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.

Watching the first 2 episodes of this would bring anyone to tears. You really feel bad for her. The actress that played sawako is very good and convincing. You almost feel like it actually happened. A popular boy later befriends her and gets her to open up and they eventually fall in love. The rest of the cast was very good as well. Her two friends who befriended her and later told her when she was trying to stay away from them that she was not causing them any problems. This was due to a rumor that was started by a jealous girl who in the end becomes her friend as well. The ending was full of too many holes and loose ends that weren't tied. You only saw sawako coming back to shota. What happened to Ryu. Did he not come back to the other girl and what about Ayane did she not come back from overseas. This was not a netflix original as this was just shown on netflix and the date of release was 2010. Can they rectify this? Yes they can make a movie to tie up all of the loose ends and show how the others fared. Had that been addressed during this series I would have rated it a 10.

I'm a fan of the anime and found the film to be quite charming and moving, the characters endearing and well acted and the overall feel of the film, wholesome. The casting was spot on for the principals. Mikako Tabe, as Sadako, was especially impressive, as were the the actors playing Chizu, Yanosan, Ryu and Kazehaya. I don't know if this film is for everyone, but as an older person, with a varied taste in film and entertainment genres, I rank it up there with The Railway Children and The Swiss Family Robinson. My only complaint were the constraints put on it time wise. Trying to fit a 24 episode anime into a two hour film is a difficult task. The filmmakers succeeded, but I and I'm sure most fans of Kimi Ni Todoke, could have easily sat through a four hour version.

I like this movie. Actors are Haruma Miura and Mikako Tabe.Haruma plays Shota Kazehaya.Mikako plays Sawako Kurosawa. This movie's the oridinal is girls comic.I read comics.This story is Sawako called by everyone "Sadako".She is afraid by everyone. But one boy is different. The boy is Shota Kazehaya.Shota is kind to Sawako. Sawako was surprised. Because she had never kind to no one.But Sawako wants to help everyone.Sawako is very good girl.Shota fall in love with Sawako.Sawako loves Shota too.They become to a couple.It is so good.I like Kazehaya.Heis very kind and cool.His smile is shining.So Sawako must be fall in love with Shota. It is pure love story.