20th Century Boys- Chapter 1 (J Movie)

Runtime: 140 mins
More Info at Imdb

A interesting blend of mystery, prophecies, and conspiracy.

When i watched this movie, I haven't any idea of how its manga version feels like. But as a fan of the mystery genre, I was soon absorbed into the movie in about 10 mins into it.


First, it is quite a lengthy movie which I felt was like close to 3 hours when I watched it. (But I have always like long movies). Nothing really bad about that, rather I find it still reasonable as it gives more time to tell the backstory and unfolds the mystery.


Story basically starts out with long time friends gathering at the funeral of their once close friend, Donkey, who died mysteriously. Tieing the case and the protanganist(Kenji) together is the symbol that leads back to his childhood schooltimes where he and his group of friends first met. The symbol was created as a sign of their friendship.


Under the lead of Kenji, the curious students imagined what the future would be like and Kenji drew down the events on a book, which they named as the Book of Prophecies. The book was later buried and the group of students grew up living their own lives.


Back to the present time, mysterious murders continue after Donkey's death, influence of an unknown cult begins to spread, led by someone known only as Friend, an unidentified individual who wears a mask drawn with the symbol created by Kenji and his friends. Meanwhile, the events told in the Book of Prophecies starts to come true one after another.


Who is this Friend? Could the culprit be among Kenji's friends, the only ones who know of the Book of Prophecies? It was these questions that kept me till the credits roll. It was quite a pleasant surprise to see how the ending paves the start for the 2nd Chapter, which alas after a long wait will be screening in local theatres on this 9th of July!


Pacing and overall execution wise, I find Death Note better to some extent, though I have to say that 20th Century Boys' plot is more complex, and the character involvement is much broader. Fans of the mystery genre, DON'T miss this!

Mr Brain (2009)

An intelligent, funny and grandeous successor to Hero!

Accidentally found the link to this drama before its airing in Japan, I know J drama fans are in for a real treat from another detective series of Takuya Kimura, whose performance in his debut detective series' role Hero has left a deep impression in all J drama fans. The story starts with a jovial gigolo, who after a fatal accident resulting in great damage to his brain, wakens and lost all memories of his former self. This results in his brain opening access to its dormant functions which normal humans fail to utilize, thus highly raising his capabilities of the right brain and overall intelligence.


Unlike common comparisons like CSI and Galileo, this series explores the cases in an unique way, by incorporating the ideas of neuroscience in the investigation process to solve the mind bending cases. One main unique aspect of Mr Brain series goes to the mixture of supernatural and also superhuman ideas surrounding the cases. The fact that the eccentric and intelligent Mr Brain is willing to accept these so called illogical ideas create much comedic effect to the plot as he is doubted by his fellow colleagues.


Casting wise, this series includes a powerhouse of guests stars like Ryoko Hirisue, Gackt, Aibu Saki and many more. Japan is currently airing up till episode 6. Up till now, it is looking good and I can't wait for the rest of the episodes.

*Episodes available.


Below Info taken from DramaWiki

Episodes: 8
Genre: Mystery, Comedy
Songs:

• 'Jump' by Van Halen

Cast

• Kimura Takuya as Tsukumo Ryusuke
• Ayase Haruka as Yuri Kazune
• Mizushima Hiro as Hayashida Toranosuke
• Hiraizumi Sei as Funaki Junpei
• Shitara Osamu as Kanda Junichi
• Yamazaki Shigenori as Ochi Koichi
• SHIHO as Mariko
• Kinoshita Yukina as the cleaning lady
• Isaka Shunya (井坂俊哉) as Namikoshi Katsumi
• Hayashi Yasufumi as Iwabuchi Kiyoshi
• Kobayashi Katsuya (小林克也) as Seta Ippei
• Tanaka Yuji (田中裕二) as Natsume Mitsuo
• Tortoise Matsumoto (トータス松本) as Nanba Jotaro
• Daichi Mao as Sasa Miharu
• Kagawa Teruyuki as Tanbara Tomomi

General Synopsis

Tsukumo Ryusuke is neuroscientist working for the National Research Institute of Police Science (part of the National Police Agency). He is generally incapable of reading the atmosphere of a situation, but when it comes to science, he is well respected. Whenever something catches his interest, he thoroughly sticks to it and never gives up, chasing down the criminals with certainty. --Tokyograph

Ice World/Koori No Sekai (1999)

*Post Coming Soon!*


Below info taken from DramaWiki

Episodes: 11

Genre: Mystery, romance, suspense

Viewership ratings: 19

Broadcast period: 1999-Oct-11 to 1999-Dec-20


Songs:

• 'Diamond Dust' by Himuro Kyosuke
  

Cast

• Takenouchi Yutaka as Hirokawa Eiki (Investigator at Rose Life Insurance)
• Matsushima Nanako as Egi Toko (Earth Sciences teacher at Eiwa Girls School)
• Uchida Yuki as Shono Tsukiko (Hirokawa Eiki's girlfriend & police officer)
• Kaneko Ken as Sakota Shogo (Egi Toko's college friend)
• Katase Nana as Sakota Nanami (Sakoto Shogo's younger sister)
• Matsuo Reiko as Ide Hitomi (Bartender at Ice Storm)
• Nakamura Toru as Ujou Takeshi (Chief Detective, Machida City Police)
• Nakajima Tomoko as Ujou Masako (Ujou Takeshi's wife)
• Kimura Tae as Ikenaga Sonoe (English teacher at Eiwa Girls School)
• Tayama Ryosei as Hirase Kazuhiko (Head of Investigation Department, Rose Life Insurance)
• Tanihara Shosuke as Hiyama Toyohiko (Photo journalist, Egi Toko's fiance #1)
• Yamaji Kazuhiro as Shibata Yoshinori (Psychiatrist, Egi Toko's fiance #2)
• Oikawa Mitsuhiro as Hisamatsu Koichi (Restaurant owner, Egi Toko's fiance #3)
• Tsukayama Masane
• Sakai Toshiya (ep4)

General Synopsis

Investigations on a mysterious woman Toko started when Sonoe, a teacher and Toko's fellow faculty member, was found dead as a result of what seemed to be an unfortunate accident. Eiki, an insurance investigator, and Takeshi, an ambitious police detective, find links between this case and the deaths of Toko's 3 fiances, and are determined to uncover the truth.