Hana and Alice (2004)

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The plot of this movie has been done countless times in Asian dramas, two girls falling for the same guy. The direction can be sort of cartoony at times and over ridiculous for this type of movie, but something about it still makes the movie worthwhile to watch. It's one of those movies that your just going to have to go with in order to enjoy it. The story first starts out with lies leading to bigger lies and so forth, but that is just the surface of it all. Watching this was sort of like watching a Asian drama except instead of taking up few episodes this sums up the story in one movie. Some of the flaws is how it makes one of the character more likable between the two. If it made both characters likable than it would have been more interesting to watch. But this direction where it shows the different side of each characters was done in a pretty good manner and still engaging, so it's sort of passable. Yeah so the set up is ridiculous and not that believable, but than again most Asian dramas are like that. Some parts seem to drag on a bit, although very few. Also since there wasn't enough development between characters it would have been better if it elevated the relationships. And so it can give more of a reason behind the final decision of the male protagonist in the end. It didn't even show his final decision clearly, even if he isn't the main part of the story some of the audiences probably want to know his final decision after sitting through one of the focus of this film. Another thing I didn't like was the lead actor the guy that has two girls falling for him, something about him I found really annoying and irritating to watch. And no it's not because two girls were falling for him, it's just the actor. And it wasn't just his performance either, maybe he reminded me of someone I know in real life. All the main actor does in this movie is act all dull and tedious and make a awkward shock face occasionally. But he was a annoying character in this, but I guess it had to have someone that is gullible which is fine but he was just irritating and so boring to watch. It just would have been nice if he had some likable attributes or show attributes of why these girls would fall for him, plus it would make the movie somewhat believable. Well at least he wasn't a over cocky character which would have been way worse. The movie runs about 2 hours and it would have made the movie better if it had more development so it can answer the question why. Being fast paced is sometimes good and all, but it's difficult to buy into the chemistry between the characters because of lack of development. Despite some of the flaws besides the main actor in this movie, it had enough of it's moments to make it to around the 6 range. Especially the part where Yu Aoi does ballet which was the main highlight for me, I don't like watching ballet but that scene was nice.6.7/10

2 teenage girls who are best friends are into the same boy ... Coming from Hollywood such a movie would be shallow for sure, in the style of numerous other high school comedies. Japanese director Shunji Iwai, however, managed to make a movie out of this material which has a lot of depth, a movie that is rich of subtle, moving moments. Rather than showing a simple love story, the focus of the movie is clearly the two girls and their friendship, and how it is being put on the test. Hana and Alice are simply adoring when they quickly come up with another hilarious lie to back up each others made up stories. On the other hand, their love interest is slow and passive most of the time, it seems like he is sleepwalking at times. Unlike Hollywood movies it's a lot about the unsaid, and be prepared that not everything is explained. The film never becomes sentimental nor too heavy, because the drama is lightened up with quite a bit of humor. A very watchable movie indeed ...

Iwai argumented that we should see it twice, but I don't see that happening. Its not a bad movie, but its not good either. Hana and Arisu are best friends, but when Hana is stalking a boy they both are in love with and tells him after he hits his head that he has had amnesia and she is his girlfriend, Hana and Arisu has no longer much time for each other. The story has too many elements that lead nowhere, without having much to say and that also goes for the relationship between Hana and the boy. And Hana is overacting her mimics to compensate for talent. That is a bit annoying.Some peculiarities brighten it up, like for instance a wonderful sequence with an argument in front of some windows where a big Astroman balloon is knocking on the windows. I have not given up on Iwai yet.

It may look like just another saccharine love-triangle romance, but 'Hana and Alice' is actually a deceptively tender and subtle paean to how gorgeous and sweet friendship can be. Although initially we have two high-school girls, Anne Suzuki and Aoi Yuu, squabble over a hapless senior, the film isn't really about teen crushes and jealousy. Instead, as layers of each girl's background and character are peeled away, we discover a surprising amount of depth and resonance to Hana and Alice's friendship. The ballet scene is much talked about and fawned over, but the real highlight for me was where we find out that Hana was in fact a near-autistic child, shunning the outer world from her flower house, until Alice came along and enticed her out into the world. This scene increases the emotional strength of both the film and the girls' relationship exponentially, and turns the movie from merely entertaining into truly touching.Director Shunji Iwai once again establishes a particularly delectable mood - as only he can - and has the guts to carry it all the way. Although most of the press and public attention in the Far East focused on the freshness of Aoi Yuu, it is the former child actor Suzuki Anne who gives a performance of veritable subtlety, so nuanced and superbly mannered that you almost don't notice it until you give it a thought. She has the less flashy and more mundane role of the two, yet there isn't one moment where she's caught acting, something that sadly can't be said for Yuu. To think that Suzuki has just turned 18 - what a career she has in store for us.Although somewhat long and dragging in places (you can only enjoy so many shots of young girls in tights dancing - no, hang on...) 'Hana and Alice' is a rare instance where one is allowed a flight of fancy without the attendant guilt, and in which friendship is explored with affection not angst. Don't let the fluffy romance tag fool you: this is a film which makes you nostalgic for those dreary days back in youth when you had your best friend walk alongside you on the way to school and didn't realize how special or fleeting it was.