Title: Kurosagi (Black Trickster)Official website: here
Original comic by: Kuromaru / Natsubara Takeshi
Scriptwriter: Shinozaki Eriko
Theme song: Taiyo no Namida by NEWS
DVD release date: 16 Sep 2008
Cast:
Kurosaki (Yamashita Tomohisa)
Yoshikawa Tsurara (Horikita Maki)
Kashina Masaru (Aikawa Sho)
Katsuragi Toshio (Yamazaki Tsutomu)
Shiraishi Yoichi (Kato Koji)
Mishima Yukari (Ichikawa Yui)
Momoyama Tetsuji (Tayama Ryosei)
Hayase Makiko (Onuki Kaoru)
Mikimoto (Kishibe Shiro)
Sakura (Daiji Mao)
Ishigaki Toru (Takenaka Naoto)
Okekawa Reiko (Iijima Naoko)
Watanuki (Shofukutei Tsurubei)
Review:
Regardless of whether you have watched the drama version previously, this movie should not make you feel lost. There is a bit of continuation from the drama (in terms of the relationships among characters) but the main case is a standalone event so it shouldn't be too difficult for first-timers to know what is going on. In fact, I found that the main case was too simple and didn't interest me much. It was easy to guess what was happening next especially if you had grasped the gist of the developments in the drama.
I don't remember much of the drama's storyline or the ending but I do have a vague idea on the relationships between the main characters. Kurosaki's father killed himself and the other family members after he plunged into financial difficulties due to a fraud case by a swindler. As a result, Kurosaki decides to take revenge on "white swindlers" i.e. those who cheat people of money. He goes to Katsuragi, a restaurant owner on the surface who has an unknown background, for info on these white swindlers. Makiko is Katsuragi's assistant. As for Tsurara, she rents a room in the apartment block which Kurosaki owns BUT there is little connection between the two in the movie as compared to the drama. More on that later.
If you look at the lineup, it is considered a lavish combination of big names. No doubt they may have small roles, their screen presence is so strong that it overshadows Yamapi completely. For example, Takenaka Naoto as the main villian Ishigaki, Kato Koji's re-appearance as the white swindler Shiraishi (he was so funny), Aikawa Sho and Yamazaki Tsutomu's performances are really worth checking out. In comparison, Yamapi turns in a lacklustre performance and doesn't impress me at all, AS USUAL.
And for those who are looking forward to a development of Tsurara's relationship with Kurosaki, you will be disappointed. In fact, Tsurara rarely appears in the movie and is usually shown bumping into Kurosaki along the corridor or within the apartment's compounds. Thus, there's nothing much going on between them.
I would say that the highlight of the story is how Kurosaki finds out the truth behind his father's death where he had thought all along that Katsuragi was the mastermind behind the fraud case. In actual fact, the truth is far from it. Check out the movie if you want to find the answer.
In conclusion, this movie is for:
1) fans of Yamapi
2) fans of the Kurosagi series who wish to see what happens after the drama
And my ratings for this movie...
Story: 4 out of 10 (nothing interesting, same pattern and predictable. if you have never watched the drama before, you may find it acceptable)
Acting: 6 out of 10 (the experienced actors deserve more marks but the lead is extremely disappointing)
Theme song: 4 out of 10 (doesn't suit the movie at all. Daite Senorita sounds better, comparatively although it is still far from the image of the series)
Visual effects / Scenery: 5 out of 10 (nothing impressive but for fans of Yamapi, you should enjoy seeing him in various costumes)
Teamwork / Chemistry: 5 out of 10 (since relationships are not of importance here, interaction among the characters is minimal. only Kurosaki and Katsuragi's relationship is more interesting to watch)
Total marks: 24 out of 50
No comments:
Post a Comment