Atashinchi no Danshi

I actually talked about this drama in other posts but never thought to make one for it, until now. Atashinchi no Danshi (My Boys) is about family. Now, in this series, the term of homeless is used differently. As in, the people who have no house are referenced to as 'net cafe refuges'. It got me thinking when I first read this on WikiDrama but they actually use it throughout the plot. Anyway, Chisato is a 20 years old girl who got into the current situation because of her father who had to pay back a debt. One day she meets this weird looking guy, who practically does fall from the sky, Shinzo, and he offers to pay the money for her. I was perplexed, again, when he told her to marry him in return and even more surprised when, after he died, left her be the 'mother' of his six adopted children. Now, you'll find out what happens next if you watch it and you should. It's a great drama. Maki Horikita plays really well even though, sometimes, her character annoys me. She always needs some nudges to make the right decision. Osamu Mukai plays Sho Okura and I already expressed my feelings towards his character, who impresses me throughout the plot. Besides that, Osamu is a hottie and Sho matches his style, in my point of view, as an actor. Next, the older Okura is Fuu, played by Kaname Jun. He turns the tables around when he, finally, gets his head back on earth and  (even thought it was about his 'macho life') he chooses to help Chisato with her 'motherly' duties. Yusuke Yamamoto is also in Atashinchi no Danshi and he plays the model guy, who is afraid of being close to females, Masaru. I got a little freaked out when I saw how he acted but got accustomed after a few episodes. However, there are some very weird scenes that got me thinking. Anyway, he does a good job at portraying his character.

Now, I know everyone knows how much of a Seto Koji fan I am, even if I want it or not. It seems that any movie/drama I watch, he's there. I don't do it voluntarily, it's just that he acts in good movies/dramas. He portrays Satoru Okura and his character is supposed to be a magician who, because of his parents, got into a scandal and people started to question his skills. In the end, he develops a trust issue and doesn't want to get out of his room. Now, there's also the badass looking guy, the second Okura, Takeru (Okada Yoshinori), who's the goofy one (in a way). He really made the drama so much better. His character shows that not everything is what it seems, mostly when we talk about humans. The youngest Okura member is the 12 years old Akira (played by Okayama Tomoki) who is extremely intelligent but doesn't want to get involved in the so called family whatsoever.

They all have their own life stories since they have been adopted by Shinzo. However, there are some other reasons the old man got these six boys and girl into his house and forced them, in a more subtle way, to become a family. Chisato's presence proves to be needed and the boys all gravitate around her. She helps them overcome their fears and issues and she is the one to unites them. There are also some romantic things going on at some point but I'm not giving spoilers.

Go, go and watch it. You'll find it very interesting ;)

   

Paradise Kiss

I love the anime and when I found out the movie I was more than happy. As I've seen, most of the times, the movies change the plot of the anime/manga or simplify it but this one didn't. Usually the Japanese movies don't change the plot of the original mangas or animes, thankfully. Anyway, Paradise Kiss is all, in my point of view, about life in general. About hopw you can find love in the strangest places and how you have to think about your future carefully.

As most of you know, the story is about Yukari 'Caroline' Hayasaka (Keiko Kitagawa) who doesn't really sees a meaning in her life. She's a normal high school student who tries really hard to get into a respected university. On the other side, her life gets shaken up when she meets the ParaKiss group and falls in love with George Koizumi (Osamu Mukai). Initially, I got annoyed with Yukari's personality because I do know very well what to do with my life and she seemed very thoughtless. However, I started to get into her skin and realized that there are lots of girls who go through the same situation in real life too.

The choice of actors was very good. I, personally, love Osamu Mukai. I've seen him in Nodame Cantabile, one of my favourite animes, Atashinchi no Danshi, where he was just too cool and, recently, Hungry. I admire this actor a hell lot and, adding to his acting skills, he's just so loveable in his dramas/movies. He gets you addicted to his character and you can't get yourself to hate him. Now, there's also Yusuke Yamamoto, who I sincerely didn't know he plays Hiroyuki Tokumori. In my vision, he wasn't really that good for portraying Tokumori but he did well enough. Nothing surprising, though. As the lead role, Keiko Kitagawa was pretty good. I've seen her in Buzzer Beat as Riko and she was also amazing. Now, in Paradise Kiss she definitely acted different and she improved. She's a good actress and she's really pretty. Now, next to these actors there are Shunji Igarashi (Isabella), Kento Kaku (Arashi) and Aya Omasa (Miwako). I totally love them too. Aya's real personality is closer to Miwako's than Sunako's. However, she seems to glow in both characters but I guess she does play Miwako better.

Overall, I love both anime, manga and movie and the subject has a more subtle message. The actors played very well, the subject hasn't been shortened but there are slight differences. The ending, thank God, is new. They do meet again and they stay together. That's one thing I hate at the original piece. George leaves for France, if I remember correctly, and Yukari marries someone in the anime and manga but it's really nice they meet again in New York in the movie.

You should check the movie out; doesn't matter if you have seen the anime or not, just check the movie out. You'll love Keiko and Osamu.

    

"What I Like About..." Yusuke Yamamoto

In the first place, he's an awesome actor. I believe I have seen almost every movie he has been in. I recognize I started with Ouran High School Host Club series and he just seemed to be perfect as Tamaki. Childish, has a expressive face, those eyes of his...he's quite a nice fellow. Next was Hana Kimi. He wasn't in the leads but he was good enough as Taiki Kayashima. However, he seemed really weird while 'speaking' with the ghosts. Actually, the whole Hana Kimi series was weirdly entertaining. I enjoyed it a lot. From there, somehow, I stumbled upon Atashinchi no Danshi, where again, he freaked me out at first. He looked very...he had make up on. Even if he was supposed to be a model, he was afraid of women. His character, Masaru Ookura, was quite catchy though. Each character in that series had its respective problem and past issues. I believe that's what attracted me the most. Besides these dramas, I also wrote about Tumbling, where I got moved by the subject itself. Now, I'm still waiting for more episodes on Shaken Baby.

As an actor, I admire him very much. As a person, I haven't seen him in videos a lot (because most of them aren't translated and one Asian language is enough for now) but he seems to give it all. He's very passionate and funny. It's fun to watch him, even if he simply stands. He has that glint that simply gets you addicted to his roles. He seems to take a lot of different roles. I love that about him. But, in the end, each character has a revelation about his persona and about the subject in the drama which until now I have seen Yamamoto took roles which had strong stories behind. I love how he plays any role and does a almost perfect job at modelling it. Good job, Yusuke Yamamoto. But, there are some negative points too. In Shaken Baby I think he tries too much. He's not a perverted and it doesn't suit him that well. It's not that I don't enjoy seeing him be messy but it seems a little bit false. In Atashinchi no Danshi, again, I believe he tried at some points, a little too much. He does know how to cover his mistakes in acting but he's just 24 years old. He's still young and he does have a long way to go too. He's good but he can get better. We should all keep our eyes on him for a long time because we never know when he'll surprise us. ;)

Tumbling

Tumbling is one of the dramas who actually had a big impact on me. As a director/screenwriter wannabe I found the subject very catchy. What led me to this drama is...Yusuke Yamamoto. I first saw him in Ouran High School Host Club series and I thought he portrays a really authentic Tamaki. Next, I believe was Hana Kimi, and that role suited him well enough too and of course Atashinchi no Danshi, where I got a little freaked out in the beginning but after a few episodes, you kind of get the point of the subject.Anyway, in Tumbling he plays the role of a supposedly badass and evil guy who reeks havoc wherever he goes. He does play the role well, I was impressed by his acting, but I already had a different image in my head and they confronted and made a big mess. But the plot is really interesting.

One very big positive point at this drama is that it's not about love or anything cliché. There's just this bully type of guy who has to do some extra activity so he can pass. Nothing extraordinary here but he decides to get into the boys rhythmic gymnastic club (the reason being at first a girl) and he meets people who, eventually, have a huge impact on his life (which are just three). He changes, slowly but surely, and he becomes this trustworthy and beautiful person. There are a lot of situations they have to go through like a member of the group being homosexual or the personal life each wants to keep hidden. What I'm trying to say is that the subject is friendship. Where's friendship, there's trust, there's help, there's happiness and it will always exist, no matter what, because that's what true friends are for. A friend in need is a friend indeed, after all.

Anyway, Koji's role is the leader of the boys rhythmic gymnastic club and he lives his dream because of Azuma. They go through rough times and they are made fun of but each character has his own story, his own issues and it captivates you from the start. The tumbling world is quite difficult and each time I watch these actors do those moves I am amazed.

I don't think this drama has bad points, at least  from my perception over the subject. I do believe it moves fast but if they would have made it longer I guess viewers would've gotten bored. That's actually a bad point at Hana Kimi and OHSHC, where there was enough material to prolong the series at least three more episodes.