the best part of Space Battleship Yamato

[bluelovesorange]

warning: spoiler for the first 10 minutes of SBY

the only reason I watched this film honestly

Comments

[jennyhime.livejournal.com]

Tried watching it but even Meisa couldn't make me watch the whole movie. Meisa is awesome though, the gif is great.

I'm having a problem with her recent projects

[calledinvain.livejournal.com]

in that they are dull despite the amount of star power attached. I need subs to make a more objective constructive criticism of Jiu, but the sexy times between her and Shirota - which I thought would I love and feel like burning - have left me feeling oddly flat. I prefer their clothed bantering and just boiling under the surface UST I guess?

Space battleship yamato is a Kimura vehicle through and through and Yuki's characterization is as thin as everyone else's - it's not exactly a thankless role, but even with that criticism I don't think I could see any other actress putting in as much physical presence as Meisa did. (Well maybe Ayase Haruka?) But her chemistry with him was also a big fat zero. Really, the only chemistry she had with a SMAP member was Kusanagi and I think that was due to the strength of him as an actor and because both of their characters were so richly written and complex. Meisa's quickly being pigeonholed as Badass Violent Girl with the face of a Supermodel and while there are certainly worse stereotypes to be, I don't think there's been a lot of depth in those characters for her, and her acting is only as good as the writing - she's not strong enough to overcome really weak writing. The same could be said of Maki in the past, but I feel that Maki has really improved over the past two years, and I think the films she takes help with that and also while she's beautiful, her characters have never focused on that being the defining characteristic. Conversely - Meisa's out of this world gorgeousness seems to be the major selling point in her characters - she's either gorgeous badass with vulnerabilities or she's femme fatale with vulnerabilities. Out of all of the movies I've watched of hers, I think Subaru is better than Assault Girls which is better than SBY. Though AG was a special kind of dull compared to SBY, which was just straight up sameness sci fi tantasy.
I'm conflicted really - I want good things and more growing for all of the SP talent, but I do feel that the way j-tv/entertainment industry is structured is stagnating/hindering their talents' potential.

Re: I'm having a problem with her recent projects

[jennyhime.livejournal.com]

I have to say I agree with you. I was looking forward to Jiu but honestly watched ep 1 and then stopped. Meisa has worked with some big names (Fujiki, Shingo, Kimura and Tsyuoshi)and there has been zero chemistry between her and wny of them. An exception was Tsyoshi, but I don't think I've ever seen Meisa have any chemistry with her male leads as compared to Maki and Yamapi.
But yes she's definetely being typecast and I wonder if it is her agent who is screening the roles, she is always portraying femme fatal or a badass characters .I haven't seen AG but Subaru was actually a nice film. In Tada,kim wo aishiteru she ois quite charmiing even though overshadowed by Miazaki Aoi. One pound gospel was a suprise for me, Meisa can handle a more comedic role and it was a cute dorama.
Maki's acting has improved a lot and she's not afraid to challenge herself. She is very beautiful but her characters (except Yukiho)has never been defined by that.Maki has enormous potential if only she would continue to get more demanding roles and get to work with directors that demand more from her. SP definetely has some talented girls but yes the tv industry in Japan is very limited.

Re: I'm having a problem with her recent projects

[calledinvain.livejournal.com]

I've just downloaded two early Meisa movies (Tada was more about Miyazaki Aoi and Tamaki Hiroshi, I'm concentrating on films where the SP is the main character) so I'm going to see if my assessment will change, but one thing I've noticed so far that's very different in Meisa's roles as opposed to Maki's roles is that almost without exception, Meisa's roles are much more mature in film - she kisses more and has more adult scenes than Maki, and that's even at the beginning of her film debut. She rarely plays the school girl. It's an interesting sense of arrested development - Meisa played mature beyond her years while Maki was mining conflicted emotions as the otherworldly school girl or face of horror.
I think she and Kame had moments of cuteness if not outright passion, and from the bits I've seen online, I think she clicked with Toma really well (no surprise. Toma has chemistry with everything and everyone) and I could even believe her with Matsujun (and on variety - the bantering and bickering with Nino is always fun to watch). Shun and Yuuta were so so, but if you move out of her age range (she often plays the love interest to much older men) - there is no chemistry. It also just feels weird to me as a viewer. I would feel the same way if the genders were reversed, because the age gap is so large - it's not just a matter of four or five years (my own personal barometer), it's much larger. Meisa may look older than her years, but my mind knows she's twenty three, and to be in love with a thirty five year old or whatever - it seems foreign to me.

Unless there is acting/writing strength.

I liked her with Mukai Osamu in Shinzanmono, that was pleasant to watch. I'd like to see her work with Yusuke Yamamoto again, they had some heat in Ninkyo Helper.

Re: I'm having a problem with her recent projects

[jennyhime.livejournal.com]

The first time I saw Meisa was in Tada kimi wo aishiteru and I remember thinking she sure is a looker and she must be in her early 20's when she was not even 20 yet. She looks quite mature and I can understand how people assume she is older and Maki would be younger then she is when in reality Meisa is the baby and Maki the responsible one.
Yuour quite right, it's suprising how different roles the girls have done even though they are in the same age (I guess it is because of the image). For once I would love to turn that around, allow Maki to have the mature roles and give Meisa something lighter.
I haven't seen Meisa and Toma so can't say but Meisa and Kame were adorable. Meisa and Mukai also had good chemistry, she also had chemistry with Abe. Will Meisa be in the Shinzanmono movie ? Shun and Meisa made a stunning couple but the chemistry was nothing special but yes with Yusuke there was something. The age gap would work if done well but in the case of Meisa I would blame the writing. she should be paired with actors her own age. (I would like Maki to be paired with a older actor like Yusuke Iseya)
Random qustion, when is Maki'a asadora supposed to start ? 2012 or 2013?

Re: I'm having a problem with her recent projects

[calledinvain.livejournal.com]

Ume sensei will grace our screens in 2012 in Spring. I think Meisa might be in the Shinzanmono film? It's amusing that while Meisa is older than Maki, as the baby of her family, she gets taken care of by Maki, who is the oldest sibling in hers. Maki's love interests have been older than her as well, but she's done better chemistry wise for most of them. I'm actually wanting her to work with some of the exciting younger actors - like another reunion with Kanata Hongo (I think he could be the next Kenichi). Meisa's getsu was light romantic comedy but failed as the past getsus have in plot and characterization - it was gorgeously filmed as usual, but the story was really lacking. It annoys me that Fuji throws all this money at marketing and casting but doesn't seem to be spending as much care and time in developing original, truly engaging stories. With Kim Tae Hee's new project on Fuji, I'm willing to bet that some Sweet Power talent will be popping up to support her, possibly some of the younger kohai. I'd love to see Ruka again, she might be my favorite of the younger generation.

Re: I'm having a problem with her recent projects

[jennyhime.livejournal.com]

Great, thanks I wasn't sure. It is funny, you would definetely not expect that. I thought it was adorable how Maki told how she cooks for Meisa who can't take care of herself^^
That's true, I remember Maki was 15-16? when she worked with Tamayama Tetsuji who was in his 20's and they has great chemistry together as with Mukai.Hongo and Maki is a big yes for me as is Maki with Matsuda Shouta (I want to see if sparks would fly). With older actors I'd love Maki to work with his Kase Ryo, Masanobu Ando, Tsumabuki Satoshi, Takayuki Yamada and Iseya Yusuke. (long list I know)
It was a big budget, primetime slot with a Smap member but it still was a huge failure. The writing was really weak as was the characters. Meisa deserves better then that but I guess the agency was stoked about the promise of a big project at primetime.
I'm kind of scared about the Kim Tae Hee project, she's a very weak actress but it seems if it is a romantic fluffy comedy she can handle it. I'm betting a kouhai will at least have small cameo. I don't know who is my fave umong the younger SP girls, Ruka is definetely one as is Minamisawa Nao.

Nao is so good

[calledinvain.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that she's still doing acting on top of her university work and that she's doing more interesting experimental projects. I hope she breaks out soon - I thought Akai Ito would have done it for her (because it was a really great high school cell phone novel adaptation which is something you don't expect in a sea of terrible competitors) but seeing as she's been the kohai with the most Korean experience so far, I bet she'll pop up in Kim Tae Hee's drama. And yes, KTH is pretty weak as well, but apparently My Princess was really good for her? Maybe Rina will be part of it, as Rina is the same age group.

Re: Nao is so good

[jennyhime.livejournal.com]

I think a few projects now and then will get her some attention from casting directors. I'm also suprised Akai Ito didn't make her more well knows, but neither did Sakuraba Nanami.
I think university life would have suited Maki very well but she became so popular at that time so I can understand she decided to give it up. Maybe she should try in to arts university as she is a good photographer. :D
Well I've heard good things about My princess so maybe romantic comedy is something Kim Tae Hee should pursue instead of serious more dramatic parts. Maybe they'll gibe the leading actor a younger sister or daughter that could be played by a kouhai.