I watched, almost without comparing it with the Korean version, because, apparently, the impressions are stale already, accordingly, it was easier to perceive.
And as if I watched the story on rewind - there are only 9 episodes of 45 minutes (only the last 1 hour goes), so there is no time to chew snot, everything happens very quickly. That must have liked it. Although in fact they only told us half the story here, but thank God, there is a second part that I am going to start watching.
Well, if you compare, the girl here is much prettier - after all, I do not like the appearance at all. Well, and Shot better than Kim Bom, definitely.
Of course, what is certain is that Korean made me feel more emotions and tears, and it is always loved. But this one has its charm, too. I realized that the Japanese shoot no worse, just in a completely different way. It's a different style. For me, everything went easy here, I didn’t much steam, so I concluded that such dramas can be watched if you want something easy.
Many viewers adhere to the rule "Taste and color comrades are different." That pushes them to view exactly those projects that are interesting to the individual viewer as a whole. I do the same thing. That’s just there are rare cases when you still succumb to the “herd choice” and aim for this or that work, which perhaps another time you would not look exactly. So this drama was praised by such a huge number of people and my friends, inclusive, that I was damn intrigued and decided to make sure of the high quality of the work. We can honestly say that this drama of the director Ishiya Yasuhara turned out to be really more than worthy.
Obviously, first of all, the drama is aimed at the fairer sex. Which explains the fact that visually the film turned out to be very glossy, bright, juicy and teeming with various colors in a record number. Naturally, not every man will master such a “vision”, but if you focus on the very specifics of Japanese cinema, then this is not shocking. Quite the opposite. It is this visual approach that turns the hint of a drama to a fairy tale into a real story.
After all, even from the point of view of genre parameters, the drama turned out to be very light, positive, romantic, beautiful and sometimes even funny despite all the absurdity of the action that sometimes happens on the screen. Especially since such moments in the drama at least spare. Which is nice. After all, this is the project that you can not only saturate your romantically located mood, but also laugh at quite funny and tricky moments. Moreover, the creators tried to expand the boundaries of the usual concept of dramas and unify this work with the phenomena of cinema in other countries.
Hence, it is obvious that many scenes are borrowed from many American films. Take at least the moment when the main character shows self-defense techniques at a contest of young girls. Wasn't there a similar scene in Miss Congeniality with Sandra Balok? Definitely was. The ending was a retelling of the finale of “Bodyguard” with Whitney Houston in a slightly different way. That concludes the first season of the drama in a very positive and beautiful mood.
In terms of history, I did not agree with the “herd opinion” and on this, I personally believe that the love line between the characters easily faded into the background. When how, in the foreground is a very relevant in real life problem of the division of society into imaginary layers. Once again, we see that people who do not want to appear as “herds” divide people into different classes from equally diverse social strata. Where rich people live incendiary lifestyles and create a kind of hegemony of their power that money provides. When less well-off people are forced to adapt to existing “canons” just to survive. Hence, it is not surprising that many have to save on themselves, sacrifice a lot and even starve to give their children a decent education, which will become for them a ticket to a better life.
The creators very competently and subtly raised such a topical topic literally from all angles. What can not but please and because of what the main love line loses its usual gloss. And frankly, there is simply no place for this gloss. For despite the obvious outlines of the fairy tale about Cinderella, love relations between the characters develop far from romantic and not in a fabulous way. What can you say about the whole series in general? Where there is one amazing truth. People are kind and ready to help even a little familiar person. This does not occur in life, and if it occurs, it is extremely rare. But the movie should give you hope, right? So it is not surprising that even such a fairy tale is perceived not only as dreams of a better life, but also as something torn from real life and for this very reason damn interesting. Moreover, the drama teaches such serious concepts as loyalty, friendship, courage, perseverance, mutual assistance and much more, which in the aggregate is lacking for many of us.
Mao Inoe performed a classic for Asian cinema image of the heroine of dramas, which necessarily stands out either as a “hooligan” image of a cool girl, or in the image of a comic character. Despite the lack of a certain novelty, the game is really impressive. And the girl herself is very nice. Grouping F4 performed by Jun Matsumoto, Shun Oguri, Shota Matsuda and Tsuyoshi Abe looks perfect. Played all four incredibly natural and to single out someone separately simply does not make sense. Unless, Shota Matsuda is pleased that even though he got a secondary character, every appearance on the screen he plays above all praise. I also want to highlight my favorite actresses in the person of Nanako Matsushima and Mayumi Sed, who constantly delighted me both with their luxurious acting and with attractive appearances.
The musical accompaniment perfectly matches the content of the drama. Largely because of its incredibly rich sound. After all, the really funny sound is easily replaced by luxurious, and incredibly pleasant to hear romantic overtures.
10 out of 10
Very stylish, glossy, light, beautiful, romantic and pleasant drama. A fairy tale from which I was completely delighted and for this reason, I gladly recommend it to you.
Finally it happened, I watched it. On the wave of the “flower period” I could not pass them – Domyoji, Makino, Ryui. I discovered new characters and actors. The drama liked – a concise plot, albeit familiar, but all so different from the “brothers” of other countries. No wonder the drama has become mega-popular not only in Japan. Adventures of a simple girl in the world of rich people, reminiscent of the story about Cinderella, catches and does not let go of the screen until the final credits run.
Now, and tomorrow, and then, and always, you will be the only girl I love. I will always be there for you... You've always loved me.
Before watching, I set myself the goal of not comparing any of the versions, any of the actors with the others. And -- I did. I just watched the story with the main characters, worried about them, admired them. In addition, even if the versions are more or less interconnected and begin in the same way, the plot begins to diverge. Some situations are shown at different times, different messages of the actions of the heroes. Sometimes there are even new characters that were not in other versions, for example, the same Ken or Ayano. Anyway, I liked it.
Acting is on top. And although I heard a lot about actors, and some have already managed to check out in other works, but it was mostly cinema and not for such a long time.
Domeji / Matsumoto June - bravo, selfish, capricious, unstable prince turned out. Poor Cinderella who would have married him, but... but it was this Cinderella who managed to change him, turn him a hundred and eighty degrees, make him less capricious and more human. And no matter how many problems this Curlyash brought, it can not be forgiven, because in spite of everything - loyalty to friendship and love in it is.
Ryuy/Oguri Shun – but Oguri hooked me more than Matsu. Cold restraint, introvert, and inside - the volcano itself. He will not make scenes of jealousy, he will not shout at the whole street, but a few words in his calm voice will suffice to calm the storm, unless, of course, he himself wants to vent his rage with his fists (we all remember the fight in the square). No wonder Makino next to him looked like a rabbit in front of a boa constrictor.
Makino / Mao Inoe - cute, charming. Her character really looked like weed. No matter what, achieve your goal, but not in love. Her throwing between guys sometimes infuriated. Oh, my God, she was screaming. No, I don't mind, maybe she has that character, I just don't scream and I don't let anyone raise their voices. And her screams on the stairs and not only sometimes exasperated. Although screaming won't help, at least you'll take your soul away.
Sojiro/Matsuda Shota – I liked him, although he and Akira looked like a free appendix to a couple of Domeji-Oguri, and were often in their shadow (among several episodes). Akira / Abe Tsuyoshi - most of the series is a pretty guy, a good friend ... and in general everything.
I also liked the other actors and heroes. The Makino family smiled more than once, with their manic thirst to give their daughter to marry a rich man - "marriage of convenience." Tsubaki Domeji - ehhh, cool sister out. Chief Makino is generally a separate topic, with her spells about the “past” and saying wisdom. Yuki is a pretty, charming, best friend. Mother Domeji is an omo, and I liked her as a negative character, to do that with a smile. Trinity from school — funny came out, at first infuriated terrible, and then like nothing like that.
OST. Beautiful, but not enough. Pampered by Korean OSTs, and especially in the BOF, I searched hard for music, but ... I played the same. I'm not saying it's bad. I like HYD "Planetarium", and how not to remember "Wish" Arashi.
The drama really liked, did not notice how all nine episodes flew, maybe because, unlike the Korean ones, their duration is only forty-forty-five minutes, but most likely because the plot was exciting and did not let you relax.
The first drama, as noted, many, and I am no exception.
Despite the fact that many fans of Asian series consider their first dramas almost sacred, I am not included in this list, because after watching not so much, I no longer share the enthusiasm for this series, although I deeply respect the writers, directors and actors.
The Japanese are a concentrated people, so the creations that come out from under their hands sometimes stretch like gum. I think this is the second season of this drama. Unfortunately, I couldn’t watch it completely, just rewinding every episode. It was really uninteresting, and friends who watched it said that everything will be in full openwork.
However, this drama is still listed in "Favorite Movies" on every website I've ever signed up for. Because this is not only a memory of my first steps in watching dramas, which led to a strong fascination, but also a really beautiful at times picture of how difficult it is sometimes to overcome the material abyss of two people who are too far from each other on the social ladder. She comes from an average family, and if to say the same rude, then closer to a beggar, he is the heir to a multimillion-dollar fortune. As expected, they fell in love with each other. A lot of problems and troubles, quarrels, jealousy - a classic of the genre. But nevertheless, the writers left room for humor, for which they bow low, because some moments can be laughed at from the heart.
I want to say a few words about the actors. Makino Tsukushi sometimes seemed too rude, courageous, that I wanted to twist. She didn’t have the femininity she wanted to see. But nevertheless, he is a very good character, funny, kind and even at times sweet, I can’t imagine anyone in Inoue Mao’s place in this series. And Domeji Tsukasa was very capricious, to the grinding of teeth. And he was not at all courageous, and his eternal fights showed that he was a big child. But some things made me respect this hero. I will not be original and say that Matsumoto June in this series was, as always, on top.
Each hero was interesting in his own way. Hanazawa Rui and the rest of F4 (and, by the way, I always associated this F4 with the keys, at least kill), Makino’s friend, the owner of the store, who seemed to always tell about everything, Domeji’s mother is a strong-willed woman who later had to step on her pride. All are original and magnificent, each has its own zest, its pros and cons.
I think a lot of people started with this series on their way to the dramas, and many more will start. Anyway, I’m glad that this drama became my beginning.