Kimi ni todoke

There is a very specific demographic that 'Kimi ni Todoke', adapted from the shōjo manga of the same name, appeals to- and unless you fit right in there, you're not likely to enjoy this romance, as we found out just 15 minutes into the film. Centred on the unlikely high-school love story between the popular Kazehaya and the socially awkward Sawako, it unfolds at an almost glacial pace, made even more unbearable by how plainly evident its ending is.

Indeed, it is clear right from the start that the two leads will eventually get together, so all that matters is the journey to that familiar destination. Unfortunately, this journey, which clocks in at slightly more than two hours, is as ponderous as it gets. Working off his own screenplay co-written by Rika Nezu, director Naoto Kumazawa is intent on milking tears from every possible scene in the film, so get ready for some major waterworks like you're never seen before.

Yes, if one could win an Oscar just for the amount of times you could shed tears on screen, then Mikako Tabe would probably win the award hands down. As Sawako, she cries when she decides to abandon her two close friends so she won't affect their reputation in school. Then she cries again when her friends reaffirm that they are better than to let some rumours get in the way of their friendship. And she does it again when she finds out another girl in school likes Kazehaya, and yet again when she rebuffs him after he asks her out. Tabe does an excellent job looking sad and heartbroken, but boy oh boy does it get ingratiating when you have to see her tear every few minutes.

It doesn't help that despite Tabe's best efforts, Sawako is not an easily likable character. At the start, Sawako earns sympathy for being the loner in the class that everyone else ignores or otherwise picks on. But this goodwill is put to the test as the movie plods on, especially since Sawako proves not only to be daft, but also annoyingly ignorant. It is with disbelief that we greet a scene where Sawako so easily buys into love rival Kurumi's insinuation that her liking for Kazehaya is no different from her liking for another fellow classmate. And it is with greater disbelief and even derision that we react to the numerous scenes where Sawako is so dumb to the obvious hints that Kazehaya fancies her.

The absurdity of it all is unfortunate, for the first of the three acts in the movie actually sets it up quite nicely. Here, with some narration from Sawako herself, we learn how her long black hair and generally gloomy appearance had led her classmates to give her the name 'Sadako' after the ghost in the infamous horror 'The Ring', as well as how Kazehaya comes to become her first true friend in school. There is a generous dose of humour and playfulness that is sadly lost in the latter two acts, which are content to be melodramatic and lethargic.

Of course, the 'woes' that Sawako face could mean something for teenage girls, who can identify with the feeling of liking someone so much but never mustering enough courage to confess one's feelings. Ditto for the intended romance between Sawako and Kazehaya, which again could definitely be moving and affecting for some. But it's one thing to be young and innocent and quite another to be young and ignorant- and because our protagonist seems to be the latter than the former, this adolescent love story remains strictly for adolescent females only.

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Based on a comic of the same title by Karuho Shiina, "Kimi ni todoke" is a movie adaptation done well, and acted superbly by the cast.

The story is a play on the movie "Ring". A girl that resemble "Sadako" of the movie Ring is being feared by her classmates. Rumored to become cursed if she looks at you, she is avoided like the real Sadako by her classmates. The girl's real name is Sawako Kuronuma (Mikako Tabe), and she's really a nice girl. While everyone is avoiding her, Shota Kazahaya (Haruma Miura) befriends her, and her popularity begins to grow. She also gets two friends Ayane Yano (Natsuna), and Chizuru Yoshida (Misako Renbutsu) who befriends her. There's a strong friendship between the four of them, and the story revolves around the four of them, their romance, and their friendship. Shota loves Sawako, and he confesses his love to her. Sawako slowly starts to accept the fact that she is worthy of Shota's love, and starts to become active part of his life.

The story is superb in describing the intricacies of friendship, and romance of the cast and characters. Each scene highlights the emotions of the characters involved, and how they are maturing in their life.

The performance of the cast is fantastic. They really carry the story with their acting, charm, and presence.

Without a question, this is one of the best teen based movie to come out of Japan in the past 10 years. It's a delight to watch, with characters that you can identify with.

It unfolds as a heartwarming and enchanting Japanese film, delivering a tender and relatable exploration of love, friendship, and the beauty of self-discovery.

At the center of this cinematic gem is the endearing character of Sawako, portrayed with grace and nuance by Mikako Tabe. Sawako's journey from social isolation to blossoming self-confidence is beautifully brought to life, thanks to Tabe's magnetic performance. Her portrayal captures the essence of Sawako's innocence, resilience, and the transformative power of genuine connections.

The film's strength lies in its ability to weave a compelling narrative around Sawako's interactions with her classmates, particularly Shota Kazehaya, played by Haruma Miura. The chemistry between Tabe and Miura is nothing short of magical, capturing the essence of a delicate and evolving romance. Miura's portrayal of Kazehaya adds depth to the character, making him a perfect counterpart to Sawako's sincerity.

The storytelling unfolds with a gentle yet compelling pace, allowing the audience to become emotionally invested in Sawako's journey. The film explores themes of acceptance, friendship, and the importance of being true to oneself. Sawako's character arc, from a misunderstood loner to someone who embraces her uniqueness, resonates on a universal level.

Visually, it is a treat for the senses. The cinematography captures the picturesque landscapes and the nuances of everyday life, adding a layer of visual poetry to the narrative. The use of color and light complements the emotional tone of each scene, creating an immersive experience for the viewer.

What sets this Japanese movie apart is its ability to evoke a range of emotions. From moments of heartfelt laughter to poignant reflections on the complexities of human relationships, the movie crafts an emotional landscape that feels authentic and deeply resonant.

The supporting cast adds delightful layers to the story, each character contributing to the overall warmth of the narrative. The friendships that blossom within Sawako's world are portrayed with sincerity, emphasizing the transformative power of genuine connections.

In conclusion, it is a cinematic gem that embraces the viewer with its charm, sincerity, and emotional depth. Mikako Tabe's standout performance, coupled with the enchanting chemistry between the lead characters, makes this Japanese film a must-watch for those seeking a heartwarming tale of love, self-discovery, and the beauty of genuine connections.

For those familiar with the anime this feature is based upon, a number of the scenes will be easily recognizable, and though some changes have been applied, both subtle and massive, the directionality and focus the anime developed is well produced in this live action teen drama.

Mikako Tabe is especially brilliant in her role as Sawako, an outcast, who is largely feared in the classroom due to her likeness, in both name and appearance, to Ringu's Sadako, despite her genuinely friendly demeanor, and desire to help, often abandoning her own wants for the sakes of other people. Haruma Miura provides a performance that is equally satisfying as Kazehaya, the most popular boy in class, whose sincerely charming and appreciative attitude towards Sawako, assists in heightening her communicative abilities, allowing her to find friendship and happiness, while also discovering herself.

The film moreover, refines the back-story behind Sawako's nickname in a broader, and more visual manner than was attempted in the anime, the use of scenes from the movie Ringu, furthering the resemblance between our favorite long haired ghost, and the sweet high-school student. This is heightened by Ms. Tabe's facial expressions and tone, her socially awkward persona having the capacity to be misinterpreted as sadistic by those unfamiliar with her. These acting techniques enable her character to appear even more reserved and introverted, while her compassionately sweet personality is additionally accentuated, allowing the audience to easily sympathize with her situation.

Though similar instances occurred during the anime, the feelings and tone expressed in the series being potentially relatable for those who had experienced comparable occurrences in high-school, this was occasionally accompanied with humor, while the more dramatic atmosphere of the film allows the emotional flare to be more impacting. Despite Sawako appearing equally kind in the anime, this was potentially hindered by the continuous repetition, alongside the longevity applied to certain segments. Where a couple episodes may have sufficed, often these were drawn out, whereas in this live action movie adaption, though a couple of sub-characters and plots are removed, the focus on the primary narrative makes it easier to follow.

Moving on, during the anime, the characters could potentially be described as 'stiff' in regards to their movements, while in the film, which is especially true for Sawako (who appears very girly), the bodily gestures further the characterization. The film immediately demonstrates Kimi Ni Todoke to be a love story, the narration occasionally provided by both lead characters strengthening their emotions and points-of-view. Though the awkwardness and tension between the leads is perhaps not as well conceived as it was in the anime, the chemistry, reactions and feelings are very well preserved, and when combined with the musical score, makes for a heartwarming experience.

Ume (Mirei Kiritani), who could be described as the antagonist, deserved more screen time. Although her feelings for Kazehaya, alongside her motivations to discourage other girls from attempting to date him are shown, her relationship with Sawako suffers due to the film prioritizing other characters. Furthermore, though Misako Renbutsu may initially seem a strange choice to portray Chizuru, this particular actress on many an occasion playing shy, introverted characters, Ms. Renbutsu shines as this in-your-face opinionated and athletic student, while Natsuna is equally superb in her role as the sultry Ayane. Despite their characters been provided adequate screen-time, the sub-plots regarding their romantic relationships/crushes are largely unexplored, and by the end of the feature, seem incomplete, the film sacrificing these stories for the relationship between the leads.

Moreover, the sub-plot about the nefarious rumors spread about their characters is not given enough screen-time to be either poignant or humorous, unlike the anime. At the same time, homeroom teacher and sport enthusiast Ping is potentially the one character from the animation who is the most under-developed. During the anime, the back-story regarding his character assisted in conveying his personality, making his unusually unprofessional antics not only humorous, but greatly enjoyable, while in this live-action remake, his character seems peculiar, a couple of his scenes appearing forced, as though his character was inserted as an after-thought. This is similar to the role of Sawako's parents (Yasuko Tomita and Masanobu Katsumura) whose roles are incredibly limited in contrast with the animation, which is disappointing considering their talents, especially those of Mr. Katsumura.

When contrasting the animation with the live action adaptation, the film proves to be neither better nor worse than the anime, but equal, much of the story being based on the first volume of the series. Even with some of the lacking elements that were particularly enjoyable in the anime, this live action remake is a satisfying narrative in a bite-sized package.

The basic premise that this girl reminds everybody of the creepy chick from The Ring and this is why everybody in her class is afraid of her and treats her like a ghost is kind of dumb and not believable. The timid girl type is a japanese classic but it's quite overdone here to the point where it's not longer cute but tedious. Like, girl can you say one straight sentence without hesitating at every single word while looking a the floor? The drama is very trivial, basically stupid school girl problems like other girls being catty b-words and such, but there are still some nice moments and the romance part is okay. It's not a bad movie, but it doesn't really stand out either.