 |
|
DVD Box
|
| Synopsis |
|---|
| Adapted from Keiko Suenobu's manga "LIFE," this drama delves into the dark side of high school life. The story focuses mainly on bullying, but the manga also touches on subjects such as self-mutilation, suicide, and rape. Kitano Kii stars as Ayumu Shiiba, one of the students bullied by a group of classmates led by Ayumu's former friend, Manami Anzai (Fukuda Saki). | | Tokyograph |
| Soundtrack and Theme Songs (1) |
|---|
|
| Drama Reviews (7) |
|---|
!!WARNING!!
The review section may contain spoilers! Please understand
that you may find out about this drama's endings and plots!
| | 1. | Bright new stars [Rating: 10/10]
A very strong acting by Kitano Kie and Fukuda Saki.
This drama also features 'nacchan girl' Hoshii Nanase and some new young actors like Hojo Takahiro who plays Sonoda-kun and Hosoda Yoshihiko who plays the maniac Sako-kun.
The plot was quite simple but was well arranged.
It really made us felt being bullied is scary as hell.
Sometimes the bullying scene was too scary to be true and are sometimes a bit funny ;p
I like the way they made the main character Ayumu became stronger as the story continues, while evil Manami heats everybody up with her scary plans.
Besides the dramatic acting and filmography, the soundtracks also plays a role in this drama. Notice the disturbing hi-pitch sound everytime Manami or Sako-kun dark scene appears.
The ending song by Nakashima Mika was also a good one.
All and all the credit must go to Kitano-Fukuda pair as their realistic acting gave life to this drama. Rumours already out that a special drama and LIFE 2 is coming so be prepared.
Be good and make sure your desk and chair is inside the classroom instead being thrown out from corridor :p | | Reviewed by tobu on 14 October 2007 | | 2. | Well adapted from the Manga [Rating: 8/10]
For those who've read the manga and liked it, you will be pleased to see that the adaptation into a dorama was quite well done.
Because it is for TV format, some of the explicit violence and sexual content of the manga (as for instance the arm cutting) has been removed, but the dorama manages to convey the same uneasiness and violence with the acting, the good directing and the music.
The plot is very faithful to the manga, and that works well as the pace of the manga was well adapted for a jdorama format. The acting is overall very good, making some of the shortcuts credible to the end.
All in all a very good dorama on bullying, one of the most significant and realistic on the topic, and a recommended watch whether you've read the manga or not. | | Reviewed by Jackykero on 17 February 2010 | | 3. | AMAZING!! [Rating: 10/10]
i've never seen a drama abt bullying been made from this perspective...its just so different...the drama is so tense, scary...and bad beautiful girl is amaze me....lol...a lot of pretty girls but non of hot guy...haha...i like the part where all her classmates chasing her,and then all the students there suddenly appear to join without knowing nothing,lol its just funny to me...and i agree the bullying resolution is not bullying back..
i can't believe those 2 girls are only 16 and 17 on that time..coz their acted r so amazing | | Reviewed by rossoneri on 11 July 2008 | | 4. | superb two main casts [Rating: 9/10]
if u see the cast, maybe u won't interest but u better watch this..
it's so interesting about bullying, so suspense and
LIFE can intimidate u..
superb two main casts kitano kii and fukuda saki,
great background music, full of beat.. | | Reviewed by ester_grace on 7 December 2010 | | 5. | The Best [Rating: 10/10]
This is, by far, the best dorama I've ever seen. The plot never bores you and the cast is just amazing. The story may seem exaggerate to some people, but, unfortunately, schoolmates are like this everywhere, not only in Japan. | | Reviewed by suerinn on 12 September 2009 | | 6. | This is not bad!!! [Rating: 7/10]
The classic confrontation between good and evil: Live is a live history Zicke girls, in the everyday student life.
Well good is the Not man can learn a lot! | | Reviewed by jed_ka on 7 May 2008 | | 7. | Two thumbs up [Rating: 10/10]
U can't stop when u start to watch LIFE..two thumbs up for the two main actress kitano kii and fukuda saki | | Reviewed by ester_grace on 14 December 2010 |
|
| Comments From Users (95) |
|---|
!!WARNING!!
This section may contain spoilers! Do not proceed if you
do not want to read about this drama's endings and plots!
| | 1. | Comments by occultangle [Rating: 9/10]
A silly attempt to make BULLYING such a serious issue. You would think they would try to limit the ridiculousness of this drama. There are so many just plain stupid behaviors and over the top attacks that it comes of as unbelievable. I kept thinking why don't you do this or that. If someone wrote horrible things about me on the chalk board and threw all kinds of drinks at me, I don't think I would try to erase it, I would leave it for the teacher. What could she say, that I wrote it myself. I don't think anybody would put forth this sort of effort into hiding the actions of there attackers, not even in Japan. One of the silliest moments was near the end when Manami in order the slow her pursuers knocks over a very small can of trash. It's the kind of thing you would see in a comedy but here it was meant to be serious. I can't help but pick on it, but the real truth is that I love it. I loved instantly, as soon as it started. It was exactly what I would have wanted to watch. I was surprised to realize that I haven't seen anything else like it and I look forward to more shows that are comparable. | | 2. | Comments by Sakebitosan [Rating: 10/10]
An edifying meditation on justice and ethics in the face of injustice and malice - and an amazing rarity in fiction, especially television fiction, in that not only does this drama's plot/theme hinge on moral choices, moral dilemmas are part of nearly every single scene in this. I kid you not. Just amazing, and the hero Ayumu is unfailingly ethical and just, even in striking back at her tormentors. The side character Hatori-san, played by Seki Megumi, is a strange, detached student of supreme self-confidence and wisdom who sees what's going on, guides the victims of the bullying to a recognition of their strengths, then steps back to allow them to triumph by their own effort. (I won't go into details, but sunflowers play a stunning symbolic role in this.) In dramatic terms Hatori-san is quietly magnificent, and one of this dorama's many phenomenal surprises. A must-see, and from the perspective of philosophical ethics this is easily the best Japanese drama I've ever watched | | 3. | Comments by Sorata [Rating: 8/10]
This was probably the darkest dorama i have seen so far(even darker than Byakuyakou and IWGP), sometimes i really wished i was there to kick Manami(Fukuda Saki) in the head, never found such an obnoxious character, i really hated how Ayumu(Kitano Kii) was so friendly to her in the last episode.
It�Ls hard for me to understand how people let themselves get bullied like that, Ayumu was able to wrestle a guy for a camera and kicked a badass yankee twice, but was unable to get free of a group of girls :s...
Overall the dorama is awesome, really good pace and ok acting; the only bad thing i have to say about the acting is Fukuda Saki, she was supposed to be daddy�Ls litle girl all the time, but every sane person would understand that she was some sick human being, she was allways with that fake smile and look in her face, you need to be really dumb not to see that, Hosoda Yoshihiko did the same thing but not so bad. | | 4. | Comments by xploring [Rating: 8/10]
I thought the first 4 episodes were terrific. It really delves into human nature/minds and shows the emotions of those involved. But after that, even though it was satisfying to see Ayumu fighting back and getting stronger, I thought the rest of the series didn't add a lot of insights, apart from the nature of bullying... There were unrealistic parts, and I thought the most difficult stage was quickly covered, but overall, this was quite a serious and realistic look into bullying, I would imagine. It was worth watching.
Kitano Kie was great. She really showed Ayumu's inner strength and insecurities with her eyes. I thought Fukuda Saki showed a lot of talent from other dramas, and here, she was not as good as I expected(given that she won her sole award so far in LIFE). She was still very good, perhaps her role was a bit limited. | | 5. | Comments by Jackykero [Rating: 8/10]
Well adapted from the Manga.
For those who've read the manga and liked it, you will be pleased to see that the adaptation into a dorama was quite well done.
Because it is for TV format, some of the explicit violence and sexual content of the manga (as for instance the arm cutting) has been removed, but the dorama manages to convey the same uneasiness and violence with the acting, the good directing and the music.
The plot is very faithful to the manga, and that works well as the pace of the manga was well adapted for a jdorama format. The acting is overall very good, making some of the shortcuts credible to the end.
All in all a very good dorama on bullying, one of the most significant and realistic on the topic, and a recommended watch whether you've read the manga or not. | | 6. | Comments by Oba-chan [Rating: 9/10]
Wuaaahhhh Kitano kawaiii.. I was happy when i look her tortured by anzai(maybe i was psycho too like katsumi,.hehe), but i really want to help her and tell her "kimi ga suki"..hahahaa. Anzai and Katsumi both of them are sick, katsumi because of his crazy father, but what about anzai?? this drama not tell us about her problem, maybe she has some trauma at her past. This thing i think a minus of this drama. I was wondering to give it ten if there is special for this drama. The bully theme was really interesting, i sometimes get bullied by my friends in Primary school, but i fight them back, because of that no one disturb me in middle and high school. So i know her feeling and want to save her, wait for me shiiba san..
Soundtrack: LIFE [Mika Nakashima]: 9 | | 7. | Comments by Amano_Tsukiko [Rating: 10/10]
I like screwed characters. And the actresses and actor are pretty good at playing "screwed character". Fukuda Saki, Hosoda Yoshihiko and Suenaga Haruka is great playing their characters. Hoshii Nanase is even better because she succeeded in playing different.. "moods". Kitano Kii is good. Some of the supporting actors/actresses are not bad either.
I'm tired of teacher-always-win theme. LIFE gives a refreshing experience. Finally, the students fight their own battle, the homeroom teacher is uncaring and the one who cares, is powerless to help. And not to forget, it's not a male teen-idol fest.
Of all the dorama that I watched so far, this is the only one that I wished for a sequel. It brought back memories of the 9 years I spent in Hostels. | | 8. | Comments by dekatrain [Rating: 7/10]
An excellent cast that includes upcoming talents Kii Kitano and the impressive Saki Fukuda lift this drama from just being a dark, unfulfilling school drama into one which highlights topics such as redemption, vengeance, and fear. Never before has bullying been displayed as violently and realistically before and Kitano and Fukuda as well as the relatively unexperienced support cast, all do excellent jobs at displaying the psychological manipulation that plays a part in the horrors of bullying. | | 9. | Comments by nishishi [Rating: 7/10]
Overall a nice dorama. A lil bit disturbing tough.... i mean 11 episodes 'bout bullying is kind of annoying!
Good casting (it's always nice to watch some dorama wich have some actors who didnt play any major roles in the past... It would be bad if all doramas ended up with JE's boys, Erikas - Sawajiri~Tohda, Aragaki Yui, etc... etc...)
AMAZING theme song by Nakashima! A GooD plot... but maybe they could have done a movie instead of a dorama.... Nways... its a good dorama. | | 10. | Comments by Ezalor [Rating: 8/10]
Very, very dense athmosphere. Every single episode makes you sweat from the first to the last minute, until the pressure drops slowly in the last ep, so you wouldn't be left unsatisfied. It's a bit disappointing that there are some illogically obvious forms of bullying which just couldn't happen. Especially for the Western people who would think "why isn't she speaking up much earlier!?"disturbing to watch, but you can see Japanese society's darkest side in perfection. | | 11. | Comments by aoi_dolphine [Rating: 10/10]
I like dramas which touch on social issues and this is one such drama. I gave it a 10 cos I don't find any fault in this drama yet. In fact the story is well paced out with individual characters given a chance to act out their story. There are a few new actors which I have yet seen but from this drama they have made an impression on me to keep a lookout for their future dramas/movies. Such as Kitano Kii, Fukuda Saki and Hosoda Yoshihiko, to name a few. | | 12. | Comments by outlaws0025 [Rating: 8/10]
Very well told dorama about bullying in school. So exiting all the time! I really enjoyed it very much, all the way to the end.
The acting is superb even tho pretty much all the actors are very new in the business.
A tough dorama to watch at times, and because of that it's also a dorama that starts a lot of thought in my head when watching it.
I've never been bullied and I will NEVER bully anyone! Especially not after a dorama like this! | | 13. | Comments by Jeanxi [Rating: 8/10]
A pretty good drama for a mediocre cast. It was one of those dramas that kept you entertained while watching, but would not make you want to watch it over and over again. I think if it wasn't for the shock factor of the story and the shortness of each episode, I wouldn't have watched till the end. And a plus for the male audience is the shortness of the girls' skirts, those definitely seem a bit too short to be within regulations... | | 14. | Comments by koala_bry [Rating: 10/10]
an instant favorite in my dorama section!! each episode are tense and..seriously..in each episode, i wanted to go in that school and do some serious butt kicking to those girls!! ^_______^ loool
i recommend it to everyone who wants to watch a serious and really beautiful dorama!!great story..great actresses..great uniform..MOOOOOOOOE..looool gyaboooooo... | | 15. | Comments by Di@na [Rating: 9/10]
Awesome..one of the best doramas about bolliying I ever saw. and one of the best doramas of 2007. I spent the whole night to watch all the episodes because its so interesting, touching, shocking etc. The main actresses are great, I did not expect that especially Fukuda Saki and Kitano Kii would play their "evil vs angel" roles THAT good. WORTH TO WATCH IT! | | 16. | Comments by ryouji [Rating: 10/10]
At first i don't like drama's like this. But my classmate told me that this is so great then i give it a try. it start with the friendship of the protagonist and the antagonist until they become worst enemies because of misunderstanding. The bullying starts there! i got hooked cause the actresses are good they got me into it!! GREAT DRAMA i GUESS =) | | 17. | Comments by Cerebus [Rating: 8/10]
School bullying drama which is dark, shocking and about as subtle as a brick, but also is both compelling and involving and has some real depth. Kitano Kii is first rate as the lead, but the acting by some of the male cast stinks. The ending was particularly effective, showing there are never any easy solutions. Great direction and use of music. | | 18. | Comments by Swedish_Japan_Lover [Rating: 10/10]
I dont know why I give this drama a 10, but it suprisingly kept me entertained for two days, so I guess I kinda fell for it!
I liked the length of the episodes as well as the dorama itself, if this kind of dorama had been 11 episodes, 46 mins each, i would probably not give it a ten, very exciting and no boring scenes as i remember it! | | 19. | Comments by NaomiMaeda [Rating: 9/10]
This drama shocked, actually. I never expected to see such a cruel thing. It was one of the most sad and serious dramas I've seen. It's a must watch for those ones, who think that it's ok to bully others. Also, I think that this drama wouldn't have that effect without Kitano and Fukuda, two awesome actresses. | | 20. | Comments by Rozenrot [Rating: 7/10]
The first dorama I have watched back to back. Excellent. A first class take on the darker side of school life, primarily focusing on group bullying. I thought it took a dip in the middle of the series however, Manami's plot seemed a tad far fetched, but afterwhich the series recovered and fell back on track. | | 21. | Comments by Finndlin [Rating: 8/10]
A fairly good jdrama about bullying. Situations are not quite plausible but the good guys are endearing and the young actors who portray them are promising!
Unfortunately Hosoda Yoshihiko was really awfull :/ but that didn't completely kill the show...
I really enjoyed it! | | 22. | Comments by aoiharu [Rating: 7/10]
I dunno how I managed to watch the whole thing through... it became really predictable, and many things were toned down for the series. The manga was more intense. But that male bully (forgot his name) was really irritating to watch, I've seen better psychos. | | 23. | Comments by b0redomness [Rating: 10/10]
Enjoyed every single episode because the acting was just amazing-- it was just that great and I really do think that this series was one of the best this season; sorry Hanazakari!
I especially enjoyed psycho Sako. He was just crazy after a few episodes. | | 24. | Comments by pinkokoro [Rating: 9/10]
COMPLETE. a great series. very novel, the style. I enjoyed this much. I love the ideal in this drama. the ending is perfect I can't tink of any other tht can be better than that. Bullying has been addressed in many dramas, but this by far one of the best. | | 25. | Comments by Jhvx [Rating: 9/10]
Nice plot, really liked it because it talks about an important issue like bullying, not hilarious dorama though but it's still quite good!!! Anyway, I hope there will be a 2nd season. My only complaint is that in the cast no one was famous enough!!! | | 26. | Comments by HHND [Rating: 7/10]
The most thrilling drama I've ever seen. The casting and plot is good. The reason why I didn't give it a higher rating is that sometimes you feel like some of the bullying are exaggerated to serve the purpose of the plot. | | 27. | Comments by Lee-chan [Rating: 7/10]
Did I just watch an after-school special? Decent acting (particularly by the antagonists played by Fukuda, Hosoda and Hoshii), and the plot managed to get me hooked. Also, the changes made from the manga bugged me... | | 28. | Comments by Milano [Rating: 9/10]
Good, but a simple question: WHY DOESN'T SHE USE A VOICE RECORDER? I'm sure that even her mobile phone has got a voice recorder. It isn't so difficult to prove that she has been bullied so many times... bakamono! | | 29. | Comments by xayaxceresx [Rating: 7/10]
Very cool drama. Reminds me a bit of myself, being unable to connect with people and somewhat being bullied. it inspired me a lot to be the best person i can be. It shows a strong moral to us girls, and guys xD | | 30. | Comments by samir [Rating: 10/10]
Impressive drama. Got me hooked right from the 1st episode. Interesting story and absolutely amazing acting. Lovely Japanese actors did great job here. I think I have a new favorite actress - Kitano Kii ! |
|
Read all 95 comments from users
| Users who voted for this drama (43) |
|---|
| 1. | occultangle
A silly attempt to make BULLYING such a serious issue. You would think they would try to limit the ridiculousness of this drama. There are so many just plain stupid behaviors and over the top attacks that it comes of as unbelievable. I kept thinking why don't you do this or that. If someone wrote horrible things about me on the chalk board and threw all kinds of drinks at me, I don't think I would try to erase it, I would leave it for the teacher. What could she say, that I wrote it myself. I don't think anybody would put forth this sort of effort into hiding the actions of there attackers, not even in Japan. One of the silliest moments was near the end when Manami in order the slow her pursuers knocks over a very small can of trash. It's the kind of thing you would see in a comedy but here it was meant to be serious. I can't help but pick on it, but the real truth is that I love it. I loved instantly, as soon as it started. It was exactly what I would have wanted to watch. I was surprised to realize that I haven't seen anything else like it and I look forward to more shows that are comparable. | | 2. | Aunt_Jemima
wow. this was the first drama i've watched that's about bullying, and it was amazing. the acting was really good [almost too good ahah]. it made me want to jump through the screen and stick up for all the kids that were being bullied lol. this is a MUST see. =] | | 3. | Ali
It was a unique one because non of episodes was boring at all . It made me cry and laugh so much
simply one of the best ever | | 4. | enella09
all time favorite jdorama.
great acting, everyone fits the role
great plot, great production
cool BG music
10/10 | | 5. | rossoneri
i just finished it a day...what can i say...u should watch it,especially the high schooler(esp boys lol).. | | 6. | lonewolf82
Truly wonderful Drama.
Lots of lessons to learn from.
The bad girls are really scary. | | 7. | Yola
Though a bit unrealistic (because too extreme), very touching, shocking and thrilling. | | 8. | tobu
Acting by kitano kie-fukuda saki pair was great. Sexy school uniform too ;p | | 9. | zhirong
Watch this drama again recently and realised that I still love it. | | 10. | maidori
really enjoyed this drama...made me glad that i was never bullied | | 11. | Fanoo
The best drama ever (...after Hana yori Dango) | | 12. | vina.loves.sushi
great plot! really intense drama ^_~ | | 13. | natsumi_chan06
manami looks like jin akanishi!!! | | 14. | ABINTRA
Ultra fun to watch. | | 15. | ikitteru
intense! | | 16. | b0redomness
<3 | | 17. | m0m0e | | 18. | Amano_Tsukiko | | 19. | Mabelka | | 20. | Akiiness | | 21. | moviefan1970s | | 22. | Bbbut | | 23. | howtwosave | | 24. | Lady O. | | 25. | suerinn | | 26. | hidezawa_himeko | | 27. | GameChili | | 28. | brenda307 | | 29. | Swedish_Japan_Lover | | 30. | jfre@k |
|
Read all 43 votes from users
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Register
Log in
Official Forum Topic
