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ファイト／ステイナイト 
February 19, 2008 | 
17 Comments
To new visitors, this is the archive for the drama version of Honey and Clover. If you're looking for the anime archive, check the Honey and Clover archive. Anyway, this episode is actually not as bad as the previous episode. The episode retains the majority of the plot from the manga and for the first time and there is an interesting character development for Takemoto. His interaction with his stepfather is not as touching as the one in the anime but that's a minor point. Mayama and Yamada also still retain their complicated and messy relationship. The interesting here is that Nomiya is actually not as persistent as he was in the original story. He doesn't actually pay interest in Yamada until he saw her crying. The only thing that I don't like here is Morita and Hagu. These two seem like two completely different characters in the story. Morita doesn't seem to have any kind of motivation and it's disappointing to see him back so soon after only one episode. I also realised that showing Hagu without any kind of comic element makes her kind of boring. The one redeeming factor about Hagu in the original series is how she gets to be the target of Morita's prank.
February 16, 2008 | 7 Comments
Hirai Ken - Canvas (55.2MB, for PSP/Quicktime) | YouTube version
Released in time for Valentine's Day, Canvas is a song about one's inability to let go. Because of this, it's not surprising that the song is a perfect company for Honey and Clover's heart-wrenching moments, especially those involving Takemoto or Yamada. Unfortunately, the PV doesn't seem to have any relation whatsoever to Honey and Clover. If anything, I'm confused about the story that the PV tries to tell. If I had a choice, I'd rather see Ken singing in front of a big ferris wheel like the one shown on the cover of his newest single. I guess it'd be too close to Suneohair's Waltz PV but anything resembling Honey and Clover motif is better than a generic narrative. Anyway, regardless of the PV, it's still a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the essence of the series. Now, if only the live-action could up its game, I'll be happier.
February 9, 2008 | 11 Comments
I actually fell asleep not once but three times while trying to watch this episode. I think the adaptation has lost its appeal for me. I'm disappointed with the way the whole thing feels all over the place. In addition to this, they keep adding new situations which are neither funny nor interesting. I've lost any interest to watch the next episode except that I'm kind of interested to see how they handle Takemoto's journey later on in the story. I guess I'm hoping that there'll be some fantastic Japan outdoor scenery to see. Storyline-wise, though, I'm worried what might be in store. On the other hand, this episode made me realized that I do lose my interest in something quite easily. It's hard not to feel this way though, especially since this is an adaptation of my favorite series. Unfortunately, this situation is true for most manga/anime to live-action adaptation. I think the only exception to this is Nodame Cantabile live-action, which was closer to the spirit of the manga and is superior to the anime adaptation.
January 30, 2008 | 22 Comments
At this point, I am really disappointed with this drama. It's not terribly bad but that's the reason why it hurts more just as Mayama's kind words hurt Yamada more. By looking at the show, one can see there are some potential for this adaptation to be better. However, it's ruined by messy screenplay, miscast actors, and changed characterization. There are times when this adaptation feels similar to the original story but most of the time, it feels pale in comparison to the anime adaptation, for example. There is actually a Taiwanese version of the series being made at the moment. Unfortunately I don't have any kind of proficiency in the language so even if I watch it, I probably can't understand the story. Judging from the pictures that have been released, however, that adaptation looks more faithful to the original story. Unfortunately, the casting is not as spot-on as the Japanese drama. I really think Ikuta Toma was a good choice for Takemoto while the actors who play Mayama and Yamada are not that bad either.
January 22, 2008 | 24 Comments
Well, I'm back. MacWorld 2008 was quite exciting and I had a good time in San Francisco. I haven't gotten over the jetlag though and that's probably why I didn't enjoy this episode. But then again, this episode also takes way too much liberty with the original material. I get the impression that the story flows really fast here, which I don't get. Are they really going to show Takemoto going on his journey for a good number of the episodes? Will they really show the second half of the story as well? Even if that's the case, the pace is still too fast. As a result, they're missing the little moments in the series which make the story great, like Shuuji telling everyone about the tragic story of Rika and Harada. And how about that beautiful moment of the group riding a Ferris Wheel while the first snow starts to fall? Instead, we have a bunch of meaningless scenes like Morita trying to scam the shop owners from the Hamadayama shopping district.
「ハチミツとクローバー」
Honey and Clover - AVI format (5.4MB) | PSP format (3.1MB)
This is a bit better than the movie even though it's still not a faithful adaptation. Why is it so hard for the writers to just follow the manga's storyline instead of inventing new situations? I think the reason that Nodame Cantabile drama was a big success was because it pretty much follows the manga except for some minor changes. The changes shown here are quite drastic. The writers seem keen to introduce all of the cast at once, which is fair enough, but the way the storyline is structured makes the whole thing feels rushed. How many episodes is this drama supposed to get anyway? If it's 12, surely it's enough to cover the first half of the series, including Takemoto's journey. Anyway, this is not a total lost especially if you like Takemoto's character because the producer actually hit a jackpot with the casting of Ikuta Toma.
December 22, 2007 | 14 Comments
Hachikuro 15-Sec CM (YouTube video)
Hachikuro 30-Sec CM (YouTube video)
It's obvious that I've been living in a cave that I didn't even know until now that there will be a Honey and Clover live action drama coming up on the 8th of January next year. Just when I thought they can't milk this even more, Fuji TV proved me wrong. If the movie was good, I might have been more receptive towards this one but the movie was a disaster so I'm wary about this drama. Thankfully they get the casting of Takemoto right this time around. Ikuta Toma definitely looks more like Takemoto than Sakurai Shou. And it's not like Shou was an acting powerhouse in the first place so he will not be missed. Unfortunately they decide to cast Narimiya Hiroki as Morita. Sorry to his fangirls but I dislike him very much. I find his 'acting' to be the worst part of NANA: the movie. I wish they had cast Eita as Morita. As for the rest, the girls who'll play Hagu and Ayu and the guy who'll play Mayama look okay. Also, that Hirai Ken's theme song is awesome.
