jurgen-manycolored
This is a simple story about love in it's best context: Two shy people who fall in love, with a mystical occurrence added. It does not lecture; it demonstrates through kindness, gentleness and selflessness by all the characters. Before I review it, let me add that humans have generally the same set of emotions, in varying degrees, dictated by life experience, culture and genetic makeup. If you are young and inexperienced, or if you are cold hearted, this movie may mean nothing. If you are happily married, or have been married a long time, it may mean little. If you are a grandmotherly matron, or just old, you may dab your eyes a bit and move on. But if you are a person like me, who has known women like the one in the movie, and who has lost them through mistake or circumstance, it will strike a chord that will course through your soul and strike all the other chords of loss and grief that have lain dormant, until your body is ringing in a cacophony of resonating notes that pierce your heart and tell you once more your chance will never come again. Neither I nor the movie are religious, but somehow I kept thinking of First Corinthians:13 all through the film, because that is the best definition of true love that I know.
frando22
I enjoy Japanese drama but I am not an admirer of their films. Because I think they are not as romantic as their drama. It's a different thing with Korean, since I enjoy lots of the movies but I prefer watch Japanese drama. But this one is just exceptional! This is certainly one of the best film that I've ever seen. The story seems to be a bit slow for my liking at the beginning, but It just getting better and better every minute. And I must say, the ending is the best of all. I often see film that began very brightly but give a disappointed end. But not this one. And after you saw this Film, you just don't wanna do anything except lying and feel and enjoy the warmth that has been given by this film.
cyberpogo
I do not consider myself to be in the target market for this kind of movie (male, late 20's). However, I bought this movie off an online site due to some reader recommendations. After finishing the movie, I was obsessed!!! I couldn't stop thinking about it and couldn't stop raving about it. The acting and the direction is great, although a bit cheesy at times, but it works well. Yuko Takeuchi is such a beautiful actress. What I mean by beautiful is not her physical appearance (although she is pretty), but by the way she conveys her emotions and makes the viewer believe that she really is Mio. Everyone else does their role perfectly too, and the soundtrack really does a great job, especially the overture towards the end of the movie.Overall, anyone who has a pulse will enjoy this movie. Personally it affected me a lot and it has turned me into a Japanese movie fan. You will struggle to find a negative review about this movie anywhere, and I really encourage all the males to watch it especially so they can get in touch with their emotional side (haha...). I've seen it seven times within two months and it still affects me each time I watch it. Some of my friends thinks I'm crazy but they don't understand the relationship I have with these characters (hahaha...I can't believe I'm typing this..my friends will laugh at me). Undoubtedly in my books, the best movie ever, and a moment to cherish with loved ones, or even by yourself (so the guys can cry and not feel embarrassed that anyone is looking at them).
viclauyyc
This movie is amazingly touching. I do have some expectation before I watch the movie. When I finished it, it is clear that, this movie is way better than I expected.The casting is excellent. Every character live in the world of the story. The actors are not acting in the movie. They live in it. The actor who play the role of the son , Yuji, is especially good. Some scenes with him are actually heartbreakingly good.The movie might be a little slow for some audients. But I find it helps to build up the mood and draw the whole picture in detail. If you had read the plot of the movie, you might say, "yeah, good old story. I can tell how it ends". But I had to say, not till the last minute, you would not know the whole story.The director and the playwright do an excellence job. Every detail had been take care of. The ending echoes the beginning. And the plot is as smooth as silk.This movie is not about only about the love between two people. It is also love of family and one's will to face the fate. It may not be a masterpiece like Godfather. But I am sure this is one of the best Japanese movies I had seen in years, and I seen a lot. All in all, this is a heartwarming movie. It did not resolve the problem but it shows hope for tomorrow.If you ask me if I like this movie. Sure I am. If not I will not spend times to write all this.
AD
