It Started with a Kiss (2019)

I've watched several adaptations of the Itazura Na Kiss franchise and like all others, had high expectations for this one. I literally just stalked the internet waiting for english subs for this to come out so I could watch it. I can honestly say no adaptation has nailed Jiang Zhi Shu's (Irie Noaki) character to the point than this one. There wasn't too much aloofness like the Korean adaptation and he also wasn't too kind/amiable like the Thai version. Previously, my personal Zhi Shu favorite was the Taiwanese version starring Joe Cheng and Ariel Lin because it was the only version of all the ones I've seen that I saw Zhi Shu developing feelings for Xiang Qin and not just proclaiming his love unexpectedly to her at the climax. However, after watching this adaptation, I can honestly say that Darren Wang played Jiang Zhi Shu the best. The Zhi Shu in this movie shows just enough emotion to make his love seem real and maintains the same aloofness to keep to the original plot. Jelly Lin also played a good Yuan Xiang Qin. Her blind and unrequited love was annoying at all, unlike the Xiang Qin in the Taiwanese Movie remake starring Esther Wu.

Now onto the plot. Like all the Itazura Na Kiss remakes, this movie was very fluffy and not to be taken very seriously. There were many overexaggerated plot details that made me laugh because of their absurdity. The romance itself was very cute and light-hearted. I absolutely adored the moments where Zhi Shu would quietly smile to himself after interacting with Xiang Qin. My favorite part was the high school phase. I found it incredulously funny of the school system and how they separated and made a very clear distinction between class A and F. After watching this, I find myself wishing this movie was a drama instead so I could see all the other scenes that the writers left out because of the time constraint of it being a movie. I hope another remake comes out.

To anyone who's watched this: watch their marriage scene on youtube that wasn't included in the movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA-epdtfI7M

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I just watched this movie today and I didn't understand why I cringed so much. Darren Wang's acting was really good, but the girl's acting was too cringy I attempted dropping the movie a couple of times.

Darren Wang is one of my favorite Taiwanese actors. Him playing the lead role in my favorite Shoujo anime made me watch the show. HOWEVER, I felt so bad not loving this version. Maybe because the Japanese drama version (Love in Tokyo) hit me so hard I couldn't love any other versions. Love in Tokyo was my favorite among all Itazura Na Kiss versions. I couldn't think of any reason why I wasn't so impressed with this movie other than that.

I watched the anime version and read parts of the manga, I'd say they were funny and cute. I tried watching the Taiwanese drama version way back in 2006 but I dropped it because I hated the lead girl. I tried watching the Thai version but dropped it again after the first episode. I didn't bother watching the Korean version tho, due to lots of negative reviews.

So back to this film.. I really had high expectations- because why not? It's another Itazura Na Kiss version, Darren Wang's playing the lead role and it's a Frankie Chen film (She was also the director of OUR TIMES -one of my favorite Asian movies). I thought this film will give me good vibes as the Japanese version did. But boy, I was wrong.

I was disappointed with Jelly Lin's acting, I was disappointed by the fact that Darren's mother was useless in this film (in the anime, manga and other versions, she was the MVP), I was disappointed with the other characters who didn't really play their roles as they should, I was disappointed with the other characters who didn't really match the description and so on. I guess they just want the story to revolve to the two main characters. But hell, didn't they realize that the other characters made a huge impact as to why and how (Naoki) fell in love with (Kotoko)? While I appreciate the effort of making this film a little different from the other versions, I still couldn't find the attachment and I really felt bad about it.

I was disappointed, but I don't hate it. Some of the INK fans may think the same, and this is only my opinion. I don't usually write reviews, I just can't help it. I'd like to send a warning to my fellow INK fans to not expect too much from this film.


Oh, and BTW. No matter how much I adore Darren Wang as an actor, nobody can nail the Irie Naoki role like Yuki Furukawa did in Love in Tokyo (INK Japanese drama version in 2013-2014). Yuki gave justice to the role, he was GREAT in it! It only took me a few minutes watching the first episode to fall in love with him.

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