and yes, that's him in my icon. Isn't he pretty? He can act well, too.

[cerusee]

I'm really going to need to see this: a live action version of Tezuka's MW, starring my adored, the talented and charismatic Hiroshi Tamaki (aka, the swoonworthy Chiaki from the live-action Nodame Cantabile. Hiroshi charmed equally with sex appeal and by his willingness to make the most ridiculous and undignified faces known to man when his character goofed around with the titular Nodame, played by the equally charming Ueno Juri). I think it very likely that Hiroshi will be just as deliciously watchable as a charming, murderous sociopath as he was as a grumpy conducting student haunted by an uncouth piano student. And he'll be wearing sexy glasses and a nice suit! It's Cillian Murphy as the Scarecrow all over again, folks--I'm a lost cause.

Which reminds me, one of these days, I need to get my hands on the Nodame Cantabile live action DVDs, preferably with English subtitles and in a format my DVD player can handle. That series was incomparably fun, and good enough to rewatch.

Comments

[fani.livejournal.com]

THEY'RE AKING A LIVE VERSION OF MW O_O

I'm...morbidly interested.

[m00nface.livejournal.com]

Unrelated: if you like undignified faces, have you seen My Boss, My Hero, the Japanese drama about a 27-year-old yakuza whose father covertly sends him to high school because he's too stupid to become the Don right now? It stars a few idols who are also really talented at comedy acting, and the lead (Nagase Tomoya from TOKIO) wins at goofy. I highly, highly recommend it if you haven't seen it already! (And have just pushed Nodame Cantabile to the top of my to-watch list. I am such a sucker for the exaggerated acting in Japanese comedies, I think it's hilarious!)

[zdenka]

Drive-by librarian moment:

You like Tezuka! You must see my friend Ada's website if by some chance you aren't already familiar with it.

/drive-by librarian

Okay, actually I'm still a library student, but "drive-by librarian" sounds cooler.

[m00nface.livejournal.com]

Having now seen all of Nodame Cantabile and both the special episodes... I am now 100% with you on the Tamaki Hiroshi thing. Oh my word. I'm more or less certain that he is the most attractive man alive (and actually a good actor, comically and emotionally, which really, really helps his case).

I also suspect My Boss, My Hero might actually be a bit too slapsticky for you now I've seen how far Nodame Cantabile goes in the goofy stakes, but it's still a series I like so watch a few episodes when you have nothing else to do and see how you like it. : )

Totally fell in love with Chiaki/Nodame, which I was NOT expecting! It took a little while; they did such a good job painting her as off-putting, all the way through the drama, plus I was put off by the fact that she seemed to be going down a path that wasn't enjoyable at all for her, all for Chiaki's sake. Then the series started to show some of her subtler good points, and she learned that study could make playing more fun while Chiaki learned that having fun with the music could make his study more meaningful. That they both somehow seemed to find a middle level where they understood each other but kept challenging each other, equals but still on really, REALLY different planes - I wasn't expecting that.

But what really made the relationship work for me was Nodame pushing Chiaki away when he came back from his tour for a day. The moment he realised he not only wanted her around but actually had to work for it (I loved that scene in the taxi in Fukuoka where he's frustrated that Nodame didn't realise how much courage it took for him to ask her to study abroad with him, and reflects on the fact that he'd been so sure she'd say yes if he just asked), I started to really believe that they could have a relationship, and by the end I was a complete supporter. (I kind of wish I was Nodame though, despite the dodgy personal hygiene and occasional social skills issues...)

I also want to name my first-born child Chiaki. I'm actually serious about this, I really wanted to incorporate the aki kanji into one of my kids' names without resorting to Akiko, a really common name now, but didn't want to create a brand new weird foreigner version of a Japanese name, and needed something that wouldn't be mispronounced too badly in English. Chiaki is perfect!
Just one more reason to love the drama. Thank you for the rec! I think I'm checking out Honey and Clover next, I'm sure you recommended that to me a million years ago.