In Japanese with Chinese & English subtitles
Genre: Sci-Fi
Director: Masaaki Taniguchi
Cast: Riisa Naka, Akiyoshi Nakao, Narumi Yasuda, Masanobu Katsumura, Kanji Ishimaru
RunTime: 2 hrs 2 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.tokikake.jp

Opening Day: 16 December 2010

Synopsis:

The latest remake of the epoch-making novel, after 40 years of its original publication, starring rising star Riisa Naka and directed by Maasaki Taniguchi

When Kazuko is left comatose after a car accident, her daughter, Akari is determined to time-leap to the 1970s, with the help of Kazuoka’s formula of time travel, to search for Kazuo, whom Akari believe will help Kazuoka regain her consciousness. In her quest to find Kazuo, Akari befriends Ryota and love blossoms, despite the fact that she must return to the future…

Movie Review:

It must really seem enticing to adapt this epoch-making novel into a live-action movie. However, there is a need to warn those who are major fans of the animation to back off this one, lest you get disappointed. After all, this is only the feature film debut of director Masaaki Taniguchi.

Remember the winning formulae behind many of the melodramatic movies from Japan? Yes, pretty faces and the rising stars with overwhelming popularity. Even this was lacking for this film. Undoubtedly, Riisa Naka (Akari) was quite a dear to look at, but her pretty looks cannot compensate for her amateur level acting. Likewise, although Akiyoshi Nakao (Ryota) became a little more well known through ROOKIES, the cast was just not attractive enough, neither did they value add the film in any sense.

As we delve deeper into the narrative of the story, be bewildered – but not in the most positive aspect. The storyline, in very simplistic terms, is pretty lame. A girl’s mother hands her a ‘magic potion’ and allows her to teleport herself back in time. Girl seeks for the man as instructed by her mother, accomplishes her task but had a heart tug. All these seem pretty decent. Yes, if only these were well developed. From the first minute till the end, you just won’t get how the sparks even fly, of what utmost importance was the man to the mother, et cetera. It simply lacks brilliance as compared to the animation adaptation. This is a probable reason why it did not achieve outstanding box ticket office sales back in Japan.

Is it all that bad? Of course not! Truly, one can admire how much effort the crew has expended setting up with the appropriate props, following the fashion trend then, in order to teleport us back to the 70s for the through the cinematic experience. You get this really nostalgic feeling, even though you are caught in a time space where you do not belong. Moreover, watching how the people played with the kind of bare equipments and movie set back in the 70s makes you tickle, and appreciate the current cinematographic technology we have access to now.

Overall, the experience can be summed up with one word: plain. There were too little surprise elements, nor were there enough entertaining scenes. Even making use of music to accentuate the mood was minimal. There was no peak, no valley, just a plain little plateau. However, in all respect, to be able to pull off a debut feature film is not easy. So, kudos for that! Give us a better one next time!

Movie Rating:



(Well, we’re in the season of giving anyway. So if you’re feeling unexceptionally kind today, go ahead and watch this)

Review by Tho Shu Ling