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IMDbPro

Ai to makoto

  • 20122012
  • 2h 13m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
768
YOUR RATING
Ai to makoto (2012)
  • Musical
  • Romance
Troubled high school student Makoto arrives in Tokyo to exact revenge from a past incident. He then falls in love at first sight with Ai, a daughter raised in a wholesome family. Around Mako... Read allTroubled high school student Makoto arrives in Tokyo to exact revenge from a past incident. He then falls in love at first sight with Ai, a daughter raised in a wholesome family. Around Makoto and Ai are Iwashimizu , who has feelings for Ai and Gamuko , a gang member who eyes Mak... Read allTroubled high school student Makoto arrives in Tokyo to exact revenge from a past incident. He then falls in love at first sight with Ai, a daughter raised in a wholesome family. Around Makoto and Ai are Iwashimizu , who has feelings for Ai and Gamuko , a gang member who eyes Makoto. Also Gamuko's leader, Yuki have eyes for Makoto too. Who will get Makoto?
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
768
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Takashi Miike
  • Writers
    • Ikki Kajiwara(manga)
    • Takumi Nagayasu(manga)
    • Takayuki Takuma(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Satoshi Tsumabuki
    • Emi Takei
    • Takumi Saitoh
Top credits
  • Director
    • Takashi Miike
  • Writers
    • Ikki Kajiwara(manga)
    • Takumi Nagayasu(manga)
    • Takayuki Takuma(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Satoshi Tsumabuki
    • Emi Takei
    • Takumi Saitoh
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 36Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Photos7

    Satoshi Tsumabuki and Emi Takei in Ai to makoto (2012)
    Emi Takei in Ai to makoto (2012)
    Satoshi Tsumabuki in Ai to makoto (2012)
    Takashi Miike in Ai to makoto (2012)
    Satoshi Tsumabuki in Ai to makoto (2012)
    Ai to makoto (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Satoshi Tsumabuki
    Satoshi Tsumabuki
    • Makoto Taigaas Makoto Taiga
    Emi Takei
    Emi Takei
    • Ai Saotome childhoodas Ai Saotome childhood
    Takumi Saitoh
    Takumi Saitoh
    • Hiroshi Iwashimizuas Hiroshi Iwashimizu
    • (as Takumi Saitô)
    Ito Ono
    • Yuki Takaharaas Yuki Takahara
    • (as Ito Ohno)
    Masachika Ichimura
    Masachika Ichimura
    • Shogo Saotomeas Shogo Saotome
    Yo Hitoto
    • Miyako Saotomeas Miyako Saotome
    • (as Yô Hitoto)
    Kimiko Yo
    Kimiko Yo
    • Toyo Taigaas Toyo Taiga
    Seishirô Katô
    • Makoto Taigaas Makoto Taiga
    Sakura Andô
    Sakura Andô
    • Gum-koas Gum-ko
    Tsuyoshi Ihara
    Tsuyoshi Ihara
    • Kenta Zaôas Kenta Zaô
    Ken Aoki
    Ayano
    Ken Maeda
    • Teacheras Teacher
    • Director
      • Takashi Miike
    • Writers
      • Ikki Kajiwara(manga)
      • Takumi Nagayasu(manga)
      • Takayuki Takuma(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filming begins July 5, 2011 and finishes August, 2011.
    • Connections
      Version of The Legend of Love & Sincerity (1974)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    As fabulous as it is ridiculous!
    SPOILERS!

    For Love's Sake (or Ai to Makoto) is a recent Takashi Miike production that is as equally adorable as it is preposterous. Some people will think it is a wonderfully brilliant piece of comedy, while others will be left asking themselves WTF was that piece of pointless indulgent crap they just watched?...Personally, I loved it, but it is clearly not going to work for everyone.

    Your story here involves a young rich high school girl who falls for the poor bad boy outsider from the wrong side of town. She's determined to change his self destructive ways and become his girlfriend no matter what she must do. Along the way, she must contend with various love interests, high school gangs, evil plots, and other roadblocks to win his heart. Simple enough!...Oh, and it's a musical infused with typical Miike style!

    The fact that this film is a musical is almost beside the point. At its heart, this film is a straight up parody of an amalgam of movies, and, it is exceptionally well done in that aspect. The problem lies with the fact that you must have a real solid familiarity with, and likely some fondness for, the movies and genres it is satirizing, or it just won't make any sense at all. In essence, you will either "get it", & it therefore might connect with you, or not. If you do "get it" though, you're likely going to enjoy it.

    I found this story, and the movie in general, to be both inventive and hilarious. Several of the people I watched it with were baffled by this however. I was asked several times what was so funny, only to clumsily attempt to reference other Miike films/typical high school girl angst tales/standard Asian melodrama fare/wrist cutter send ups/Japanese gangster themes/manga adaptions/etc, in order to try to explain the humor behind it all.

    This film takes it time getting started, and it's longer than it should be. But, it's worth it big time for the right moviegoer. By the time the final act rolls around, and all ludicrous plot points converge, this is one magnificently sardonic steamroller running on all cylinders; the male lead is busy beating up every guy and girl in sight while racing to reconnect with his estranged mother before she commits suicide, the 2 female leads are obliviously determined to act out their own preconceived notions of how they think events were destined to unfold (regardless of what is actually going on around them), the 40 year old student is seeking to lay claim as the toughest high school gangster in town once and for all, the nerd is trying to save his love while not losing her to the cool guy hero, and, on it goes. Meanwhile, everyone is going about their business with over the top musical flair.

    From the performances, to the story, to the wonderful set designs, this film accomplishes exactly what it set out to achieve. Even the musical numbers were obviously & deliberately dubbed in post production just to add one more comical oddity to the whole experience.

    Indeed, this is not a film for everyone; I can think of only a select few acquaintances I would even try to bother recommending this to. And, it is almost certain to draw wildly varying ratings and opinions, depending on the viewer. For those of you who think you know what you're likely in for though, it is well recommended!

    7 out of 10 stars.
    helpful•8
    0
    • cremea
    • Jan 1, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 16, 2012 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • For Love's Sake
    • Filming locations
      • Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Concept Film
      • Excellent Film
      • Horipro
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $342,330
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 13 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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