I blame the format: Honey And Clover live movie

(tags movie, live-action, anime, review, spoiler)

I went to the cinema to watch Honey and Clover (ハチミツとクローバ) "live-action" movie that opened two weeks ago. No coupon, full price 1800 yen. No popcorn. Surrounded by high school and college girls. No loner guys like myself, ick.

All of the essential Honey and Clover themes and scenes are here, but there seems less of a camaraderie between the guys, which I blame on the 2 hour movie format. They don't look like they do stuff together. Sure the trust is there (go ahead and drive my car), but the face time between the guys was absent.

I was not satisfied with this movie because I kept on comparing it to the season one of the anime. The movie is purely the anime rehashed with no resolution!?! Can't these actors act?!? Hagu gave me the impression that she was an idiot-savant because she doesn't speak, but when she opens her mouth, the whole sweet girl image breaks up for some reason. Not as bad as Lina Lamont, though. What they were producing in art school wasn't art on a canvas, just people slapping paint around, though I have no sense about "art" so what do I know?

At least they tapped the talents of music groups Spitz (スピッツ) and Suga Shikao (スガシカオ), who were also present in the season one anime. Their songs really fulfill the atmosphere. Thankfully there's no Yuki or The Band Has No Name, ugh, grating. But I was disappointed because Suneohair (スネオヘアー) wasn't invited at all. Come on, that ending song was really grand! Lastly, Yoko Kanno (菅野よう子), that multi-talented multi-format often-anime composer, lends her hand with the soundtrack, ho hum.

I bought the clear files and the pamplet to get just a bit more background. I can't believe Ryo Kase (加瀬亮) acting out Mayama was born in 1974 (playing a college senior!!, isn't he 10 years too old for the role?) Rika-san's actress, Naomi Nishida (西田尚美), was born in 1972! Well, I don't know any of these actors, anyway. The last thing I learned from the pamphlet was that season two of the anime (Honey and Clover II) is only going to be on 4 DVDs (12 or 13 eps?)! Yeah hurray my wallet!

Sure, watch the movie if you want the quick summary. But for the real magic (like spinning clovers and spinning ferris wheels and spinning bike wheels), stick with the anime. Thumbs up.