Review of "Love My Life"

 

 I'll give the movie a A- (or maybe a B+ ) .

When watching a Japanese movie, it is a guarantee of

1) Creative and stylish fashion

2) Fast paced

3)Cute girls

4)Cute girls

5) Nice cell-phones

I saw the movie about 4 months ago without subs. I watched it again a few weeks ago with English subs, and the movie was a whole lot better. Everything was good, except that I wish the storyline would go more into depth. It's a happy, lightweighted lesbian movie, just like the manga. I have to say this is the cutest movie that I've watched in all the lesbian movies I've seen so far.

Now, all I'm waiting for is a geisha lesbian movie.

wow that so cool that there is now a film adaption of this manga. i read it and i liked it very much. i hope the dvd will be available in austria too, so i can buy it.

I loved manga and also movie seems to be pretty good (two cute japanese girl - what could go wrong? Believe me, I didn't watch Sailor Moon's live action because of its costumes) . I hope someday film comes to finnish LGBT filmfestival, so I can see it.

Sometimes when i'm watching Japanese films and tv shows though, the people look so awkward in their movements. It's ever so weird.

Anyway quick note, on the start of that fanvid -

Who wakes up like that? I don't. LOL

I didn't care much for the movie, I found it to be too clichéd and a tad boring. But then again I basically don't know anything about Japanese cinema, lesbian life in Japan and so on, so maybe I am a bad judge. My suspicion was that the subtitles were very poorly translated, so maybe that's why the dialogue seemed so dreary to me in some places.

The girls are very cute and very stylish for sure. I much preferred Spider Lilies, though, which I saw the day before, Love my Life just paled in comparison.

"I don't kiss girls who wear doilies." (Alice)

this looks boring

It is true that the identity struggle that people in the closet face is an old issue, but the film did a good job of putting it in a Japanese context.

I also think it is natural for some to find the movie's themes cliché and boring, especially if you have not known the kind of society and family pressure that makes you wish you were not born in this life just because you're unconventional.

***

"I'm so sorry for the things that they've done
I'm so sorry about what we've all become."
[Editors - Well worn hands]

"avoid the pitfalls of most lesbian films." Well you got my interest. =)

 

-Nathiest

the movie two days ago and i liked it very much. The storyline is typical, yep, but the acting is great, so in general it is worth watching. It is a movie that will not change your life, thats true, but at least it has a happy ending, and nobody dies or gets hurt, and none of the girls become crazy, paranoid or psychotic...unlike most lesbian movies

I'm a big fan of afterellen.com, but I've got to say that the PowerUp red carpet interview was tough to watch. Thanks for acknowledging the problem was with the planning and not the interviewer, bless her heart!

and manga to film adaptations are as well! In the manga the mohawk girl comes back later on. You're right, in the film it almost felt as if she shouldn't have been there at all. Plus you get to see Take's boyfriend. Not that I care to see more boys in movies, buuuut while Eri was off doing stuff, Ichiko had no one but her gay best friend really. He seemed to have more importance in the manga.

I enjoyed this movie MUCH more than SpiderLilies.... SpiderLilies was trying too hard whereas Love My Life was unnassuming and fun! Although I do have to say that those chicas in both movies are flipping cuuuuute. ^_~

Which avoided pitfalls of lesbian films were you referring to?

I've seen this film, but thought the acting was just awefull. Especially by the lead girl... But the story is cute, and I still enjoyed it;) Thanks for the review!

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=kisshester

I liked how it was pretty light when it came to the drama. No deaths or murders = loverly. There were many scenes that made me smile all goofy-like, and I'm not complaining. But the part where Ichiko was translating the erotic novel was..weird. Lol.

<3

I read the manga and definitely liked it more than the film. I also agree that the leading actress's acting skills were kind of lacking. I would suggest reading the manga artist's (Yamaji Ebine's) works, they are quite enjoyable.

I havn't seen the movie yet, i'm wondering if i should or not- it seems like a low key japanese film, and that type tends to put me to sleep. For instance the singer of the music in the video is Hikari Ken and the song name is Hitomi wo Tojite (I Close My Eyes). The song was originally the theme song for this movie called Crying Out Love in the Center of the earth (在世界的中心呼唤爱)...and it bored me to tears.

If it wasn't for my japanese friend and about $100 of sushi i would have tapped out and gave into the comforting embrace of a great japanese movie induced sleep

I love it in every way. Even if it is predictable, it makes me happy!! and the soundtrack is great too! I love it when the drama is not that dramatic and the ending is happy!

This film gave me a hearty jolt of smiles. Simple, poignant, and very nuanced, especially when portraying the "Asian/Japanese" cultural idiosyncracies. Cheers!

I liked this movie because it made me feel good.

It's simple, it does not try to make me think about that subject over and over and over again, and it tells a sweet little story.

A little unbelievable (gay dad, gay mom, gay best-friend? what are the odds?), but fun to watch.

Sometimes I do preffer to watch this little fairy tale than some heavy, sad, veracious movie... Just to feel good! =]

The camera movement is too slow. The acting is not very good. I couldn't find much chemistry between the two actresses. Not to mention the love sex scenes are completely lack of passion.

Everything being said, I like the first segment with interesting twists.

I really liked this movie, no, actually: *LOVED* it!! :D Such a cute, lesbian, "feel-good" movie! I have only seen it without subtitles, but having studied Japanese for more than 3 years, I could understand most of it *lol* Anyway, I would LOVE to buy a copy of this movie, and was wondering if anyone here know where it might be sold? I tried the various amazon's yesterday, with no luck! I would def. prefer to buy a DVD with sub's though. Anyone know where this might be found?

 Thanks! :o)

 

I forgot to mention that what I'm looking for is a DVD that's region free, since I'm in Europe :O

Such a nice film. =) I really like japanese movies. Specially this kind. Ichiko's so funny! <3

 

Just when you thought it's over. You're in for the worst part..

There is an interview with Yamaji Ebine - the woman who wrote Love My Life - on Tokyowrestling.com . She has actually released a lot of lesbian-themed manga and talks about that element of her work and life in the interview.

Tokyo Wrestling is also a neat place to pick up info on queer culture in Japan (^o^)v

 

ive only watched this cause ive read the manga.. the movie itself was alright... but... eh..

but still, i *heart* this cause i just love to see 2 cute girls date each other.. hehe

I have never heard of this movie (or manga), I had just seen it at a movie rental store.  So I had rented and last night I had watched it, I had enjoyed it.  I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two actresses who played Ichiko and Eri as well as the intimate scenes (only a few).  The last scene of the movie was the best! It seemed like the couple were really in love.