...what are you watching...

Hoshi o Ou Kodomo jmovie! Makoto Shinkai's newest animated film is really beautiful and fairly fast-paced for a 2-hour movie. Almost all reviews will compare this to Ghibli and it's a fair assessment considering the design of the creatures, humans vs. nature undercurrent, and evils of war theme sprinkled around. The overall story is about life and death. Asuna is a lonely, young girl who is being raised by her busy, single mother. One day she is saved from a creature by a boy who claims to be from Agartha. A teacher who plays the obligatory selfish, adult character drags her to that world as he searches for his dead wife. The teacher (voiced by Inoue Kazuhiko ie. Kakashi from Naruto) is an amusing character because of his selfishness, and he brings a refreshing element into the rather predictable story. Despite its Ghibli-ish areas and predictability, it's a truly entertaining film. The background settings have that wonderful, warm palette and there's a meticulous attention to detail in the production. There's also a decent amount of action. ~9/10 rating~


Paradise Kiss live-action movie! based on the manga of the same name. An aimless high school student is scouted by some fashion students to be their model for their graduation show. Osamu Mukai isn't the best actor for George (does not have a dangerous, sexy or artsy look about him at all), but the other members of the cast were more or less there. I was disappointed with the clothing designs. I think there was an actual blue rose dress made after or during the anime series that was more beautiful than the one used in the movie. And the other clothes featured in the movie were not outstanding at all. The movie takes the key plot points from the manga, and simply speeds through story. The writers also give the movie a more predictable ending (*spoilers* Yukari doesn't end up with the same person as she did in the manga, and she declines the sex); it's more of a Cinderella story than coming-of-age story. ~7/10 rating~ for an almost entertaining movie. The movie lacks the flair and magic you'd expect from a movie about fashion. I did think the guy playing Isabella did a good job though.

Paradise Kiss is getting a live-action movie with Osamu Mukai (currently Seno in Hikari no Hotaru) as George. I don't recognize the female actresses, but Yusuke Yamamoto (Kayashima from Hana Kimi) looks like he'll be playing the transgender, Isabella. Hope Mukai gets blue hair, and also looking forward to the high-fashion. (more images here).