Movies
A Cheerful Gang Turns the Earth
Tetsu Maeda's first feature film is a pleasant one. The setup is simple enough, but the mystery elements are fun, the cast does a fine job and the presentation is proper. It's a competent little drama with just the right amount of quirky details to make it stand out from its peers. And those are plentiful. With Kinoshita in the lead and Miyazaki and Mari in supporting roles, the cast doesn't disappoint. The random crime adds enough intrigue and the aftermath provides the right amount of drama, even though the film remains relatively light throughout. The brisk pacing and short runtime seal the deal. Good fun.Read all
Sweet but somewhat overly constructed coming of age drama. While there's plenty to like here, Maeda's drama is hardly original and the story about a comatose boy waking up after 12 years feels a little tacked on. The acting is fine and there are some stand-out scenes, but overall it's little more than solid filler for genre fans.
A cute but somewhat limited fantasy film that gets a bit too family-friendly in the second half. It's just a basic romance with a fun fantasy touch, there are some funny ideas scattered throughout, but considering similar films that were released around that time it feels a tad too flimsy to stand out. Miyazaki is always pleasant, and she's perfect for these types of roles. There are some funny side characters and the mood is light from start to finish (even when there is some drama to wade through). A bit more attention to the presentation and a slightly edgier approach could've made this into a real gem, but alas.Read all