Yamada-kun to 7nin no majo (2013)

Country: Japan
Format: drama in 8 episodes
Genre: comedy, romance, school, fantasy
Cast: Yamamoto Yusuke, Nishiuchi Mariya, Triendl Reina, Ide Takuya, Tokuyama Hidenori, Ono Ito, Kobayashi Ryoko, Miyama Karen, Kojima Fujiko, Takigawa Noa, Amiya Shotaro, Nagae Yuki,
Kawamura Yukie
Synopsis: On one ordinary school-day school's folly Yamada and the smartest girl in the school Shiraishi get into accident and fall down the stairs. When Yamada wakes up in school's nurse office he finds himself in Shiraishi's body!? Turns out they are able to swap bodies with a kiss. That leads them to the discovery of the legend of 7 witches. 
Rating: 4/5
It is another drama from 2013 summer that I anticipated to see. Ever since Yoshikawa Miki started writing "Yamada-kun to 7nin no majo" Yanne has been crazy about it (It is her second favourite manga) and has retold all the great things in it. But as I have not read it that much to compare the live-action to the original work I will use Yanne's notes. I bet you all know already that this drama is all about kissing.

Ouran High School Host Club

Ouran High School Host Club (2011)

Counrty: Japan
Format: drama in 11 episodes
Genre: comedy, school, romance
Cast: Yamamoto Yusuke, Kawauchi Haruna, Daito Shunsuke, Chiba Yudai, Nakamura Masaya, Takagi Shinpei, Takagi Manpei, Ryusei Ryo,
Synopsis: Ouran High School is private school for sons and daughters of wealthy and prestigious families. But Fujioka Haruhi is not like others - she is from commoner family who entered the school with scholarship. One day when she is trying to find a quiet place to learn she stumbles on Ouran High School Host Club. Due to several misunderstandings and shock she accidentally breaks a vase worth 8 million yen. Even though Haruhi is a girl, she looks really boyish and is made to become a member of host club to repay her debt.
Rating: 5/5
I was stunned by the fact how similar the live-action was to anime. They had done some changes in details, left out some side-characters and put one or two anime episodes together, but the similarity stayed amazing. Since the cast was first introduced, I never had any doubts in them. I do not know why, but I believed that they will be able to do it well.

Kawaguchi Haruna played the part of Haruhi. I have seen her before in "Yankee-kun to Megane-chan" live-action, so I knew that one way or another she will pull it off, but I was amazed how well she did it. I was a bit concerned about her appearance as she had to be cute girl Haruhi, 1st day catastrophe and ikemen host. I have heard some people say "Why she did not cut her hair? Why is she wearing a wig? etc". ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY MAKE GIRL CUT HER HAIR WHEN SHE DOES NOT WANT IT! Even if she is an actress, because maybe she had some other contracts that did not allow to cut her hair, like other movie, endorsement, modelling what ever, there are so many reasons to give what we might not know. I think that if the job can be done with wig too, then why not? Sure, it does look fake, but at least it is done. I was not bothered by it, because as well we could be angry at actors make-up.

I think the most difficult part to act was Tamaki, because he is kinda baka delusional narcissistic character, but I just say WOW to Yamamoto Yusuke. I feel that he made a great job showing out what kind of character Tamaki is. I literally had a dream about him last night, so that in the morning Tamaki's remarks and "Haruhiiii~!" were echoing in my head. Even though, Yamamoto Yusuke does not have that one ikemen-factor as some say, I find him extremely handsome and when he was making some Tamaki's flirting action into camera.. well, I was close to heart failure. I am happy that he got the part, because he does not have many lead-roles or super funny characters.
 I was most amazed by Kyouya's character. He was acted by Daito Shunsuke, even though he has

been some side-characters in dramas I have seen before, it is the first time I am able to actually look at him. In anime and manga, Kyouya was not my favorite character, but I fell for him in drama. Daito Shunsuke plays him so well and he looks extremely hot in every outfit. He basically became my number one in drama, which made me sad that his background story was least mentioned. I also find it unexpected that they added Kyouya's feelings to Haruhi for one episode, because from anime it looked like he had the least interest in Haruhi, but throwing this line in just for one episode seemed a bit weird.

One of the most-known fictional twins are of course Hikaru and Kaoru. I felt pity for them, because I can understand them as I have a twin too, whose appearance is rather similar to mine. Nothing is more disrespectful and hurtful than saying "It does not matter which one is which" to twins, because as it is shown in drama too - twins might look similar and might have similar interests, but they are still two different person. Hikaru and Kaoru both are really devilish and most of the time they have really evil thoughts, but Kaoru is a bit more tolerant. Hikaru tends to over-react or think a bit more about himself and Kaoru than about other people. Takagi twins were amazing in their roles and as much as I have seen/heard they have become many viewers favorites.
The last pair to talk about are Honey-senpai and Mori-senpai. Chiba Yudai plays the part of Honey-senpai. As in anime and manga Honey-senpai is shorter than Haruhi, then it was really difficult for

Chiba Yudai, because he is taller than Kawaguchi Haruna. To make him look a shorter he and Haruhi are rarely beside each other and they used a child-actor to make Honey-senpai able to jump on someone, especially on Haruhi. I do find Chiba Yudai as cute as Honey-senpai from anime/manga and the moment when they show "black Honey" was too much for me to handle. That scene showed perfectly that Chiba Yudai is able to act different roles too - "OHSHC" was pretty much his debut. Mori-senpai is acted by Nakamura Masaya. He was just as Mori-senpai is - quiet, quiet and quiet.

Some say that live-action was a bit too much, over-exaggerated, or some characters are too annoying, but for me "Ouran High School Host Club" is it all - it can be viewed as a parody of otaku-culture and I love parodies. Yeah, for anime-fans anime-characters are cuter to watch, but please understand that there are so many things that you can draw but you cannot make it in real life! That's why I was so happy how they had added anime-characteristics into it. Slap stick comedy or not it was funny for me. I have read how some people hate actor-choices and etc, but you do not have to like everything, as long as there is one person that really likes the outcome then I believe that it is well done. Compared to some other live-action, then I say that it is amazing and at least you cannot get a cancer from it.

Ouran High School Host Club ~The movie~ (2012)

Country: Japan
Format: Movie
Genre: comedy, school, romance
Cast: Yamamoto Yusuke, Kawaguchi Haruna, Daito Shunsuke, Chiba Yudai, Nakamura Masaya, Takagi Shinpei, Takagi Manpei, Ryusei Ryo, Mariko Shinoda, Nickhun, Ishikawa Tomohiro,
Synopsis: The adventures of Ouran High School Host Club continue as they have their annual Ouran High School battle between clubs. The situation gets more difficult when there comes a new transfer student Michelle, who takes a great interest in Tamaki.
Rating: 5/5
I watched it at cinema! My country had one anime festival and they showed 2 movies too, but I was unable to watch the other movie.

I was a bit disappointed in the movie, because it was divided into two themes - Michelle's and her brother's relationship and second part was others. I hoped to see more of host club doings, especially TamakixHaruhi things, because in movie Tamaki questions why he has such an urge to kiss Haruhi even though she is his "daughter". Oh, Tamaki and his family ranks. Also under "other things" they will continue to discuss Hikaru's feelings.I have not finished reading manga yet, but as I have heard then Michelle's character and storyline are totally new. Manga contains so many different stories, that's why I do not understand why they had to add new things. Michelle is rather similar to Eclair Tonnerre character in anime/manga. Michelle is played by Shinoda Mariko. An AKB member who actually can act. I really want to see her in "Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta". She has that image that she can act great as portraying bitches, even though I believe that she will be great in cute-girl roles too.
"Ouran High School Host Club Movie" was a Japanese movie-business debut for Nickhun from Korean band 2PM. He plays the part of Lawrence, Michelle's big brother. At first I thought that his English was over-dubbed, but after getting to know Nickhun's past, then "WOWW" I would listen to his English everyday, but only after he has put more emotions into his acting.
Weird English lines and Mariko's accent made movie look a bit ridiculous as Michelle and Lawrence had grown up with English, but Michelle was more fluent in Japanese. Their whole story was a bit out of movie and made it too melodramatic. Other than that it is still full of Ouran wackiness and is super funny. It has been a while since I have heard the whole cinema laughing out loud because of the movie (mostly people just sit and watch without making much noise). I would have wanted to see even more, because it looked just like another episode, which is a bit longer than others.

Hanazakari no kimitachi e (2007)

Country: Japan
Format: drama, 12 episodes + SP
Genre: comedy, romance, school
Cast: Horikita Maki, Oguri Shun, Ikuta Toma, Yamamoto Yusuke, Mizobata Junpei, Okada Masaki, Mizushima Hiro, Kiritani Mirei, Kamikawa Takaya, Daito Shunsuke, Sugimoto Tetta, Inagaki Goro, Ishigaki Yuma, Kimura Ryo, Kyo Nobou, Iwasa Mayuku, Kurose Manami, Shirota Yu, Minami, Konno Mahiru,
Synopsis:  Ashiya Mizuki becomes a transfer student to all boys school Osaka High, but the thing is - Mizuki is a girl. In order to get her favorite high-jumper Sano Izumi to jump again, she flies to Japan from California, cuts her hair and says goodbye to being a girl. She is taken into class really easily, but this school is not just about studying - there are competitions about being the best, crazy fangirls, different characters, lunatic photographer and sharp-minded doctor. How long can one girl stay into Ikemen Paradise, when emotions are added into the game?
Rating: 5/5
This is my 100th Asian drama/movie, which I have seen. I know it is not much, but luckily my watching speed is increasing.  "Hana Kimi" is made after same-named manga by Nakajo Hisaya. I hope you understand just how great it is by looking at its cast, many of them are now really well-known. (Example: It was Mizubata Junpei´s second role, Okada Masaki´s third, in addition Oguri Shun, Horikita Maki, Ikuta Toma etc were widely known before) . I do not know why I have not watched it earlier, but it certainly is one of the classic-must-watch-dramas!

The heroine of the story is Mizuki - she is brave and actually thinks much before actions, but she does not think that much of all possible outcomes. She is a bit naive and has a big mouth, when it comes to things she knows nothing about, even though her ideas come in handy anyway. It actually seemed to me that she loved Sano too soon and too much, although she says something else. As much as I was able to read its manga, I understand that in drama she is made even less obsessed with Sano, which is great. Her reason of going there is acceptable and actually right from the bottom of the heart, but I do not think it is something that everyone should think that "OH! Let her stay! she has a big heart and she is not afraid to show it! show it! (Sorry.. I got stuck with LMFAO lyrics). That´s why I liked Doctor´s point "It is interesting to see what is going to happen". I like Maki in this role - the boy-ish girl role suits her as she cannot be said to be the most feminine Japanese actress. I think she must have had much fun while filming it, because you can see that there is going to be much touchy-mushy-and-close-calls.

Sano Izumi is palyed by Oguri Shun - I do not know why I always have a really strict and egoistic prejudice of him (Gomenne, Shun-kun!),  it might be because of "Hana Yori Dango", then again I have not watched it yet. I loved him in this role, well mostly I loved Sano´s character -especially when he showed out his real emotions or was under Nara-pickle-syndrome, other than that he was emotionless bastard loved by everyone, but who did not show his love to others. It feels like the fact of Mizuki being a girl does not as a big surprise for him, but you can see its real conclusion in Special episode. Actually Sano is not reticent as he talks so much about himself to Mizuki, so you get to know his harsh childhood - I think he just did not want to go babbling all over the city of his thoughts and feelings. I really begun to like him.

Nakatsu - well you can guess he was my favourite if you know me. He is now officially goofy-guy-nr2 (Goofy-guys´ list). He is funny, he is loud, he is easy to read, he is full of himself and he is the first one to fall (that would make a great song lyrics..) At first he is againts Mizuki as she puts Nakatsu´s great sport results in danger, but soon they become best buddiezzzz.... well, at least he is friendzoned by Mizuki. Like you might guess - he has no idea of the fact that Mizuki is a girl - so there are lost and lots confused feelings in Nakatsu, which even threaten his orientation. His "Nakatsu super visions" are one of the highlights of the drama and most of the time he ends up having a nosebleed. This role made me go seriously into Ikuta Toma fandom and I want to see his acting more.

By the way, in the 5th episode he is wearing the same green "I have a great personality" T-shirt as Yamashita Tomohisa in "Proposal Daisakusen" 5th episode. This coincidence is cool because Ikuta Toma and Yamashita Tomohisa are great friends since childhood and both dramas aired in 2007.
Nakatsu is roomed with Kayashima - dude, who can see aura and sense the unlivings. His dad is just like he is and no matter what the situation is Kayashima is the first one who is left out from the list. I liked to see Yamamoto Yusuke in this kind of role, because I have not seen him much. NakatsuXKayashima moments  are really great.

There are three dorm leaders. Dorm 2 is lead bu Nanba Manami - guy from who girls get pregnant just by looking at him. Girls, watch out! It might happen through computer screen too. He is a women´s man, that´s why he is referred as Nanpa (Flirt) at many times, but he has big heart for his guys, who are like a family to him. That´s why he always stands up for them and never lets them down.

Drom 1 is full of brainless martial art guys. Tennoji is their leader - he actually looks hotter when he is wearing his school uniform, his most famous word is "Baby~!!!". Other dorm member always try to eliminate him when there is a possibility, but mostly they fail. Last dorm is about acting and music and that kind of stuff. Leader Oscar/ Masao has repeated school for many years. He has unique ideas, but he is just plain stupid. Every once in a while he gets possessed by some spirit and becomes even weirder. Also, be prepared for some cross-dressing and horrible singing. Dorm 3 faithfully follows him and I feel like that there is no thinking in their heads.

I think I should mention more about dorm 2 members, who are shown more. Sekime is slow to understand things and he is always losing, that is why he is called failure. He is naive, but very friendly - he is the first one to become friends with Mizuki.  Nakao is in love with Nanba from the bottom of his heart - but he always gets rejected, although they are still great friends. Nakao thinks to be the cutest, which is the reason of not liking Mizuki as he thinks that Mizuki might be cuter than he. 

Doctor Umeda - my second favorite character from the drama. He has a big trauma since the university time, which made him watch men, but he is not harassing anyone of the students, but I cannot say the same about Mizuki´s annoying brother and new psyhopatic teacher (Inagaki Goro), who I mentally killed already. But doctor is frequently abused by school´s photographer Hara Akiha, who caused the trauma in past. 

Kagurazaka is Sano´s greatest rival, played by Shirota Yuu. Again firstly annoying bastard, but you will have great laugh with him too. Even though I know Shirota Yuu for a long time already, it was the first time to see his acting - well, makes me want to see more.

In Special episode is Julia, who is Mizuki´s friend from USA - she puts her nose into other´s business and is too much with her words - it is weird when everyone thinks that their way is the best for someone, even when they do not know the real situation. AHH! I almost forgot one very important character!!!

Yuujiro - Dorm 2 dog, who is like a dorm member and I am not surprised if he would receive a graduation diploma at graduation too. The school director is a bit off - she is very elegant and always wants to see her students "bloom in full colors", no matter what it is her word is the law for boys, even when they find it silly. She does not see boys much as she is on trips all the time, so the most communication is between her deputy manager, who never remembers the thing he has to say, and boys. Hibari and Hibari Four are the protectors of Osaka High guys and Hibari is endlessly and hopelessly in love with Sano, but Sano is hardly aware of her. Hibari four is pretty unique and funny and they make many things to happen.

It is very funny when all dorm members have different opinions about things and even if it seemed to be secret talk between two person, they start to come out from all kind of different places and each option is more irrelevant to the question and absurd than the one before it. They do all kind of funny things together and their stupidity is endless.
I will end my review with one great saying from the drama: "If you give up on things you love the most, you will lose yourself. Someone who can lie to oneself is lonely and sad" - that´s why keep watching great dramas and movies and be happy, but remeber that "Hard work will be rewarded" - so do not lose your eyesight or your real life because of your great addiction.

It is perfect drama if you want to train your stomach muscles with laugh, well it is perfect drama for everything! May be only minus is that they try to put too many important points of the manga into too few screen time - this is live action needs more episodes to show "Hana Kimi" manga´s real awesomeness. Definitely one of my favorites, soooo WATCH IT! ^-^

SPOILER REVIEW - I actually even did not want Nakatsu and Mizuki together. When so many are saying that they should have been the pair, then actually I think that Mizuki suited more with Sano, because they had more similar personalities than Nakatsu with her. But it still broke my heart to see him suffer from unrequited love. 
I was a disappointed in the end of the Special, because her speech sucked like I do not know what. It ruined the drama a little bit... but I will forgive it, because all those maleXmale kisses are real deal.

Paradise Kiss (2011)

Country: Japan
Genre: romance, comedy, fashion
Format: cinema movie
Cast: Kitagawa Keiko, Mukai Osamu, Kaku Kento, Oomasa Aya, Yamamoto Yusuke, Igarashi Shunji, Kato Natsuki, Hirayama Hiroyuki,
Synopsis: Hayasaka Yukari is a soon-graduating student, who has all her life studied in order to please her mother. After one hard day at school she is "scouted" by two boys who take her to studio called "Paradise Kiss". She meets with fashion students Arashi, Isabella, Miwako and a guy who gives her scary vibe - George. By becoming their model, Yukari soon discovers that there is more to life than just studying and each person must be in control of their own life.
Rating: 5/5

The movie is made after Yazawa Ai's same-named manga which 5 volumes were published during 1999-2003 (anime has 12 episodes and aired in 2005). I am happy, that "Paradise Kiss" live-action saw the light in 2011 and not before it, because this live-action has amazing technical effects and cast. I cannot say how much it was different from the original art as I have not read the manga, but I certainly want to read it in future! I know that the ending of the live-action is different from manga. But remember one thing - "Paradise Kiss" is a shoujo-manga, so the live-action is very girlish too, a bit chic flick.

Hayasaka Yukari is the main character. At first she is snobbish with art students, because their life-style is totally unacceptable. Even though she cannot put up with her mother, she is brave and has a lot of attitude, many times she acts before thinking clearly. I found it weird that in many scenes Yukari had forgotten all things that happened a day or some hours before and acted like it was nothing. Every girl would be on the edge of heart failure, but she had no changes in her emotions. But I will write that mistake on her attitude. Miwako likes to call her Caroline and Isabella mostly refers to her with name Carrie.

 Kitagawa Keiko was amazing in it. At first you can see her with almost no make-up!!! and she still looks like an angel (=.=), just a little bit strange if you have always seen her with good make-up (yeah, even "Buzzer Beat" non-make-up scenes had more make-up than in "Paradise Kiss") Kitagawa Keiko had a great advantage in acting as a model, because she started her rising-road with model-career, being the exclusive model for Japanese "Seventeen".

George is a bit rude, egocentric, playboy, super talented in dress-design, veeeeeery hot and in reality he suck with being true to his feelings. Some scenes might seem unfair to girls, but I think that this dude really knows how to make shocking-therapy xD I have heard that in manga he is bi-sexual and likes sadomasochism, well  there is no sign of it in the live-action. I feel sorry for George, because he is alone most of the time, even though Isabella is always beside him, it is not the same. I liked his one saying about making something great - "It is not tlent, it is a desire". I believe that it goes for most of the things - if you do not have talent, but you have the biggest desire to do it, you will manage it too. Mukai Osamu looks so hot. (Happy be-lated birthday, he got 30 on February 7th!)

Miwako is very naive and I have a feeling that many times she did not get the real point at all. Arashi at the same time is rough, loud and defensive. He at first does not like Yukari at all, because he is annoyed by Yukari's uncertain and high attitude. Miwako and Arashi are together, but its origins go a long way to their childhood, which includes Hiroyuki. I think that Oomasa Aya and Kaku Kento were the right choices for these characters.

Isabella has the least screen time - she is like the mother to the whole Paradise Kiss crew and she helps Yukari a lot when Yukari is feeling down. She is the most loyal friend to George as he was the one who help Isabella to understand her real self. By the way, Isabella is actually a guy.. but her soul is woman, if you know what I mean. Igarashi Shunji made brilliant job - I think that no man has a easy work to act woman role (or a man who feels like woman).

Hiroyuki is the first love of Yukari, a friend and a classmate. Yukari always thinks it is one-sided, but actually she is just too blind to see Hiroyuki's feelings. I think that they suited together so much! that's way I had hard time to decide which guy I prefer. But like I said Hiroyuki was childhood friend with Miwako and Arashi, which makes everything a lot more difficult..

Kaori is the biggest rival George has ever had, but the difference is that Kaori does not have that kind of talent. In manga there are hints that George has some feelings for her, but in live-action they are confuted. Minor roles of parents are there too - like all the time - parents are horrible and suck at first, but later understand how stupid they have been.
One of the most cutest scenes are memories where they are chibis! But weird is that they all discovered their personality at such early age, except Yukari.

I fell in love with George designed clothes - these are even more my style than clothes in "Runway Beat". I would buy all of them, but I am short of money. Does anyone knows where to buy same styled clothes?
Live-action has a great soundtrack too.. and I really love art students. Hopefully I will be one of them next year - I sent my application to university. It is one of the best fashion movies made recently!

SPOILER review: I wanted to comment their competition dresses too, but I do not think it would be right to do in real review. I found Kaori's dress too commercial and it was nothing special. Just open some Korean fashion online shop and most of the dresses are like it! If the meaning of the competition was "right into the shop", then okey, but seriously??! George's blue dress was the killer!!! It was soooo beautiful and difficult to make! I actually would have wanted to see the first, yellow dress too, but they dropped it with neck and crop.
Some words of the end - it was sickly cliched,  but it worked so great! I got double butterflies in my stomach! (do not ask how it feels..). Hint - Kitagawa Keiko really knows how to kiss and so does Mukai Osamu.

RESCUE (2009)

Country: Japan

Genre: rescue, action
Format: drama 9 episodes
Cast: Nakamaru Yuichi, Masuda Takahisa, Yamamoto Yusuke, Shoei, Kaname Jun, Tanaka Yoji, Yamamoto Koji, Ishiguro Ken, Takahashi You, Ichikawa Yui, Fueki Yuko (Yoo Min), Ebata Hiroki, Nishihara Aki,
Synopsis: Kitajima Daichi (Played by Nakamaru Yuichi) was saved by a Special Rescue team as a child, now he and his friend Tetsuka Yutaka (Masuda Takahisa) enter Special Rescue Team trainings to become a member of Super Ranger.
Rating: 3/5
First star for cutting their hair. As many of you might know Nakamaru Yuichi and Masuda Takahisa had longer hair since young age and they had to cut their hair just to get the role. I liked them with longer hair too, but the star is for willing to do the chance. (And as I have seen they still have shorter hair since then xD) Another star for ... half-naked scenes. There were many bathroom scenes and scene without shirts. (If you have seen Masuda Takahisa´s muscles, then you should know what to wait for)

I liked the drama for showing the hard life of rescuers. As a average person we might never understand how much are they trying to give their best. It was a great contrast to show characters´ personal life too (Oke mostly it was just drinking beer in a pub xD).
Usually I am not a big action fan, but "Rescue" really got my attention, especially because the emergencies were real (as they might happen). Another thing is that they must had a REAAALLY BIG budget to make all those explosions and fires.
The series was made with collaboration of real rescue squad of Yokohama, so the actors received a rescuing knowledge too.
It was filmed in winter 2009, so respect to actors for coping with the cold.
I liked the theme song too - "Rescue" by KAT-TUN.