Boku dake ga Inai Machi (2017)

[WARNING: the rating and review I give have the possibility to be subjective due to my preference for the genres, scenes or casts]

I love this series more and more and more than the movie. The series have more detail than the movie (of course!). It makes the series have more emotion to feel and more information to digest. But! It cannot be denied that this series provide a better ending. This is the kind of ending I want right from when I watch the movie (^_^)

As for the acting, Furukawa Yuki’s acting was good, but if we compared it with Fujiwara Tatsuya, he still have a lot of work to do (^_^) But it’s okay, he still have many times ahead to improve (^_^)

Leggi di Più

So I've seen the anime, read half of the manga, and now watched the live action. In comparison, having not finished the manga, I'm believe it or not, unsatisfied with how this ended. I just can't suspend my beliefs and come to the conclusion that how things played out was a natural thing. It felt scripted. Hopefully the manga is better. Acting was great, everyone was well casted. My favorite part of this series is the kayo stuff and they did a fantastic job on those sequences. I was a little upset that the scene where kayo cries over breakfast in the anime, didn't appear in the show. That was my favorite scene. Definitely give it a watch if you liked the anime. It's worth it to see the ending as it was apparently supposed to be as.

Leggi di Più

I'm really not into time travel shows but I really enjoyed the first few episodes of this series.

The show is a solid ten in the beginning. The younger timeline is much more impactful than the adult timeline and it matched more closely with the anime, which I recently watched. The last 5 episodes were a complete let down but I have read that the ending of this series is more like the manga. I prefer the anime ending for sure. I plan on reading the manga in a few weeks.

The young cast is phenomenal especially, Uchikawa Reo as Satoru. He carries the show. Surprisingly, this is the last show he's been in. I also loved the actress Kurotani Tomoka, she played his mother. You know I love a great mother son combo.

3/5/23

Leggi di Più

Well that was a ride! This is a really binge-worthy story, and that's exactly what I did.

Story: Super fun and intriguing. I liked the idea of Satoru not being able to time travel of his own volition but instead being forced back. However, I felt like the story was lacking in certain areas. While the suspense was incredible, the killer was (pretty) predictable. It took me longer than I would have liked to admit to suss them out, but I did figure it out before the big reveal. However, the show is still super fun to watch past that. My other issue was in the treatment of the children's friendships with each other. At times they would feel incredibly close, and at other times I would forget that some of them were even friends with each other or even existed. I was also so invested in Kayo that I wanted more from her story, which made the resulting scenes fall a little flat for me.

Acting/Cast: So good! The kids in the past especially were phenomenal--those were my favorite parts to watch! There are bits of the show where the acting lacks, but only a little bit.

Music: I didn't really notice it, to be honest, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I was always entranced in the episodes, so that means that they were playing all the right songs! So I'd say it was average, nothing too note-worthy.

Rewatch Value: Gonna have to rate this low as half the fun is unraveling the mystery along with Satoru.

TL;DR: A suspenseful, entertaining show with a unique twist on time traveling. If you like mysteries, you'd love this one!

Leggi di Più

Incredible and Enjoyable Series With Plenty of Thrills and Suspense!

I have only been getting into Asian TV shows for about three months now. Some have been good, some have been so-so, and a few have been fantastic! This is one of those "fantastic" shows that's up there with "Good Morning Call" for me. In fact, this one may even surpass that one.

"Erased" is based on a manga series about a young man who is a manga artist and has the ability to go back in time. When this happens, Saturo calls it a "Revival" in which he looks for something that is wrong/about to happen. He then does his best to prevent/change the tragedy from occurring.

After the brutal murder of his mother, he finds himself sent back to his childhood days. He realizes that he has the chance to save, not only his mother's life, but the lives of several children who have been targeted by a sadistic killer.

The story is expertly crafted to provide enough suspense and suspects to keep you guessing who the real killer may be. It also very deftly handles the beautiful relationships that Saturo forms with several of his classmates, but with Kayo, in particular. In a previous timeline, she is a victim of the killer, and Saturo is determined to befriend her and save her life if he can.

This is a series that I binge-watched over the course of just a few days. Every episode kept me wanting more. And after it was over, I realized that there was really nothing wrong with the series. The performances were fantastic, from the child actors to the adults.

It also had enough touching and heartfelt moments to balance the mystery, suspense, and darkness of a serial killer.

I have not read the manga series, but I'm certainly glad that Netflix added this incredible series to their list of quality programs. My only regret is that the series ended. I wanted more. Guess that means I'll have to watch it again!

*Since I wrote this review a couple of years ago, I've already rewatched this great series!

Leggi di Più

Half way through the first episode and I am starting to have deja vu feelings. Have I watched this one before? Yes, this one is the live action of the anime, probably the manga too (?), erased. And it does follow the anime plot wise, up to a certain point at least. One thing I have to comment about this drama was the ability of the leading actor to look older at times and like a teenager in other scenes. That gave a good time progress for the story. Also, the kid actors and actresses were extremely good! When it comes to the story, it is a mystery-fantasy plot with great performances and a gripping mystery.

Leggi di Più

Step into a Time-Traveling Thriller: The Live-Action Adaptation of ‘Erased’

The live-action adaptation of “Erased” is a captivating and emotionally charged ride that successfully brings the beloved manga and anime to life. This Japanese drama follows the story of Satoru Fujinuma (portrayed by Tatsuya Fujiwara), a struggling manga artist who possesses the ability to travel back in time to prevent tragic events. With his powers, Satoru tries to solve a series of child kidnappings from his past while evading danger in the present.

One of the standout aspects of the live-action adaptation is its faithfulness to the source material. The direction and production capture the essence of “Erased” beautifully, staying true to the intriguing storyline, complex characters, and emotional depth of the original work. The pacing is tight, keeping viewers hooked with its suspenseful twists and turns.

Tatsuya Fujiwara delivers a commendable performance as Satoru, effectively portraying the character’s vulnerability, determination, and growth throughout the series. The supporting cast also shines, adding depth and authenticity to the story.

Visually, “Erased” is stunning, with impressive cinematography that captures both the nostalgic atmosphere of the past and the intensity of the present. The production design flawlessly recreates the settings, enhancing the immersion into Satoru’s world.

Furthermore, the live-action adaptation manages to maintain the introspective and thought-provoking themes of the original work. It explores topics such as regret, redemption, and the significance of human connections, leaving viewers contemplating the complexities of life and the value of second chances.

Overall, the live-action adaptation of “Erased” successfully captures the essence and spirit of its source material. With its compelling storyline, strong performances, and viscerally engaging visuals, this Japanese drama is a must-watch for fans of the original manga or anime, as well as those seeking an enthralling and emotionally charged viewing experience.

Leggi di Più

Boku dake ga Inai Machi aka Erased is a fantastic story.  I adored the anime (not a manga reader) and this live action adaptation is equally as entertaining.  Satoru Fujinuma is your basic loner.  He pretty much disconnects from everyone around him and yet he wants to be a manga author. He has a secret power he calls Revival that allows him to relive a life threatening moment and stop it.  During a visit from his mother he is reminded of incidents that happened in his hometown. Incidents that come to the present and cause the death of his mother. Satoru's Revival sends him back, but instead of it being a moment in time, it sends him back to 1988 when he was in 5th grade.  It's up to young Satoru and his trusted friends to stop a serial killer.

This adaptation is well done.  The 30 minute episodes are intriguing and lend to the urgency Satoru feels as he attempts to save his friends.  The production value for this drama was set high.  Perhaps it was because of the popularity of the manga, anime, and full length movie.  This leads me to the wonderful cast.  The adult leads and supports were very good, and the child actors equally so (perhaps better), especially Reo Uchikaawa (young Satoru).  They also did a great job matching the actors.  It wasn't a stretch to believe that kid grew to look like that adult.  Side note: How good looking is Jin Shirasu?  The photo on here does him 0 justice.  

The music was good. It wasn't overpowering nor was it annoying.  Music placement or lack thereof is something the Japanese  excel at.  I can't stand music videos in the middle of show. If you love them, then you will be disappointed.   My rewatch disclaimer: I don't re-watch drama.  It's rare.  I would easily say yesto re-watching Boku Inai, which is why my rewatch value is high.  

Fantastic drama. Period.  Great writing.  Great cast.  High production value. Never boring.  WATCH THE ANIME! ;)

Leggi di Più

I never watched the anime nor did I read the manga, so I don't know if the story is faithful to the original one. But I know one thing: this drama was one of the most entertaining and thrilling japanese production I ever watched.

The story was really well-written: half way through the show, we already know who is the villain, but it doesn't matter, the writing of the characters keep us addicted. You want proofs? I watched the entire drama in a day, I didn't want to stop, even to eat properly. Some of you may be scared by the time travel since this genre is often considered repetitive but honestly, I watched it without getting bored once! More, if I had the misfortune to look at my phone, I was lost and couldn't understand anything. This drama is really interesting.

Let's talk a bit about this cast! I had seen a bit of Furukawa Yuki here and there and I knew what to expect: he greatly did his job but he's not the one that immensely impressed me. Please, the children are so talented. Some of their scene left me breathless, they have this energy that most actors lose when growing up. The moments in the past were really emotionaly intense, these young actors are so talented. (actually, if you like Stranger Things, you are going to love this: the children give similar vibes in both.)

Watching a Netflix japanese original production is most of the time a good pick. It means a good script, lots of money and a quality cast. More, this drama was eagerly expected because of the manga it's from. Sure thing, it was going to be good on a lots of levels from the beginning. And in the end, it was good on all and every levels.

I'll probably watch it again in a few months, because knowing the story doesn't waste the experience.

Just watch it already!

Leggi di Più