Tokyo Bandwagon (2013)

Country: Japan
Format: drama in 10 episodes
Genre: romance, slice of life
Cast: Kamenashi Kazuya, Tabe Mikako, Mimura, Kaneko Nobuaki, Taira Airi, Ozowa Runa, Kimino Yuma, Jonathan Sherr, Inohara Yoshihiko, Katagiri Hairi, Bengal, Mitsuishi Ken, Tamaki Koji, Kaga Mariko
Synopsis: Tokyo Bandwagon is old second-hand bookstore, where 4 generations of Hotta family members live together. They might me located on a small area, but there is a lot happening. Especially after Ao, grandson of the head of the store, meets with sweet innocent Suzumi who has several tricks to play.
Rating: 5/5
It officially became one of my favorite Japanese dramas! I have heard a lot of opinions about it, but I must say that I simply enjoyed and still adore it.

Ore wa, kimi no tame ni koso shini ni iku (2007)

Also known as: For those we love; Assault on the Pacific ~Kamikaze~
Country: Japan
Format: movie
Genre:WWII
Cast: Tokushige Satoshi, Kobozuka Yosuke, Tsutsui Michitaka, Kishi Keiko, Tabe Mikako, Maekawa Yasuyuki, Nakamura Tomoya, Watanabe Dai, Hulk Ren, Nakagoshi Noriko, Sakurai Sachiko, Toda Naho, Miyasaki Yoshiko, Endo Kenichi, Terada Minori, Nakahara Takeo, Emori Toru, Nagato Hirouki, Ishibashi Renji, Katsuno Hiroshi, Matoba Koji, Ibu Masato, Suzunosuke Tanaka, Inoue Takashi, Hashimoto Ichiro, Matsuo Satoru,
Synopsis: It is the final months of 1945 and war drew a close. Allied naval forces expanded in the South Pacific and Japanese military headquarter decides to form special attack corps which the world now knows as Kamikaze pilots. Tomihara Tome is keeping a restaurant in Kyushu and witnesses their last days and cherishes their memory. 
Rating: 5/5
I was afraid to watch it, because I am not good with watching war movies. I am pacifist, there is no justified reason for war - it is just people killing people just because some "important leaders of the country" want more or have speaking disability. I understand when in the start of the ages, people

fought to survive, but to gain more land, wealth, resources (that is not FOOD) does not make sense to me. Of course it is different with home wars, but actually this is not the place or time to talk about my views on these things, so let's move on to the review.

Ikiteru dake de nankurunaisa SP (2011)

Country: Japan
Format: movie, 24 Hour TV special
Genre: life & death, drama
Cast: Murakami Shingo, Tanaka Rena, Namase Katsuhisa, Takahata Atsuko, Yoshida Taeko, Shibutani Subaru, Imouto Ayako, cameos: Nishikido Ryo, Yasuda Shota, Okura Tadayoshi, Yokoyama You, Maruyama Ryuuhei,
Synopsis: One day Eisaku's coughing gets worse and when he finally starts to cough blood he knows that something is not right. But what he does not know is that it is only the start of a years long fight for his life with different diseases. Thanks to his long term girlfriend/ wife Mika, he is able to face the future.
Rating: 5/5
I cried my eyes out due to that movie. 24 Hour TV always makes me cry, because they always bring the true-life events on the screen. This time it is based on Tamamoto Eisaku's essay about his fight with multiple serious diseases.

Lunch Box (2010)

Country: Korean
Format: movie, one episode of MBC Best Theater series
Genre: romance, drama
Cast: Lee Min Jung, Im Seul Ong, Bae Han Sung, Cha Hwa Yun, Oh Dae Hwan,  Park Hye Jin
Synopsis: Movie tells a story of different people who are connected to each other. Ones are looking towards the future, but others are unable to walk away from the past.
Rating: - /5
Well, this was one really weird movie. Even now I do not have clear thoughts about it. It never shows what exactly happened in the past and it does not exactly show the future, it is just a point in life where after over 20 years four people, who are connected to each other with sad memories, meet again and try to put an end to the grief and I almost forgot four other people who just must witness everything.

Byakkotai (2007)

Country: Japan
Format: movie in 2 episodes
Genre: historical
Cast: Yamashita Tomohisa, Tanaka Koki, Fujigaya Taisuke, Kuroki Meisa, Higashiyama Noriyuki, Kobayashi Nenji, Yakushimaru Hiroko, Nogiwa Yoko, Takashima Masanobu, Ito Shiro, Ito Kazue, Matsuo Toshinobu, Takuma Takayuki, Nishihara Aki, Ishiguro Hideo, Saito Shota, Sakimoto Hiromi, Tomita Sho, Hashizume Ryo, Matsushige Yutaka, Masu Takeshi, Kikawada Masaya, Tsutsui Mariko, Iida Kisuke, Yamada Meikyo, Hirooka Yuriko, Kanno Rio, Matoba Koji, Nakagoshi Noriko, Ida Kunihiko, Namiki Shiro, Okayama Hajime, Sakai Toshiya, Ishimaru Kenjiro, Bengal, Asano Yuko, Musaka Naomasa, Watanabe Ikkei, Kataoka Tsurutaro, Wakamura Mayumi, Wakui Emi,
Synopsis: Sakai Shintaro and Shinoda Yusuke are descendants of Byakkotai samurais. In order to escape from Shintaro's grandmother, they go to Aizu where grandfather sends them into Byakkotai Memorial Hall. In their mind they travel back to years 1868 to 1869 when Japan had Boshin war - war were special force of 340 boys of 16-17 years old fought for their lives.
Rating: 3/5
It is a re-make of 1986 movie - so I think it looks exactly the same. Most of the things that happen in the movie are based on true life events.

Kemarishi (2006)

Country: Japan
Format: movie in 40 minutes;
Genre: supernatural, third movie of KanjaniWinter drama special 2006
Cast: Yokoyama You, Okura Tadayoshi, Nishikido Ryo, Sato Megumi, Sagawa Mitsuo, Owada Shinya,
Synopsis: There is a old legend of "kemarishi",  a special superhuman power to use kemari (Old traditional Japanese non-competitive sport where you must keep the ball in air as long as you can) to fight with others. It was believed that all successors of legendary clans have died, but little did they know that there is still someone left.
Rating: 1/5
Well, it is one of Kanjani movies, what else to say - Just laugh hard and joke a lot.

Bel Ami (2013)

Also known as: Pretty Man
Country: South-Korea
Format: drama in 16 episodes
Genre: romance, comedy
Cast: Jang Geun Suk, UI, Lee Jang Woo, Han Chae Young, Kim Bo Yun, Dok Go Young Jae, Kim Young Jae, So Yoo Jin, Kim Ye Won, Cha Hyun Jung, Park Ji Yoon, Kim Bo Ra, Jung Sun Kyung, Kim Min Joo, Lee Min Young, Yeo Hoon Min, Yang Mi Kyung,
Synopsis: Dok Go Ma Te is born with very beautiful face and he has made into his trademark in to get what he wants. After his mother dies he gets closer to the mystery behind his father's identity. In order to be accept by his father he must unlock the password that her mother made up. Dok Go Ma Te starts his mission with his old neighborhood girl Bo Tong, who has been in love with him for all those years.
Rating: 4/5
I was so happy when they changed the title into "Bel Ami" because it sounds much better than "Pretty Man". I am not even going to write down all the fears I had before watching it, because there were a lot of them. It is based on manhwa by Chun Gye Young.

47 Ronin (2013)

Country: USA with Japanese actors 
Format: movie
Genre: legends, adventure, fantasy
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Sanada Hiroyuki, Shibasaki Kou, Asano Tadanobu, Kikuchi Rinko, Akanishi Jin, Tanaka Min, Haneda Masayoshi, Sogabe Hiroshi, Neil Fingleton, Yonemoto Takato, Yamada Hiroshi, Nakajima Shu, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Yorick van Wageningen, Rick Genest,
Synopsis: Based on the true story of 47 samurais who avenged the murder of their lord in 1703.  Kai, a half-Japanese who is an outcast, is accepted by lord Asano to live in his domain - while growing up he develops feelings towards Asano's daughter Mika. After lord Kira has murdered lord Asano, Mika is taken into hostage and Asano's men are disbanded. A year later the ronin reunite in order to avenge their lord and save Mika. And now add Japanese magical mythology!
Rating: 3/5
The first review of 2014! and the first thing I have literally watched this year! I know it is USA movie, but at the same time I think you understand why I decided to make this review too. I was afraid that it is extremely Hollywood-ish and I was ready to be veery disappointed, but I had to see it, because I had to see my baby's, Akanishi Jin's, Hollywood debut - and we are back to love-hate relationship - at the moment "all about love!".