You Are the Apple of My Eye (2018)

I liked the Taiwanese version. So when the announcement was made that Japan will be remaking the movie, I was really excited. I didn't know the main actress but I have seen Yamada Yuki act before so I knew this will deliver. Was I right? Yes, but not entirely.

The movie was a total copycat of the original version, from the set-up to the styling. Yamada Yuki was good in his portrayal as the guy who has a childish crush to his classmate. Though Ko Ching Teng still wins in a battle of who is better, still one can tell that Yamada was a good fit for the role. The problem lies with the female lead. She's just blank and bland. She doesn't know how to carry conversations naturally. Her voice and facial expressions are really awkward. You could tell that her visibly awkward acting makes her partner awkward too, it's contagious. Well, she's a rookie, still young, and I believe she will improve with more acting gigs. Also, the chemistry between the two leads isn't there and even the friendship among men wasn't as strong compared to the Taiwanese version. The movie lacked spice, emotions, they were short to every element the original had.

Anyways, despite everything, the movie still made me feel bitter about the ending. They still made me feel the same way as I did when I watch the original version years ago. The regret and heartache, the whys... it's still there. And I guess, that alone will make you check out this version.

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"You are the apple of my eye" Japanese version, felt like it was pointless.

Having not watched the other version, I can't really compare them. But, judging from other viewers, it was pretty similar to the original. In any case, what I liked about the movie was the feel good vibes, the youthful story and the performances. The characters were interesting, unique and funny. I enjoyed especially the leading character. That said, everyone did a great job with the performances.

However, when it came to the love story, that's when things got out of track. The movie kept promising to give something, but never did. It was like watching those two going in circles and never meeting. So, that was disappointing.

So, overall, six out of ten.

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A Lovely Remake

You Are The Apple of My Eye is a Japanese remake of a Taiwanese movie and it is a wonderful coming of age/slice of life type of story of high school life, close-knit group of friends, and first loves. Yamada Yuki plays Kosuke, the martial arts enthusiast who finds studying and going to school mundane and useless, until he meets and falls in love with model student Mana, played by Saito Asuka. Their relationship is complex as they are the exact opposites of each other and so their romance has always been rocky from the start. This line hit me hard, though. “Thank you for falling in love with me.” How many times have I heard that in my lifetime?! Too many! Hahahahaha.... Our teen years really are the best days of our lives but the growing pains, heartaches, and lost chances also suck big time! I love Kosuke's interaction with his friends the most. The four of them are probably the best characters in the whole film. I'm glad I decided to watch this despite my initial misgivings. I might watch the Taiwanese version next.

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Not as good as the Taiwanese version.

When I first see the opening minutes, it looks promising and there was an attempt to adapt it to suit Japanese culture but unfortunately it turned out to be bad, so it's not as exciting as the original film.

The first half puts forward and encourages friendship, but the element that should be prioritized because it will be the life of this film, namely 'romance', was ignored in the first half and it was a bad decision, when Kosuke and Hayase began to be the focus as a couple, but due to the wrong build up, they in my opinion looks more like bestfriend than a couple of lovers, even when the dating scene there's no love there, so their relationship which was supposed to be at that moment has started to mature but because it is late in sharpening so it's still raw, since the dating scene I am sure this film has no hope.

I'm a fan of Nogizaka46, so I know Saito Asuka but to be honest in here her acting is very bad, Hayase has become like a female character who doesn't deserve to be fought for and chased like Shen Chia Yi. But Asuka's getting better now, in Eizouken she's doing well.

Yuki Yamada, he's okay but sometimes his acting is too contrived and cringe and the development of his character also makes his character Kosuke look like an idiot, unlike seeing Ko Ching Teng, where I hope he is the one with Shen Chia Yi, for Kosuke I feel he deserves not to get Hayase because he looks so stupid.

Ironically, the film puts forward friendship in the first half, in the next half it is just thrown away, so I can't remember the character of Kosuke and Hayase's friends because there is no memorable moment.

I want to type a lot of the ugliness of this film, such as an unflattering sense of nostalgia, class atmosphere that feels unpleasant etc.

That's all I can type, better not watch it if you've watch the Taiwanese one.

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