Crows Explode 2014 - No Genji, No Serizawa, But still AWESOME

When i read the news about another film for crows zero about a year ago at Tokyohive, i'm a little disappointed with the cast that which not related from previous film. No Genji, and no my favourite character Serizawa. The plot and casting was different. But when i'm watched the film a week ago without the acceptment of non-existence of genji and serizawa, the film still best for me to attach. The significant about Crows Explode is the strong plot, which more complex and conflicted story rather than action scene. There are still have action scene but only about 35% from the entire plot.

The plot begins a month after Genji Takiya has graduated. It starts with Kazuo (Higashide Masahiro) transferred to Suzuran. The cast that still remain ARE Ken, Rindaman and Makise. New fights begin to see who will climb to the top at Suzuran High School. Meanwhile, a battle against nearby Kurosaki Industrial High School begins.

My favourite character in Crows Explode - Toru Goura played by Yagira Yuya.

The reason i like japan movie like Crows Zero is because it has very strong characters for each student and point out the significant of friendship and brotherhood, Everyone has it own different character which likeable, audience can choose which character that they like the most. I'm attracted to Goura played by Yagira Yuya and Fujiwara(Kento Nagayama). Gouro can be said as the king in Suzuran. His character may like Serizawa but you can notice the difference. Serizawa can be serious and funny at the same time, while Goura all the time he being serious. Goura is so stylish, charismatic, arrogant and Yagira played the character with success. Even he said to be a leader but not all students notice him as a leader as new fights always happened and strong opponent always came. He has his own conflicts when his gangs not looking him as their leader anymore. In Suzuran no one eligible to be the king at least he can unite the students and beats Rindaman.

Kento Nagayama played serious and antagonist role, Fujiwara.

While Fujiwara is the antagonists in this movie. He's evil, but poor, worked under yakuza to make income support. Kento Nagayama very handsome, i just remember he's the one I crush for in Koizora Drama, so difference and matured! He really can act. I don't have my eye with the main cast, Kazuo (Masahiro) and the only thing i like about him is his relationship with his mom and the kids from orphan house. Other character that catched my eyes is Shibata(Takanori Iwata) and Gohei(Elly) which both of them from popular group Exile, J Soul Brothers.

Shibata from Kurosaki Industrial High School.

The ost still played on legend song from The Streets Beats - I wanna Change at the beginning of the movie. And i like the music sheet 'Into the Battlefield' whenever fights between students scene give the spirits of this film. Ahh so many memories with previous film of crows zero!

Into the Battlefield

For me still awesome to watch.

Kuroshitsuji ~ Black Butler 2014 - Mizushima Hiro as Demon Butler

I never read the manga, but i just want to watch the movie. The movie was okay and entertaining, because of Mizushima Hiro was there XD. The story more explore about revenge. I never fan of Gouriki Ayame, her acting was so ohh-ohh, but because Hiro was there can balance the movies. The setting and location of the movie is beautiful especially at Kiyuhara's garden house. 

The garden is so beautifulll.

Actually I'm quite wandering what this movie about, there are some scenes that boring for me. The plot about a girl disguised herself as a heir boy, taking revenge of her parents' death by summoning a demon butler in exchange the demon can take her soul after the mission was completed. The movie has impact values - 1) Because of drugs, human can be so greedy and selfish, 2) From a demon perspective (Sebastian), he wandering why human race can be too far away yet he entertained to see what human looks alike.

Hiro's acting never fails me.

Actually at the end of the movie, is so sad. And the chemistry between Kiyuhara (young master) and her butler (Sebastian) outstanding, i ship them. Hiro why you are so handsome. And I'm impressed with the aunt's acting (Yuka), she's so incredible with the antagonist roles. Her eyes delivered the meaning of her action. And the Maid Rin so cuteeee.

I like the music play during the climax story, my heart feel moved with the plot. The music plays so suitable with the scene, and by that i'm find the good reason to watch Black Butler. The Steps of World's End, the music called.

Overall i'm it was a good movie.

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Strawberry Night Movie 2013 ~ Detective vs Yakuza

When I watch the trailer at Tokyohive, I please myself just wait. Be patient. The trailer suspense me. The plot of the movie just awesome. Then after 11 months, I download the movie, digging English subtitle in google but it so disappointed me as there are no eng sub out yet. You know because too much passion to watch this movie, I found simple han Chinese subtitle which totally I cannot understand the language. I just used subtitle edit to translate it to English- and Woww – it works! Even the English soo ohh ohhh but I can understand the story.

Okay back to the plot is so awesome. I don’t want write the plot, but I want write what I feel after watching this movie.

What most attract and draw me is surely the relationship between Himekawa and the new character, Isao Makita. For the one that ship himekawa and kikuta, just be careful after watching this movie because you may shift your ship. Yes, I like himekawa and kikuta when watching the drama and special but I love himekawa and Makita more! They are adorable. Opposite but compliment– Himekawa is a police leader that find a suspect of murder, Yanai Kento acquaintances with Makita that lies he is the boss of the suspect that find Yanai too for work things. But what more interesting is Makita is the yakuza, not the member but the high ranking position - yakuza boss - that will become the successor of the gang. He investigates where the suspect too and the gang maybe involve the murder case. Well I like the way how Makita sees himekawa for the first time in the rain, and you know what it is. Himekawa also feels a little bit same with makita, they are so tense. There is love triangle between them – himekawa, kikuta and Makita.  Well you may think how police and yakuza are possible? –the one that brings justice and the one that crack the justice, but a thin line between them that share dark past make it works. Even Makita convince said to Kikuta ‘You and her impossible ’, make the confident of kikuta shaking – because he can read the dark past of himekawa just in short time and said to her ‘You must kill him.’ Well that how character of yakuza boss was, the dark past of Makita is more deep than Himekawa. How can I resist the tense?

Well I like the actor that play isao Makita, he looks smartly in formal suit – he has the aura of powerful boss in his company –and the aura of high ranking yakuza boss. But he also shows his soft side towards others - his workers, himekawa and his sick father, the president.  In this movie Himekawa much more plays her emotion – torn between two things, but become stronger even everything become tough to her. Kikuta still plays the stick loyal subordinate, and the other teams too. Koike koisude character less shiny. The other police leader sparks – especially Katsumata because of his behavior.

The crime in the movie also real and make you think twice – it also happens in real world. The using of the rain as the subject of sadness, suspens, crime, mystery, blood fit nicely.  And the teamwork getting stronger at the end of the movie and unpredictable event happen that related to the next special drama.

I like the soundtrack for this movie – especially ‘Invisible rain”, the music fit my heart. The music always plays during himekawa and Makita scene – elegantly. And there also another version of strawberry night main theme in mix version. And the music ‘inodori onode’ that plays the beginning scene gives a new touch – more suspense and mystery. 

Strawberry Night 2012

Strawberry Night. This is very serious police drama. The crime is very cruel and bloody but I find the director make the crime in beautiful and elegant way. Well the title of the drama tells itself. For those who cannot stand such as crime, think twice. But I find the crime is real and alive and somewhere we must know for our knowledge. The real villain is unexpected.

I like the character of Himekawa Reiko there. She has strong side, but the other hand her weaknesses showed which balances her personality. As she being the leader of the team in young age, clever, and yes she was not prefect and sometimes a bit emotional, but what makes it perfects is how the important the teammates for her.  Kazuo Kikuta- a nice guy work under her, crush to her- yeah I am love in him and their relationship, become protective and respect to his leader. Other is Hiromitsu Ioka that plays funny character, just like him in gokusen plus what more he likes Himekawa too where the misunderstanding moment with Kikuta is funny. He is funny-relieved subject in this drama. And her chief Ishikura which very understands Himekawa and always advise her to bring justice. All their teamwork and cooperation makes the story great.

Tekeuchi Yuko plays young detective Himekawa Reiko with very complex character. So far it was the best performance from her.

Other police character that may be annoying but I find attractive – Mr Kensaku Katsumata, which very strict and always irritates himekawa by his word.  Katsumata for me is real police; the actor plays the role smartly just wearing a coat with big voice, represent how egoistic the character is. And the police of Kusaka that very neat and traditional in his work, but I find he is funny too besides he’s serious face.

There also sad moments where Himekawa subordinate die, the story of the murderer that also sad, and the feeling of people that losing their loved one through crime cases. But for me the unforgettable episodes are the pilot (episode 1) where the victim dies at the train scene, is so cruel, and episode eight where Kimura Tae revealed the story behind the plot. It is so touching.

There are some murderer words that you may find very irritations but deep to Himekawa career as police,

“You look at gruesome corpses every day. You must felt glad to be alive then.”

The music. I like how the music put at certain climax scene. Horror and thrill but very elegantly in way. Only two music that I attached – The Main Theme that play in tv opening and Strawberry Night reprise. The piano of the ost tell the story itself. And the tv opening video at the beginning, the cinemagraphics just play three colors – black, white and red. It summarizes the face and pain of the victims involved in each crime case. I like how this tv opening is dark and the music suits well, where the image of strawberry showing at the end, the red color may represent blood and pain. Only for 10 seconds tv opening enough to say that this drama is serious, police, dark, crime and mystery.

Totally recommend. 10/10

Memorable quotes

“If I struggled, I might be stabbed, or even killed. When I thought that is stop resisting. Why was it taken as consenting?”- Teen Himekawa