Futari

First of all, terrible non-stop repetitive soundtrack, the music was just so annoying, disturbing, overly exaggerated. Then the lead young female character was not a likable person, even a quite slob. The whole screenplay just felt so weird and abnormal. My wife asked me to stop the movie after she's tried for 30 minutes. The soundtrack felt more like what we used to hear in a Japanese cartoon animation, so pointless and annoying. Nothing matched those two reviewers' 10/10 or 8/10. I'd give it a 0/10 if I could. Absolutely a quite repellent viewing experience.

Chizuko's Younger Sister has always been one of my favourites from this director. It's such a sad movie that deals with the loss of a close family member from the perspective of a younger sister and the parents. Chizuko's song has been on my mind ever since I watched this movie 6 years ago, it's so beautiful.

Also, soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi is both cute and melancholic and it's personally one my favourites from this composer. You can still find some of that wacky stuff from this director in a wonderful scene in which characters are watching the fireworks and there's also a very funny racing scene.

At 150 minutes it drags a bit sometimes though and I didn't care much for the subplot about the dad and the other woman in the last act of the movie.

Rewatched in memory of Nobuhiko Obayashi. Rest in peace my sweet prince. Sayonara.