parralex0889
This review may contain spoilers
Flying across the world was worth it
Ok so first I don’t speak Japanese and the movie didn’t have subtitles. I haven’t read the novels or listened to the audio cd’s.
I came across Utsukare last year and was beyond impressed by the acting and story. So getting news of a second season and movie with a theatrical release felt very special and I decided to go to Japan for the experience.
When I made that decision, I intentionally didn’t want to read the novel or synopsis until after seeing s2 and the movie because I came into the world of Utsukare based on the show/visual medium and I wanted to continue my journey unspoiled without overly knowing the written material.
So opening night, I get some merch, get a ginger ale, and sit and let the movie show me a story.
Absolutely true a lot of the nuance and context of what was happening was beyond me.
Here is my tumblr recap - https://www.tumblr.com/anotherblblog/713949084636119040/ok-so-i-came-to-japan-to-watch-utsukushii-kare
Some are taking criticism at my recap because I don’t speak Japanese.
I went to Japan to watch this on the big screen because I wanted to see Utsukare big and bright and I got that experience.
With 2 seasons of HiraKiyo, I felt the movie picked up and continued their relationship well. Hira is more direct and involved and even with his insecurities still is there for Kiyoi and not yearning in place beneath him.
The mentors are really solid in their lives. The music is mostly new but with some familiar elements.
What I wanted for this experience was for it to feel like a movie. Big cinematic set pieces but I didn’t wanna lose the feeling of Utsukare.
I think the movie delivered on both.
The movie took set pieces and vignettes from the television series - HiraKiyo sleeping together and elevated it for the big screen. More tulle. Longer runtime. More heat. There are 2 high heat scenes and a handful of domestic fondness. They’re a couple. They feel like a couple. When they look at each other. When they touch. And it’s continuing a lot of the emotional tension in season 2 with Kiyoi wanting more. And Hira gives it to him. And Hira even gives it to him in a bathtub.
Where in season 1 Hira ran alone through the school a lot, in the movie he runs leading Kiyoi through a slo-mo cinematic fantasy run through the school but also through their past that they didn’t quite have in season 1. But seeing them again in their full school uniform and their casual wear felt real for me because it felt real for them.
The 10 episodes of seasons 1 and 2 led to this experience and I was very happy to have seen it, now three times.
I will love going back with subtitles and seeing how it’s translated for the international audience. But I’m content and impressed by what I’ve seen.
10/10.
I came across Utsukare last year and was beyond impressed by the acting and story. So getting news of a second season and movie with a theatrical release felt very special and I decided to go to Japan for the experience.
When I made that decision, I intentionally didn’t want to read the novel or synopsis until after seeing s2 and the movie because I came into the world of Utsukare based on the show/visual medium and I wanted to continue my journey unspoiled without overly knowing the written material.
So opening night, I get some merch, get a ginger ale, and sit and let the movie show me a story.
Absolutely true a lot of the nuance and context of what was happening was beyond me.
Here is my tumblr recap - https://www.tumblr.com/anotherblblog/713949084636119040/ok-so-i-came-to-japan-to-watch-utsukushii-kare
Some are taking criticism at my recap because I don’t speak Japanese.
I went to Japan to watch this on the big screen because I wanted to see Utsukare big and bright and I got that experience.
With 2 seasons of HiraKiyo, I felt the movie picked up and continued their relationship well. Hira is more direct and involved and even with his insecurities still is there for Kiyoi and not yearning in place beneath him.
The mentors are really solid in their lives. The music is mostly new but with some familiar elements.
What I wanted for this experience was for it to feel like a movie. Big cinematic set pieces but I didn’t wanna lose the feeling of Utsukare.
I think the movie delivered on both.
The movie took set pieces and vignettes from the television series - HiraKiyo sleeping together and elevated it for the big screen. More tulle. Longer runtime. More heat. There are 2 high heat scenes and a handful of domestic fondness. They’re a couple. They feel like a couple. When they look at each other. When they touch. And it’s continuing a lot of the emotional tension in season 2 with Kiyoi wanting more. And Hira gives it to him. And Hira even gives it to him in a bathtub.
Where in season 1 Hira ran alone through the school a lot, in the movie he runs leading Kiyoi through a slo-mo cinematic fantasy run through the school but also through their past that they didn’t quite have in season 1. But seeing them again in their full school uniform and their casual wear felt real for me because it felt real for them.
The 10 episodes of seasons 1 and 2 led to this experience and I was very happy to have seen it, now three times.
I will love going back with subtitles and seeing how it’s translated for the international audience. But I’m content and impressed by what I’ve seen.
10/10.
Was this review helpful to you?
