Romeo and Juliet (ロミオとジュリエット )

Romeo and Juliet (ロミオとジュリエット ) is a Japanese Drama that aired in April 07, 2007 starring Takizawa Hideaki and Nagasawa Masami. The story is based on William Shakespeare's book bearing a similar title.

SYNOPSIS:
This is a story of lovers whose fates are intertwined by a series of events in their lives and their parents lives. What happened in the past seem to have played a role in their destinies.

Morita Hiromichi, played by Takizawa Hideaki, is the son of hospital owner and a doctor who became a scrap-collector and had to stop school because of an incident that happened in the hospital that led his father to hide from the authorities. Kihira Juri, played by Nagasawa Masami, is a college student and is the only daughter of a prosecutor who is in-charge of the capture of Hiromichi's father.

At first site, Hiromichi was oblivious of the girl's feelings towards him or he didn't care at all. She harshly brushes her off when she volunteered to help fix his wound. Disappointed, Juri left him alone and, accidentally, left her copy of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".


CAST:
Takizawa Hideaki as Morita Hiromichi
Nagasawa Masami as Kihira Juri
Tanaka Misako as Morita Tokieda
Yamashita Shinji as Kihira Reizou
Miura Tomokazu as Morita Giichi
Takenaka Naoto as the professor

Writer's POV:

At first glance, I thought that this story will be like most Romeo and Juliet adaptations only to find that it doesn't follow the normal flow. That factor made this movie unique and interesting. Sad to say, I am a sucker for happy endings.

Note: these images are those that I have gathered online. These aren't used for profit but for entertainment purposes only. Thank you to those who posted these photos.... I don't own any of these photos.

TAIYOU NO UTA

Taiyou no Uta is a story about a girl named Amane Kaoru who has xeroderma pigmentosum, a disease where the body's ability to repair caused by UV rays is deficient, played by YUI, a Japanese singer and actress. The movie was released June 17, 2006.

Due to her disease, Amane Kaoru is only able to get out of the house at night and needs to be back inside the house before the sun rises. To pass time, she spends it playing the guitar, composing songs, sleep in the morning, and sit by her window to watch a certain boy who is waiting for his buddies. Watching this boy named Fujishiro Kouji, a surfer, became her routine everything and all the while developing feelings for the boy.

Because she can't go out in the morning she goes out at night and goes to the square by the train station to sing and play her guitar. One night, while she was playing her guitar with her cousin and bestfriend, she saw Kouji passing by. Impulsively, she chased after Kouji and bumped him then introduced herself. A few moments later, Kaoru's cousin arrived and pulled her away from Kouji. A few days later, Kouji and Kaoru met again at the bus stop. After a short conversation, Kouji promised that during the summer break he would go and watch Kaoru sing. On the promised day, Kouji fulfilled his promise but, unfortunately, someone has taken Kaoru's favorite spot in the square. Kouji suggested that she sing in another location and brought Kaoru to the city. Before singing, they went around the city then searched for a spot where she could sing. By the time Kaoru began to sing, people have crowded themselves to see and listen to her. Before going home they stopped over the road by the sea and continued talking. Not realizing the time, Kaoru panicked when she learned that the sun is about to rise. She rushed home to take cover. This was also the time that Kouji learned about Kaoru's sickness. Learning this truth, Kouji made the decision to gather money, so he can have Kaoru do a recording of her song. This was Kouji brilliant gift showing how much he cared for Kaoru.

Kaoru has given up on dreaming but with the light that Kouji brought to her life, she was able to face her disease with optimism.

Personal thoughts:

This story is really touching. It is quite a nice movie to watch. The songs were very pleasant and the actors really played their parts well. i definitely recommend the movie.

Cast:
Yui as Amane Kaoru
Tsukamoto Takashi as Fujishiro Kouji
Asagi Kuniko as Amane Yuki (Kaoru's mother)
Kishitani Goro as Amane Ken (Kaoru's father)
Toyama Airi as Matsumae Misaki (Kaoru's bestfriend and cousin)
Fuse Eri
Hamada Gaku
Kobayashi Takashi
Magy
Tanaka Sogen as Kato Haruo

Links:
Official Site click here
Shochiku's Presentation of Taiyou no Uta click here


Other images:

Note: these pictures are those that I have gathered online. These aren't used for profit but for entertainment purposes only. Thank you to those who posted these photos.... I don't own any of these photos...

Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide

Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide (にぃにのことを忘れないで Don't forget about Niini) is a story of a person  named Niini who, at an early age, was diagnosed with brain cancer. Niini is a very smart boy, full of dreams, and very diligent in his studies. Unfortunately, at the age of 15, he showed signs and symptoms of a disease. One night, on the night after he learned that he got in to the Highschool of his choice, he experienced blurred vision and seizure then collapsed while studying in his room. Hearing a loud thud, his mother went up to his room only to find him unconscious. He was brought to the hospital immediately and there he was told of an existing tumor in his brain. For seven years, he, along with the rest of his family, fought against the disease. There were times that he was so down and yet because of his families support he is able to pull himself back together. The story is so heart-warming and tear-jerking.

Everyone is born with a purpose. Even those that were born with diseases have purpose. It is just the matter of finding what it is.

In this movie, we will also see the challenges a mother is going through especially when she and her child's opinion do not meet, but, like most mothers, she persevered.

I really suggest that people watch this movie! So tragic and rich... This is a special drama aired on NTV on August 29, 2009 starring Nishikido Ryo. The movie is based on a true story and a Novel by Kawakami Masumi... a movie worth watching.

CAST:

Nishikido Ryo as Kawai Keisuke/Niini
Rena Tanaka as Amami Shiori
Yamada Ryosuke as Kawai Yuji
Shirakawa as Kawai Chiyo
Kuroki Hitomi as Kawai Kasumi
Jinnai Takanori as Kawai Yoichi

Official Website click here
Watch this movie click here


Personal thoughts:

Honestly, I feel for Niini. For a person so smart and capable, why was he given the disease? I, on the other hand, felt the same but not because of a disease but the limitations established due to the lack of finances. I wanted to study and get a Bachelor's degree and yet I can't. I am growing old, and I feel like I haven't reached anything. Up until now, I am still trying my hardest but to no avail. Sometimes, I ask myself, "what is my purpose here?" "why can't I be like everyone else who are able to study?" It is really frustrating. Secondly, I also see my relationship and situation with my mother. My mom and dad try so hard to meet our needs but because I feel like time is running out for me, I tend to lash at them especially with my mom. No matter how I try to stop myself, it seems that it is really hard to contain all this frustration. Like most parents, they still try to tolerate me and give me their love. I love my parents but it really bugs me that they try to comfort me with words when I know for a fact that these words are empty. The problem is me, and I really hope that i can change my attitude towards them. This movie has taught me a lot..... Thank you NTV for making this movie! SUKI DESU!

Death Note the Movie

Death Note the Movie is a two part movie having the second movie's title Death Note: The Last Name. I can't say that it is a sequel because the first movie stopped in the very middle of the story. The second movie, on the other hand, continued where the first left off and provided the conclusion.

The story of DEATH NOTE revolves around a notebook that can kill anyone at anytime so long as the person knows the name and clearly remembers the face. The story began when a teenager picked up the said notebook and started writing down criminals. As the number of death increases with the same cause of death (heart paralysis), the police becomes suspicious that someone is killing them intentionally. The killer was then named by the peopple KIRA. Due to the increase in death of criminals, the police hired the finest detective named L because they believe that even criminals have the right to live. The finest quote I picked up in the movie is, "The Law is not perfect because these were created by man who strive to be perfect but aren't". So the story proceeded and focused in the capture of KIRA and KIRA's view of justice.

One of the most attractive part of the movie is the intellectual battle of L, played by Ken'ichi Matsuyama, and Light Yagami, played by Tatsuya Fujiwara. Both characters are very smart and has their own viewpoint regarding justice. While one makes plans to deliver his idea of justice and simultaneously avoid being caught, the other accurately reads the situation and makes the right action. It's like seeing a game of chess but with real people involved. This is one factor that really drew me to this movie, the battle of wits.

Just like most books turned into a movie, differences are present. Fortunately, the movie wasn't bad, in fact, I loved it. Some of the differences are as follows:

1.) The capture of Light. Though L was able to confirm that Light is Kira, he died before he could bring Light to justice. It was his successor who captured Light, namely NEAR (with the help of MELO).
2.) The number of users of the DEATH NOTE. There were a total of five Kiras in the book but only three were introduced in the movie. This is perhaps to shorten the movie.
3.) The death of Mogi and Captain Yagami. In the book, Mogi (one of the lesser character) did bot die because he will be supplying NEAR the information about what L has done with regard to the case. On the other hand, Captain Yagami died in the book but not because of the DEATH NOTE; and even in death, he didn't know that Light is Kira.
4.) L's appearance in the university. L, in the book, did not go to the university for the sake of arresting Misa but enrolled in the university to keep an eye on Light.