[MOVIE] アオハライド 「BLUE SPRING RIDE」

「アオハライド 」 read as AO-HA-RAIDO, which comes from Aoi (青) ; Haru (春) ; and Ride. If we translate it just like that it may means "Blue Spring Ride" but since 青春 (せいしゅん - Seishun) also means adolescent (same kanji; onyomi reading) I think it could means "Adolescent Road (Ride)" and it's perfectly fit the story~ 

However, whatever it means, Ao Haru Ride definitely is a good story moreover if you like Japanese school period story like me. AHR originally is from manga by Io Sasaki and quite popular both in Japan and internationally (my opinion of course hahaha). But really, I can't stand Kou in manga. For me he is like 'what kind of a man you are' guy lolol. That's why I will talking about the movie here because the story is far shorter so Kou will not that annoying (lol) and it's Higashide Masahiro anyway~~

The very first good thing about this movie is the casts! that's sly though hahaha. I mean charming cast would attract a lot audiences even before knowing the plot, right? *Although usually I will drop the movie if the plot isn't entertain me enough haha*

— Casts
First, we have Tsubasa Honda and Masahiro Higashide for protagonist. I like Tsubasa Honda. She is reaaaalllyyy pretttyyy! her figure also nice to look at and that hair is amazingly smooth haha forgive my fangirling thing. But sadly I don't really like her act. The way she act didn't really natural and sometimes I felt that she made up her gestures and lips-movement (?) I felt the way she speaks also not natural especially when she called "Kou". The voice let out too much breath? xD I can't describe it nicely but sorry Honda-chan~~ I like you though  <3

Look how tall he is ! no one can defeat monster-sama! xD

Higa-samaaa~ I first notice him in 寄生獣 「Kiseijuu / Parasyte」 and I was like "how come that man is soooooo taaaallll !?" lolol . The way he act is okay. I think it's not bad yet not that good. Maybe because AHR is kind of 'school period romance', which personally I couldn't really say if the casts are really great or just standard. However it's Higa-sama anyway~ the way he speaks and smiles were enough to make your day with this movie (maybe) xD by the way, speaking about smiles...you must thought that Higashide is my favorite cast? Totally wrong! hahaha. Mizuki Itagaki is my favorite one ! My...I don't know how could a little boy could be that charming *sorry am turning into pedophile for a while* Mizuki-kun is played as little Kou. Boy...I would be really sad if he is my son and will be growing up 8D. For a little boy his act is nice. The expression and gestures looked natural and Mizuki-kun really captured the image of 'gentle-Kou'. He is exactly like what I imagined when I read the manga; even more good looking! xD

Mizuki-kun is one of "younger brother" band called M!LK so it's quite easy to find him~

Additional casts also amazingly good looking (acts also nice) haha. This movie basically contains lot of people who will cleanse your eyes if you like slender and Japanese guy xD Yu Koyanagi acted as Kou's older brother, who is the only one that can match Higa-sama's undeniable height. Ryo Yoshizawa as Mabudachi's friend—Ryo often acted as cheerful guy so maybe this role is kinda easy for him I supposed. He's quite eye-catching and easy to remember since I watched him in my most favorite movie. Meanwhile the ultimate additional cast is Yudai Chiba as Toma Kikuchi! First, Toma Kikuchi is a role that can't be hated since Kou originally is very annoying and it's Yudai acted as him is an ultimate combo! haha. 残念ですが、the protagonist is Higa-sama, who didn't lose from Yudai for popularity so its even—if not, most of the watchers probably will go for Kikuchi's role I think~

Ryo Yoshizawa, Director-sama, Yua Shinkawa, Tsubasa Honda, Izumi Fujimoto, Yudai Chiba and Higa-sama~

— Story Plot
The genre is romance and school period so it's something light and not too complicated to watch *If you practice at basic Japanese listening like me, this genre helps more or less* And since we talk about the movie (live action), we can't hoping that all of the scenes from manga will be there. There're so many missing scenes and that's the biggest reason Kou in movie isn't that annoying (sorry again lol). But with the missing scenes I thought the story plot is quite clear and still understandable for people who didn't read the manga yet. At least the important scenes are there and they still told us how come Kou changed to be so cold and annoying.

First meeting, same scenes . Kou was kinda sly when he said he is not Tanaka but he said same things about the rain.

Airi Tazume (little Futaba), Tsubasa, Higa-sama, Mizuki-kun

For those who don't have a clue at all about AHR or never heard of it, AHR is basically telling about that classic triangle love story in school period, which is Kikuchi, who run for Futaba, who loves Kou since her 13 years old. Actually Kou also loves Futaba since then but if he just accept Futaba, the story will less spices, right? lol There're many things that changed that-so-gentle Kou into different one including his divorced parents, passed away mother and that Nagasaki girl who 'bind' him. When Kou is back from Nagasaki and meet again with Futaba, he couldn't really prevent himself to correlating with her (since he loves her actually) and well, the story began.

— Soundtrack & Insert Music

The theme song is from Japanese rock band: 「いきものがかり - キラリ 」 (Ikimonogakari - Kirari). I personally think Kirari is quite good for spring season theme or it's just because I heard it first time in AHR, I don't know lol. Beside Kirari, the insert songs that played by Kikuchi also catch my ear because I once liked ELLEGARDEN. Kikuchi was playing electric guitar and back-vocalizing  「My Favorite Song」  and 「風の日」 (Kaze no Hi). Another two that I like are from AHR "Music Ride" soundtrack: 「7!! - アオイハナビラ」 (7!! - Aoi Hanabira) and  「ケラケラ - 友達のフリ」 (KeraKera - Tomodachi no Furi). I never heard about 7!! and KeraKera before but those songs are so refreshing and cheerful. It's been on my playlist even before AHR DVD is out lol.

I think that's enough to close this post :)
Hope you enjoy reading it and please share what do you think about AHR after you watch / read the manga.
*all pictures are my screenshots or from AHR official Twitter, Japan Fanpage and International Fanpage

Thanks! X