Excellent, a Must See

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

unlike in the West where women are encouraged to be repulsive and gross and sexist and ... hey WOMEN"S POWER (and all that crap).I need to CLEARLY get into Japanese films. if this movie is any indication that is where the fun and adventure and cuteness is.This film has a story and it is interesting. It teaches you something. The women are hot and cute and you are actually interested in them. It could have been another hour longer and I would have watched more of it.The stalker girl is just so beautiful and smart. Her friends are just eye candies that also draw you in with their triumphs and tragedies. The man has personality and you want to know what will happen to him. The cousin subplot and her contributions are also noteworthy. Wow, I wish the cast, writer and director hell even the studio that made this would tour the west on a seminar on how to attract people to film and unlike Hollywood not push people away from film!

Truth is you can put the main actress in this film, Nozomi Sasaki, on film standing there for 2 hours and I would watch. She is a goddess of face, goddess of body, goddess of legs, goddess of smile and goddess of acting. Just here in this film you can see her convincing acting ability as a friend, then as a prostitute, then as a schoolgirl, then as a lover, etc. She manages them all perfectly.It does not hurt that she is surrounded by pretty girl, but I have deducted a point for the complete lack of parents. Where are the parents? The story flows from the school to her routine and back to the school setting.Nozomi Sasaki, and friends, are beautiful, gorgeous, pretty, sexy and attractive and I suggest women take a close look and work on themselves after being inspired. It is OK if you look at her and feel inadequate. Do not hate. Be inspired instead and work on improving yourself with her as a 10/10 inspiration.

A showcase of then national(?) pride, Japanese AV idol, Sasaki Nozomi - literally. This could be made into a music video and would still purvey the whole story. Eye candy in a better and wholesome package. In any case, I don't know what my standards (or of culture) are at right now but for the material, she can definitely act her part.Forget character development unlike similar themed Asian dramas like "Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (Sekai no Chûshin de, Ai o Sakebu, 2004)", "A Moment to Remember (Nae Meorisokui Jiwoogae, 2004)", "My Girl and I (Parang-juuibo, 2005), "Closer to Heaven (Nae Sa-rang Nae Gyeol-ae)", "Forever and a Day (Filipino, 2011)", "All My Life" (Filipino, 2004)", etc. OR even "Untamed Heart (American, 1993); 'tis a whirlwind of accelerated emotions, situations and conflicts. Don't expect much conveyance of emotions either. I get more uneasy from watching uploaded commercials of a Thai insurance company.Cinematography was beautifully shot regardless of location, with the perennial focus and zoom on Miss Sasaki's too perfect a profile not lacking. It was too much to not ponder on that I reluctantly asked my teen-aged daughter (whom I was watching this with, and yes there where uncomfortable parts!); "Can they Photoshop™ a whole movie?".Plot was not as hard to miss, just that it was progressing too fast to be expected. If it was made into a mini-series then much would rather make sense (like Hotaru no Hikari, which is WAY out of context). Other characters or sub-plots are just as forgettable as they come and go. Culture shock would be not as hard as to come by judging from various taboos the story includes (excessive and disturbing school bullying, disturbing "part-time" jobs for minors, co-habitation situations, etc.).All in all, its characters are beautiful, flaws are bearable and definitely watchable just don't expect it to conform to your norms and values (maybe unless you're from where this movie came from).

Is it just me, or does this feel like a weird ripoff of La Belle Personne? A beautiful girl comes to a new school, but due to her tragic background fails to form meaningful relationships. The girl is cold and somewhat unpleasant to be around. Despite this frigid behavior, she becomes involved with at least one of the many boys who admire her, but she is unable to completely reciprocate the feelings. Then, a teacher comes along. For some reason, they can love and make a movie out of it, but they cannot stay together.Fin.(Rei and Junie even have the same haircut!)