“Few days” turned out to be a month, gomen. >.< Quite a while has passed already since I saw this film and my memory about it has begun to fade even though I watched it several times back then, but I hope the review is still adequate enough. And sorry again for taking so long to write it. So, here we go:
“Bandage” is a Japanese film directed by Kobayashi Takeshi, starring Akanishi Jin, Kitano Kii, Kora Kengo and others, which was released in Japan in the beginning of this year. The film was a great success in Japan (sold 70 000 advanced tickets on its first day of availability), as well as both the album and the single by fictional band LANDS topped on the Oricon charts. Oh, and the band from the film even gave one real concert.
Anyway, to the film itself… It’s a story about backstage life of a band, self discovery and love. 90-s was a decade of indie bands in Japan and LANDS is one of many of them, trying to succeed in the music industry. And obviously there are many obstacles and problems on their way. The side story is about relationship between the singer of the band – Natsu (Akanishi Jin) and a high school student Asako (Kitano Kii).
No need to say that I watched it mainly because of Jin. And after watching the film, I have to say that if there’s a reason why you should watch it, then it’s Jin. Although he’s a great singer and performer and all that, I have to admit that I doubted a bit about his acting ability. But Jin did great as Natsu, actually he even made his character as believable that I would have thought he played himself if he hadn’t told in an interview that Natsu was his total opposite. Well, who knows.
The other good thing about the film was music. The songs weren’t bad at all, fitted well to the film and were performed nicely. Oh, and back in January when “Olympos” album came out, I used to listen to “Hatachi no Sensou” always before going to sleep. When I had kind of insomnia, this song was always able to put me to sleep. I’m not saying it’s boring here, more like it’s a great and really calming song. And others too: “Bandage”, “Genki”… would listen to this kind of music out of the film context too.
And now the things I did not like that much.
Firstly the shaky camerawork kind of disturbed me and made the film look really amateurish. I know, I know it was supposed to be like that and they wanted to make it look “stylish” and “deep”, but well it didn’t impress me actually. You can say that I’m a noob at films and I don’t get what art is, but it made the film look more like a student film than a work of professionals, in my opinion.
The story was trying to be realistic, but all in all was still quite fairytaleish (not a happy-go-lucky sort of though, but kinda unrealistic nevertheless) and full of problems that weren’t really problems and that were just made up to make the film look more serious and deep or I don’t know. For example the band didn’t get two successful singles in succession and thus they were almost disbanding because they didn’t see their “future”. Well I find it kind of pathetic to fight over this kind of thing and blame each other that much and in a film it most probably just makes the audience laugh. Also the hatred towards the girl (Asako), I didn’t entirely get it.
Then I didn’t like the many time-jumps in there (I never do) and ending wasn’t as good as it could have been either, but I’m not gonna spoil it to the ones who haven’t seen the film here.
About oher actors besides Jin. Well, I don’t think acting was the worst part of the film and I think all of them were just okay. But one part that seemed really fake to me was when the manager was playing ill. And although Kitano Kii did well in the beginning, I didn’t like the last few scenes with her much.
To sum it all up. I wouldn’t label this film a must-see, but I think anyone who doesn’t totally dislike Akanishi and feels even a bit sympathy towards him will enjoy the whole thing as I did. Teen movies are supposed to be naive and with linear storyline, don’t expect much from this one either, but it’s pleasant time-killing anyway, I promise. (:
9/10 (probably over-rated, I know, but then the fangirl in me raises and Jin~~ ❤ Natsu was cool indeed.)
Trailer
And some songs from the film: “Hatachi no Sensou”, “Genki”
Credits for the screencaps to akamesuki from LJ, arigatou~