Movie Review: Your Lie in April

This review is a bit late, *gomen* just busy with the holiday rush, work and other events but here it is! 

I haven't been watching any anime series lately so it was nice to get reminisce those "feels" with the live movie adaptation of "Your Lie in April". Which is based on the manga series "Shigatsu wa Kimo no Uso" by Naoshi Arakawa, first published in May of 2011.

 It's impressive how they were able to fit 23 episodes into a movie, although I haven't seen the anime, my brother (who was my movie buddy for the premiere. since he is a fan of the series) was filling me in on the details/similarities and what not. I have to say that it was a good call that I didn't put on make up because true to form, I was crying like a baby before the movie ended something my brother always finds hilarious.

Speaking of hilarious, the audience's reactions were pretty much on cue with what was happening on screen. They laughed and got giddy in such a boisterous way it was funny. There was even a girl in the audience who shouted (for the entire cinema to hear) "Eh di wow!" at a scene in the movie, that was how invested they were with the characters. 

So what is it all about? 

Piano prodigy Kosei Arima (Kento Yamazaki) has lost the will and passion to play music, which has something to do with the death of his strict mother who taught him to play the piano. He meets the spirited violin player Kaori Miyazano (Suzu Hirose) who gets him to play the piano again, through forceful and funny means and it is through their time together that Kosei slowly starts to have feelings for Kaori, but she keeps a secret, a lie that changes them both forever. 

I have to say, I enjoyed (and appreciated) the story's focus on classical music which is what brings our two characters together. It's a refreshing change from the pop-song centric, romantic films that have come out recently (Music and Lyrics, Begin Again). You don't need to be an expert on Beethoven or Mozart to enjoy the music that they play. 

Both characters are on fire when they play their respective instruments on stage. I was also pleased to know that the actors learned how to play the piano and violin for six months prior to filming. It is actually them that you see playing the instruments, no trick shots which is obvious in other films.  

The visuals make you feel that you're watching an anime episode, from the beautiful cherry blossoms, the calm sea, the popular "roof top" hangout at school, its just beautiful. 

I just felt that the second act was weaker than the first and last, I guess this is the downfall of fitting 23 episodes into a 122 minute movie, you won't really get to have the full gist or feel of the story. Of course, you can always watch the series! :) 

If you're into Asian movies, anime, or a fan of the series you should not miss this in cinemas. 7 out of 10. "Your Lie In April" is now showing! 

Movies: ROMANTIC MANGA FEELS IN “YOUR LIE IN APRIL” – IN CINEMAS DECEMBER 7

I haven't been following any anime series for some time now and I definitely miss it-so definitely looking forward to this! 

Award-winning and best-selling romantic manga series "Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso" by Naoshi Arakawa  is now a live-action film “Your Lie in April” starring promising young actors Suzu Hirose and Kento Yamazaki that will open in Philippine cinemas on December 7.

The much-awaited teen manga drama, “Your Lie in April” stars up-and-coming actors Suzu Hirose and Kento Yamazaki in a coming-of-age story inspired by music. The exciting cast includes Anna Ishii, actress and member of the popular girl group E-Girls and the hot, young actor Taishi Nakagawa. Their heartrending tapestry of love is not to be missed!

A master of the loves story genre, Takehiko Shinjo of “Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu (I Give My First Love to You)” and “Kiyoku Yawaku (Beyond the Memories)” will direct the film.

Director Shinjo describes “Your Lie in April” as a story of the wonders and value of love, but also the pain, tears and heartbreak that often accompany it. “My goal is to deliver a film that leaves the viewers with a warm, gentle feeling. With the charm of Suzu Hirose, the sincerity of Kento Yamazaki, and a young, talented cast including Anna Ishii and Taishi Nakagawa, I hope to weave a tale of brilliant and heartfelt love,” shared Shinjo.

“Your Lie in April” follows a musician with absolute perfection and mechanical precision, piano prodigy Kosie Arima (Yamazaki), is considered a human metronome. But Kosie lost his ability to play when he lost his mother. In April of his sophomore year in high school, Kosei’s childhood friends Tsubaki Sawabe (Anna Ishii) and Ryota Watari (Taishi Nakagawa) introduced him to a violinist named Kaori Miyazono (Hirose). Kaori is a willful free spirit, as ethereal as the clouds in the sky, and Kosei finds himself drawn to her unrestrained, exuberant performance. “Kaori aggressively urges Kosei to play with her, forcing him to face the painful memories of his mother. But one day, Kosei discovers that Kaori has a secret. 

“When I read the script, I pictured a beautiful span of time, in which each character battles his or her own, personal issues. In preparing for the role of Kaori, I touched a violin for the first time. It’s still a struggle, but day by day, I am coming to terms with the violin as well as the role. Together with the director and cast, I hope to make “Your Lie in April” a beautiful film brimming with color,” says Hirose of the film.

Likewise, Kento Yamazaki shared that the film taught him that everyday, life is full of color. “Portraying the struggles and challenges of a musical prodigy is challenging, but with the support of Director Shinjo, the staff and cast members, I tried my best to embody Kosei Arima. The concert scenes in the original manga are so dynamic that you can almost hear the music. I’m new to the piano, but I’m practicing hard every day so I can express Kosei’s flux of emotions in the music. I hope “Your Lie in April” adds color to the viewer’s world as well.”

Get your hankies and tissues ready for the painful truth masked in the sweetest of lies that will break your heart in “Your Lie in April” when it opens in cinemas on December 7 nationwide from Pioneer Films.  

Trailer link:  https://youtu.be/gVSiuaiAkjY

Attack On Titan: Movie Questions Answered

Attack On Titan is just two weeks away from being shown in cinemas and some fans of the original material might have some unanswered questions about the movie adaptation. 

Based on the Japanese dark fantasy manga series, written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama, Attack On Titan has been a commercial success, earning fans all over the world. The series has received critical acclaim for it's atmosphere and story. 

The series opens with a post apocalyptic world, where in the remaining survivors of the human race hide behind closed cities, protected by towering walls to hide themselves from Titans, humanoid giants who eat people (whole and raw) for no apparent reason. The humans have lived peacefully for over 100 years but are suddenly reminded of what it means to live in fear of Titans when a colossal Titan appears. 

While Attack On Titan can be considered as one of the most anticipated adaptations of the year, speculations from fans have increased as promotional images and trailers were released. I've done some research and here are some answers to some FAQ on the upcoming movie. 

In an interview with Cinema Today, a Japanese website, Attack On Titan screenwriter Tomohiro Machiyama (also a famous columnist and critic) explained the reason for the changes in the movie. Director Shinji Higuchi decided to change the setting of the story in Japan. In the original material, the characters are made up of different races so instead of getting Japanese actors to portray Caucasians and vice versa, the decision was just to change the setting to Japan. In this way they could cast Japanese actors to portray Japanese characters, which is why Armin has black hair instead of blonde hair, It's important to note that most of the changes in the movie will stem from this decision 

Where is Levi ? 

It's surprising that one of the series' most popular character (Levi) is not in the movie. The decision to 

not include Levi in the first movie, at least - fans are still hoping for him to appear in the sequel(s) has two contributing factors, the first is a simple case of his name not being Japanese enough. In the decision to change the setting of the movie in Japan and having Japanese characters instead of a mix of races was to change the names of the characters as well, except for the main characters (Eren and Armin) Jean and Sasha get to keep their names though. So instead of Levi we have Shikishima? 

Another reason for dropping Levi's character is so that the story can focus on main characters (and the relationship) between Eren and Mikasa (we'll talk about that kiss later). In the anime and manga, Levi steals the show as an even more popular character than protagonist Eren, that would pose some challenges in the movie version but has left some fans dissapointed. 

The Kiss 

With the release of the recent trailer a scene revealed what you would think is Eren kissing Mikasa but at closer look it seems to be Shikishima kissing Mikasa, whoever is kissing who this seems to be a betrayal for fans as this is a far cry from the original story, while this may not be a surprise for most audiences.  Did the movie jump the shark on that kiss? Fans may not be happy about it but it's something that can be appreciated by broader audiences, it really is a gamble and we'll only be able to see if it was a winning bet when the movie comes out. 

Creating the Titans 

Considered as an ambitious endevour, there is a lot of CGI graphics that would be used in the movie, especially with the titans, it is basically unchartered territory in movie making. Titans are not robots, they are humanoid giants, that come in different sizes. Creating a 17.5ft robot that turns into a 1977 Camaro seems to be more realistic on screen. Also Japanese studios are not known for creating CGI heavy movies. Even Hollywood has their own tricks with movies that use a lot of CGI, so yes the rains in Pacific Rim and all that smoke in Godzilla are tricks which serve as smoke and mirrors so to speak. How will the team behind Attack On Titan take on the challenge of creating the titans on the big screen? The CGI and effects don't just end with putting the titans on screen but also creating the 3D Manuever Gear and making it work. Wait? 3D Manuever Gear?! It's a mechanism worn as a belt which allows the wearer to swing through buildings and trees in order to reach the Titan's weak point - the nape of the neck. One of the best things in the anime was watching the characters move through the city or forest with their 3D MG, how will that be translated on the screen is something that we'll have to wait for the movie to see. 

Movie adaptations of our beloved anime, manga, series, comic books have been common in the last few years, while changes are inevitable for many reasons it's important to look at each work as a separate entity. Books are books, anime is anime, manga is manga, etc. If you get caught up with the details it may ruin what could have been a good movie experience for you. The Attack On Titan movie adaptation is an ambitious undertaking that could possibly be a make-or-break in Anime-to-Movie adaptations. Don't get to hung up on the details, take things as they are and just try to get lost in the moment. It will be hard to judge a movie based on trailers alone, we can only really know once we're sitting in that movie house and watching the movie on screen. 

From Pioneer Films, Attack On Titan will premiere in Philippine cinemas on August 12, 2015 while the sequel, Attack On Titan: End of The Wolrd will follow on September 2015. 

Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno DVD Launch

Fandoms represent! Fans of Rurouni Kenshin, Takeru Satoh and One Ok Rock gather for the DVD Launch of Ruruoni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno 

We were fortunate enough to have been able to cover the DVD launch of the first Rurouni Kenshin movie back in March of 2013. Now two years later and following a successful screening and box office earnings of the last two installments in the trilogy; we once again find ourselves celebrating the DVD launch of Kyoto Inferno -the second movie in the trilogy. You might want to read my movie review here.

And as if there was a high supply of nostalgia, fans at the launch once again celebrated lead actor Takeru Sato's birthday-just as they did in 2013. I already mentioned this in the blog post in 2013 but I think it's worth mentioning again that I really admire the dedication of the fans from Amusehilippines, Sato Takeru Philippines and One Ok Rock Philippines who work hard in order to gather fellow fans and have fun during events like this DVD launch.

This cutie pie stole the show and she's happy with her Kyoto Inferno DVD. Jin approves :) 

Looking across the fans gathered you can see that they all come from different ages and belong to different demographics, there were fans of the Rurouni Kenshin manga/ anime series (we belong to that category), fans of the actor Sato Takeru and fans of the Japanese Rock band One Ok Rock. It's amusing to see mom's and tita's answer trivia questions during the games. Truly Rurouni Kenshin has transcended generations and is enjoyed by dads, your elder brothers and the younger generation are getting to know him too because of the movies. (^^x 

The DVD launch was like getting to see old friends and making new ones. There was music, games and cake! Yes even cake! As local cosplayer and special guest Jin Joson had the honor of blowing out the candles and cutting the cake :) While fans sang Happy Birthday Takeru. Jin and other local Cosplayers made headlines last year when director Keishi Otomo and the stars of the movie came to Manila for the premiere. It was just right that she also be present during the DVD launch which delighted fans :)

Local Japanese Cover Band Asterysk performed songs from One Ok Rock 

Japanese Rock cover band Astersyk performed songs from One Ok Rock including all songs in the movies and fans sang along to their impressive covers. In case you guys didn't know there have been a couple of One Ok Rock tribute nights where fans gather for a night of One Ok Rock songs from local bands. We were at the last tribute night you can check out the blog post here --> be sure to keep an eye out for the next tribute night :p 

Fans present had fun with the games prepared by Amuse PH, awesome Rurouni Kenshin merchandise such as theatrical posters (drools) and super cool Katana Umbrellas were given away as prizes! Manga and DVDs were also raffled out. 

So if you guys missed out on this super fun event fear not because The Legend Ends will surely be available on DVD soon and while we all wait for that we can sit back and enjoy Kyoto Inferno on DVD. You can grab your copies at Astroplus for only P550.00 :) DVD feature up on the blog soon!

Click HERE for More Photos! 

More Rurouni Kenshin sequel news!

And then they were 10. The Juppongatana (Ten Swordsmen) prove to be a formidable foe for Kenshin and his allies in the sequels Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire and Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend. 

As 2014 is ushered in more and more EXCITING Rurouni Kenshin news have been spreading like wild fire (coughs - Fire! Fire! Fire!) We'll definitely be seeing a lot of those in the two sequels slated to be released in the summer of 2014. 

Just last night specific dates of when the movies will be released have been announced. 

Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire will premiere in Japan on August 1. 
Rurouni Kenshin: The End of a Legend will premiere in Japan on September 13.

But before we go celebrating remember that the first Rurouni Kenshin movie was also slated for an August date in Japan but was only released in the Philippines in December. This was due to the fact that the local Warner Bros. distributor in the Philippines "did not have the rights" to release Rurouni Kenshin here but Pioneer Films took the reins and were finally able to get the rights in December. You can read more about that in my past blog posts here. 

The first Rurouni Kenshin movie was a surprise success earning $647,922 according to the 2012 Philippine Yearly Box Office, you can refer to it here. That is why I'm sure having the sequels distributed in the Philippines should not be a problem this time around. However, the question is will loyal fans have to wait months like last time? An earlier release date is definitely an effort against piracy and as I have always said if you are a fan you should support the franchise by catching it in cinemas. You cannot compare sitting back in front of a big screen and enjoying a movie from watching it in front of your laptop. 

While the big question of when will the sequels be released in the Philippines have not been answered (we all have to be like a true Samurai and practice the virtue of Patience) we can enjoy all these teasers that are being released online and here are just some of them. 

A 34 second teaser trailer of the sequels, 

aside from Kenshin Himura's lighting fast sword skills we also catch a glimpse of new movie characters Aoshi Shinamori and Shishio Makoto. 

Scourged (literally) Rurouni Kenshin Movie Posters 

As if the excitement to the sequels were not enough, the promotion team for the movies took it to the next level by actually burning old 2012 Rurouni Kenshin movie posters and pasting them on 2014 announcements. You can check out the making of the movie posters here. Just watching the making of these posters have made me admire the patience and creativity of the Japanese even more. I mean instead of just printing a whole new set of posters they actually invested the time, effort and resources to bring a unique flare to the posters by making each one of them special; since each of the posters had to be burnt one at a time. 

Aside from the trailer and the movie posters, photos of new characters both the good, the bad and the ugly have been getting the fans fired up. 

Here are some character stills have been keeping cyberspace a buzz with excitement. 

The Bad and the Ugly. Probably one of the most bad ass villains in manga and anime history, the translation of Shishio Makoto from the animated series to the big screen is without a doubt one of the most anticipated by fans who grew up cowering to this mad man's insane plans of domination and his firm belief in the law of nature: 'The strong shall live and the weak shall perish'. 

His burnt skin covered in bandages has been the stuff of nightmares of fans and probably the costume and design team of the sequels who impressively got the prosthetic and effects of burned skin, making handsome young actor Tatsuya Fujiwara unrecognizable in costume.  

The Bold and the Beautiful. While we see less of her cleavage in her movie version, half Pinay (Yes! She is half Filipina) Maryjun Takahashi will be playing Yumi Komagata, Shishio Makoto's dearly devoted arm candy. I just love her mole in the photo and look at that smile-it has a million secrets. 

Anime Movie Invasion: Anime Movies to be shown in local Cinemas

It is definitely a good time to be an Otaku. 

With the recent success of the Rurouni Kenshin live action movie being shown last year-gaining the title of highest ever box office opening for a Japanese film in the Philippines and earning $647,922.00 in the box office; it is no surprise that more Anime movies are coming our way to local Cinemas. 

Movie Punch - Pioneer films Philippines is bringing top Anime titles to your nearest SM Cinema in the next following months. 

Social Media was all a buzz with news that movies from Naruto, One Piece and Hunter X Hunter are already being negotiated to be shown exclusively in SM Cinemas. 

Along with so many other Filipino Otakus I'm really excited about this news so I reached out to the ever hard working people from Movie Punch (Pioneer Philippines) and asked a few questions about the impending arrival of an Anime Movie Invasion. I have also included a short write up/preview on the anime movies to be shown. ^_^ 

Would you say that these Anime movies are being shown because of the success of the Rurouni Kenshin live action movie? 

Yes, and it means there is really a large fan base that follows Japanese Anime movies here in the Philippines. Rurouni Kenshin has proven that. 

What are you looking to accomplish by showing these Anime movies? 

Firstly, we were not aware of the large following, SM Cinemas suggested Rurouni Kenshin to us because of the "persistent clamor" of fans. This led us to research and we found out that there is a huge request from anime fans (to have Rurouni Kenshin in Cinemas) but it was still a gamble for us since this is going to be the first time for us to show this kind of film genre, so in short we gave in to the "clamor" and got the rights to show it here in the Philippines- we hope to accomplish the excitement we will be bringing to the younger generation and to anime fans as well, by bringing in all their favorite TV programs (Anime series) and a chance to watch it on the big screen! 

Naruto the Movie: Road to Ninja: Showing on April 10, 2013

From Samurais to Ninjas - Now it's Naruto's turn to charm Filipino audiences. 

Naruto - the manga was first published in 1999 and is created by Masashi Kishimito and is considered as one of the best selling manga series of all time- selling more than 126.5 million copies and this is just in Japan alone. 

As for the anime series, it's interesting to note that Naruto has actually won some awards in the Philippines specifically: 'Best Full-Length, Animation Program Award' during the 3rd UStv Student's Choice Awards which was held in the University of Santo Tomas in Manila on February 19, 2009. 

Online episodes of Naruto: Shippuuden are also claiming record hitting numbers with an average of 160,000 viewers a week. 

The movie which will be shown exclusively on SM Cinemas on April 10, 2013 - (Yes! Just 15 days to go!) Movie Punch wanted to release the movie before it comes out on DVD and Blu-ray in Japan (April 24, 2013). After the DVD is released it will already be available for streaming and downloading online - but seriously if you can watch it in the movie house-it would definitely be a better experience. So you guys better start reserving tickets online or making plans to catch this movie with your friends! :) Why resort to piracy and crappy downloads with bad subtitles if you can enjoy watching the movie in the comfort of the movie theater right? 

Naruto the Movie: Road to Ninja was released in Japan on July 28, 2012 (yup- we are waaaay behind), it is the ninth overall Naruto film but only the sixth Naruto Shippuuden film. It's interesting to note that series creator Masashi Kishimoo supervised the movie.