Everytime "Stressman" came on, it was usally to a dramatic classical tune called "Dance of the knights." In the UK, that song is also used as the theme for The Apprentice. Now Stressmen (and his ennunciation) is one of the funniest things about Nodame. So whenever he talked, or the music came on, I kept picturing Sir Alan Sugar (UK's version of Donald Trump) in Stressman's place. Because they're both old and grey see :) And ROFLing like crazy!
Hiroshi Tamaki was another big factor. He looks like the no-nonense type of guy, used to the more exclusive part of life. So whenever he stepped out the "norm" (quite a lot) by pulling exagerated facial expressions, I just loved it! He's amazing at rolling his eyes back ftw
Also Hiroshi's character is unable to leave Japan for the majority of the series, because of a childhood fear of planes. The one he was flying on as a kid took an emergency landing, and it traumatised him for life. The flashback (same one everytime) is pretty hilarious, and the reason is too...until you realize that plane ride has a more significant meaning to him than an emergency landing later on.
Nodame is pretty crazy too. Hands down, she's the craziest. But I'm glad in all that crazy, she doesn't become a magnetic leech so many female leads are demoted to these days. Ok...so she does follow him around a fair bit...but she's not afraid to part ways from him either
*winkwink*
A scene at the very end is soooo cute! I'm not telling you which one it is (you'll know when you come to it) and I replayed it twice.
On the whole I would recommend watching it, if you like crazy/slapstick humour. I, myself, only reached the end because the internet had so many glowing reviews about it. But I don't regret watching it! And I'm now in a position to go and watch the 2 sequels and know the entire back story :) For what it's worth- the movies come even more highly recommended!
Watch it for Hiroshi. Watch it for Stressman. And just for plain silliness :)
OH...and how could I forget the 10/10 music? Seriously. Like the other guys said...it opens up your eyes/ears to classical music and appreciate it in a whole other dimension. And I rarely mark music 10/10!
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This was my first Ueno Juri experience and she was great as Nodame! She was funny, expressive in her emotions when needed and just an amazing actress in this. Tamaki Hiroshi as Chiaki was so good! He was the stuck up music man at first but he morphs into this character that you soon learn to love, even his prickly self. And let's not forget Koide Keisuke as Masumi! His constant antics to bloke everyone from his love, Chiaki was hysterical! Every time he is on the screen, you laugh, laugh laugh.
I have to applaud the writer and director for making this the first drama I've ever watched where the ending had NO FAULTS! NONE! I'll never forget the scenes when Chiaki meets the family. I'm still chuckling over those scenes! And boy, these two have some serious chemistry! Who else can make a back hug SO ADORABLE! 10's? I'd give this 20's for the music alone! Excellent drama! EXCELLENT!!
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I really appreciated how the dramas conflict wasn't based on "good" vs "evil", but was an intrinsic battle that Chiaki himself had to overcome. Chiaki isn't just critical of those around him, but he's also highly critical himself which prevents him from being able to form valuable relationships with people and thus understand music better. Nodame is the person that challenges this struggle of Chiaki's and helps him - unbeknowst to him - to discover a vast capacity to love people (as well as to overcome his fear of flying). Here we have a mistmatched pair who are able to understand each other and help the other to grow.
The romance might not be in your face, but the subtlety is a thousands times more touching. The way Chiaki is so deeply affected by what Nodame says, does and plays shows that a beautiful sort of love his forming. He might not realise how he feels, but the audience is able to clearly ascertain that there's more to his feelings than a massive appreciation for how Nodame plays the piano.
Speaking of subtlety, I really love how character development is portrayed in NC: its poignant, subtle, and unexpected. It is isn't simply expressed through words, but through actions and - most importantly - through music. Music is a vital part of our lives. It is the one thing that is able touch people's hearts and bring people from all walks of live together. 'Nodame Cantabile' is able to capture the profound affect that music has on its characters lives as we see a character letting go of all of their inhibitons and becoming one with the music. This is most prominent with Chiaki - the tension in his shoulders seems to disspitate when he lets himself become one with the music and his orchestra during the last episode. He's relaxed, free and loving every minute of what he's doing. Being able to portray all of that without words takes both great directing and great acting.
Most people talk about Ueno Juri's portrayal of Nodame when NC is mentioned, but I think that Tamaki Hiroshi is the real star of the show. His performance of Chiaki is so sensitive that I can feel Chiaki growing up and learning how to love more vividly through the way he plays with intonation, his eye expressions, the way his body moves with passion whilst conducting and the small smile that plays around the corners of his mouth. The connection Tamaki Hiroshi has with Chiaki's character is so compelling, I really can't imagine anyone else playing Chiaki. I look forward to watching more of Tamaki's work.
For one to fully enjoy 'Nodame Cantabile' one has to overlook the slightly too anime-like execution of this drama. The humour is what prevents the story from gaining that perfect 10 - it offsets the tone of the drama due to its overly whacky and slapstick nature. I guess its part of the dramas charm, but I would have personally preferred it in smaller doses. The most aggravating part of the humour was the violent tendencies that Chiaki had towards; punching and throwing really ain't cute, and it did leave a bad taste in mouth.
All in all, 'Nodame Cantabile' has become a firm a favourite. It's beautiful, poignant and charming, and despite its silliness it manages to convey a touching message about love and music. The finale will leave you swelling the absolute grandure of Beethoven's Symphony No.7 as well as the overwhelming amount of emotion that managed to be conveyed through barely any dialogoue in the last 15 minutes. It's definitely one to watch and should not be skipped!
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The story is great. It is extremely funny, I laughed a lot watching and it also has it's dramatic moments. The characters are fantastic. Nodame is so eccentric, but she's also lovable. The story and the characters develop brilliantly, and it was also more original than I expected.
The acting may be a bit exaggerated, but it fits the tone of the drama and the story perfectly. Ueno Juri is PERFECT as Nodame, I don't think anyoine will ever play her as well as Ueno. Takenaka Naoto was AMAZING, I laughed every single time he appeared. Koide Keisuke also surprised me. I had seen him in ''N no Tame ni'', and I still can't believe it's the same person.
The music is no doubt the best aspect of this drama. I've never really listened to classical music, but I think I've become a fan thanks to this drama.
To sum up, Nodame Cantabile is a very fun and entertaining drama, with a great story, great acting, and a fantastic soundtrack.
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While Chiaki had some signs of abusive behaviour, he managed to show character growth as the drama progressed, and I couldn't help but think that if it weren't for him (and the actor), this drama would've definitely not be as acclaimed. Nodame, however... eh...
I would say that her perspective of the planet Earth rotates around Chiaki and his dreams. Nodame doesn't seem to have goals (unless you count snagging Chiaki as one), motivations (other than Chiaki), and thoughts of her own (excluding worries concerning Chiaki's problems). Her mental and sentimental state also depends on whether Chiaki is content and around her. And even though the actress succeeds at not making this character /so/ annoying, I would've liked to see Nodame actually have a storyline.
In conclusion, if you're a looking for a drama with a strong female lead and serious (as in, not exaggeratedly wacky) acting... this drama is not for you. But if you're in the mood for an easy-going, drama-free story about achieving your dreams (and can tolerate a clingy female lead), I recommend it.
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the story: its about 2 opposites meeting and supporting each other and making it big..the rich perfect boy and poor unsophisticated girl..a tragedy in the past..yes yes it goes down that road..what makes it worth watching? what makes it different from other music related movies?..its probably that the variety of the cast is quiet entertaining and there is never a dull moment..the actress insists on being herself no matter how much she is criticizer..its a feel-good movies on the whole..as for me i COULD NOT stand the actress! she got on my every nerve! i stopped it and started watching it...i needed a long time before i could stand her again..the sad thing is i LOVED the rest of the cast they were perfect it their roles!! but a lot of people loved her so maybe its a personal taste..i suggest..watch the first episode for a few min..if u think u can stand or even like the actress..go ahead watch the rest of the drama..u will probably love it..but if in the first few min u cant stand her..stop watching the show..before ur curiosity for the story takes over..otherwise u will be really really frustrated!
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it's most often billed as a "romantic comedey" which does the show a great diservice. they should just call it a comedey and leave it at that since the "romance" is practically non existant, a total of maybe 5 minutes out of ten hours are overtly "romantic" with both parties participating. i personally found nodame's "silly girl with a silly crush" far more amusing than it was romantic.
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Nodame is the perfect drama
A comedy about music, friendship, and relationship (not just romance but also that of mentors and mentees). Couldn't have imagined a better fit for the roles. It's not my first Japanese drama but is the drama to keep me going (I wanted to quit Jdrama years back after Hana Yori Dango, lol) When I'm down, I rewatch it. When I'm happy, I rewatch it. But what's remarkable about it, 14 years after my first watch, is the youthful energy that's still resonating with me even after those college years. Full of life, and joy, and hope for the future, there's no cliche lecturing, no relationship drama, just a bunch of young people and their pursuit of music.Was this review helpful to you?
The story is very good and even though the formula of "quirky girl meets serious boy", the key in the success of that kind of storyline is in the characters themselves. Nodame isn't just a "quirky girl", she's an extremely likeable character, with fears and worries and reasons to be as she is, a girl who likes music as an expression. Chiaki is an over-achiever, who tends to push others in the same way he pushes himself, but who has anxieties and worries that, even if sometimes played for fun, end up being a serious obstacle in his life. The performances of Ueno Juri and Tamaki Hiroshi are superb and succeed in the very difficult task of making animated characters just as relatable in drama form.
Without talking about story-line elements, the change of format from manga/anime to drama has some things that could not translate as well. The violence-driven comedy that is taken not at all seriously in animated form is a bit more difficult to pass in live action, at least to me, especially knowing a past of violence is involved in the storyline at one point. Still, I suppose it's a risk they had to take.
Music in this drama is superb. Music is the heart and soul of this story and this drama respects it faithfully; if you like classical music, this drama is a must.
All in all, I really loved this drama and I understand why it's regarded as a classic (pun intended) even if it hasn't yet been 10 years from its original release.
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