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We all need more Kuno Totono in our lives
Another completely biased review from me to youI love this character, and the way Suda Masaki plays him. I have a thing for quirky characters and Totono is one of my favorites.
First of all, not enough Garo. It was nice to see a little bit of Garo in the beginning but that just leaves me wanting more!
There's not enough Totono spouting theories in this. That's one of the things I love about this character is the way he talks and talks and talks until he drives the villains/bad guys/antagonists crazy! (I knew I loved the character from the first bit of the series when he is being questioned by the police and just tears apart their reason for suspecting him. I laughed so hard when I saw that the first time, and still laugh when I rewatch! 'Maybe it was a twin who was separated from me at birth...Do you have a twin that was separated from you at birth?...I don't' The delivery from all in the scene was perfection!)
And there's not enough of the majestic King Gnu that played all the time in the series, except finally in the last couple of minutes. Damn I miss that! Yep, too much silence in some scenes, they need the music more.
Nanoka Hara was adorable and I love how the resolution of the story went.
I loved seeing Furomitsu Seiko, Ikemoto Yuto, and Aoto Nariaki, even if it was just in the last 3 minutes of the movie! And my heart is full, got to end the movie with Garo. What a smile. Where the hell is Season 2???
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Way too predictable mystery, same flaws as the series but beautiful context + location
The story is centred around a singular mystery and I appreciate the fact that there was enough content in terms of plot for a full length movie. I also really enjoyed the context and location in which the characters are evolving.However, I anticipated all the revelations of the scenario, nothing came as a surprise and the resolution of the mystery was super expected from the get go, which tempered heavily my enjoyment of the story. I found the teaching moments provided by the main character interesting in their content but it was too heavily given without any subtlety, for me to really resonate with it.
Acting was okay for the main roles but with some really weak points for some of the support parts. I also regret to have seen almost no Garo, as it is the interactions of this character with the hero Totono that were the best part of the drama to me: it was totally lacking here. I am super happy to have found back Hagiwara Riku in a support role and I am curious to see more of Hara Nanoka as well.
Soundtrack was okay, with the generic song that I like from the drama, very slice of life in a way and less overpowering than in the main series. Production was very good with some beautiful landscapes.
I would recommend this to people that loved the drama Don't call it Mystery. The qualities and flaws are consistent between both series and film. Therefore, if you enjoyed the drama, you will likely enjoy the movie as well. On the contrary, if like myself you had already lukewarm feelings for the drama, the film will definitely not change your mind.
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A long episode of the drama
Note:- I have read the manga volumes of the story the movie is based on. Hence my opinions will likely be skewed.
Likes:
- Feels like an extra long episode of the show. If you like the show, you will probably like this.
- High concentration of Totonou's appearance
- It is a very self-contained movie. It does not require audience to recall minor plot points of the drama while distinctly understood it itself is also an extension, leaving season 2 as a likely possibility.
Dislikes:
- Similarly while I do like it being self-contained, I also found myself wanting to see the continuation of the main series. though I am certainly someone waiting for a season 2.
- Certain acting can be slightly awkward.
- The movie cut out certain plot points from the original story, which I think would have helped to land the ending better.
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The usual Totono Kuno
I LOVED IT !!!! Normally I don't enjoy the drama movies as much as the original work, but this was really good! Some may say it is predictable but you know what? Movies that allow you to guess are fun, I don't really care because for me it's about the storytelling, about how you convey the story and turn it into something splendid. This movie did it for me, and I can't wait to see more of Kuno's world, they better give it to us. Now whether it is better than the drama, in my opinion the movie managed to stay consistent, two well deserved hours for a new case, following Kuno's usual way of resolving things and well, being as he is. Good acting and a good story so I do recommend it.If you haven't watched it, there's mentions of rape, violence and murder.
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just as good as the drama, if not better
Just watched the Mystery Iunakare movie!! I honestly really loved it. A lot of twists and macguffins so I was a bit overwhelmed at times, but wow the story was so fun and engaging as usual if not better. a movie's running time really lets the story breathe, even tho there was a lot of plot points they went thru, which was obvious at times.Totonou continues to be adorable as always.... the underwear scene had me dying! it was a really dark story at times, but his basic kindness, feminism and sheer comedy really added to the fun. I loved how be comes ultra prepared for every trip, even scenarios such as falling into rivers on trips... And guess what happens ?
this was a really stacked cast. there was a lil bit of overacting, especially on the part of the lady who played Shiori, but it made sense for her character tbf. but wow Machi, Eita, Shibasaki-san... nice to see y'all here.
I was also like, the music slaps but it also sounds familiar... Turns it out was by Ken Hirai, who made the made the amazing OST for Todome, his work always slap.
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Curly hair mystery
As much as I was glad to watch Totono again, this film is a slight disappointment since it is missing everything that made the drama such an unmissable watch: Goro, curry and police! Well Goro does show up for 30sec at the beginning and the police are the extras in the last scene.... Still, definitely not enough! And the film is worse for it!Totono is in Hiroshima (there is history there but we are not let on it! Yet!) and is dragged into a family inheritance mystery. Well, the mystery is unfortunately very predictable and the culprit is obvious the moment he shows up. Totono does his Sherlock Holmes thingy and the culprit is caught red handed and turned over to justice. THE END
The story behind the mystery involving "demons" and curly hair was quite interesting: showing the lengths the people are willing to go in order to gain and to keep the wealth over generations. There is another issue connected to the previous one and it concerns how the adults treat children who are, according to Totono like "wet cement": getting information from kids is like writing on wet cement, once it is dry, the marks remain and the kids are scarred for life! The young girl, who pulls Totono into this mess is an example of such damage having been done to.
Totono actually made this worth watching: with his quirks, his scarf and his dead pan revelations deliveries! I was also happy to see Machida Keita (Cherry Moon) being his understated extremely charming self and Higawara Riku (Utsukushii Kare) being a weirdly explosive self.
As usual I find the background music (classical) out of place in this film, just as much as I disliked it in the drama. The songs are nice but why do japanese like using western classical music so much?
Overall, it is a watchable film, well produced and acted but poorly constructed plot of the mystery. I'd recommend it only for th e die hard fans of Totono.
And finally, I would like to thank the Machida Keita fan who brough this to us with some amazing subs! Thank you so much!
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