Ooku ~ 大奥

 

Totally have no idea why I don't have this post in my LJ, and by now, I've lost count on how many times I watched this movie and go from *sobs* to *kyaaa* to *noooo* to *awwww*. Well without further a do, here's my 2 cents on Ooku (well, maybe more than 2 cents LOL)...

Yeah, Ooku is a thought provoking movie, despite being beautiful in every aspects. Heck, just look at the casts, the background, the setting, the costumes, the scores, are all gorgeous and kyaa worthy (this is just from my point of view). Not to mention with hefty amount of over-promotion, be it in the news, variety shows, concerts, magazine interviews, radio, and nets. So what the rave is all about?

Ooku is based on manga with the same title by Yoshinaga Fumi. I'm too curious about the manga that I bought the whole English translated set (until Vol. 5 only since they're still running). And now I know why there's no gap in the storyline for the 2 hours movie, because guess what, it's just taking from 1/4 portion of the first book! Smart move, and I gotta admit they took the best story in the manga series so far, so I got no complain here. The story itself is about what might happen in the Japanese feudal world (Tokugawa period to be exact) if the gender role is reversed. In Ooku world, male is so scarse that they're treated as a commodity to be trade off or symbol of status, exactly just like the way females are treated in the real feudal world. As in Ooku, there lives 3000 handsome males as a status of how great the shogun is, while outside of Ooku, you'll see females are desperately looking for man just to get their 'seeds' so that they can bear children, sons preferably.

So what makes it thought proviking? To me, it's what is displayed in both inside and outside Ooku. Inside Ooku, the males basically become so focused with their beauty to be at where they are (example, all the main characters, except well, Mizuno). If looks can kill, this is where you can see this phrase apply, literally. And, still related to beauty, outside Ooku, you'll see less fortunate families selling their sons for money and prestige, and for some, it's a hell to live in. They even put out the courtesan debutante scene, the exact same scene that Anna Tsuchiya has in Sakuran (another great but old movie to watch), to show how the females in Ooku world sees the males. It's basically a literally gender reversal, but it's thought provoking because it's gender reversal, the what-if scenarios are intriguing.

Mizuno (the main character) is a son of poor samurai family. However, he doesn't experience what's like to be sold off as commodity and he's very greatful at that towards his mom. And, when he enters Ooku, he encounters what we have nowadays as the homosexual and was disgusted with it because to him, it's such a waste while people outside Ooku treat the 'seeds' *cough*sperms*cough* as precious, it's thought otherwise in Ooku, and which later on, this thought is made real by the new shogun. Yes, this movie has quite a few (though, can't be said many) of those skinship. It's not as explicit as Korean's Antique Bakery (thank goodness for that), but it's enough for us to know what happens next.

So, with that said, earlier on, I keep mentioning that it's beautiful. Yes, it's beautiful, and it starts from the opening scene of the castle, and all the shots after that. They put into consideration on details and angle. Best example is when Mizuno's attendance put on the red tint on Mizuno's eyelid. That scene is enough to make my heart wrench (you'll know why when you watch it yourself). And off course, the kimonos are superb, though it's mostly on the males, but the craftiness is so neat, primp and crisp. Even Mizuno's brown hakama on the scene when he enters Ooku looks nicely done, though it's said to be a poor family clothes. Then, the most obvious one, the cast. To live up to Ooku's name, the cast is really full of pretty boys who can act (not just faces). Some time ago, I called Ooku as Samurai version of Hanakimi (literally, ikemen paradise). My faves is off course, Nino and Tamaki, but then there's Ohkura (from ROMES, but in here, he's the swordman), and lots of others, like Aoi Nakamura (the seamtress) and the older ikemen, Kuranosuke Sasaki (he's the tech guy from Zettai Kareshi). So, with all the pretty faces, beautiful costumes, scenaries and background music, this movie is really pleasent to the eyes.

OK, enough said, let's go to the fun part, fangirling. LOTS of fangirling in this movie which is why I'm so thankful I didn't watch this movie in the theater (and they never screen this in SG anyway). Having 2 JE boys in 1 movie is already a treat, although I must complain that Ohkura's screen time is so little and he dies too fast. As for Nino, he can act, so all those emo expressions are expected and the scene when he request to call the shogun 'Nobu' is just heart breaking because you can see at that moment his despair, desparation and sadness. Another heartbreaking scene for me is before that when he says to the attendant 'Onegai, please don't say more, my heart is about to crumble...'. But I realize one thing that Nino needs to learn from Matsujun, the kissing scenes. I don't know if those are supposed to be like that, but I feel that it should be more passion considering that Mizuno is quite a 'I do whatever I want' character. Then, those scenes that some people may find irking, yes, I'm talking about those boys on boys skinship. This may be disturbing to other people, but as a fangirl, it means, fan service! yay! and you'll find that Nino is more comfortable to kiss Aoi than Maki, sigh... is it because he's too comfortable doing fan service during concerts that he become like that? Can't never tell. Next is Tamaki. I find that he's good as being a villain, a deceiving one in deed. I find that his movement and behaviour from the beginning is quite suspicious and when he reject Ohkura's character, I start to hate him. It's really a treat to watch him scheming with Sasaki's character, especially when they're laughing on their successful scheme. And off course, lastly, ending OST is must be by the lead's boyband, which is 'Dear Snow' by Arashi. Not the best OST because it feels like they just slap the song in and pushing it, but hey, their live performance at Music Station is a must see, and mostly due to the beautiful 'snowy' stage.

JE Boys Face-Off ... in Drama

Every now and then, in J-dramaland, they'll have mystery/thriller (or so, not sure what's the real category for these types of drama) drama where there are 2 leads as the hero and the protagonist but the definition is kind of blurred out between the 2 hence there's no telling who's right or wrong. It may not necessarily be police-themed drama, and the topic varies too, but the idea is the same. The drama will present 2 sides of view which represents the 2 leads and the audience will be engaged to think of what's their intake of them. The first episode for these types of drama will definitely leave you with tons of question marks and then episode 2, 3 and so on will suck you in and you just can't wait to get to the final episode, hence the drama marathon. I'm glad I found all these dramas long way after the series are completed, else I'll be jumping on my seat restless and agitated. And, what's more appealing to watch these drama is when both leads are from Johnny's hence the face-off of who has the better acting chops, and also it won't hurt that we have tons of eye-candy and fan service tehee... There are 3 dramas so far that belongs to this category and both leads are JE boys, and yes, these idols can act out those complicated characters and they're not disappointing.


The Quiz Show Season 2 ~ Yes, season 2 (2009 drama), not season 1. Season 1 has the same idea, but the leads are much older in age and they're no ikemen. So season 2 off course win because it has Sakurai Sho (Arashi) and Yokoyama Yu (Kanjani8). The story is about The Quiz Show, a TV show, very similar to 'Who wants to be a millionaire' but instead of money, the main prize is that the TV station will grant you your dream by answering total 8 question correctly. The only difference is that the show will later reveal the contestant's past sins from the questions asked. I started to watch this drama without reading any synopsis so Episode 1 leaves me with 'wow, there's so many things going on, all the memory flashes, screaming, yelling and tensions, and I want to see the next episode.' And then this pattern continues until Episode 8 and I was wow-ed again in Episode 9 and 10 as the climax is reaching and it's been a long time since I saw drama with such intense acting and twist at the very last minute. The lead characters, Kamiyama and Honma are both intense and complicated. Kamiyama, the MC, is very appealing in making you glued to the screen even though the show is just a Q&A and he plays with the contestants' state of emotion, while Honma, the guy behind the show, is quite compossed at the beginning but all hell break loose towards the end and Episode 10 is the best face-off from the whole series. From acting standpoint, I'm very surprised with both Sho and Yokoyama's. Firstly, this drama is thus far Sho's best acting performance though other fans may beg to differ. I never expect that Sho could scream, yell and cry like that because so far what I've watched is the hyper and quite baka characters in Yatterman and Tokujo Kabachi and for both I haven't even finished them. And for Yokoyama, the dramas that I've watched so far with him in it didn't display much expression and he's not the lead, so I was very surprised that he can pull the psychotic look that his fellow member Ryo-chan is very good at, and he doesn't afraid to cry (Episode 10). So, after I saw this, I feel both Sho and Yokoyama are under-rated and should get more serious drama roles. And off course, some fun fact, the leads from Season 1 also make appearances in here. The ending OST is by Arashi with title '明日の記憶' (Ashita No Kioku/Tomorrow's Memory) and my favorite line is 'It is not too late, no matter how many times I have to start over from the beginning'. Really suites the drama and that's why it won the best OST award.


Maou ~ This drama is based on Korean drama 'The Devil'. The lead characters are Naruse Ryo, the Angelic Lawyer who defends the weak and Serizawa Naoto, the passionate detective, are played by Satoshi Ohno (Arashi) and Ikuta Toma (he's one of the unique cases in JE and always wonder why he's not in any groups). They met over the appearance of a serial killer under the name of Amano Makoto who starts killing Naoto's close relatives and acquittances one by one by sending them red envelope with Tarot card and then there's chain of events which lead to the victim's death. But what's the real relation between Ryo and Naoto, and why they keep passing by each other episodes after episodes? That's what keeps me watching the series non stop and clear it within 2 days (yes I still need my beauty sleep). Naruse in here is depicted to have a change of heart in the end because he starts to waver from his plan in the middle of the series and Ohno expressed the tortured soul look very well (refer to Episode 7 and 8) and the face off starts in Episode 9 and 10. I'm not very surprised with Ikuta Toma's acting as most of his characters are loud and passionate, not to mention hyper, but I can get his sincerity in Naoto's character and feels sorry for the guy more than I feel sorry for Ryo as he keeps losing the people who are close to him. So, in here you'll get to choose whose side you cheer on, Ryo or Naoto? Acting wise, this drama is Ohno's first leading role and to perform that tortured soul full of vengeance has earned him recognition and not to mention, an award too. But, preference wise, I only like him doing these kinds of roles, not in Kaibutsu-kun (maybe I should have more patience in watching the series, considering the rating, it should be better than my expectation). The only disappointment is the ending, actually it's kind of expected, you should have known better is applied here, but we always want some miracle to happen yet it didn't happen so it's disappointing, but I find the closure is heartwarming enough to let it go. Some fun facts, Nino-kun made a 5-sec appearance in Episode 1 (I don't understand why he's there, unless it's to promote Ryusei No Kizuna) and OST is Truth by Arashi (off course). Thus far, it's the darkest yet most kakkoii song of Arashi and this song is what makes Arashi as big as it is now.

Orthros No Inu ~ This drama is the face off between Hand of God (Hideaki Takizawa of Tackey & Tsubasa) and Devil's Hand (Nishikido Ryo of NEWS/Kanjani8). The idea of this drama is what if God Hand really exists and what people's reaction are. I like how they play out lots of possible scenarios of people being in their greedy nature try to get a piece of Hand of God, and they do this from many perspective, general public, sick people, scientist, government, police, and even the Devil's Hand himself. And it's even more appealing when the Hand of God himself is trying plot something else that only he knows while the audience only gets the info piece by piece. The overall plot is sort of guessable, but hey, we can't never be sure because we're watching 2 characters that can act out of whim and make a spontaneous move. There's 1 annoying character in here though, and it's the police woman. I even prefer the evil politician lady, which is greatly depicted by the veteran actress, Takahata Atsuko, than her. Fun fact, the OST is off course Hikari Hitotsu by Takki. I like how JE milks the cash out of every opportunities from its talents.

And, I just like to throw in this drama because it's one of my favorites and it's somewhat fit into this category though unlike the 3 dramas above, this one still have some humour, at least.


Ryusei No Kizuna ~ This drama has the mystery element as it makes us to keep guessing how the 3 siblings are going to catch their parents' killer, while time is running out (statutory of limitation in Japan is 14 years and they're left with a few months only when the drama starts). I didn't think too much while watching this series because anybody can be the killer, it can even be just a random stranger, so the climax quite got me there, and Nino's display of anger is one of the best moment of the series. And this drama is the face off between Ninomiya Kazunari (Arashi) and Nishikido Ryo (NEWS/Kanjani8), both my fave in the groups, although I've been putting this drama off for 2 years because of the gloomy synopsis which doesn't do the justice of this drama, at all. The siblings characters are not as complicated and extreme because even though they have a tragic past, they grew up normally and they're even able to have smiley moments because the 3 of them is one family. Some fun facts, I like both opening and ending OST, 'Beautiful Days' by Arashi and 'ORION' by Nakashima Mika (she's also in this drama and I like her eccentric character). Nino also did a cover on 'ORION'.

So, there you go, there maybe more dramas fall under this category that I might miss, and if I find them, it'll be another series of drama marathon :).