Orange (2015) - Japanese Movie Review

-May contain major spoilers-

This movie contains heavy topics beware.

 Orange (オレンジ) is a Japanese sci-fi romantic drama film based on the manga of the same name by Takano Ichigo directed by Hashimoto Kojiro and released on December 12, 2015 starring Tsuchiya Tao and Yamazaki Kento.

Summary

Takamiya Naho (Tsuchiya Tao), 16, is starting her second year of high school. On her way to school, she finds a mysterious letter in her school bag; that letter was written by her, but then years in the future. In the letter, Naho from the future asks Naho from the past to help her fix the regrets she has.  

At first, Naho is incredulous and thinks it's a prank until, as the letter says, a new transfer student, Naruse Kakeru (Kento Yamazaki) who comes from Tokyo appears.

Naho and her friends Suwa Hiroto (Ryusei Ryo), Chino Takako (Yamazaki Hirona), Murasaka Azusa (Shimizu Kurumi) and Hagita Saku (Sakurada Dori) decide to invite Kakeru out even though the letter asked Naho to not invite him that day. Kakeru doesn't show up to school for 2 weeks like the letter says, the day he appears is the day of the "big game" of softball where future Naho regrets not having participated in the game and states that that was the day she fell in love with Kakeru.

Present Naho decides to relieve her future regrets by playing and also falls in love with Kakeru and even tries to encourage him to play soccer (football) again. 

Through the letter, Naho learns that in the future Kakeru has passed away and with their friends starts to help him by doing the opposite of what future Naho did.

 

Will Naho and her friends be able to save Kakeru from his doomed life...? (Please watch the movie to learn that ;))

Thoughts

Orange is a fantastic movie and also one of the best live-action adaptations, although it has some differences with manga, the main one being SPOILER that in the manga all the friends in the group received a letter in the movie only Naho and Suwa were the ones who received it (I don't really like that because it diminishes the feelings of the rest of the friend group) SPOILER ENDS.

The cinematography is great right from the first shot with the cherry blossom trees and maintains a good quality throughout the entire film.

The entire cast did a good job and were very similar to their manga counterparts.

From the soundtrack, I really liked the main theme 「未来」(-Mirai- meaning: Future) by the band コブクロ (Kobukuro) the lyrics are very beautiful.

I love the color of the school uniforms in this movie, that green looks really good, especially the combination with the red socks (in the manga and anime the green was a lot lighter). 

I recommend this movie if you like watching good manga adaptations, like watching a group with a fantastic friendship, and time travel stuff (like Il Mare [Review])

Rating

Acting - 9/10

Plot - 10/10

Romance - 10/10

OST - 9/10

Cinematography - 10/10

Overall Rating - 9.5/10

Extended Movie Info

Run Time: 139 minutes (2hs 19min).

Release Date: December 12, 2015.

Based on: Orange by Takano Ichigo.

Directed by: Hashimoto Kojiro.

Cinematography by: Nabeshima Atsuhiro.

Screenplay by: Kaneko Arisa.

Edited by: Takita Ryuichi.

Music by: Yoshihide Otomo.

Starring: Tsuchiya Tao and Yamazaki Kento

Although I love Naho and Kakeru together whether in the manga, the anime, the live-action, the future, or the present, I can't help to always feel bad for Suwa, he is such a great friend.