[REVIEW] Let Me Eat Your Pancreas ( 君の膵臓をたべたい ; Kimi no Suizo wo Tabetai )
I have been so excited with this movie ever since the teasers were dropped. I was looking forward to this because my boy, Kitamura Takumi is getting the lead role. Yay! I first saw him in Aogeba Totoshi and was already endeared to this boy since then so I was so happy that he was given a lead role right away.
Synopsis
Sakura Yamauchi (Minami Hamabe) and “I” (Takumi KItamura) were former high school classmates. Inspired by Sakura’s words, “I” (Shun Oguri) has now become a teacher at the school they both attended. While talking to his students, he is reminded of the many days he spent with Sakura. Sakura, who was suffering from a disease of the pancreas, kept a diary of her struggle against her illness and how she tried to live with it. After he discovers the diary by chance one day, “I” and Sakura gradually start to spend more time together. Sakura is determined to live out her days brilliantly, but finally, the end draws near. Twelve years after her death, her best friend Kyoko (Karen Otomo/Keiko Kitagawa), who is soon to marry, also begins to remember the time she spent with Sakura, just as “I” does. Then, because of something that happens, the two realize what Sakura really wanted to convey over the distance of those 12 years.
So this is basically an adaptation from a novel written by Yoru Sumino with the same title. The film stars Kitamura Takumi as Haruki Shiga, Shun Oguri as Haruki Shiga (12 years later), Minami Hamabe as Sakura Yamauchi, Karen Otomo as Kyoko and Keiko Kitagawa as Kyoko (12 years later).
I saw a lot of buzz around this movie- that this was going to be as heartbreaking as Your Lie In April which I was really never a fan of ( both the movie and anime ). Don't get me wrong, I love Yamaken to the core but I just didn't relate to it so much and I honestly thought why people were claiming it was one of the best tear jerker movies - I have seen better movies tbh. Oh well, to each is his own. XD I could not even dare to compare Let Me Eat Your Pancreas to YLIA. I could confidently say that LMEYP is miles better that YLIA.
CAST
Shun Oguri
I think I will never be able to put into words how great Shun is as an actor. He has a profound acting career- all his roles made a mark to everyone/ anyone who's watched his works. He is that good. He is a veteran and still as popular as he is. I was not mistaken. Despite just being a supporting role to this movie as Haruki Shiga 12 years later, he lived it- Haruki's pains and sadness. He looked like he was on the verge of crying all througout the whole movie. It was so sad to watch. Hands down to that consistent solid acting.
Keiko Kitagawa
Keiko is a good actress but I'm not a big fan. She played the protagonist's bestfriend- Kyoko, 12 years later. Despite being a supporting role in this, her character was the one that deeply moved me and hell yeah, I cried so hard at the scene when she finally learns the truth about her bestfriend- this I will tackle later. Great acting- with a limited screentime, she exuded so much genuity and rawness to the feelings of a loyal bestfriend.
Minami Hamabe
Our protagonist. I have seen her in Ano Hana movie as Menma. Unfortunately, Minami was not effective in this movie. It is actually frustrating to watch a movie and discover that the loophole is the main character. It was like that for me while watching Minami play as Sakura Yamauchi. There was not much depth in her acting, I could not understand her at all and at one point I just got annoyed. I don't know if its because she lacks the acting skills ,poor directing or the role just didnt fit her at all.
Kitamura Takumi
Our male lead. Takumi plays the character of Haruki Shiga. Takumi is a gem in this movie. I am saying this without any biases. I was actually quite skeptical if he is going to pull off such a heavy and complicated role- I've only seen him in Aogeba. He was good there but that doesnt give any assurance that he will also do well in other projects but my boy proved me wrong and didn't disappoint. He blew me off my feet with the superb acting. The part where he broke down in front of Sakura's mother still gives me goosebumps. That cry was so raw, genuine and so heartbreaking that you will feel "OH GOD, THIS BOY IS SO SAD AND BROKEN". It was an ugly cry- no hesitation, restraint- just a pour of emotions. Have you ever experienced seeing a family or a friend cry in front of you and it made you cry too not because of any particualr reason but because their feelings of sadness reached you too? Takumi's cry was like that. I was so sad watching him, I sobbed so hard and that's a big hands down for his acting skills. He was so consistent too about his character- stoic,sensitive, alone and strong. It was so different from his character in Aogeba. After watching this movie, I felt like Takumi in Aogeba Totoshi is all a lie! My boy is not a happy kid!!!! hahahaha. That's how powerful and engaging his acting is in this movie. I think this is the reason why he won this year's Japanese Academy Award for New Comer. Congratuations Takumi, you deserve it.
The Plot
I honestly think that the movie was powerful and moving ( I hated the title! ). The script was beautifully written maybe because it was based from a novel.
The opening of the movie is already giving us a hint that this was going to be about regrets and yes, it was. It was about Haruki still questionning the reason why he met Sakura-
I really think Haruki is such a beautiful character. He is such a sensitive human being. This one scene still remains in my mind-
The way Haruki thinks is so beautiful atleast for me. You know shit is getting real when-
Just when I thought feels train is gonna fetch me soon- no. A lot of things still happens. This movie is slow paced and a bit dragging too. I even have a guess where the story is heading to but you know what kept me from watching this? because the characters were hinting something. I can feel it in my gut, something unexpected is going to happen and this keeps me moving forward with the movie and I was not mistaken. There was a big twist, a heartbreaking confrontation and just everything from the beginning started to make sense- why it all happened, why all of them met. And there, at the latter part of the movie the feels train came without warning- I was a sobbing wreck.
Haruki finally finds the letter from Sakura 12 years ago and gave it to Kyoko on her wedding day. I felt the hurt and the gratefulness all at once from Kyoko- and there was Haruki, on the verge of crying while Kyoko is sobbing over her bestfriend's last letter. Ah~~ It was such a heartfelt scene, I think I will not get over it for weeks and still cry over it.
and the way Sakura describes Haruki at the end is so true on so many levels :'( and her last wish for him--- I'm so emotional about this.
This movie was worth the wait. I'd give this a rating of 8/10 despite Takumi's acting being 10/10!!! hahahaha. I am looking forward for more projects for my boy. He has definitely raised the bar despite his age. His future looks so bright. :)
Synopsis
Sakura Yamauchi (Minami Hamabe) and “I” (Takumi KItamura) were former high school classmates. Inspired by Sakura’s words, “I” (Shun Oguri) has now become a teacher at the school they both attended. While talking to his students, he is reminded of the many days he spent with Sakura. Sakura, who was suffering from a disease of the pancreas, kept a diary of her struggle against her illness and how she tried to live with it. After he discovers the diary by chance one day, “I” and Sakura gradually start to spend more time together. Sakura is determined to live out her days brilliantly, but finally, the end draws near. Twelve years after her death, her best friend Kyoko (Karen Otomo/Keiko Kitagawa), who is soon to marry, also begins to remember the time she spent with Sakura, just as “I” does. Then, because of something that happens, the two realize what Sakura really wanted to convey over the distance of those 12 years.
So this is basically an adaptation from a novel written by Yoru Sumino with the same title. The film stars Kitamura Takumi as Haruki Shiga, Shun Oguri as Haruki Shiga (12 years later), Minami Hamabe as Sakura Yamauchi, Karen Otomo as Kyoko and Keiko Kitagawa as Kyoko (12 years later).
I saw a lot of buzz around this movie- that this was going to be as heartbreaking as Your Lie In April which I was really never a fan of ( both the movie and anime ). Don't get me wrong, I love Yamaken to the core but I just didn't relate to it so much and I honestly thought why people were claiming it was one of the best tear jerker movies - I have seen better movies tbh. Oh well, to each is his own. XD I could not even dare to compare Let Me Eat Your Pancreas to YLIA. I could confidently say that LMEYP is miles better that YLIA.
CAST
Shun Oguri
I think I will never be able to put into words how great Shun is as an actor. He has a profound acting career- all his roles made a mark to everyone/ anyone who's watched his works. He is that good. He is a veteran and still as popular as he is. I was not mistaken. Despite just being a supporting role to this movie as Haruki Shiga 12 years later, he lived it- Haruki's pains and sadness. He looked like he was on the verge of crying all througout the whole movie. It was so sad to watch. Hands down to that consistent solid acting.
Keiko Kitagawa
Keiko is a good actress but I'm not a big fan. She played the protagonist's bestfriend- Kyoko, 12 years later. Despite being a supporting role in this, her character was the one that deeply moved me and hell yeah, I cried so hard at the scene when she finally learns the truth about her bestfriend- this I will tackle later. Great acting- with a limited screentime, she exuded so much genuity and rawness to the feelings of a loyal bestfriend.
Minami Hamabe
Our protagonist. I have seen her in Ano Hana movie as Menma. Unfortunately, Minami was not effective in this movie. It is actually frustrating to watch a movie and discover that the loophole is the main character. It was like that for me while watching Minami play as Sakura Yamauchi. There was not much depth in her acting, I could not understand her at all and at one point I just got annoyed. I don't know if its because she lacks the acting skills ,poor directing or the role just didnt fit her at all.
Kitamura Takumi
Our male lead. Takumi plays the character of Haruki Shiga. Takumi is a gem in this movie. I am saying this without any biases. I was actually quite skeptical if he is going to pull off such a heavy and complicated role- I've only seen him in Aogeba. He was good there but that doesnt give any assurance that he will also do well in other projects but my boy proved me wrong and didn't disappoint. He blew me off my feet with the superb acting. The part where he broke down in front of Sakura's mother still gives me goosebumps. That cry was so raw, genuine and so heartbreaking that you will feel "OH GOD, THIS BOY IS SO SAD AND BROKEN". It was an ugly cry- no hesitation, restraint- just a pour of emotions. Have you ever experienced seeing a family or a friend cry in front of you and it made you cry too not because of any particualr reason but because their feelings of sadness reached you too? Takumi's cry was like that. I was so sad watching him, I sobbed so hard and that's a big hands down for his acting skills. He was so consistent too about his character- stoic,sensitive, alone and strong. It was so different from his character in Aogeba. After watching this movie, I felt like Takumi in Aogeba Totoshi is all a lie! My boy is not a happy kid!!!! hahahaha. That's how powerful and engaging his acting is in this movie. I think this is the reason why he won this year's Japanese Academy Award for New Comer. Congratuations Takumi, you deserve it.
The Plot
I honestly think that the movie was powerful and moving ( I hated the title! ). The script was beautifully written maybe because it was based from a novel.
The opening of the movie is already giving us a hint that this was going to be about regrets and yes, it was. It was about Haruki still questionning the reason why he met Sakura-
I really think Haruki is such a beautiful character. He is such a sensitive human being. This one scene still remains in my mind-
The way Haruki thinks is so beautiful atleast for me. You know shit is getting real when-
Just when I thought feels train is gonna fetch me soon- no. A lot of things still happens. This movie is slow paced and a bit dragging too. I even have a guess where the story is heading to but you know what kept me from watching this? because the characters were hinting something. I can feel it in my gut, something unexpected is going to happen and this keeps me moving forward with the movie and I was not mistaken. There was a big twist, a heartbreaking confrontation and just everything from the beginning started to make sense- why it all happened, why all of them met. And there, at the latter part of the movie the feels train came without warning- I was a sobbing wreck.
Haruki finally finds the letter from Sakura 12 years ago and gave it to Kyoko on her wedding day. I felt the hurt and the gratefulness all at once from Kyoko- and there was Haruki, on the verge of crying while Kyoko is sobbing over her bestfriend's last letter. Ah~~ It was such a heartfelt scene, I think I will not get over it for weeks and still cry over it.
and the way Sakura describes Haruki at the end is so true on so many levels :'( and her last wish for him--- I'm so emotional about this.
This movie was worth the wait. I'd give this a rating of 8/10 despite Takumi's acting being 10/10!!! hahahaha. I am looking forward for more projects for my boy. He has definitely raised the bar despite his age. His future looks so bright. :)