Hinokio

It's a good movie, worth too look. The cinematography is well. The visual effect are erection yet soft. The storyline is dramatic.The characters are really Japanese stereotype, but some things are too Western. The Purgatory theme are based on the west (Christian) belief. Instead using the Samsara belief, the movie-maker try to make this film goes international by adding some west "charms", such as the purgatory (linear life), English languished theme songs, and Pinokio fable (the Blue Fairy is Eriko in the game or maybe God Himself). Somehow, it's remind me to Artificial Intelegence (Spielberg's), but the idea of taking control the robot is Japanese typical (so many films in Japan that the heroes controlling some mecha to beat the bad guy). The act of the players are good, the director choose the correct players to depict the characters (jun is so tomboy but sweet, Eriko is so pretty, the mother is so beautiful). For me, it's a fine teenage love story. Adults can take some lesson from it. Moreover, it's a story about family, how to develop good relations inside the family. Well, some things are irrational (the technology, the magic), but it's really a heartwarming movie.

After his mother "Sayuri Iwamoto" (Mieko Harada) is killed in a car accident and he is left extremely distraught and temporarily crippled, a young boy by the name of "Satoru Iwamoto" (Kanata Hongo) decides to stay in his room rather than venturing outside. Likewise, his father "Kaoru Iwamoto" (Masatoshi Nakamura) is also emotionally impacted by this tragic event and subsequently buries himself in his work as a robotics engineer at his company. To that extent, he eventually comes up with the idea of making a robot through which Satoru can interact with other children his age at the local elementary school from the comfort of his bedroom. At first, not knowing any better, some of the other boy behave rather cruelly to Satoru by taunting him and becoming physically aggressive with the robot. However, after they are publicly chastised in class for their behavior and come to know Satoru a little better, their behavior changes. So much so that Satoru becomes best friends with one particular boy named "Jun Kudo" (Mikako Tabe) who has recently gone through a similar tragedy with the death of his father. However, it's only after he learns that Jun is actually a girl that the emotional bonds between them deepen even further--and this both pleases Satoru and increases his anxieties. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that I typically don't care for movies that cater to younger audiences but, after reading another person's review, decided to give this one a try. That being said, although it is certainly suitable for younger audiences, I can honestly say that it also holds some entertainment value for adults as well as it touches on genuine human emotions during the course of a variety of circumstances and events. Admittedly, there are some scenes which might not resonate as much with American or European audiences, but even so, I thought it was an enjoyable family movie for the most part, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

To be completely honest, this is a film that I had little to no interest in watching. However, because a couple of my Internet friends seemed quite interested in it, I decided to give it a shot. Now I am glad I did. I was concerned at first that the film was going to be nothing more than a kid makes friends with a robot film, but Hinokio does not fall into this overdone plot device. Instead this film delves into a number of the ills of modern society in a fresh and entertaining manner.

The film opens with Hinokio making its entrance into an otherwise mundane homeroom class consisting of such students as the nerdy Joichi, the hyperactive Kenta, and the teacher's pet Sumire. Also in the classroom is the moody Jun who, although a bit intrigued with the new "student", is not overly impressed by the new arrival. We soon learn that Iwamoto Satoru a young boy who is rehabilitating from a car accident controls Hinokio. The robot allows him to attend school and interact with other students while he recuperates at home. However, instead of being warmly embraced by his new classmates, Satoru, or Hinokio, is the victim of pranks. However, after he refuses to tattle on Jun, Kenta, and Joichi, the four soon become friends.

While Satoru's relationship with his friends, especially with Jun, is the primary story, Satoru's relationship with his father, who the boy blames for the death of his mother, is also central to the film. Because of his reluctance to interact with the outside world and muteness with his father, Satoru resembles a Hikikomori, or shut-in, a social ill that has spread in modern Japanese society.

At times humorous and at times quite moving, Hinokio is a good film to watch for those immersed in the violent films of Miike Takashi or the nostalgic oeuvre of Ozu Yasujiro. It reminds us that there are other films that while not overly artistic can really move an audience or just make one smile.

I wasn't really sure what I was in for here, as I sat down in 2023 to watch the 2005 Japanese sci-fi drama "Hinokio" for the first time. I had never actually heard about the movie prior to stumbling upon it and sitting down to watch it.

Writers Takahiko Akiyama, Masumi Suetani and Shôji Yonemura put together a fair enough script and storyline, though the movie was aimed at a younger audience. But still, there was something good and well-written about the concept of the movie, and it made for adequate entertainment. The aspect of a disabled child using a robotic proxy to participate in school and social events was actually rather interesting, so thumbs up to the writers on that accomplishment.

I wasn't familiar with the cast ensemble in "Hinokio", but they had a good selection of young actors and actresses, whom carried the movie well and brought both the story and the characters to life on the screen in a nice manner.

Visually then "Hinokio" was fairly good. The special effects and CGI in the movie were fair enough and did their job adequately in bringing the robotic proxy to life on the screen.

If you enjoy sci-fi movies with robots, then director Takahiko Akiyama's 2005 movie "Hinokio" might be well-worth checking out. I was adequately entertained throughout the course of the 111 minutes that the movie ran for.

The movie's title "Hinokio: Intergalactic Love" made little sense in terms of the "Intergalactic Love" part. Though the "Hinokio" part was a nice play on the "Pinochio" title.

My rating of "Hinokio" lands on a six out of ten stars.

I'm very like the plot of this movie. From the first scene, still stop me of everything to see every scene... The story of the youth show on the right way, sincere in the manner and have imaginary.

Modern Animation can go along with beautiful scenario of suburb of Japan in a harmonious theme.

Sometime sub-ego or super-ego when we're in pain / in vain, we don't know how to cope with it. Without the REAL friend or the best friend helping, that person may stuck and can't get out of that blackhole and show off with drastic action...

This picture,not only without the conflict of the youth actor in the best acting but also the person behind. I would like to thank you for the guys behind this scene. And want to see this kind of good picture again !

Very impressive ! Thailand Fans