve an important case.

Overall I enjoyed this drama, but at times I got tired by some cliche scenarios. The acting wasn't particularly good, but I did enjoy Kudo Maruo as he provided comic relief and added some excitement to the series. Takakura So's conversations with his mother were funny too. Some of the minor characters jokes and punchlines were flat. I didn't think the series went deep enough to develop the characters especially Kudo Maruo's since we don't find out anything about his past or his goals etc. Matsunaga Yuki lost her memory and I felt that I was supposed to feel bad for this character, but I had a difficult time doing so maybe because I was looking for a spark to ignite her relationship with Takakura and there weren't enough situations which made me feel like Takakura and Matsunaga were close. Sometimes I think that these types of dramas are going to continue into another season which is why the characters may be underdeveloped.

Recommendation: If you like the main actors for this drama I think you would be disappointed because Oguri Shun and Mizushima Hiro do a decent job to push the series forward. Although I felt some dialogue between minor characters fell short of funny, there were memorable scenes in the series. I was glad to see the ending because the last couple episodes were quite interesting.

STORY: 1
ACTING: 0.5
DIRECTING: 0.5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 0.5
EMOTIONAL FACTOR: 0.5

3.0 OUT OF 5 CROWNS

SMILE



SPRING 2009

Since there are so many dramas each year, I usually pick one or two that did well in ratings per season. The viewership for Smile was not so high, but I love Nakai Kiichi and I knew that Matsumoto Jun and Aragaki Yui were popular. I gave this drama a shot and I was honestly surprised by the depth of the story as well as the characters. Hayakawa Vito played by Matsumoto Jun, is a young half Filipino half Japanese man who grew up enduring racism and prejudices. The past always seems to catch up with Vito as he tries to overcome his fears with the help of Mishima Hana (Aragaki Yui) and Ito Kazuma (Nakai Kiichi).

After watching various dramas, I ask myself if I learned anything from the story. I think it was a great idea to show how some people fall into the trap of "judging a book by its cover." I know that Japan is still mostly a homogeneous country and although my parents are Japanese, I was born and raised in the U.S. I felt the pain that Vito experienced when he was misunderstood. I also could empathize with Nakai Kiichi's character of being ashamed of who you are. The experiences that these characters went through hit home and I felt myself wanting to watch what would happen next.

I've watched a few movies with Nakai Kiichi and I always thought he was a versatile actor. In Smile, I think he did a wonderful job of adding a strong persona to his character who was a stubborn and talented lawyer, but also had a painful past. Matsumoto Jun did well to portray Vito as a kind, hard working young man. Aragaki Yui's also did well, although I did remember wishing that she could speak (Mishima Hana lost her voice because of a tragic event in her past).

Recommendation: I highly recommend this drama. It is about people who are haunted by the past, but through hope and love, they try to move forward with their lives. Nakai Kiichi is great, Aragaki Yui is very cute and Matsumoto Jun will definitely leave you with a smile.

STORY: 1
ACTING: 1
DIRECTING: 0.5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 1
EMOTIONAL FACTOR: 1

4.5 OUT OF 5 CROWNS

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

MR. BRAIN



SPRING 2009

Being a huge fan of Kimura Takuya, I was looking forward to watching this drama. Although I felt that Kimutaku's performance was, as usual, very good being an eccentric neuroscientist, the drama as a whole did not do much for me. I didn't feel emotionally attached to any other character except for Kimutaku's (Tsukumo Ryusuke) even though his character never fully developed either. I was hoping for more developments between Tsukumo and Yuri Kazune's relationship (played by Ayase Haruka). There were many minor characters which I thought would have been nice to develop as well. Being a mystery/comedy, I guess this can be difficult to do. It is my intuition but maybe another series may develop in the future? I just felt a bit empty handed after it ended.

The drama was a short 8 episodes and mysteries would need to be solved by Tsukumo, Yuri, the two detectives and the Institute of Police Science. For the most part, I could not get too excited by the mysteries because I knew that eventually Tsukumo would solve them in his own clever way, but Kimutaku's acting skills pulled me through to the very end. I could not get enough of his high pitched laugh and the way he would skip and walk.

I was amazed by the number of famous or popular guest actors and actresses such as Gackt, Nakama Yukie, Kamenashi Kazuya, and Koyuki just to name a few. I also liked the two police detectives; Mizushima Hiro's character Hayashida who did a good job of creating a bit of comedy relief with Shitara Osamu's character Kanda. I learned a lot about the brain although some of the things they claim in the movie may be fictional.

Recommendation: I recommend this drama especially if you like Kimura Takuya and mysteries, but if you're willing to invest a lot of time looking for entertainment that is uplifting, moving, emotional, or exciting, this may not be the drama for you.

STORY: 0.5
ACTING: 1
DIRECTING: 1
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 0.5
EMOTIONAL FACTOR: 0.5

3.5 OUT OF 5 CROWNS