J-Movie: 天堂の吻 aka Paradise Kiss Movie Review and Recap

I want to start off saying if you are a great fan of Paradise Kiss manga or anime, then I think you may be sorely disappointed with the movie like I was. Apart from the hit-&-miss casting and acting direction, I totally hate the fact that they changed the ending and deviate from the original plot.

The anime itself had already "modify" and omitted content from the manga. That I can live with because the general direction was still similar and artwork was beautifully presented and executed.

How many of you remember the Blue gown from the Fashion Graduation show? I thought that was really a highlight in the anime and I loved (still do) that scene. It was like a breathtaking exquisite defining moment for both Caroline and George. However in the movie, I found it to be a complete letdown, bland awkward moment and the dress was frankly insipid and boring like those costume from C-grade flick. Before I go ranting away, I better start on my review and recap.

Paradise Kiss Movie Recap

(When you finished reading the recap, the trailer may make more sense to you)

The story started with Yukari aka Caroline (Keiko Kitagawa) being in a top high school and talking about her crush on her classmate Tokumori. She was scouted by Arashi on the streets and whisked away by Isabella to their Parakiss studio.

From there, Yukari woke up angry with Arashi just when George walked through the door. They exchanged looks and Yukari stormed out of the studio.

In school next day, Yukari was commenting out of the blue to Tokumori about "Have you ever met someone that you just know will wreak your life from the first moment you lay eyes on him?" Tokumori had no response for that sudden offhanded statement. Just then, George in his loud outfit walked into the class and spotted Yukari and snatched her off from her class. (yes, he just grabbed her and she followed him into his car) . He drove her to his fashion academy and explained about the upcoming fashion show where he and his team will be graded. They needed a good model as that will be part of the grades too. Yukari had not make up her mind whether to be their model George brought Yukari to meet his sensei who is also a makeover expert. From there. Yukari got a new haircut.

Yukari went back to school in the afternoon looking sheepish and uncertain with the new haircut. Her classmates teased her if the guy who whisked her away in the morn was a hairstylist and the new hair looked like a wig but Tokumori complimented her that the new look suited her. At home, she was reprimanded by her mother for the new hairstyle (cut fringe and wavy perm) and told her to spend more time preparing for her upcoming exam.

Next day, Isabella appeared in her class and took her away, bringing her to the fabric store where the rest of the gang are choosing fabrics for the new design. Yukari told the group that she had not agreeto be their model but since yesterday they were already treating as if she had ok'ed it. Arashi asked if she was being snotty thinking this is beneath her? Yukari glared angrily at an equally angry Arashi! At that point, George wrapped Yukari in a yellow cloth and commented on a new design with Arashi protesting! Back In the studio, George showed the group his new design which everyone went swooning ooo and ahhhh over, stating that it really was fantastic and suited caroline.

Next day, Yukari was reprimanded by her school teachers for George and Isabella unapproved appearances. After that, she seek comfort and confided to Tokumori kun about how all she needed is having someone she liked to be next to her to give her strength. Tokumori didnt get the hint at all. Yukari was exasperated that she was already so obvious....

After school, secretly to herself, Yukari admitted to herself that the more the school reprimanded and stop her, the more she wanted to hang out with the gang. With that she snuck back to the studio and was spotted the the group. While chatting to isabelle, George appeared at the stairway and smiled brightly at Yukari. Inside the studio, Miwako took Yukari's measurement and explained to her what ParadiseKiss at the door way meant. She learnt that the group formed their own label and made clothes  to be sold in some place.

That night, george was driving Yukari home. All the while, she was complaining about her life and unhappiness with her life, blaming her mum for her lack of confidence in everything and all she ever do is study study and more study. George was visibly annoyed and instead of taking her home, drove her to love hotel. In the room, George told her if she wanted beer,she can shower first or as it is which he is fine with. Yukari was a little stunned at the development. At that, George walked up to her and pushed her to the bed and told her to just do it. As he inched in to kiss her, Yukari struggled but George told her to just lie still.

George angrily told Yukari that no one forced her and he didnt drag her into the room. She walked in herself.  Yukari explained her brain was not working then!

So does that mean that she can now blame George for everything without any responsibility of her own just like how she deals with her own life, blaming her mum for her misery, blaming them when she came back to the studio herself? So just stay still he told her and he tried to kiss her again.Yukari was pissed and retorted go ahead and do what he wanted but she will hate him. She was proud to wear her uniform and she busted her arse to get into the school and she will not let any one deny her of her efforts.  George paused and Yukari pushed him away and got up from the bed. Before she left, she told George will do the modelling and left, forgetting her bag.

In the studio, Miwako wanted to answer Yukari's mobile and saw Tokumori's pix. At the same time, both Yukari and Tokumori bumped into George. (Why was he in the station when he drives?) Tokumori saw Yukari's expression and challenged George not to hassle her anymore. At the same time, Arashi and Miwako appeared and they realised the misunderstanding later. Yukari also realised at the same time why Tokumori had never fallen for anyone in school because he was still in love with his first love Miwako who was his childhood fren. Except that now she is Arashi's gf.

The next nite at home, her mum told her she will be engaging a private tutor and Yukari was angry that there will be no rest. Yukari fell out with her mum and in a fit of anger, ran away from home to the studio. Arashi told her she was wrong to do so even though he appreciate her desire to help model for them. At that point, George appeared and said it was a good thing and offered accomodation at his place for her. At the same time, he recommended Yukari to modelling shoots as a start to earn allowance for her new independence.

While jittery and lack of confidence initially, she called George to decline the job but he told her she had to complete the task so that she will not make him and his sensei look bad. As she braced herself for the new task, she got the hang of it and was happy her shots turned out well.

Meanwhile, at his place, Yukari also was shown the "room", which host all the clothes and accessories and shoes that George had ever made. It was everything handmade where he found his first style direction. He confessed that he will never sell any item in this room as each item had a special meaning and memory for him. He believed these items will be worn by someone special and important to him one day.

A group of George's fren came, Yukari discovered her own jealousy when George told her on the side that he had slept with all the girls there except Kaori (his rival in school) and Yukari herself. That nite, he also mentioned his Paris plan. When Kaori wanted to see the "room", Yukari dragged her into her bedroom instead? Kaori explained that she was not interested in George thinking Yukari was mistaken about her. However Kaori told Yukari "There is more to modelling than just wearing pretty clothes you know?"

The next day, the group was devasted all their consigment were returned with nothing sold. The team will dissolved. Yukari realised then the importance of the fashion show for the group, it will be the last dress they will ever make together as a team.

At the rehearsal, Yukari was worried. She didnt want to screw it up for the team but she couldnt do her catwalk, and George was upset as she walked like a clumsy robot. However, just before the show started, George gave Yukari a handmade butterfly ring, telling her that this is all his hope, and that she didnt have to walk in a straight line like a model. Just walk the way she wanted, in any manner she desires, and just to be herself and he will be here waiting for her.

Yukari told Geroge to "entrust it (the gown and their efforts)" to her and promised that she will do the best walk and bring the audience to paradise with her. At the backstage, while the crowd was awed by Caroline's walk, George was mesmerised by the Caroline on screen. When she returned to the back, the silent crowd erupted into cheers! George grabbed Yukari and kissed her. Though she resisted initially, she relented and kissed him back. The results were out and Kaori won while George was place second with Yukari pouting. She commented the crowd loved it bringing the house down with their applause but George explained "It was you they were applauding for, not the dress." When the show ended, Yukari also made peace with her mum who attended the show (Yukari invited her) . The mum promised not to interfere with Yukari's life anymore asking her to return home.

Yukari packed her stuff and on way home she bumped into george. Learing she was going on a first date with Tokumori. George told her he will picked out her clothes and do her makeup.

She got mad while he was applying the finishing touches to her lips and yelled why should he be helping her dress up for her date and what was the kiss about since he is going Paris alone? She said she will carry on with modelling and with that they both went seperate ways.

That night at George's apartment, Isabella asked if it was really alright for George to leave his love and his muse behind. What is a designer without his muse? George smiled. At the same time Isabella declared she is leaving with George. At home, her mum passed Yukari a parcel and she realised it was a key to a warehouse.

When she arrived and opened the door, it was a room full of all the precious clothes George had made and he had left them all to her. She realised then that George did love her and she was his special person. Yukari started to cry to herself.

Time passes and Yukari is now a famous and accomplished model and not heard from George the past 3 years. Tomokuri was also rejected after his love confession. Yukari still goes back to the old studio and left magazine with her gracing the covers there, wishing George could see them.

She had a new NY assignment. She decided to roam the streets and thought she spotted Isabelle at a distance. She checked the show's designer and it was George. She rushed up and Isabella said George decided he didnt have to make pret-a-porter ready to wear clothes and now design for play costumes, so they came to NY a year ago. She passed Yukari the studio address.

Yukari stepped into the studio, furnished similar to Paradise Kiss. There was no one. A gush of wind blew and the designs flew out of the window. As she picked them up, she knocked over some magazines and saw all her faces on the covers. Just then, George appeared and walked up to her and they hugged and kissed.

The end.



Paradise Kiss Movie Review


Generally in the movie, the characters were supposed to be as close to the manga but unfortunately in the real life adaptation, I think Osamu Mukai failed miserably in his portrayal of George. While the manga/anime character was flamboyant, somewhat aloof, cold interwined with coolness, somewhat selfish and passionate about his designs, Osamu completely failed to deliver any of those characteristic. Geroge is suppose to be this cool dude who knows exactly what he wants, and he sees Caroline as his muse and inspiration as his work. However what I get from Osamu was a rather lame performance. He came across awkward, boring and definitely not oozing with the expected charm required from him with this character. In fact, I felt this might be one of the worst role I had ever seen him in. He could not deliver the passion nor his affections for Caroline/ Yukari. His emotional performance was as sizzling as a limp wilted leafty vegetable at best. Where is the dynamic yet cynic george? Where is the passion? Where is the drive? Even when he got angry, I couldnt tell. When he was seducing Caroline, it wasnt apparent. When they kissed, it was SUPER awkward like they had beaks on them.

Keiko was better. I thought she did alright but her "modelling" scenes were so "fake" and  repetitive that I was thinking ok I get it already. However overall, I thought she fitted the role well.

I have no comments for Yusuke as Tokumori because his airtime is so short that it was almost like redundant.

What I couldnt stand was the way they dressed Isabella! It's almost an insult and nitemarish to see him onscreen. So someone think they can just dress a guy in some outlandish ugly dress, put a wig and turban like hat on him, put some lipstick and super loud lashes that can pass off as a beautiful woman?!!! In the anime, Isabella;s real identity was a secret and she was dressed so well and impeccable that no one including Yukari knew she's a he. Yet in the movie, everyone could tell. Please, the way they dressed Isabella here is worst than any social escort or if they want to make him look like a trans...the movie dressing team sure gave trans a bad name with the makeover. It was one word. HORRID!

The part I hate most was the fashion show scene where they totally destroyed the dreaminess of the act. They could at least have blue flowers petals scattered or floating all over. They could put MORE flowers on the dress. I could go on more here but not gonna waste my typing energy here.

I didnt know if they change the ending just to please the detractors asking for alternate ending or they had to so that they can work with Fox to get some scenes in the US.

The manga had both of them leading their own lives which was realistic and natural. So I hate this George and caroline getting together ending.

I was really excited about Paradise Kiss made live but having watchd it, it was a huge disappointment which made me wish I didnt. They ruined it for me. If they had done it as a drama, I think it would have been better but they have to change the lead actor. He just didnt fit the character for me.

All in all, you can watch the movie if you have no preconceived notion of what to expect based on the anime and manga and you may actually like it. However if you are hardcore lover of the original, you may not like it as much or worse, dislike the direction and execution of the show.