GTO [麻辣教師] cuz it's an awesome drama, imo at least. i watched the anime like 50 times so i love that but i like the drama even better now that i've seen it
Ichi Ritoru no Namida [1リットルの涙] EVERYONE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS DRAMA AND I FINALLY WATCHED IT AND...I LOVED IT AND IT CHANGED MY OUTLOOK AND THINKING ABOUT LIFE
Nobuta wo Produce [野ブタ。をプロデュース] amazing music, a unique storyline, a refreshment in a land of cliche girl likes guy girl gets guy to like her storyline
Gokusen [ごくせん] Gokusen another GTO look-alike? [Rating: 9/10] i must say, lilke alot of others, when i first saw the synopsis of this drama, i was thinking "this is going to be like GTO, gangster-like teacher with delinquent students but eventually she wins them over". however, i soon found out that while it on the surface reminded me of it, this is by no means a GTO-esque drama. much like sorimachi eikichi seemed to perfectly epitomize his role as onizuka, so did yukie nakama play her role brilliantly. playing a teacher trying to hide her yakuza background with a cutesy exterior, she showed it to perfection. i really felt i could follow the story and it took the story beyond what onizuka had accomplished. with GTO it is a feel good with a teacher being able to connect with students who trust noone, however with gokusen, not only does she create the connection, it does not end there, she even brings out the best in her students leading them to the ultimate reward for a teacher, taking her delinquent students that noone believed in, and bringing them to the graduation stage, showing a disbelieving body that yes her students were capable of graduating too. it had it's moments, and seeing her students respond to her was hearfelt, her neverending trust breaking the tough exterior to reveal a heart of gold not only in the teacher, but in the students
to sum up, this drama went beyond where i thought it would, and it is only my belief that nothing is perfect that i gave it a 9, but in actuality this deserves a 9.99999999, not a 10 for nothing is perfect, but damn close to it
Gokusen Season 2 [ごくせん2] Gokusen 2 (does lightning strike twice?) [Rating: 9/10] well to start off...i really liked the ending theme to this season =D (which is a good thing since music is a big factor usually in whether i like something or not)
well since i had already been hooked by the first season, watching the second season was a no brainer. i attempted to be fair and not compare it to the first one, but i found out that such a thing was not necessary, this season was just as well acted as the first. returning is that ever loveable yukie nakama, the cutesy yet yakzuka-esaue teacher, and saru er.....sawatari sensei, once again a head teacher to clash, with a chairman not so nice as the previous season's. it has the same feel good that the previous season, as she now has a brand new class (3-D again...D for delinquent....) to win over with her fiery passion. once again, she has her difficulties, the ending could have been a little different (seemed too similar to previous season's), but it was just as enjoyable for me as the last one. (funny ending as well)
GTO [麻辣教師] before anything, he is a star [Rating: 10/10] with all that has been said about this drama, it is one of the best i have seen. Sorimachi plays a brilliant onizuka, and is able to, with great skill, draw in the audience to forget for even a second that he is an actor, and makes it seem that onizuka just might be an actual person. the storyline...where do i begin? the idea of even a gangster-type who never graduated from a top university becoming a private school teacher seems farfetched but this drama shows that even the biggest of dreams can come true. the motivation it brings seeing as he goes about his business in the school inspires many, if not at least me, to once again believe that perhaps anything you dream, if you truly believe and want it, can come true. the theme song Poison, sung by sorimachi himself, is something that does not easily leave the brain, with lyrics both deep and powerful. this is definately not a run of the mill drama but a classic that even now i find hard to stay away from
Hana Yori Dango [花より男子] was my decision the right one [Rating: 8/10] i must admit i've been shying away from this drama for the longest time. why you ask? it's so high on the jdrama list of top 50, obviously it must be good right? well i guess a lil explanation is in order. basically, the plot didn't interest me at all. i read it and thought to myself, this cannot work. 4 rich people, but only one of them falls in love with the 1 girl being focused on? it didn't sound too good to me. and the premise of the romance sounded wayy too cliche, girl hates guy, guy n girl are worst enemies, guy realizes he's in love with girl, akwardness, outside influence affects relationship, finally they get together. the ending was a nice cliffhanger to lead to the second season, and it does leave the viewer with a nice warm feeling knowing the romance has finally come to fruition. however, the plot, while i can see why people like it, is very cliche but to each their own preference. i must admit i can see why it is so popular, and i agree that it is a good drama, just not one i'd personally put up there as a top drama, but it was admittedly good nonetheless, seems my aversion to it was unjustified and wrong :P
Ichi Ritoru no Namida [1リットルの涙] Something that everyone should at least once watch [Rating: 10/10] my my my where do i even begin to describe this drama? i was first introduced to this drama about a year ago. in that time, i have watched and rewatched this drama too many times to count. yet each time, the experience is just as bone chilling as the first time i ever watched it. even now, watching it i can't keep from crying. the hallmark of a good drama, the yardstick by which it is measured is not the initial viewer ratings, for which these were quite good. no, the measure of a drama is what it leaves you with, whether a month, a year from now, it still affects you, it still refuses to leave your mind, you still look back and think "damn". if a drama manages to grip you, to take you into the story, to cause you to connect to the characters, to ride the waves both up and down, to grive when they grieve, rejoice and celebrate with them, to share in their joys and memories, when you connect to teh character to the point that anything that happens to them, it feels like it happens to you, that is when you know you have found something special. and readers i can tell you, this is something special. no matter how rock hard or ice cold your heart is, there is not a single person i have ever told about this drama who has not left it without shedding a single tear, feeling even the littlest bit of sympathy for a girl who had such an unfortunate series of events. NOT ONE. even a year after watching it, having watched and rewatched it, it still has not gotten old or boring for me, it is as if each time i am viewing it for the first time. such a beautiful blend of music, swelling and retracting at the perfect times to correspond with the scene, it is something that cannot be translated into words no matter how i may try. this drama has truly been a life changing experience for me, taught me to learn and appreciate the value of life, the price of dreaming, the courage to live life as if there is no tomorrow, to accept both the good and the bad that may come our way. but even then, i still have not enough words to say about this series, and what it encompasses and represents.
i leave with this word, you may be doubting whether or not this series is good, whether it is worth your time. i can honestly say that before this series i was not an avid drama fan, i was not into romances, dramatic plots, but this changed my view, caused me to appreciate the finer arts of acting, performing, it changed my outlook on life. this is no ordinary simple love filled drama, so if that is what you seek then this is not for you. but if you seek something that will change you, cause you to rethink and leave you with a lasting impression, i can honestly say you will not be disappointed.
Nobuta wo Produce [野ブタ。をプロデュース] Nobuta Wo Produce [Rating: 10/10] i was quite interested to find out taht this drama had managed to beat out one of my top if not most favorite dramas, 1 litre of tears, in the drama awards for best drama, best music, best actor, best suporting actress and so forth. so i had hig expectations beginning this series that it had to have been good to prove that it had the quality to have bested waht i believe was an all time great drama. i am happy to say i was not in the least disappointed. the insert song green willow has become the uncontested top song in my most played list, the actors did superb jobs in their roles and played them out to perfection, the storyline was quite refreshing as it is less a romance than a motivational dramas chronicling the evolution of a shy girl who taps into her inner being and manages to, with help, evolve into a much better person, one who is confident in herself and her actions. while i didn't find myself crying to the extent i had been for other dramas, make no mistake, i did not leave this show with dry eyes. i highly recommend this show to any who ask about it
Proposal Daisakusen [プロポーズ大作戦] Epic [Rating: 10/10] i gave it a 10, but a 10 does not do this drama the justice it deserves. I admit i had been hard pressed to find a recent drama that would live up to the caliber already set by past dramas. Before i had started this one, my unquestioned favorite drama was 1 litre of tears, which a large measuring stick to be placed against. I can say without a doubt tho, that this has proven it's merit and deserves it's spot atop my list of dramas, and within the top 50 of this site.
This is a drama that will satisfy anyone, not only the hopeless romantics but the more serious crowd looking for a wonderful plot. Romance, sadness, it has it all and will appeal to all walks of people. This too has reached and surpassed the bar by which dramas of magnificence must strive to attain, and that is the fact it will make you want to watch it again, remember it, and while oyu watch it it will grip you and take you along for the waves of emotions it brigns. a truly wonderful experience that cannot be put into words
-more written on my site-
http://azn-drama-review.blogspot.com/2008/06/proposal-daisakusen.html
:) seriously watch it
Taiyou no uta [タイヨのうた] Ikeuchi aya v.2? [Rating: 9/10] i admit when i first heard of this drama and what the character would be like i thought, oh another 1 litre of tears, but i decided to give it a try if not for my love of dramas but because of my appreciation for sawajiri erika's acting ability. i can honestly say i was pleased with what i saw. it was a surprise to hear a decent singing voice come out of erika-san's mouth, and i feel that the romance being developed to the point it was was a plus. honestly i knew the ending would not be the happy kind but for awhile the ending hit me as depressing, but then after staying with it and watching it, i came to realize what a beautiful ending it was. people may say it didn't live up to expectations, but in my opinion it did quite a good job