Diagonaldi Very well executed

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Jerrie It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

ltlacey This movie, IMO, is an anthem to what it is like to be a geek. There are a lot of blogs about how this was only a dream, how the ending was not good, that the movie was not funny, etc. But I saw this movie from a geek's point of view. A young man, a geek to the core, with very little, if any, social skills when it comes to women. One day he witnesses some women being accosted on the train, and being a good guy, even though he is afraid, tries to assist. As it turns out, he really did not do anything but distract the drunk, and the result was that 3 women, one which would become his soon-to-be love interest, are totally grateful for his chivalry. The love interest wants to repay him for his kindness. Of course, this sets up the rest of the movie, where he heads online asking for help as he has no idea how to proceed. Six people come to his rescue. Three other very geeky guys, with some very funny scenes by the way, a nurse who is getting over a relationship, a young man who refuses to leave his bedroom and only talks to others online, a working man, and another woman. They all give him advice, like how to dress for that very important first meeting, getting his hair cut, and then, with the use of technology, offer him hints that he frequently checks for lines to say when he is with the young lady. Pure Shy Geek. As for the scene where their dinner plans are ruined and he's at the Internet cafe, the young lady was let down, since he had saved her once before from ruffians, and as soon as he dashed off to go find another place to dine she was accosted. She then sees him on the computer, but she does not know what he is doing. We then have the final scene in which we're back to the scene where a little girl is sleeping against him and he picks up the train pass, thinking it is hers. The little girl then gives the pass to the young lady, which I also saw as a link that they were meant to be with one another. And the reason the young lady did not notice him was that like every other nondescript person on the street, recall the scene where men's cologne is being passed out and the young lady passing it out does not even notice our hero since he's dressed in total geek attire, he was just one more nondescript person and explains why she did not take a 2nd look. The scene after the credits shows us a different geek on the train but the same drunk accosting young women, and this new geek does the same thing. And the young woman he was "saving" was not the same woman, Hermes. Then our hero, in regular attire, helps the new geek up. Simple story and done quiet well really and with a solid and plausible link between our hero and the six people who help him win the girl. And of course we find out what happens to the six people who were his friends. Watch the movie again if you're confused about some of it. If not, just sit back and enjoy it all.

tedg I suppose every society has something like this: a superficially manufactured product, targeted at clumsy boys (and sometimes girls) whose only intent is to assure them that their clumsiness is endearing. Don't grow up, it allows, you will find movie romance.In this case, our dweeb stumbles upon a princess and each stumble and successive misstep brings him closer to her. He's honest and endearing you see. The narrative folding here (where the audience has an on screen equivalent) comes from his internet buddies. Presumably, most of these only know our hero through the chat room and have no idea what he is like in person. This rather numerous bunch get every detail reported to them just as we the "real" viewers see. They comment and encourage, just as we are meant to, cheering him on, giving him the courage to chase his dream and be fulfilled as a man. Its a simple narrative fold. The story and the point of the story are both revoltingly trite.There is an interesting detail though. Among his internet buddies are three guys even more nerdy than he. They seem to live together, but only have a life on-line. The conflating of their online life with the story we see is odd: they shift into a war movie where the "advancement" of the romance is equated with advancing on a battlefield. Elsewhere, this is completed by others and even the girl encouraging our guy to "be brave."This is no "All About Lilly Chow Chow," which I aggressively recommend. That is deep; this is not.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

Sinner If you've spent much time chatting on the Internet, you've probably had a conversation along these lines at some point: "They should make a movie like this!" "Naah... who wants to see a movie about a bunch of people sitting at computers typing?" Densha Otoko finally answers that question, and does it in superb style. By use of split-screen, and computer text overlaid on real environments, it makes the online chats visually interesting and fast-paced.But this isn't just some technical storytelling exercise. At its heart, it's a funny and charming romance. Unlike just about every other "naive protagonist gets dating advice" movie, this one is astonishingly pure-hearted.On consideration, I dropped it a point because I felt the character of the love-interest was under-developed. Her role in the romance never quite got fully believable. As even the minor characters are properly developed, perhaps she was intentionally left as a mysterious figure.I really hope this gets a wider audience outside Japan. This is a wonderful, wonderful film, but the central role played by typed Japanese text is going to be a barrier to international audiences. Perhaps the best we can hope for is a competent Hollywood remake. Please, no Jennifer Lopez.

alibash This is by far the best romantic comedy that I've seen in a long time! It's actually a true love story based on a widely read thread on 2ch (a lot like the origin of "My Sassy Girl"), where the main character "blogged" (for lack of a better word) his encounter with the girl of his dreams by randomly standing up for her in a train. You basically fall in love with all of the characters of the story, from the leads to the supporting cast. Maybe even more the supporting cast than the leads. The readers in 2ch are struck by the sweet though pitiable introduction to his story, and help him with emotional support and advice throughout his ordeal. The readers aren't perfect either, and are what ultimately makes the story hit home. My personal favorite are the 3 guys "living" in the manga/internet-cafe.Comically, the movie is brilliant, and Koushi Yamada does an excellent job of channeling the spirit of socially awkward otaku's everywhere. There's a reoccurring theme of friendly total strangers making life worth living, which, sappy as it sounds, really leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling at the end.Definitely see this movie if you get the chance!