So here's where I'll be talking mostly about Japanese dramas. They are listed in alphabetical order. The little asterisks represents stars on a regular 1-5 scale. Comments follow. WARNING: Very long. I even had to separate my entries. Also, there may be some spoilers.

There are separate entries for movies and specials (tanpatsu), as well as stage plays and Super Hero Time.

Here we go!

My Favorite Drama of All Time


Currently enjoying:

-Don Quixote****
Kinda random like with the Spanish music. Funny. Stressful situations with the child care cases.

My Stack:
Delicious Gakuin
Hammer Session!
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e 2011
IS: Otoko demo Onna demo nai sei
Team Batista 3: Ariadne no Dangan
Tokujo Kabachi!
Tumbling

Previously viewed:

-0 Goshitsu no Kyaku****
Interesting concept. I like the transition between stories. I realized a lot about human nature from this short drama. The setting is beautiful and Yokoyama Yu is charming as usual. I loved the theme song right away! Shameless marketing for Johnny's, just pay attention to the wall of fame. Bloopers at the end of the last episode.

-14 sai no haha****1/2
I was so suspicious watching this drama at the start. Very upsetting family drama. Shida Mirai and Haruma look so young here. Cute Haruma but his character is kind of annoying. I recognize many of the actresses. So many motherly signs and symbols in the background. I cried a lot towards the end. The ending was fair.

-Akai Ito*****
A heavy drama. Romantic and compelling with a lot of unexpected moments. Clearly from the title, a lot has to do with believing in fate. I was relieved over the ending after being stressed out watching with my hand clapped over my mouth for most of the later episodes.

-Akihabara@Deep*****
Yes! A Toma drama once again. Dark and weird, even shocking but fun to watch. Pretty funny and silly. Another case drama but more interesting than others I've watched probably because it's about otaku. I like their references; there was even one to Dekaranger!

-Asuko March!****1/2
Matsuzaka Tori plays a host! Quite a few of my favorites in this one: Kaku Kento, Furukawa Yuki, Nagayama Kento. Interesting concept of a technical school but I am not a fan of any of the girls. The grandpa is funny. Sly teacher. Good lessons.

-Atashinchi no Danshi*****
I loved this drama from the very beginning. The outlandish set, unpredicability, great cast, and humor are just my taste. Heartwarming moments amongst silliness, sadness, and shock. Love hexagon? Great ending.

-Attention Please*****
Ueto Aya dramas always have closeups of her face. Lots of the same actresses I see in other dramas. Interesting concept of a punk girl training to become a cabin attendant. I didnt realize that the job was that demanding. Funny situations, touching. Aibu Saki's character liked Ryo's character and got rejected again. Ryo was kind of cute here. English usage! Ending sequence with different JAL uniforms throughout the years.

-Avarenbo Mama*****
Modern family drama. So many closeups of Ueto Aya's face. What can I say? I haven't watched an Ueto Aya drama I haven't liked yet. Mukai Osamu makes a cute teacher.

-Bambino!*****
A different kind of drama since it was about cooking and achieving your dream. Great theme song though and MatsuJun was cho kawaii here. Quite inspirational.

-Binbo Danshi****
Short drama. Miura Haruma was cute here. It helped me learn more about debt. The opening sequence with the toilets was strange... but the ending was good.

-Bloody Monday****
A dark and heavy drama. Biological terrorism is scary... Genius hacker Miura Haruma is so cute in this drama. Extremely intense and suspenseful! Spies, blackmail, many casualties. Deception, big twists, intrigue, good sayings and imagery. No one is trustworthy.

-Bloody Monday 2*****
Intense with lots of surprises. I'm excited to watch this again. Lots of love for HaruTake. The historical quotes are great.

-Bouchou Mania 09***1/2
Many cases and imagination sequences per episode.

-Buzzer Beat*****
Great cast. Funny. A sports romantic comedy. Fate? I can't believe Aibu Saki's character here. She sure can act. So many bold characters! I liked it. Great ending, though a bit cheesy.

-Celeb to Binbo Taro****1/2
A funny and compelling story of two people living in different worlds. Possibly a reverse Cinderella story in some aspects? I'm starting to think that whatever drama Ueto Aya is in is good, but I need to watch more to prove this theory. For some unknown reason, the structure of the opening and ending were different for episodes 9 and 10. No idea why. There were quite a few surprises in this drama.

-Code Blue****1/2
Young in-flight training doctors. I can relate to their feelings of failure and types of problems. The cast is great! I didn't realize that Yamapi's voice was that deep though.

-Code Blue 2*****
Exciting and pretty intense from the first episode. Heavy and quite emotional. A lot to do with family and problems amongst the doctors.

-Death Game Park*****
Kato Keisuke plays crazy characters very well. I was really impressed with the games, actors, special effects, and twists! The stars have special abilities/skills. It was really interesting, but the ending confused me.

-Engimono Series #11 - Kuruugamama****
Serious Aiba, I was pleasantly surprised! Interesting gambles and quite a few twists.

-Fuma no Kojiro*****
A different sport or art in every episode. Adios? Awesome music. Murai Ryota is so great in this! He doesn't wear a shirt under his blazer, and he's hilarious! Cool special effects. Good cast, no wonder they made a butai version. I'm really getting into the fight scenes with powers. Kind of sad though.

-Futatsu no Spica****1/2
Good cast and quite interesting! Story about friendship, youth, and a common desire to become astronauts. I learned quite a bit from this.

-Galileo****1/2
Familiar faces again with logical explanations to phenomena. Very interesting. This makes physics cool. I think I like detective dramas. The ending sequence is cool and the warning funny. It got darker and scary towards the end.

-Ganbatte Ikimasshoi****1/2
I recognize these actresses. Funny. Uchi Hiroki is pretty good looking, that's too bad what happened with him. School, sports, and the friendship of girls. I like the way Etsune talks, like an old lady. She reminds me of Usagi. Cute Junno! Exciting and very emotional sports drama. Some idolatry. Conclusive ending.

-Ghost Friends*****
Ridiculous with funny references. Nissy is pretty cute. Good plot but reminds me of Ghost Whisperer. Out-of-this-world love triangle. Cute and romantic. Kind of about art school as well. Bittersweet ending.

-GIFT****1/2
I wish I could have happiness with Koji for 12 hours. Great concept. All D Boys.

-GiraGira****1/2
I see three guys from Gokusen 3's 3-D class as the hosts. I'm learning about how host clubs work as well as age discrimination for jobs. Hecka drama: infighting, outside competition, manipulation, trying to find a balance, keeping secrets, etc. He taught good lessons to the younger hosts. It kind of reminded me of Gokusen in that respect and ended well!

-Godhand Teru*****
Cool special effects and sometimes funny. Lots of competition at Valhalla. I learned a lot of medical terms from this. Good lesson in these economic times. Only six episodes!

-Gokusen*****
Another all star cast, though MatsuJun's hair was so greasy and his teeth awful. Nakama Yukie did a great job. It has all the elements of what I like to see: action, drama, friendship, teamwork, comedy, high school, life lessons, romance, fantasy. and a powerful female role model.

-Gokusen 2****
Another group of dudes I knew who acted well. I liked the ending song. Glad to see Kuma again. I liked how they kept the plots and characters the same. Loads of girl-crazy guys again except for the leader, Kamenashi Kazuya(a JE dude).

-Gokusen 3*****
Oh how I love to look at Miura Haruma and his awesome hairstyle. I also like how they changed things up a bit in this last installment... the last episode shocked me. I think I cried more for this season than any other. I got used to the ending song. The sillyness and comaderie of this 3-D class was awesome. I also liked Yankumi's little fantasies. Only one non-girl-crazy JE dude, Takaki Yuya. Some stories from before got reworked but still good. Even some of the baddies were handsome, and I liked how they had episodes on host clubs, ikemen cafe, etc.

-Hachimitsu to Kuroba****
Art university, serious yet annoying girls, silly boys, multiple love triangles. It really is depressing though, and I already feel sorry for Toma's character from the first episode. Yes, it's a common pattern. Kuma is in here too! Interesting use of metaphors and how one phrase or topic can relate to different people. Very deep life lessons.

-Hanayome to Papa*****
I cried a few times watching this, just so dramatic. I totally fell for Taguchi Junnosuke in this drama. He was zettai kareshi. I liked the actress as well; she's pretty.

-Hana Yori Dango*****
Quite dark and the first time I realized that dramas could contain such things.

-Hana Yori Dango Returns*****
Just as good as the first season but more dramatic with an equal amount of tears. I got mad at Umi and the big twist towards the end but it all worked out fine.

-Hanazakari no Kimitachi e*****
Best drama ever. I love this one so much. Great cast, great storyline, and AMAZING soundtrack. This made me fall in love with Ikuta Toma (Nakatsu's monologues and hand gestures are hilarious) AND the words 'ikemen paradaisu'. I could watch this over and over.

-Happy Boys*****
Hilarious and a nice look in to the butler cafe world. Good cast. I learned a little about the art of tea and desserts.

-Hataraki Man****1/2
Pretty interesting, but I am mostly watching it because my mom's friend recommended it. I learned a lot about hard work from it. And Mokomichi is so handsome!

-Hidarime Tantei EYE****1/2
Nakayama Yuma and Morimoto Shintaro are in it too. Pretty interesting concept. Yokoyama Yu's acting is great. Conclusive ending.

-Honboshi*****
Renn is really hot in this drama. I love how serious and hardboiled he is. The premise of the drama is cool and I'm learning a lot about profiling and human psychology including the terminology. The finale was pretty crazy. I really liked the team.

-Hotelier****
Multilanguage, multiple love triangles, confessions, two familiar faces, and split screen filming. It's quite interesting, and I'm learning how hotels work. Ueto Aya is pretty, and she sang the ending theme. I was pleased with the ending.

-Ichi Rittoru no Namida*****
Heartbreaking and depressing. It made me appreciate life, health, friends and family more, though. I believe that my mom and I combined cried a litre of tears. Definitely cannot watch again ever.

-Ikemen desu ne*****
Awesome with outrageous situations! I love the acting, transitions, and fantasy sequences. Great music!! Quite hilarious and intense with tons of surprises. I enjoyed the drama as a whole but I felt the ending was cut short.

-Ikemen Sobaya Tantei***1/2
Silly and funny. Nonsensical and a lot of dialogue. Guest stars.

-Innocent Love*****
Cool opening sequence. Intense and interesting! I was a bit confused at first though. It reminds me a bit of Last Friends and Maou. Twisted and complicated. Stressful to the very end!

-Iryu*****
Plenty of familiar faces. Some adult scenes and pretty dark, shocking and unorthodox. I had to clap my hand over my mouth sometimes. Very emotional and intense.

-Iryu 2*****
Exciting episode right from the start! Chock full of surprises, twists, plus more and more difficult surgeries and its accompanying decisions. The ending was a bit open but I was pleased with the outcome.

-Iryu 3*****
Team Dragon reunited! More drama this time with catheters and betrayal. I forgot about the cool animations they used in this series to explain things. Iryuu is probably the best medical drama series I've ever seen.

-Jodan ja nai!****1/2
Starts in France. Sketchy concept but funny and gets more interesting as it goes along. Cool ending sequence. Ueno Juri's outfits are adorable. Tanaka Kei!

-Jotei*****
Super exciting every minute, though I don't approve of the morality of it. Quite a dark drama, and the ending was sad.

-Juui Dolittle*****
A very good drama. Highly recommended. Oguri Shun's hairstyle is not as bad as I had thought. This was a pretty serious medical drama, although I had mistakenly thought that it was more of a romance. Its focus is on the human-animal bond and about a particular family and the relationship between father and son. Quite a bit of politics and blackmail. Huge twist at the end that shocked me. This drama definitely evoked a lot of emotions from me - anger, sadness, and lots of deep thought.

-Jyoou no Kyoushitsu*****
Interesting concept. Lots of facts. Weird ending sequence though, totally opposite feel of the drama. It evokes a lot of emotions from me. Quite extreme. Amami Yuki is impressive, and so are the child actors and actresses. Great drama.

-Kami no Shizuku****
I'm not really interested in wine but got this drama originally because I thought it would be funny. It's actually pretty serious. I really like "One Drop" by Kat-tun. Pretty good ending.

-Karei Naru Spy****
Great comedy with funny sound effects even though they are fighting against terrorism. Cool weapons, famous actresses, lots of cosplay since they are spies!

-Kimi wa Petto*****
Odd premise. So many familiar faces, but Eita has regular hair?! Young MatsuJun but very cute, even with uber curly hair, curlier than HanaDan. This role is a tad different from his usual roles. A successful woman and affectionate men. Funny. Lots of kissing. Ended well.

-Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo 3*****
A bit funny and scary. Cute MatsuJun! Interesting cases. Awesome ending sequence with "Jidai".

-Kisarazu Cat's Eye*****
Great cast! Funny. Baseball, stealing, and antics. Weird characters and interesting filming method that happens every episode.

-Kochikame****
Funny and outrageous. The theme song gets stuck in my head! Every episode is a different story. Lots of guest stars.

-Koizora*****
Seto Koji as Hiro. Shocking and different from the movie, though I have to say the actors for the movie looked better except for Nozomu. I have to sigh a lot. Heartwrenching but more closure at the end.

-Konkatsu!*****
Great premise, all star cast, and funny. Marriage hunting and neighborhood saving.

-Kurosagi****
Bang! Yamapi did some good acting in this drama. I laughed every time he did that quick smile with his eyes closed. His disguises were crazy. The vocabulary, chases, and love triangle were also cool. Overall though, I wasn't as excited watching this drama compared to all the hype I've heard about it. I love the opening song, though, and the filming of the sequence is cool too. This is like the second time Yamapi and Horikita Maki have worked together in a drama.

-Last Friends*****
Real friendship. Dang Ryo! I'm scared of him and his creepiness. Crazy hair Eita once again. Cool, very expressive opening sequence with ribbons. Unlucky girl, bad family. A heavy and intense drama. Good ending.

-Liar Game****
Nice opening sequence (color choice, etc) and premise. You really can't trust anyone... or so it seems. I like how the episodes are not long and how the last episode is both the finale and special (although most of it was recap). Matsuda Shota did a great job. It was also interesting to see Toda Erika in a lead role (her character was good). Exciting!

-Liar Game 2*****
New mind games with familiar guest stars. Shocking and interesting. So many twists per episode!

-Love Shuffle*****
Classic English pop songs. Nice premise with good metaphors. Pretty shocking since it's more adult with loose morals. Blooper ending sequences!

-Majo Saiban*****
Toma's first solo leading drama! I loved his color and photos! He's so silly and cute though swayed by women and money. Intense and so many twists. I want a THINK TWICE t-shirt. I also love the little nuances with the colors. Toma's yakisoba hair isn't half bad. His fashion sense and assortment of outfits are wonderful, and he plays a good, smart person as he usually does. This role definitely laid the groundwork for his role in Ningen Shikkaku. The show itself reminded me of Liar Game in content and running time, while the imperfect people of The Quiz Show 2. Needless to say, I was very jealous of Higa Manami. I did not approve of the ending.

-Maou*****
Ikuta Toma sure does a lot of running in this drama but he's definitely the hottest detective I have ever seen. Ohno can be scary at times. It's very interesting with the different tarot cards and victims. I really like broody Toma and his clothes! I love "Truth" and the opening sequence! This series definitely made me tense every episode. Toma should win an award for his amazing dramatic acting. Ohno did a good job too. The ending was hanging but mostly conclusive and good. I nearly cried.

-Mei-chan no Shitsuji*****
Outrageous and hilarious with magic. A mix of Hanazakari no Kimitachi e and Hana Yori Dango. I want my very own ikemen butler. Heartwarming bond between butler and lady. Very dramatic and shocking towards the end.

-Meitantei no Okite****
Funny. Matsuda Shota is incredibly cute here. It's kind of weird though and breaks the rules of cinema in that the characters are aware that they are characters and comment about it a lot. Galileo spoof in last episode. Ending was nonsensical.

-Mop Girl****1/2
Nice cast and plot. Funny and surprising because of certain topics. I like Kitagawa Keiko's clumsy, fantasizing, and boy crazy character. The cosplay and connections are cool too. Some stories are sad though. It reminded me of a detective drama.

-MR BRAIN*****
Blonde No. 3 host Takuya becomes a neuroscientist? Very interesting show. High tech and Physiology. Tortoise Matsumoto is such an odd name, though. Guest stars! I learned a lot and liked the little CGI explanations.

-My Boss, My Hero*****
Ridiculous and hilarious! I love the themes to every episode and St. Agnes' pudding. Really good drama.

-My Girl*****
Aiba's outfits are awesome and I love his laugh. Cute girl. Great song and cool graphics. Heartwarming, touching, funny and cute. I cried a lot especially for the final episode. Very good drama.

-Nanase Futatabi****1/2
Amazing telepathic abilities! I was immediately reeled in. It was very exciting and suspenseful. It was amazing to see how they represented those supernatural abilities. Highly recommended, though the ending was upsetting.

-Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku*****
It's so refreshing to watch a MatsuJun drama again! Nice glimpse into the world of actors. There's quite a bit of comedy in this as well. I enjoyed it a lot!

-Nihonjin no Shiranai Nihongo****1/2
Ridiculous and funny with some serious moments. I'm learning Japanese from it too. I think Naka Riisa looks better like this.

-Ninkyo Helper*****
Black kitty! Quite a few ikemen: Mukai Osamu, Yuki Jutta, and of course Yamamoto Yusuke. He was so hot here, and I like when he's serious. Tomboy Kuroki Meisa. Player Kota Yabu. Familiar celebs. Intense, violent, unpredictable, and depressing because of the elderly. I cried for a few episodes. The plot twists were crazy. I enjoyed this drama very much.

-Nobuto wo Produce*****
Familiar faces. Funny jokes and Engrish. Great ending song "Seishun Amigo". Unlikely friendship.

-Nodame Cantabile*****
I love it! International. Young Chiaki spoke excellent English. Koide Keisuke! All star cast. Eita with crazy hair again. Hilarious little things and imagination sequences. Music. I like Nodame's clothes. The last episode was very satisfying though Chiaki and Nodame's relationship is quite odd.

-Ohitorisama*****
Teppei and Keitachi! Funny, cute, and interesting, reminding me of Suppli a bit. Akiyama-sensei and the principal do a lot of fun activities outside of school. The karaoke scene in episode 8 is great. Teppei sings! The first song was GReeeeN's "Kiseki". Good songs, manipulative women, and random special effects. Very exciting towards the later episodes.

-Oh! My Girl!!***1/2
Mainly, a family drama. Not as good as I thought it would be considering the main stars. All I can think about when I see Mokomichi is how well he played a robot.

-Oishii Puropozu****1/2
Random English. A nice love story with a focus on Italian cuisine. Not a fan of the hanging ending though. It leaves a lot to the viewer's assumptions.

-Onnatachi wa Nido Asobu****
All star actresses. Peach! Most of the stories were weird. Warning: full back nudity of the stalker in third episode. I felt like all of the women were users! The fourth story was probably the most normal. The last one was a bit funny.

-One Pound no Fukuin*****
It's wonderful to see Kamenashi Kazuya play such a crazy, silly, and funny character. So overexaggerated! Impossible relationship, funny opening sequence, "Lips". Kame is so energetic and different here. Very good drama. I was pleased with the ending.

-Orange Days*****
All star cast. Human drama with lots of sign language. I'm even learning some. Funny situations. Captivating, heartwarming, and emotional with surprises! Intense, cute and romantic. Some sad moments and very powerful. A wonderful drama which I enjoyed from beginning to end.

-Orthros no Inu*****
Clever and captivating concerning superpowers contrary to their owner's characters. Not as scary as I had thought but shares some similarities with MAOU. Very dramatic with a good opening song and sequence. Contains some animated sequences. Politics, atonement, and the difference between kids and adults. I was very pleased with this drama.

-Otoko no Kosodate****
Though a bit slow at first, it turned out to be a heartwarming and funny story. However, I probably would not have watched this for the story alone had not w-inds. "Beautiful Life" been the theme song. The son's teacher looks like she could be Aiba Masaki's sister. The neighbor boy was really cute.

-Otomen*****
Short summer and normal length fall episodes. Overexaggerated beginning. Silly, scary, and funny. Cool ending sequence and great song. Kimura Ryo always plays a bad boy now. Cute Okada Masaki! Seto Koji kawaii! Funny teacher and class. Good concept. Hilarious imagination sequences/references. I love it! I guess I really like doramas based off of shoujo mangas.

-Ouran High School Host Club*****
Outrageously hilarious, especially Yamamoto Yusuke! And I don't have to tell you how hot he is. Great cast! I really do love shoujo manga adaptations. I love the cosplay in every episode as well. Chiba Yudai grew on me for sure as well as Daito Shunsuke.

-Party ga Owatta****
Manga opening. The concept was great but not what I expected. It was more weird, sketchy, and a bit funny rather than a romantic comedy. Naka Riisa was whiny for a lot of the stories. My favorite was probably the last story with Koide Keisuke, he is hot as his character. I won't spoil it. I loved the undead dance sequence. The ending was a bit hanging.

-Princess Princess D***
Weird concept. Kind of random. Funny Take. Sometimes boring.

-Proposal Daisakusen****1/2
YamaPi looks good here. Eikura Nana annoys me. Good quotes. Magic and outrageousness! I thought it would just be one trip to the past, but there are multiple. Ending sequence with a live performance by the artist. Korean talk?! Longest wedding ever! Teacher and student love?! Cute drama. I got frustrated with Iwase Ken though. Romance and friendship. Socrates and Ito-sensei were interesting characters.

-Puzzle (2007)***
Too much talking. A bit boring, actually. It gets interesting towards the end.

-Puzzle (2008)****
It's interesting to see Ishihara Satomi act as a two-faced teacher. I got sucked in right away... smart handsome students, interesting puzzles, opposite of Yankumi. It's scary; I have to watch it with the light on and sound low. Not as scary by the time I got halfway through it. Funny diagrams and Engrish. Nonconclusive ending, though.

-Quartet****1/2
Matsushita Yuya in action! Lots of violence so be forewarned. I like the outfits and the music. The plot is pretty good. It does have its rare funny moments as well. Mandarin is also spoken.

-Rebound*****
I love this pairing and the unbelievable turn of events every episode! It's hilarious although it makes me think about my own weight. Some things like Mokomichi's character at first was a surprise. Very inspirational.

-Reinoryokusha Odagiri Kyoko no Uso****
Funny and a little bit scary. She's more of a detective than a psychic. Some touching stories. Slight twist at the end.

-RESCUE*****
Funny, intense, and emotional. Teamwork and good values as they work towards becoming Super Rangers. Great song and orange colors again! Maru's acting gets better as the show progresses, while Yamamoto Yusuke plays a tough kid, I'm guessing like his role in the ROOKIES movie. Shocking moments and full back nudity.

-RH+***
I like how each episode is only 23 minutes. The vampire lore doesn't make much sense though, and there are no ikemen. It got more exciting towards the end.

-ROOKIES*****
Funny, exciting, and very intense to watch. I got teary eyed for every episode and finally cried for the last one. Another awesome teacher, a surprising principal, and a captain that always cries plus some perverted dudes. I think I like sports dramas: trust, friendship, teamwork. Great ending song, "Kiseki" by GReeeeN, made me want to clap along. I like teachers like this.

-Room of King****1/2
I love the premise of this movie and all the different characters in the room share; there's even a vegetarian! Bonus points! Each episode is only about 40 minutes including the ending sequence and next episode preview. It's a comedy, so it's silly and fun! The ending was a bit unclear, though.

-Ryusei no Kizuna*****
Though it was funny at the beginning with the swindling dramas within the drama itself, it became more serious at the end as I originally thought. The ending was shocking but good. I enjoyed the theme song, the confusion with Nakashima Mika's character (who was she really?), and the comaderie amongst the siblings.

-Samurai High School*****
Hilarious and outrageous! Haruma does a great job playing both characters. So silly and cute! I love the opening sequence. Awesome special effects. Cool henshin. Even Shirota Yu is cute here. Action and comedy with good lessons. I also loved the relationship the dad and son had.

-Saru Lock****
A drama about a locksmith who also doubles as a detective. Ritsuko is really cool! I like the ending sequence with the comparison of them as kids with their current selves. The guys are perverts though. Funny and sometimes scary. Some of the cases made me mad. The ROOKIES reference was hilarious! Strange background music choice.

-Scrap Teacher****1/2
Interesting but kind of random. Outrageous, unbelievable, with references to other dramas I have watched and enjoyed. Students punishing teachers. Weird ending.

-Security Police*****
Short episodes with a cool opening sequence. Interesting and exciting. Quite intense with special abilities as well as crazy and scary terrorists. My first time watching an Okada Junichi drama. Great action sequences with some light moments. Classical, opera, and choral songs in Latin music. Surprising, what's real and what's imagined? Revenge. Hanging ending.

-Seito Shokun!*****
This drama is deep and oftentimes stressful to watch, but I highly recommend it. It reminds me of Gokusen a bit, even though it's about middle schoolers and has a co-ed class. The teacher is really admirable because of her determination and enthusiasm. I cried quite a bit. Lots of young, famous faces in this drama.

-Sexy Voice and Robo***
Kind of interesting since it's about spies though seemingly disconnected from episode to episode, much akin to Yukan Club and Puzzle (2008). The ending was a bit sad, but the odd relationship of the two main characters was cute. It was funny to see Matsuyama Ken'ichi act as an otaku. Does he always play odd roles like this?

-Shibatora*****
Super exciting! What an amazing detective to go so far to trust and help people, and he has powers! I'm glad that I bought this drama. I'm a bit surprised that neither Koike Teppei nor WaT sang the ending theme song, though. This drama contains plenty of dark social issues, and it ends where it begins. Kyo Nobuo has a cameo towards the end.

-Shinigami no Ballad*****
Very interesting but quite sad. Great opening song. The stories appear to be connected, but I wasn't happy with some of the hanging endings.

-Shirayuri Kyodai no Handsome na Shokutaku***1/2
I liked the cooking lessons with directions. I think this drama showed Dori's acting range and it made me fall for Takkun more. It was funny, crazy and weird though. First drama I watched raw.

-Sign*****
Amuse power! I really want to learn this dance. It's surprising to see TAKA in such a serious role. Gotta love the boys including their quotes and friendship. Plenty of LOL moments but also some shockers.

-SMILE*****
Hisashiburi, MatsuJun! Working in the food industry again but tan, not looking so great in the future. Weird opening sequence. Oguri Shun is very bad here. Suspenseful and maddening. Powerful and heavy, with a focus on racism. I had to sigh a lot towards the later episodes, and I cried multiple times for the finale. Great drama.

-Sotsu Uta****
Four half-hour stories about different kinds of graduating with popular actresses. I thought that the first story was the best one. I mostly watched this for the third story with Yamamoto Yusuke in it, though.

-Stand Up!!*****
Good drama with an all star cast. Yamapi's character was probably the best though I found Narimiya Hiroki to be hilarious! Interesting plot.

-Sunao ni Narenakute*****
Intense, heavy human drama revolving around Twitter. Funny, cute, very complicated and dark. Good music.

-Suppli*****
Fate is funny. Eita with crazy hair as usual but kind of a bad boy. Cute Kame. Good songs, opening and ending sequences. I love the four mental mirrors. Misunderstandings and romantic relationships in the advertising business. I cried a lot for the last episode. Great drama.

-Sushi Oji****
A short drama with weird moves and crazy special effects for sushi making. Entertaining though a bit slow and repetitive.

-Swan no Baka***1/2
A salaryman whom all the ladies like. Basically, a family drama. Some funny moments.

-Sweet Room****
Not much story development and a lot of intimate scenes. I enjoyed "Birthday" the most.

-Tadashii Ouji no Tsukurikata****
What characters the boys are! Short, funny drama. Silly Renn! The opening theme song got stuck in my head like crazy. I enjoyed the cast of boys and the special guest for the last episode!

-Taisetsu na koto no subete kimi ga oshiete kureta****
Quite a heavy, complicated drama that makes me mad and upset. The American music is mostly Pink, but sometimes it is distracting from the subtitles and I don't like some songs. Sudacchi is my saving grace here, he's so silly and adorable. I love that he speaks Kansai-ben in this as well. I was pleased, however, with the ending for the most part.

-Taiyo to Umi no Kyoushitsu****
Sakurai-sensei has a strange way of doing things but teaches his students important lessons and helps them a lot. The individual stories are very compelling, especially the studious girl's. I enjoy Yamamoto Yusuke's character, though they never explained if he ever kissed the assistant teacher or not. Okada Masaki's character is pretty lovable, and how can I forget that Kagimoto Akira is one of the main students? Kitagawa Keiko does a pretty good job as a teacher but seems whiny, compared to Hino Rei in PGSM.

-Takkyu Tanaka 3 Go*****
So dramatic with lots of good train metaphors. Tanaka is a big-mouth. Tetsu friendship, family relations, and 3-on-3 romance drama. This drama exceeded my expectations, and it was Tanaka Koki's first drama.

-Tantei Gakuen Q*****
Captivating from the first episode! Cool opening sequence and nice ending sequence. It reminds me of Akihabara@DEEP but with a younger cast. Lots of familiar minor actors here. Good soundtrack and cast. One of best detective dramas I've seen.

-Team Batista no Eiko****
Mystery and medicine. I learned a lot. The ending was good, but there no way I could have predicted the outcome.

-Team Batista 2: General Rouge no Gaisen****1/2
Focusing on Emergency Medicine department this time around. Very educational and interesting. Good guest stars.

-TEIOH*****
Fast pace, short episodes about hosts! It's kind of similar to Jotei, with a good-natured main character but is almost too good to be true.

-The Quiz Show 2*****
I'm pretty surprised at Sho's character, it's very different. Yokoyama Yu seems to play the same type of character in the dramas I've seen of him. Sometimes funny but mostly sad. A twisted love triangle and search for the truth with revenge as the motive. It reminds me a lot of Maou.

-Tokyo Dogs*****
Silly, hilarious partners with plenty of fight scenes. It starts in America. I love the opening sequence with the name titling and the ending song. It has been a while since I've seen Oguri Shun in a drama, funny yet serious. The Ninkyo Helper and Nodame references were great. Guest star friends.

-Tokyo Ghost Trip****1/2
Different kind of role for Renn. Funny! It's pretty cool with fighting, powers, and twists. BIG twist at the end. A bit scary in episode 2. I love how there's a paw print with every trip number, but we never get to see the cat except in the opening sequence.

-Trick****
So different from Galileo: both characters solve tricks, and Nakama Yukie is another strong female role model. But why does she always star in dramas that run three seasons with a special and movies? Just kidding, it's only been two so far. Really weird ending sequence. Funny laugh. Supernatural powers. Weird and dirty topics in the two main character's discussions. Each case spans 2-3 episodes.

-Trick 2*****
More word games, funny and interesting. Each episode has a different running time though, some are short and some long.

-Trick 3****1/2
Adventurous. Weird ending again. More riddles (word play, puzzles) and jokes. Some episodes were sad though. A lot of them seem to be about revenge as well.

-Troubleman****1/2
Interesting drama, more like a film split into multiple parts. Some funny stories, particularly the landlady's and Tagawa's back stories. Unbelievable turn of events towards the end. Quite outrageous. The ending wasn't bad.

-Tsuki no Koibito*****
Mature, human drama about a furniture company president. Chinese and English spoken as well. Manipulation with a Cinderella element to it. Unexpected ending!!

-Untouchable****1/2
Interesting and funny. Nakama Yukie plays another great character. Reminds me of a bit of Trick. A bit complex. Something deeper is going on. I was upset by the hanging ending though.

-Unubore Deka*****
First time watching a Nagase drama. Hilarious! I love the random dancing in it. Toma is cute. I'm so glad that he's in a comedy again! Great female guest stars.

-Uta no Onii-san****1/2
I thought it was a comedy but it turned out to be a bit serious. Pretty interesting and funny, and Ohno's character is relatable as well as heartwarming. I enjoyed the children's songs, and though I didn't like Ohno's solo single at first, it worked in the drama.

-Vampire Host*****
Funny but a bit scary, with a focus on the supernatural. I like the visuals and music, like the clothes, special effects, setting, and opening and ending sequences. Matsuda Satoshi is awesome in this, and when he transforms, he looks like Gackt. Very cool. Themed host clubs seem fun. I also learned some history. Not too pleased about the ending, but it made sense.

-VOICE*****
Cool opening sequence. Toma makes a hot doctor. Eita is pretty cute too. I like GReeeeN's ending song. Funny despite being a serious drama. Very interesting cases with deep thoughts, philosophy, and heartwarming moments. Best case drama I've seen. Quite profound.

-Water Boys*****
Everyone is so young in this! Tamaki Hiroshi is hilarious! Great compelling story and awesome concept! Hilarious too. I love the background music. Amazing performance for the finale.

-Water Boys 2*****
Ichihara Hayato is so cute and clumsy in this! Great cast with a bit of weird and a lot of funny thrown in. More moving as the episodes go on.

-Yamada Taro Monogatari*****
Super funny with the Engrish and fantasy! I liked Sho better than Nino, though.

-Yankee-kun to Megane-chan*****
Funny and ridiculous with good themes. I love the fight scenes and the Crows Zero-ish background music.

-Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge****1/2
Interesting plot. Great cast. Kame is looking good. Funny imagination sequences, ridiculousness, complexes, and action. It gets way more serious in the later episodes.

-Yoiko no Mikata****1/2
Great ending song. Sho as a preschool teacher makes for an interesting concept. Touching and funny. Dang, cameos by Aiba, Ohno, Sawada Shin and Kuma!

-Yukan Club***
See my blog on hairstyles to what I thought of Junno's hair in this one. The stories were interesting but I didn't like it that much, probably because there was no love triangle.

-Yume wo Kanaeru Zo****
Ridiculously funny with a classic love triangle tale. Oguri Shun only had a cameo in the first episode. Some historical figures in a modern day setting. 30 minutes only each episode!

-Zeni Geba****1/2
Dark, violent, multiple deaths. Comparing the past and present throughout the drama. Pretty good premise. Clearly, Matsuyama Ken'ichi always plays weird roles. I especially enjoyed the last episode of 'what could have been'.

-Zettai Kareshi****
Pretty interesting. I think I'm hooked from the first episode. My love triangle theory was sort of disproven with this drama. I was surpised with her choice. I really cried for most of the ending. Quite sad, but I guess that's how it had to be. The ending song got stuck in my head for days.

Got this from my aibou.

Thought I could do some reflection of my own.

2011 Year in Review

Cannot be complete without my favorite partners.



1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

I went to Kansai (Osaka and Kyoto), including Universal Studios Japan, a Japanese temple and prayed there for new year's eve as well as met and took pictures with some Kamen Riders and Super Sentai, visited Eigamura Park! Kamen Rider the Diner, attended a Gokai action show. My friends and I were treated by a nice lady who was a stranger to dinner.

Before that, I attended Lu Chen's magic show in Las Vegas with my dad. I also went to Disney World as well as Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Orlando.

I celebrated my 26th birthday with F4 at Millenium.

I met up with some friends that I had not seen for years, the record was 5 years for one friend.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No, because I stopped making them so long ago I forgot when. Probably won't make any in the future either.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

I don't think so.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
The start of 2011 was quite bad. The elderly couple who lived next door, my friend's dad, and my cousin's dog...

5. What countries did you visit?
Japan! St. Kitts doesn't count, and neither does Florida.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More confidence and faith.

7. What date(s) from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 11: Earthquake in Japan as well as day of friend's father's death.
December 15: Day I found out that I was done with the island forever!
December 28: Super Handsome Live 2011!!
December 29: First trip to Osaka with my aibou and her sister.
December 31: First trip to Kyoto with the same, first time at a temple to pray after eating soymilk soft cream! I also bought soymilk donuts.

I would also add dates that I did my first surgeries but that would require more research (looking up in my diary).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing my time on the island.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, unless if the time I got 14 mosquito bites in one night counts.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My ticket to Japan since my aibou bought the tickets to the events. Oh, and also the SHL commemorative photo. And all KR goods.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My parents even though they are crazy. My friends for always being there for me and supporting me, namely F4 as well as the friends that I had a chance to hang out with during breaks. Steven and Nicole for being awesome roommates during my time on the island, and the friends I had made there. My aibou for skyping with me nearly every Saturday for hours - lots of fun times though we are miles apart.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My mom in Florida.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Japan whether by actually going there or buying stuff from there, plane tickets, theme park tickets, food for sure. Electricity also costed a lot on the island, and let's not forget rent for my room there.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Fourze x OOO movie. I got ridiculously excited in that theatre. I was also excited for the whole Japan trip in general - SHL 2011, the Kansai trip, Eigamura Park, KR the Diner, Pure Cafe, hanging out with my aibou and her sister there!

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Ohkuro Maki "Anything Goes", Florida Keys "Finger on the Trigger", and gosh, basically any KR song really.
Any song by Matsushita Yuya because I got into him that year, but maybe "Foolish Foolish" and "Paradise" the most.
See my post on Top Songs of 2011.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
-Wiser? I hope so.

-Healthier? Maybe?

-Richer? Nope.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Singing, DRAWING and painting, hanging out with friends, eating out more on the island, taking more baths, basically more stuff to relax.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being paranoid, worrying, stressing.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I went to church that morning with my mom then headed to the airport to go to Japan! Lots of rushing around in LAX.

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Yes, namely with Matsushita Yuya and deeper with Kiriyama Renn. Let's add Fujigaya Taisuke and especially Tamamori Yuta from Kis-My-Ft2 thanks to 'Ikemen desu ne'. And the ikemen list never stops.

23. How many one-night stands?
Zero

24. What was your favorite TV program?
America's Next Top Model, Supernatural.
Kamen Rider OOO, Ikemen Desu Ne, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, Rebound. I feel like I'm forgetting some...

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Probably because I am a hater.

26. What was the best book you read?
I don't really read many books anymore. But oh, probably the momisafob book because it's hilarious.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Matsushita Yuya and Kis-My-Ft2.

28. What did you want and get?
I got to leave the island forever. I also accumulated quite a few bath bombs, KR goods, clothes, etc.

29. What did you want and not get?
Koji, Renn, Yusuke, Sudacchi, Yuya, and the list can go on. I also could have bought more stuff in Japan, haha.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Kamen Rider Fourze x OOO! It was SO awesome, especially the part with the W boys. So much love, I must always comment. Oh, and also Koukou Debut. As for American movies, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
26. I went to Millennium with F4 and we ordered a lot of food as always. I had been wanting to eat at Millenium again for a long while. The last time was for Mother's Day back in 2009 I believe.

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I really think that 2011 was the year of Matsushita Yuya and Kiriyama Renn though it has been carried on into 2012. I really had a thing for Tamamori Yuta too after watching "Ikemen Desu Ne". And I can't neglect my number 1, Seto Koji! I think Watanabe Shu must be added here as well.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
The same clothes on the island, my same style from high school... hoodies, t-shirts and jeans with Vans or Converse shoes and cool socks. Back home, I tried to wear cooler jackets. Sometimes I had to dress professional for school too.

34. What kept you sane?
My friends, cats, good music, good dramas and movies, good memories and dreams, awesome conversations online, singing in the shower, Kamen Rider, fun times, and ikemen.

35. Who did you miss?
My family, cats, and friends back home. Channaka for sure. I also missed watching W.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
True friends are always there for you no matter the distance, and true friends will always give you the best advice. Life is hard but that's how it's meant to be. Dying is easy, so the challenge is in living and making through every day. Just take it one day at a time. Stress is inevitable, but it doesn't have to control everything.

37. What did you gain this year?
Strengtened friendships, new experiences, and perhaps a different outlook on life.

38. What did you lose this year?
Time, money, and perhaps some sanity.

39. Who was the best new person you met?
I would probably have to say Courtney. I think I met her in 2011 online. It was nice to have a penpal while on the island who understood what it meant to be a vet student.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

There are days when everything goes fine, but there surely are days when the contrary happens
If we get depressed for every little thing we won't see the end of it
If we conduct ourselves smoothly, without even knowing how much it hurts to hit the bottom
We won't be able to stand up when we feel just a little bit of love

It made me think that the flowers that bloom after my tears of frustration will surely be beautiful
That I won't lose

We never give up! That paradise that looks too dazzling for us
Let's go grab it, even if we should tumble down!
WE SAY Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!
On the days we cry the future looks a little distant and blurred
But the more we fall down the stronger we can become!
WE SAY Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!
We never give up!

I'll try to recall all the Chinese movies I've watched. I am definitely missing a lot.



-Fearless****
A sad, shocking ending, but of course chock full of great action and suspense.

-House of Flying Daggers****
A love triangle, action, and intrigue. The scene with the drums was awesome but the ending was so sad. I didn't really understand why the girl chose to do that.

-House of Fury*****
I thought this was an exciting movie. The plot and action sequences were awesome.

-Initial D****
I thought the storyline was good. Jay Chou just seemed so apathetic yet depressed. Edison Chen was hot. Not a bad remake of an original Japanese story.

-Kung Fu Hustle****
Stephen Chow really reminds me of my dad's older brother. This movie has lots of overexaggeration but it was still good.

-Little Big Soldier****
Wang Lee Hom and Jackie Chan! Lots of action and a bit of comedy. I didn't like the ending though but that's history for you.

-Love in Disguise****
Good job Lee Hom coming up with this story. Great music, of course, and quite comedic. A nice love story though some things were a bit unbelievable.

-Police Story****
Sad ending but great cast, some comedy, and great action, of course. Nicholas Tse did a good job.

-Shaolin Soccer*****
I felt bad for the cooking girl but the ending turned to be happy. The special effects were insane! Very funny!

-Shinjuku Incident****1/2
Shocking and violent. Japanese and Chinese stars.

-Twins Effect*****
One of my favorite movies ever! The romance between the vampire prince and slayer's sister was so cute. There were plenty of funny moments in here as well such as "No... Prada", Edison Chen's ghetto English, and the beanie flying off when the slayer's partner swallowed the crystal. Great special effects and fight scenes.

-Twins Effect 2****
Not really connected to the first one except for the same actors. It was set in the past. The action scenes were great and the plotline was also good. It was also cool to see Jaycee Chan and his dad Jackie Chan in the same film though they didn't interact. Jaycee really looks like his dad!

So here's where I'll be talking about Korean dramas and movies I have seen. They are listed in alphabetical order. The little asterisks represents stars on a regular 1-5 scale. Comments follow.

There aren't very many. Someday I may watch some of the more popular ones that people claim everyone has to see like Winter Sonata and Full House.

They are just so long in number of episodes and length of time per episode...



KOREAN DRAMAS:

-My Lovely Samsoon*****
I really got into this drama easily once the first episode started. The concept is really great and unlike other dramas. I also thought the ending was good though I was curious about what happened with the other characters' romantic lives.

-Personal Taste****1/2
Pretty funny! The main female character really does remind me of my friend. Crazy situations and gets more dramatic than comedic as the series progresses. I was satisfied with the ending though it felt rushed.

KOREAN MOVIES:

-My Sassy Girl***
Their relationship was funny, but the movie was so long. I think I cried a few times, especially for the ending, though I kind of forgot what happened. I would not watch this again because it's too sad.

-Seven Swords****
Great action film, though I watched it dubbed in Chinese with English subtitles.

-The Moonlight of Seoul*
Kind of interesting though confusing with some slow parts. Not recommended for younger viewers. The ending was awful.

I thought of this meme one night while trying to go to sleep.

Feel free to take and make it your own!

Biased much? I sure am.



Categories:

Best Concept... Although the concept for Decade was interesting, you know about all the complaints about how it was carried out. A lot of series had interesting concepts, time travel in Den-O and switching back and forth between 1988 and 2008 in Kiva, but I think I am going to have to go with W for this one. Detectives, two riders in one, planetary archives, etc. Love it.

Best Music... This one is tough since so many of the series have awesome music. But if I can only choose one, it would have to be Kiva. TETRA-FANG wins for obvious reasons. A close second would go to W. So much good music and so much nostalgia.

Best Weapons... I may have to go with Decade on this one since he was able to manipulate the suits of other Riders and call up any of the other riders. I also enjoyed Diend's "Invisible" and that voice that announced everything in Decade.

Best Mobile... Den-O hands down for the time traveling train.

Best Fashion... Another tough one, but W wins this one as well. They have their own brand, Windscale. Plus I liked Terui Ryu's clothes as well.

Best Villains... I was pretty shocked with the Yummy from OOO. But again, going with W, for the Dopants. I can see similarities with the Yummy, but I just love those Gaia memories. MONEY!

Best Primary Rider... Probably the toughest question here. I would lean towards Double and you know Kiva is my #1, but I will go with OOO on this one. I love the combos, especially Tajador~ Eiji is also super clever with a strong sense of justice and desire to help the unfortunate despite his high position. I love how humble he is.

Best Secondary Rider... Kamen Rider IXA, the 2008 version. Nago-san may be crazy but I just love his sense of justice. A close runner-up would be Zeronos, and of course that includes Deneb.

Best Female Character... Best, not luckiest, right? Luckiest would be Akiko from W, for sure. But for best character, I think it has to be Yuri from Kiva. She was definitely the coolest, most capable, and least annoying.

Best Henshin... This one is tough. I remembered being shocked with Kiva's henshin at first since he gets bit everytime by Kivat. But because I love W so much, I am going to have to go with W. CYCLONE! JOKER! How Philip faints every time... how cool Shoutarou is. Can't be beat.

Kind of late this time.

But better late than never.

I tried to limit to one song per artist, so for groups that released more than one single last year, I chose my favorite.

Go! Go! Let's Go!

In alphabetical order:

2PM "I'm Your Man"

Ridiculously catchy song and amazing pv!! Dancing in suits... HOT! But I don't think the guys are that hot, sorry.

Arashi "Lotus"

Absolutely love this song. The pv was nice too. This song made me feel relaxed.

BIG BANG "Tonight"

Really addictive and catchy song. Gosh, they shot the pv in Las Vegas!

D☆DATE "Change My Life"

I think I liked that song better than "Day by Day". Same goes for the music video. I love the fact that Koji raps in this!

Hey!Say!JUMP "Over"

Of course they have to focus on Ryosuke, but I love the dance moves in this pv! The song is great too.

Kamen Rider Girls "Let's Go! Rider Kick 2011"

Though I am not a fan of the girls (at least there's not a W one), I do love the shouting and "See-yuh!" The song is quite catchy, though, I must admit.

KAT-TUN "Birth"

I think of all the singles they released in 2011, I liked this one best. Plus, it reminds me of Kamen Rider.

Kis-My-Ft2 "Everybody Go"

Really, I loved their second single "We Never Give Up" as well, but since I can only choose one, I'll go with their debut single. Nothing can top rollerblade dancing. Plus I fell for Tamamori and Fujigaya because of "Ikemen Desu Ne".

LEAD "Hurricane"

Yay, LEAD! Great accompanying songs too.

Matsushita Yuya "Paradise"

Out of the 3 singles he released in 2011, "Paradise" is the winner for pv that made my heart twinge the most. Plus I loved watching the little clip at the end of every episode of "Quartet". I just absolutely love this song and him!

Honorable mentions:

AAA "CALL"
Akanishi Jin feat. Jason Derulo "TEST DRIVE"
A.N. JELL "Promise" (Japanese version)
Kis-My-Ft2 "We Never Give Up"
Matsushita Yuya "SUPER DRIVE"

So here's where I'll be talking mostly about Japanese butai and tokusatsu (舞台と特撮) since my original blog was too long. They are listed in alphabetical order. The little asterisks represents stars on a regular 1-5 scale. Comments follow.

I actually started watching tokusatsu since about 2004 with Pretty Guardian Sailormoon, since the American version of super sentai, Power Rangers, doesn't really count. Then I moved onto the Super Sentai series, and the number of ikemen that I know and love just exploded with Kamen Rider.

I think KR started my completist watching ways. There isn't enough space though for me to include my comments here on the concerts, makings, events, music videos, netmovies, hyper battle videos, interviews, etc. But believe me, if they were subbed or even if they were raw but I could get my hands on them, I have watched it.

I've only recently gotten into stage plays, which I tend to prefer watching raw.

The Best Partners


Currently enjoying:

My Stack:
Kimi to Miru Sen no Yume
Last Game

BUTAI:

-2000 Summer Special Musical Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Kessen/Transylvania no Mori Shin Toujou! ChibiMoon wo Goru Senshi Tatsu*****
Quite exciting with great music. I should watch more.

-Black Pearl*****
A comedic stage play with a detective and the mafia. Love the opening part, all the misunderstandings due to double meanings of words, and the turn of events. Gotta love the Amuse boys. Hilarious.

-Black&White*****
Tomodachi, tomodachi! Great costumes. Interesting concept and interpretation. I loved the music and dance sequences. It was funny but also sad. I was really impressed with Uehara Takuya's dancing.

-Cat in the Red Boots*****
Toma is amazing! His singing is beautiful, and his acting awesome. I totally wasn't expecting such a play, but it reminds me of Shrek with like a mixture of all sorts of fairytales. The driving storylines are Harry Potter and, of course, Puss in Boots. The JE reference was hilarious! Very good.

-FROGS*****
Break dancing and dance fighting. Amuse boys! Funny.

-Fuma no Kojiro*****
Pretty much the same story with minor differences. It seemed more rushed as expected. I loved the songs and dance!

-Hoshi no Daichi ni Furu Namida****
Interesting and funny. I enjoyed the dancing and songs, especially when Haruma sang. Talented cast.

-Tenimyu Absolute King Rikkai Second Service*****
So many ikemen/familiar faces! I enjoyed the dancing and music with tennis. I didn't know that Kiriyama Renn and Yuki Jutta were also in this!

-Tenimyu Advancement Match Rokkaku*****
Inspirational songs and great music. Funny and amusing. Koji's match but not enough of his singing! KenKen! Kato Kazuki can sing well. I was impressed.

TOKUSATSU:

-Chou Kamen Rider Den-O and Decade Movie****
Historical concept. Crazy possessions and new transformations. Confusing though.

-GoGo Sentai Boukenger*****
Great ending song: Psychic Lover again! Adventurous like Indiana Jones. Exciting, great buildups, funny quotes, fresh ideas, and so many enemy groups.

-GoGo Sentai Boukenger The Movie: Saiko no Precious****
All four enemy groups. Indiana Jones? Familial ties.

-GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai*****
Always great and funny. Address book! Different team. Time villain. Some surprises and changes.

-Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger*****
I love everything from the theme song, to the character introductions, to the 100 animals, and the actors. GaoSilver and GaoRed were ikemen, but I liked the whole team.

-Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai*****
Though the red ranger panning made me dizzy, I loved how they brought back some of the older sentai, especially the yellow ranger from back in the day. He's just too funny. It was an encouraging story.

-Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger vs. Boukenger*****
Infighting. Lots of surprises. It's nice to see the Boukengers grow up.

-Kamen Rider Decade****1/2
Crazy beginning. Ability to change into other Riders and new forms. Great action. I liked Yuusuke the most.

-Kamen Rider Decade All Rider vs. Dai Shocker*****
Great guest star. Lots of surprises and action. So many riders.

-Kamen Rider Den-O*****
Great songs and fashion, cool concept, awesome henshins, and good looking cast. Underdog main character and time travel. Very exciting and funny!

-Kamen Rider Den-O Movie: Ore Tanjou!*****
Time traveling and ninjas. Cute kid. Funny and awesome.

-Kamen Rider Den-O & Kiva: Climax Deka*****
Super exciting with lots of pleasant surprises, hilarious moments, and action!

-Kamen Rider Hibiki*****
Interesting filming techniques. It's comparable to a musical at first. Fascinating and funny. So many new characters pop up, and plenty of surprises. Good lessons and bonds.

-Kamen Rider Hibiki & The Seven Senki*****
Very cool! New characters and history. It explained a lot of stuff from the series, as well.

-Kamen Rider Kabuto*****
Awesome from the beginning. Tricky worms. Grandmom's sayings are good. Funny and surprising. I love Kamishiro Tsurugi! Emphasis on food.

-Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love****
So confusing at first but finally made sense at the very end. Alternate world/prologue to the series. Caucasus was cool, as expected.

-Kamen Rider Kiva*****
Cool henshins and outfits. Connection between 2008 and 1986. Plenty of action and funny moments. Very exciting and dramatic. I love the opening sequence and Seto Koji. Kato Keisuke is awesome too. I also love Kivat's facts at the beginning of most episodes, very educational.

-Kamen Rider Kiva: King of the Castle in the Demon World*****
So many surprises!! Time traveling. Very exciting.

-Kamen Rider Kuuga*****
Odagiri Jo is so young in this! I love Godai Yusuke's character. Pretty exciting from the first episode. Go Heiser Riders! It's challenging being the only rider. I enjoyed the cases and found the different methods of the Grongi interesting. The summary episodes were my least favorite.

-Kamen Rider OOO*****
So exciting!! I got quite surprised with the items and the Yummy at first. Eiji is so cute, clever, and funny. I love his sense of justice. Ankh-possessed Shingo is hot! I have been sucked in. Funny voice. See-yuh! I love the cosplaying at Cous Coussier, too bad I can't go there! As usual, the ending of any KR series is sad. I get major withdrawal symptoms!

-Kamen Rider The First*****
The costumes are a bit different. I liked how there were two stories that connected towards the climax. Plenty of action, surprises, and cameos. Very cool and well done.

-Kamen Rider The Next****1/2
A mix of Kamen Rider, Bloody Monday, and a horror story like the Grudge. Scary! The special effects were crazy and gross. A lady spoke Tagalog towards the beginning of the movie. I'm addicted to the ending song.

-Kamen Rider W*****
Cool and high tech! I love the detective theme, outfits, and English. Funny and super interesting. I love it and am sad that it's over. Highly recommended!

-Kamen Rider W Forever: A to Z*****
Super exciting! I so missed the W boys. So many cute as well as shocking moments! Philip is so lovable in this, and Shoutarou is just so cool. Definitely the best partners ever.

-Kamen Rider W Returns: Kamen Rider Accel*****
This movie should have been in the theaters! Everything about it was awesome! There was no shortage of fight scenes and good music. I was really impressed with Ryu, and I think he and Akiko make a cute couple. The plot was really good, and of course I love seeing the W boys as much as I can. The ending even had bloopers!!

-Kamen Rider W Returns: Kamen Rider Eternal****
Great start to the movie but as the title indicates, it was focused on Daido Katsumi. It's basically his back story with explanation of NEVER and another group, the psychic Quarks. It was interesting and action packed but definitely not enough time on the best partners.

-Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider Fourze and OOO Movie Taisen Mega Max*****
So nostalgic seeing my favorite partners of all time as well as Eiji's team again! Some surprises. I'm glad that Philip and Shoutarou had more screen time with this film. Shou-chan is just TOO cool and also hilarious. Not too big of a fan of the Fourze plot in this film, though.

-Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider OOO & W feat. Skull Movie Taisen Core*****
Same filming technique as in the W and Decade movie. Lots of funny moments and action. I really wanted to see more of the W boys though. I just can't get enough. Awesome combination!

-Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider W & Decade: Movie War*****
Slightly confusing but really interesting way of filming. More surprises and action.

-Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider The Movie: Chou Den-O Trilogy Episode Red****
Natsukashii! I'm glad that the focus was on Airi and Yuuto's relationship. The movie was quite sad though. I love "Action Zero 2010"!

-Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider The Movie: Chou Den-O Trilogy Episode Blue****1/2
Funny. I love Koutarou and Teddy's relationship. It reminds me of Yuuto and Deneb's. I love the Strike form versions of the Den-O Imagin weapons.

-Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider The Movie: Chou Den-O Trilogy Episode Yellow*****
I think this is my favorite one of the three! Funny and awesome! Daiki is so cool and cute! Plenty of surprises.

-Saraba Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown*****
Lots of surprises, hilarity, and real action.

-Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger****
I loved how the lady in charge spoke to the audience although that is not recommended for television and movies. The theme song was fun. I really liked how they split them up into 2 schools. Navy Ranger was my favorite (Kyo Nobuo).

-Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger Shushuuto the Movie****
A nice and exciting ending though I couldn't watch the last minute or so because the DVD was skipping.

-Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger vs. Gaoranger*****
Hilarious and very good! The ending with all the nodding and handshaking was too long, though.

-OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders*****
Super exciting and action-packed! I got too excited with the Heisei riders since I know them best. I loved seeing familiar faces again. Quite touching plot and turn of events.

-Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon*****
From here on labeled as PGSM. So good!! I loved how they sticked closer to the manga. I thought the actresses who were only models before did great work. I think they even did their own stunts. It made me laugh, cry, and get angry at the villains, exactly what SM is supposed to do. Very good and highly recommended... Sailor Luna was an entertaining addition. I liked the actor who played Motoki. It was also cool how they matched up Makoto and Motoki... and let's not forget Darkury. Kitagawa Keiko is really pretty, no wonder she played Sailormars.

-PGSM Act Zero*****
Good backstory of SailorV, kind of like the original manga Takeuchi Naoko did of Codename SailorV. The other characters show up as well pre-senshi.

-PGSM Special Act*****
A bit intense but turned out to be a happy ending. Why can't Sailormars and Sailorvenus ever fight together?

-Samurai Sentai Shinkenger*****
Awesome transformations and attacks!! I love that I am learning kanji and more about Japanese culture and the samurai as well. ShinkenBlue and ShinkenGold are my favorites. The Gattai combinations are awesome! Great concepts. A major twist towards the end, but an awesome ending nevertheless. They really went all out with this series even though it wasn't any special anniversary year.

-Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Movie****1/2
Shorter than a regular episode. The red jacket was explained! Horses and a big battle with thousands of Nanashi Renjyu.

-Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Returns*****
So awesome! Such a great idea to show shorts of different styles of film: jidai, western, space, Hana Kimi homage, etc but of course fitting it in with the Shinkenger world. ROFL at the cross dressing. It really showcases their acting abilities. Hilarious! Highly recommended.

-Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Special*****
ShinkenGold and Red only! Genta is quite naive, but I love him anyway.

-Samurai Sentai Shinkenger vs. Go-onger*****
Go-On Red is pretty ikemen. The concept for Go-Onger is pretty cool. 11 worlds! Bacchiido is freaky. Surprise guests towards the battle scene! I won't spoil it. Great action, combination banner and combination attacks with weapon switches for the Reds. Ryuunosuke and Genta were especially funny in this movie.

-Tensou Sentai Goseiger vs. Shinkenger: Epic on Ginmaku*****
Exciting and funny seeing the Shinkengers again. I have to consider watching Goseiger, but I already know that GoseiBlack is my favorite with Red in second place. The special appearance by the Gokaigers was awesome!!

-Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger*****
Sen-chan is my favorite. Awesome soundtrack, lots of comedy and action. So exciting!!

-Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger the Movie: Full Blast Action****
I didn't realize that these movies were so short. Another Deka to complete the ten, new combi's!

-Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger vs. Abaranger*****
So funny. Some of the older rangers are fathers. Big surprises. I love the comparative transformations and introductions, combination attacks, shuffle, and switching weapons. Super exciting!

-Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger: DekaRed vs. DekaBreak****
It's the first time I've watched this type of shorter special. More of a review and the value of teamwork!

-Mahou Sentai Magiranger vs. Dekaranger*****
It's nice to see the Dekarangers all grown up. Funny as usual. Magirangers are interesting siblings. Teamwork and awesome combination attacks.

So here's where I'll be talking mostly about Japanese movies and tanpatsu (TV specials). They are listed in alphabetical order. The little asterisks represents stars on a regular 1-5 scale. Comments follow. WARNING: Quite long.

Please see other entries for dramas, as well as Super Hero Time and stage plays.

One of my favorite movies


My Stack:
Akunin
BANDAGE
Hanamizuki
Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni
Matataki
Ningen Shikkaku
Runway Beat
Saigo no Bansan

MOVIES:

-Ahiru to Kamo no Koinrokka****1/2
Eita is cool in this movie. Big twist! Discrimination against foreigners and karma.

-Akai Ito****
Basically a recap of most of the drama but with a hanging ending.

-Akihabara@DEEP****
Nakagomi is more shocking and disturbing here. Some characters are missing. Whoa, AAA have a cameo in it with "Let It Beat". So violent and dark. Good ending.

-Aquarian Age****
Serious and suspenseful until the very end. The beginning was kind of confusing. Nice cast. I was angry with the ending, though.

-Azumi*****
Great story with lots of action, bloodshed, surprises, and an all star cast. I love watching movies with strong female leads. I was really shocked by Odagiri Jo's character, total 180 degrees from Kamen Rider Kuuga/Godai Yuusuke. Mark of a great actor.

-Azumi 2 - Death or Love*****
Continuation from the last movie with some new stars. More action, bloodshed and deaths. Typical ending for these jidai action movies.

-Battle Royale****
Of course it was bloody and disturbing, yet good.

-Battle Royale 2****
Not as good as the first. Rebel team, more survivors.

-BECK****1/2
I loved the rock music and was quite impressed by the rapping and English. Some funny parts. All star cast/band. The only things that bothered me were the ending and the interpretation of Koyuki's vocals.

-Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu****
I was surprised that it wasn't that sad! There were even some funny moments. Some shocking moments as well, a love square, and sort of a twist.

-Boku wa Imooto ni koi wo suru***
A very disturbing plotline and hanging ending. Of course MatsuJun is nice to look at but the story bothered me. I also don't think Eikura Nana is pretty.

-Brutus no Shinzo****
Robots, cheating, and murder. Suspenseful mystery.

-Catch a Wave****
Haruma's voice hadn't changed yet and he looks young. I recognized all of the main cast. Set in Hawaii, I think, with quite a bit of English!

-Chameleon****
Shocking beginning. Swindlers and lots of action.

-Check It Out, yo!!*****
Weird and funny. Cute Ichihara Hayato. Good cast and music. Great story about four friends in Okinawa.

-Chonmage Purin*****
I thought this was a good movie. I liked seeing Nishikido Ryo as a samurai and a pastry chef. The story didn't end the way I wanted, but it was still acceptable.

-Cosmic Rescue****
It held my interest and I saw a lot of familiar faces. This was when I finally figured out that I thought Go Morita was someone else in V6 the whole time. Coming Century, go!

-Crows Zero****
Lots of violence, friendship, and some funny parts. Oguri Shun did a great job as usual. Hanging ending...

-Crows Zero II*****
So many bad boys and multiple big fight scenes. Funny. Hot Haruma with awesome hair. Very good.

-Cyborg She****1/2
Koide Keisuke was very cute but a little bit perverted in this movie. The movie was funny, had amazing special effects, but of course movies having to do with the future and correcting the past always tend to confuse. A very nice love story.

-Dareka ga Watashi ni Kiss wo Shita****
Culture clash amongst the Japanese and Americans. The feel of the movie was like part American teenage movie and a regular Japanese film later on. Crazy Ken'ichi again. Yuya's English was hilarious. They must have dubbed over Maki's English. I liked the special effects with the photography though.

-Dear Doctor***
Slow and a bit boring. The ending was inconclusive.

-Death Note*****
Lots of suspense, shinigami Ryuk who looks like Michael Jackson, and Light vs. L! This is when I finally realized that Fujiwara Tatsuya was attractive.

-Death Note: The Last Name****
Multiple Kiras, unrequited love, and the final battle between geniuses Light and L. The ending shocked me but it definitely provided closure.

-Detroit Metal City*****
Hilarious and ridiculous! Good story and music. Matsuyama Ken'ichi in a weird role again but very lovable. I love his running.

-Dive!!****1/2
First time watching Hayashi Kento. Quite interesting. I liked the "Diamond Eyes" concept.

-Don't Laugh At My Romance****
Art school and lithography! Natsukashii. This was more of a serious movie because of the adultery. The ending wasn't conclusive.

-Doukyusei****
Oh, Channaka. I was reminded of Den-O by the summer triangle of Vega, Altair, and Deneb. It was funny how some famous actresses' names were listed in the acceptance list. Quite a sad story, pretty much a terminal illness movie. Channaka sings the ending song too.

-DROP****1/2
Boys are weird. Why do they have to fight? Lots of violence and some funny moments.

-Fujoshi Kanojo****
Interesting plot. Otaku are weird, especially fujoshi. Crazy women. Swallowtail!! It was cool to see Matsumoto Wakana in a different role like this, as compared to Airi-san in Den-O. Funny moments. Cute relationship.

-g@me.****
Interesting soundtrack. Imagination. Intense, very smart, BIG twist. Exciting to the very end but I wasn't satisfied with the ending.

-Gantz*****
Shocking, intense and scary due to the suspense. Pretty crazy concept. Amazing special effects. I like the mystery around the first film.

-Gantz Perfect Answer****
I wasn't pleased with the explanation nor did it answer all of my questions. It reminded me a little of the Matrix with the love story, sacrifice, and cycling.

-Ghost Train****
It wasn't as scary as I had expected from reading the summary and seeing the cover art. It had a couple of twists at the end and was a pretty intense movie. Oguri Shun did a good job playing the part of a scared yet dutiful train conductor.

-Ginmaku Ban Sushi Ouji!~New York e Iku~****
Overexaggerated and funny, outrageos. Seems kind of old. Dramatic with a Darth Vader-like villain.

-Gokusen the Movie*****
Hilarious with one big twist. A gathering of students from all four classes! Very good ending for series.

-Goemon*****
Lots of special effects and all star cast. Exciting and shocking!

-Guu-Guu Datte Neko de Aru****1/2
Good story. English and Thai in it too. The focus was on my favorite things: cats, art, and music. Quite a twist at the end.

-Halfway****
Amusing, funny, and a bit awkward. Story of a young couple's love. Inconclusive ending!

-Hana Yori Dango Final****
Good ending for the drama with some nice twists and references to the past. I saw some of the filming in Las Vegas! Ebisu Garden Place, yay! But I felt sorry for Hanazawa Rui in the end.

-Handsome Suit*****
Funny, cute and unbelievable. Yamamoto Yusuke is funny here. Great lesson learned.

-Hard Luck Hero*****
V6 and beautifully filmed! It was very entertaining. It like explained the whole story from different angles.

-Homeless Student****
Homeless by choice. Sad and poor Koike Teppei, but he has a really nice butt. He went a little crazy too. Some scenes were jumpy. A human movie teaching about gratefulness. Bad father but great friends and extended families. Good ending.

-Honey and Clover (2006)****
Slow paced but also rushed compared to a drama. Quite a few differences except for the characters and clothing. Not as depressing.

-Honokaa Boy***1/2
Sad, human movie. Cool filming techniques and development of main character, but basically a summer growing up story.

-Ikigami****
Interesting concept. I thought the movie was going to be scary but it turned out to be very sad.

-Incite Mill: 7-Day Death Game****1/2
Interesting psychology experiment on people. Paranoia. Scary and suspenseful. Twist at the end. I was impressed with the younger actresses in this movie.

-Jyuryoku Pierrot*****
A smart film that gets you thinking. Genetics are pretty interesting. I thought it was a good, serious movie. There's also a twist.

-Kaiji*****
It reminded me a bit of Liar Game but more cruel. It was super intense and crazy. MatsuKen and Fujiwara Tatsuya reunited!

-Kakushi no Toride: The Last Princess*****
MatsuJun's first jidai film. It was funny and action-packed, what more could I ask for? That's my favorite type of movie.

-Kamisama no Karute****
I must comment on Sho's horrible hairdo, but otherwise the movie is pretty interesting. Serious medical movie with strange living situation amongst the four main characters.

-Kiiroi Namida***
The story was good but a bit boring and slow. There was not nearly enough of MatsuJun. Ohno's artistic abilities were displayed, and Nino was also a manga artist.

-Kimi ni Todoke****1/2
Good concept. Haruma is adorable!! Friendship and manipulation, but typical high school romance story.

-Kimi no Yubisaki***
Short film. Quite boring.

-Kisaragi****
An idol's memorial service by random message board fanboys? I totally didn't know that's what this movie was about. Oguri Shun is a great, versatile actor. I like his gentle voice and silliness. But light-hearted fanboy fun takes a dark, mysterious turn as we discover their strange relationships to the deceased. Funny but hanging ending.

-Kisarazu Cat's Eye Nihon Series*****
The future? More friendship and hilarious antics. Romantic aspect. Some unbelievable moments. Great dance sequence during the ending credits.

-Kisarazu Cat's Eye World Series*****
Korean drama version? Some sad moments, special effects, hilarity, and unbelievable situations. Quite mysterious at the beginning.

-Koizora*****
Very interesting. Romantic and odd with great metaphors and script. Lots of shocking and sad moments. How many times did I cry and sigh for this movie?

-Kokuhaku****
After watching this, I realized that it's not always good to be a genius. And this is the scariest and worst revenge I have ever seen committed.

-Koukou Debut*****
So my kind of movie, perhaps because it's based off a shoujo manga. I love how ridiculously funny and exaggerated things are in this film. The sister was annoying but I absolutely loved Suda Masaki and Furukawa Yuki's characters and how they contrasted each other. The setting was also idyllic. I wish I could live such a life!

-Kurosagi****
Same cast, funny parts, and good swindling but the ending wasn't conclusive enough for me.

-lalapipo***
Why does Narimiya Hiroki accept such a role? Weird characters and quite disturbing. Made me quite uncomfortable.

-L: Change The World****
I learned a lot more about L and geniuses in general. I laughed out loud everytime L typed and tried to walk straight. I thought he spent those 23 days well.

-Liar Game: The Final Stage*****
Familiar faces. Plenty of surprises and intrigue. Great ending to the series.

-Lovely Complex*****
Hilarious because it is overexaggerated. Unlikely couple because of height difference. Silly anecdotes. English was a bit hard to understand. It reminds me of American teen movies but more innocent.

-Maison de Himiko***
Odagiri Joe was quite good looking in this movie but many things made me uncomfortable.

-Moon Child*****
I've never seen Gackt acting but it was surprising seeing him act childish. He also cowrote the story! Four spoken languages, lots of action and special effects, some funny parts, and an all-star cast. Conclusive ending.

-MW*****
Starts off in Thailand. Exciting, clever, and quite a bit of English. Yamamoto Yusuke!! Crazy Yuki.

-My Darling is a Foreigner****
Takadanobaba is also one of my favorite Japanese phrases! So many foreigners, even a Burmese guy! A nice, love story.

-Nana*****
Nice word play. Total polar opposites make a good friendship. Matsuyama Ken'ichi looks good as a punk too! Black Stones, punk rock band with really good music. I enjoyed all the references to the Sex Pistols and the fashion.

-Nana 2***
Some actors changed. Kyo Nobuo looks great as a punk but his role was so minor. Lots of drama and good quotes. I was upset with the ending though.

-Naoko*****
Great cast. Sports movie about running.

-Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge*****
Very cinematic with special effects, stunts, and big scenes. Intense, surprising and funny. A story about romance, friendship, loss, and a chosen warrior girl. Blonde Haruma again who sings! Ending song by GReeeeN. I couldn't ask for more.

-Nekonade***1/2
Short movie. Tora is adorable and super cute.

-Neko Ramen Taisho***1/2
Weird but funny. Famous cats make cameos, namely Tama the stationmaster. I don't know about Kurin and Karin, though.

-Nodame Cantabile Movie: Part 1****1/2
Hilarious, cute and outrageous. Mostly focused on Chiaki. I can't wait to see Part 2 and seeing more of the old cast.

-Nodame Cantabile Movie: Part 2*****
I love this series so much. It makes me laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I love the imagination sequences, and Chiaki and Nodame's relationship. Expect the usual hilarity and outrageousness. But is it really the end? I hope they continue to make more!

-Ohoku****
Fascinating concept, but I still felt that the men dominated somehow. I was very pleased with the ending, however.

-Oppai Volleyball***1/2
Not as funny as I had hoped, but not a bad movie. The concept reminded me a bit of an American teen movie, though.

-Orochi****
This movie was somewhat confusing. The main character has powers and appears to be some sort of alien. It's mainly about a family curse and the vices of women.

-Otonari****
Interesting love story with a good ending except that you can only hear them together and not see. Aso Kumiko looks like she could be Aragaki Yui's older sister. They look so much alike.

-Parade***
This movie was very dark and disturbing. Each of the characters were messed up in their own way. I was surprised at what Koide Keisuke's character did at the beginning, but I was able to predict what happened with Fujiwara Tatsuya's character at the end. This movie really did get me thinking about how our world is going to hell.

-Paradise Kiss****1/2
I really liked the filming style, clothes, all star cast, and ikemen galore. Some surprising scenes. A bit unrealistic though and strange pace.

-PIKA*NCHI Life is hard, dakedo happy****
Blonde Nino, unbelievable Sho, Jun's awful hair and perkiness, pervert and young Ohno, Aiba as the main character. Funny. English.

-PIKA*NCHI Double****1/2
Aiba sewing? Vegetarian yakiniku? Opening sequence with face mix up. Jun is a cook again, or should I say this is a prequel to Bambino! Johnny Shitsugawa. Funny. The pv at the credits was awesome; those are the guys I know and love.

-Returner (2002)****
I watched this with Chinese dubs and English subtitles but it was still good. Some futuristic action, a twist, and great actors.

-Robokon (2003)****
Oguri Shun was funny at the beginning. The pace was quite slow, but got more interesting in the second half. Definitely a movie for nerds.

-ROOKIES - Sotsugyou*****
Yamamoto Yusuke! Funny and intense, just like the drama. Conclusive ending, but I didn't cry as much as I had expected.

-Shinjuku Shounen Tantei-dan***1/2
Everyone is so young here! Not great quality nor subs. It reminds me of Goonies but more unbelievable.

-Shinobi~Heart Under Blade*****
What a good looking couple Nakama Yukie and Odagiri Joe make. Awesome visual effects, variety of powers, and very exciting story. Shocking and sad ending, though the sadness was expected.

-SP: The Motion Picture ~ Yabou Hen****
A bit confusing since it's been a while from when I watched the drama. Plenty of action though.

-SP: The Motion Picture II ~ Kakumei Hen****
I found the political talk boring but the action was great as usual. This was the final episode.

-Surely Someday****
Oguri Shun's directorial debut! I appreciated the cameos. It wasn't as focused on music as I had expected. There were action and suspense as well. I did enjoy the music, however, and the friendship of five dudes.

-Tajomaru*****
Hecka drama, betrayal, and surprises. Very good. Oguri Shun and Tanaka Kei! I should watch more jidaigeki stuff.

-Takumi-kun series: Soshite Harukaze ni Sasayaite****1/2
My first time watching Boys Love. I loved the cast and the storyline was quite interesting. I was really impressed by Kato Keisuke and Yanagishita Tomo.

-The Magic Hour****
Interesting plot and setting, with a good ending. Basically, an actor is hired to play a role without knowing that everyone else is acting out their normal lives.

-The Seaside Motel****1/2
Tamayama Tetsuji as a bad boy again, but I like it. Interesting film techniques and storyline connection. I wasn't a fan of the ending, though. The torture scenes disturbed me.

-Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo*****
Why is time traveling so sad? I liked the science and methods of time traveling used in this film. It was interesting to see Japan in the 70s as well. The biggest surprise was Matsushita Yuya's appearance in the film as well as an insert song by him "Futari".

-Tokyo Tower****
Racy tale of adultery. Okada Junichi and Matsumoto Jun's characters couldn't be any more different except that they were each having an affair with an older, married woman. Kozi was a player. The ending was conclusive, though.

-Trick the Movie*****
Cool, so many magic tricks. Good plot. Treasure is their goal.

-Trick The Movie: Psychic Battle Royale*****
Perhaps the last movie in the Trick series? I'm not sure if they will make more. Some of the psychics were ridiculous and funny. Two sad stories. I enjoyed the Edo period opening and how it was worked into the climax of the movie.

-Trick 2 The Movie*****
Crazy, funny special effects. I spotted some similarities to Gokusen. Action/adventure thrill ride.

-Ultra Miracle Love Story****
Really weird. Some funny, silly, and crazy parts. Typical Matsuyama Ken'ichi movie, I suppose?

-Virgin Snow****1/2
Three languages, good filming, pottery and painting. A love story between a Korean boy and Japanese girl. Sad moments but happy ending.

-Wangan Midnight*****
Fascinating even though it's about cars. Good music and action-packed.

-Water Boys*****
Awesome male synchronized swimming! Great concept and funny. Tamaki Hiroshi is so different in this one though from what he has done recently.

-Yatterman****
Fake stores and places. Perverted, funny, and weird. They have a weekly fighting schedule! A Japanese Indiana Jones. Musical elements. Great ending song.

-Yomei Ikkagetsu no Hanayome****
Very sad. Based on a true story. Eikura Nana did a great job.

-Yougishi X No Kenshin*****
Weird math genius vs. Physics professor! Sad ending. Unexpected explanation. They can just go on and on with Galileo but I'm guessing this is the end.

-Yume Juya***1/2
Ten night of dreams, interrelated with mostly hanging endings. One: confusing, stagehands seen. Two: silent, interesting filming techniques. Three: Scary. Four: Reminds me of the Sailormoon SuperS movie. Five: Scary, repeating. Six: Funny, anachronistic. Carving by modern dance. Seven: Cool setting, anime. Entirely in English. Eight: Images. Pet monster. 9: Weird. 10: Gross. Cute and weird Matsuyama Ken'ichi as usual. Ridiculous, shocking.

TANPATSU:

-Akihabara@DEEP SP (Secret)*****
Behind the scenes, dictionary, tour, cast interviews. Very fun to watch!

-Attention Please 2007 SP****
Hawaii, Honololu version. So funny! More English. Harada Natsuki's fake tan. Nice Hawaiian legends and romance. Ryo! No confession though, which was disappointing.

-Attention Please 2008 SP*****
Australia, Sydney version. Good English. Funny and heartwarming, just like the series. The characters really matured here. Side note: Aibu Saki's wardrobe was wonderful. No appearance by Ryo though.

-Chance! SP*****
English songs from the 70s and Ne-Yo. Actresses spoke English fairly well. Pretty funny with a good lesson, though idealized.

-Code Blue SP*****
Very exciting with a more conclusive ending than the drama. I was glad that the one boy who seemed like a failure in the drama finally proved himself here.

-Galileo SP****
I missed Utsumi! Two cases in one. Miura Haruma! The performance at the end was kind of cool.

-Gokusen SP*****
Great ending for the first season with some tear-jerking scenes.

-Gokusen 2 Reunion SP*****
Review for the main five students and the tearful graduation episode. Newer footage included cut scenes, secrets amongst the cast, and musical performances by Kame and D-51.

-Gokusen 3 SP*****
Funny and overexaggerated. New problem! Heartwarming as usual so I cried.

-Hanazakari no Kimitachi e SP*****
So funny! Of course I enjoyed Sano and Nakatsu's arguments, Nakatsu's monologues, and all the other sillyness. It was interesting to see a different side of Sano. I liked how they focused on Nakatsu but I didn't see much of Kayashima. I realized how many guys I was actually attracted to; it truly is an ikemen paradise.

-Happy! ~Namida no Sumasshu~ SP*****
Tennis with interesting cast of characters. Great ending song "Real Face #1". Aibu Saki did well.

-Happy! 2 SP****1/2
Comic recap. More drama. Hanging ending. Will there be more?

-Hidarime Tantei EYE SP****
Yokoyama Yu!! It reminds me of Bloody Monday but with powers. Big twist!

-Hitsudan Hostess*****
I was really impressed with Kitagawa Keiko's performance. It turned out to be quite a heavy special. Lots of good sayings, though, and quite inspirational.

-Ichi Rittoru no Namida SP****
Mostly a review of the most poignant scenes from the drama but it also has quite a few new clips, more than similiar review SPs of other dramas.

-Jyoou no Kyoushitsu SP*****
The retraining center and part of Maya's back story. Quite sad.

-Jyoou no Kyoushitsu SP2*****
Second half of Maya's past. Shocking and sad.

-Kindaichi Shonen no Jikembo 3 SP*****
Very good movie. I loved the twist and suspense. Suzuki Anne's character was funny. Good job, MatsuJun!

-Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo 2005 SP*****
Funny and clever. Tanaka and Nakamaru have a cameo in it. Vampires! Revenge again.

-Last Friends SP***
Mostly a review. I watched the edited version.

-Marathon SP****
Based on a true story. Nino's acting as an autistic person was really believable. Good film.

-Meitantei Conan SP 3****1/2
Although I haven't seen the first two, I thought this one was pretty interesting and cool. There were some funny moments too. I look forward to the drama, and plan to go back and watch the first two specials. But why are mysteries occurring in isolated places all the time?

-MW Dai-0-sho: Akuma no Gemu*****
Koide Keisuke! Intense and dangerous. Multiple deaths and aim for revolution. Reminded me of Zeni Geba at certain key points.

-Myu no Anyo Papa ni Ageru****
Based on a true story. How refreshing it is to watch MatsuJun again! Sad and frustrating to watch, yet a heartwarming family story.

-Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide SP****
Shocking moments that reminded me of Ryo's character from Last Friends. Lots of facts. The SP started out with the ending and was too quickly paced until it slowed down halfway.

-Ninkyo Helper SP****
Set a year later after the drama. Very sad and hanging ending. Not enough of the ikemen as I had wanted.

-Nodame Cantabile SP*****
Becky and Eiji Wentz. Good French. Now this is what I call a real SP, mostly new stuff and minimal flashbacks. More hilarity. Eita's hair is even crazier here. Funny subtitle comment at beginning of both parts. Funny ending sequence for episode 1. So over the top. Yamada Yu, grrr! Weird relationship and violence. I loved Chiaki's gameboard imagination sequence. Great ending.

-Proposal Daisakusen SP****1/2
Tada and Tsuru are both good men. Hawaii! Ken does a good job. One more trip to the past! Conclusive ending.

-Propose****
Nice stories though they made me depressed. MatsuJun with an older woman?

-Rinne no Ame****1/2
Very short special. Kakkoii Yamamoto Yusuke!! Seto Koji's acting was impressive. A story of abuse and brotherly love/responsibility. The ending did not have enough closure for me, however.

-ROOKIES SP***
Mostly a review of the series with maybe only about ten minutes of new footage. It reminds me of the Liar Game final episode in that respect. It leads up to the movie, though, which I am really excited about watching.

-Saigo no Yakusoku*****
So exciting to see all of Arashi together agai. Intense and a twist, though I caught on about halfway.

-Security Police SP***
Lots of past clips, a review which helped me understand the drama more. Inconclusive ending leading up to a movie.

-Sensei wa Erai! SP*****
Daydreaming Yuto, silly girls - even the nurse, disgruntled Daiki, and innocent Chinen. Ryosuke's character is like in his other dramas. Note the YamaPi magazine on Chinen's desk! English homeroom teacher. Shibuya fascination and funny imagination sequences. Unexpected ending though.

-Shiawase no Soup wa Ikaga****1/2
Hong Kong and Japan collaboration. Cats! Three languages: Cantonese, Japanese, and English used. Funny and moving.

-Shibatora SP*****
I had forgotten a lot about what happened in the dorama, but was quickly reminded of it all. Intense, exciting, and quite good.

-Shimane no Bengoshi SP****
Nakama Yukie played another over-the-top hard working professionalal, this time being a lawyer. This tanpatsu focused on three compelling cases, all having to do with family. The ending itself wasn't conclusive enough for me, though, and one of the cases was not closed.

-Tantei Gakuen Q SP*****
They look so young from just a year prior to the drama. Back story of exams to get into detective school: very exciting, sometimes funny, and overall very good.

-Team Batista no Eiko SP 2****
Mystery with some recaps though it was okay since it's been a while from the time I watched the drama. Pretty interesting.

-The Game 2009*****
Not sure if this fits under the category of Tanpatsu but it is a collection of short films. I thought it was awesome! This is how I first noticed Yanagisawa Takahiko and Uehara Takuya. Great collection of stories. Hilarious and ridiculous. Really cool games. Sato Takeru made me laugh everytime. I liked how the same actors played different roles for each of the shorts. Not enough of Haruma though, understandably since he was doing his stage play at the time.

-The Game 2010*****
Even better than last year's! I enjoyed the opening, Game03, and Game05 the most. Game04 was kind of scary, except for the fact that Kimi-chan doesn't scare me. The event, backstage, and making had tons of funny moments. Highly recommended.

-Trick Shinsaku SP****
Funny and ridiculous. Classic Trick themes. A bit of a sad story, though.

-Trick Shinsaku Special 2****1/2
Another sad story and scary! Kansai-ben. Big twist at the end. Oh, hateful women and their grudges.

-Wagaya no Rekishi*****
All star cast and cameos, seriously. Interesting history of their family and how it coincides with post war Showa Japan. Very compelling. I really got into it, but then again, I am into the classics and old time stuff.

-Water Boys 2005夏*****
Really inspirational and touching two part summer special. Glad to see some familiar faces again. I wish they made more Water Boys!

-Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari: 15th Anniversary Special*****
All the stories were good. The one starring MatsuJun was weird, but his character is the same type of character he usually plays.

-Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari: 2009 Fall SP****
Toma in the Law of Recycling Suicides! His hair isn't that bad. Weird, evil, scary like Battle Royale. Horrible ending, but that is usual.

-Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari: Sainoudama*****
Great story. I knew it would end with a twist, but I was quite happy with it. I enjoyed seeing Sakurai Sho with different talents.

-Yume wo Kanaeru Zo SP****1/2
Oguri Shun in another comedy. He speaks English well at the beginning. Cameo by Tsuyoshi Abe. Good tasks and lessons for success.

-Zettai Kareshi SP****
Engagement. Reset! So many robots! Control for mission. Two love stories in one. Sad ending again.

Originally a Kamen Rider meme, but I altered it to suit Super Sentai. It should work for any tokusatsu hero.

It's Super Hero Time!

Start Up!

The one that was your first:

Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger! I loved the premise and the fact that GaoRed was a veterinarian!

The one with the best theme song:
Oh man, this one is tough. I don't think I can just choose one. I love the theme songs for Gaoranger, Dekaranger and Shinkenger. Well, Psychic Lover did sing the opening theme songs for both Dekaranger and Shinkenger. If I had to choose one, then I am going to choose Gaoranger. It's just so primal. Gao, gao, Gahhhh!

The one that made you laugh the most:
Definitely, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. ShinkenBlue was just so passionate and loyal to the dono, and Genta was hilarious!! Plus, all the situations they got into... LOL! Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger is a close runner-up for that ending sequence video and all the antics with DekaRed and Blue. I also must mention the Gaoranger movie with GoGoFive. Bando made me laugh insanely.

The one that made you cry the most:
This one's tough. I'm not sure if any of them made me cry that much, but perhaps it would be Gaoranger. That ending song was so sad.

The one that surprised you:
Hmm, perhaps Dekaranger? There were 10 of them!! The ending surprised me. And I didn't expect songs like "Girls in Trouble" to be so good. Umeko always taking a bath was a surprise as well. Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger is a close runner-up for Oboro-san's antics.

The one that didn't meet your expectations:
I can't really say any of them though I guess out of the ones I have seen, GoGo Sentai Boukenger might be one of my least favorites. Go Go Dump!

The one with the best relationship:
Samurai Sentai Shinkenger for sure! I loved all the relationships in this series... between Jii and Takeru, between the dono and his vassals, between Takeru and Ryunosuke, Takeru and Genta, etc. I miss them.

The one with the best fight scenes/action:
I am going to have to go with either Gaoranger, for having the 100 beast squadron, or Hurricanger, with the special ninja moves behind the curtain for this one.

The one with the best suit design/transformation scenes:
For sure, hands down, Shinkenger. It's just so creative to have the kanji symbols on their masks and they way they transform with the shodophone. It was very exciting.

The one that you compare all the others to:
Both Gaoranger and Shinkenger, since they were my first and most recent, respectively.

I have yet to watch Gokaiger but I have heard great things! I also plan to go back and watch GoSeiger and Magiranger and perhaps more.

Got this from my aibou, who originally found it on someone else's LJ. That person originally got it from a KR community.

But can't start without featuring my favorite partners ever.

Henshin!



The one that was your first:
Den-O. It not only started the craze, it started the obsession.

The one with the best theme song:
I would say that all of the ones I've seen have had great theme songs though it took a few listens to appreciate "Journey through the Decade" and I didn't like the OOO theme song that much. But, in choosing the best, I would have to pick "Next Level" for Kabuto or "假面ライダークウガ!" It was the first Heisei Rider series and they sure kicked it off well.

The one that made you laugh the most:
Oh man, hard to say because there were so many. I know I laughed a lot for W and Den-O, but let's not forget Kiva because of the antics of my favorite crazy, Nago-san. I also laughed quite a bit for Kabuto because of Tsurugi. And I cannot forgot OOO, Ankh and Eiji were equally funny as they were serious.

The one that made you cry the most:
I always feel sad at the end of every KR series and suffer withdrawal periods, though the ending for Kiva was weird. Hands down, W. Those last episodes were just too heartwrenching. I can never get enough of the W boys!

The one that surprised you:
Depends on what kind of surprise. I am going to go with OOO because I didn't have high expectations for it watching the OOO & W movie, yet it exceeded my expectations within the first episode! That's pretty epic.

The one that didn't meet your expectations:
Decade. Poor Decade. It was cool and all, but the series itself was so short with only 31 episodes. I think that was already a bad sign. The crazy things Decade did to the previous riders with their forms... I can't diss it too much because I think I liked it more than a lot of the other fans, but it is definitely low on my list. Hibiki was even better because the story picked up towards the end.

The one with the best relationship:
W for sure! They are the best partners of all time and in the whole universe!! Nothing can compare, though I quite liked Eiji and Ankh's relationship as well. Must give a shout out to Yuuto and Deneb as well. Action Zero-2010, baby.

The one with the best fight scenes/action:
Hard to say because it is was KR is known for. I am going to have to go old school and say Kuuga. I quite liked the different forms and Odagiri Joe. They did a good job back then. I did appreciate the dance fighting in Den-O though because it was just that cool.

The one with the best suit design/transformation scenes:
This is the category where Kiva will shine. I absolutely love Emperor Form for Kiva because it's ridiculously hot ("Supernova" anyone?), and the stained glass pattern on Saga is gorgeous. Let's do some IXA-cise. Rising! I still remember how surprised I was the first time Kivat bit Wataru when he transformed. Awesome! Wake up!

The one that you compare all the others to:
Right now, it's W. I highly doubt that any series following will be able to beat W, especially not the absolute partners.