I watched this about two weeks ago. I really liked the manga and the anime so I was really looking forward into seeing the characters come to life. The Japanese have never disappointed me in their live-action adaptations of manga. Hana Yori Dango, Hana Kimi and Gokusen are just some of my favorites. But I guess there’s a first time for everything.
I understand creative license and that not everything in the manga can be directly translated into the screen. Film and manga are two different mediums of entertainment and I respect how they both work. However, changing the ending of the film defeats the purpose of Ai Yazawa’s story. The movie lacks character. The actors themselves don’t have any. As one blogger said in his review, everything was watered down and it’s kind of disappointing how it turned out.
There’s a reason why the ending in the manga and anime is the way it is. We may not exactly know what it is but it’s the mystery, the unanswered questions that make the story more compelling. At least, that’s how I feel.
