Strobe Edge (2015)

Strobe Edge may be the best shoujo adaptation to this date. I am personally not satisfied with most manga adaptations out there (they do not pick or transform actors well, they are boring etc.), however, this adaptation is great. Bear in mind that if you are not a shoujo fan, you will not like this and in order to like it you have to take it for what it is - a light and fluffy romantic teenage film which revolves around a world in which friendship and what your crush does are the most important things.

The story is a typical shoujo plot and the film follows the manga closely. That may or may not be boring if you have already read the manga. I have but I still ended up enjoying it. It is not a masterpiece nor something that I would rewatch from the beginning to end because there is no depth - I mean, a cute girls falls for a guy, he is already in a relationship that seems more like a friendship and it has become a routine, he falls for her too, there are also some supportive characters and that's it.

The cast is perfect. They are like the manga characters come to life. The acting consists of typical Japanese cute expressions and outbursts which you should have got used to if you have watched enough Japanese films. It's just their thing.

Music is also perfect consisting usually of instrumental piano tracks which fit the romantic school setting perfectly . I cannot stand the cliched sugar pop songs that seem like they are coming from a game machine or sth. I would also like to praise the production because it seems they did put more effort into editing.

The overall impression is - I liked it. I knew what to expect and that is what I got. Would I recommend it? Only to shoujo fans and those who like a light and fluffy story.

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Well, after all the expectations and disappointments I had from last year's high school love story/ manga-made-into-live-action, I finally found something. Strobe Edge is great among it's similar genre competitors, even though I won't say it is the best, it does leave with me a good feeling and scenes that I know I can never forget.

Let's go for breakdown now!

STORY: 9.0/ 10
I would say this is great, what I expected from a love story, it was delivered. Lovable characters, obstacles that preventing them from being together. At first I do really feel doom for Ren and Ninako, it gives me an ache in the chest to see how compatible they are for each other, all the little similar interests they shared, the chemistry between them. I also love the character developments, for all three main leads, Ninako, Ren and Andou, it is very well written.

Though what I do think they can probably thicken Ren and Andou's friendship to make it a deeper impact on the viewers. That's what preventing it from being the perfection I hope it to be.

ACTING/ CAST: 9.0/ 10
Gotta love the casts, even though I couldn't see much from Sota's acting, Kasumi did a really convincing job as Ninako, she's sweet and simple and adorable. I love her so so much! Yuki too, was able to make Ando such an endearing character, a little bit annoying, but he has grown to be my favorite character in this movie.

The chemistry between these casts are perfection, though I would expect nothing less from a movie lead by Fukushi Sota, he seems to always have these strong chemistry with his fellow casts. Not to mention, all these three already had experience working with one another back in Starman. ;-)

MUSIC: 9.0/10
The ending song, that ending song just fitting with the movie itself, that much I noted. Not much complain towards the music plays throughout the movie either. But seriously, I LOVE that ending song so so much!

REWATCHABLE VALUE: 9.0/10
Will definitely rewatch this, because it is sweet, it with adorable characters, those sweet moments that makes me grin like a school girl again, just bathing in the fluffiness and sweetness of high-school love, and wishing that I ever had love experience like that back then. Haha!

This is a movie I would certainly recommend to anyone who wanted something that just makes you grin to yourself for the 2 hours, or perhaps a girls sleepover, this makes a very good sleepover film. :)

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