[Review] Shonentachi: Koushi naki Rougoku DVD review

This one will be one special review because I will do it as a DVD review as well as a theatrical review. The reason for that is that in the DVD, there was two version of the story. One is from Johnny’s Junior Group which consists of ABC-Z (Ebisu from here on), Kitayama Hiromitsu, Senga Kento, Miyata Toshiya, Fujigaya Taisuke and Tamamori Yuta of Kis-My-Ft2 (Kisumai from here on), Mis Snow Man (MSM from here on) and Kishimoto Shintaro of Snow Prince Gasshoudan. While the other show is from Kansai Juniors (Kanju from here on); which I think is the entire Kanju was present; since there were people as seasoned as Ito Masashi as one of the guards to the little babies such as Sugimura Lennon dancing in the background.

Before I begin my review, I should tell that, of what I have watched, I roughly get the idea of the story and I can roughly figure out what they were saying, but the fact remains that I’m not a Japanese speaker and my Japanese is just a little well above the beginner’s level, and I can only barely understand Kansai-ben (which I think Kanju is speaking in Kansai-ben). Also, I’m super biased to the Kanju, I do not have a reason for my biasness, but I am just a tad bit more biased towards the Kanju. With that have been said, let’s move on.

Basically the story is centered about a group of boys in a reform school (I’d like to think of it as a reform school instead of jail/prison since the casts’ age is from 23 years to 14 years of age *in the Kansai play*, and isn’t 14 a little too young for prison? Well that’s just my thought, but feel free to think of it as a prison) and they were all itching to get out for different reasons. Being in an environment as that, groups and rivalry will be born naturally; fights and bruises are their staple routine. The theme of this story mainly centers around friendship.  The bonds that are tied beyond the bond of blood. In order just to survive in the place and at the risk of going crazy, these people holds on the smallest thing, tiniest memory that they have that link them to the world outside. When finally a friend who was on neither side or in neither group dies, it became sort of an awakening for them. Though, the story flow and the ending of the story for both versions differ slightly, they have an equal impact on me.

The basic of the story is the same. And that is the only thing that is the same between the two versions. The song they sang (it’s a musical people), the dynamic of the flow and the choreography were totally different (not to say the songs were totally different but the beat of the same song was different and there were a few totally different song in both versions). And what has an even huger difference is the characters interaction. Both the Kanto and the Kansai versions had their strength and weaknesses, yet both of them are equally entertaining.

Moving on to the critiques. Acting wise both shows has good actors. But it is not fair on my side to compare the very seasoned EbiKisu (Ebisu + Kisumai) to 7West and Bad and Boys as well as Senzaki-tachi or Veteran to MSM. EbiKisu had more exposure in musicals compared to all of the others since they had been working with Tackey in his Kabuki, Enjoubu as well as Kakumei and as far as I know this might be the first musical for kids like Kotaki Nozomu, Shingaki Yuto and Fujii Ryusei (or maybe all of 7West).  Though for as a new comer, the 7West and Gang Stars does not at all seemed stiff on stage. Exposure they had while performing, I guess is different to acting, but these people looked as comfortable on the stage acting as they were singing and dancing. Although some sudden laughter because of impromptu jokes were unavoidable. On the Kanto side, MSM too does not show their awkwardness on stage, even less when they are commanding and beating up their seniors.

Stage positioning was much clearer in the Kanto version as compared Kansai version. The Kanju seemed a little more cluttered and there was a few stage blocking happened, for given though, since there are few of the younger ones are taller than the older ones, in which case I guess the blocking occurred, have better stage planning next time boys…

In both versions they have their fair share of comedic intermission. Though personally I prefer the Kanju’s comedy better, the Kanto Juniors are not that bad themselves, especially Kawai-kun and Miyata-kun part and the shower scene. Although when it comes to comedy, the Kanju will defeat their counter parts hands down. They don’t need to do much, they are already funny themselves, especially Kiriyama-kun. Okay, I just have to put this in, Kotaki-kun pouty face is just priceless. *Hora~~~ I told you I’m biased towards the Kanju*

Another visible difference between the Kanju and the Juniors is the team separation within the boys (within the detainees). Kanju separations are not that visible, the only thing that separates them is the color of their singlet, even that you can see that they are not really separated (more of a power fight between senior detainees and junior detainees). However among the Juniors, they are clearly separated (the Ebisu team and Kisumai team).

The singing and dancing from both versions were equally entertaining, as both versions or both groups has their power vocals and power dancer. Again it is not fair for me to compare a 25 years old who have had experienced a whole lot (a few years) of stage acting with a 17 years old boy who only have very few TV dramas and much lesser experience on stage under his belt. Therefore I cannot compare these two versions.

Unlike Tackey’s Kabuki and DreamBoys, these shows does not have wire stunts in them. The part where Shigeoka fell from the building and held by a wire is barely called a wire stunt. There was no flying, there was no running on boards while being suspended and there was not tightrope.  But there were fight scenes. The fight scenes, well, let’s face it; these people are idols and not a stage actor. The fight would be the most fake fight I have seen in any stage show I have watched and been to. It is slightly better than the one Kamenashi-kun did in DreamBoys.

Okay, I have covered the acting, singing, dancing and fight scenes. What else is there? Hmm~~~ yes the showtime or the encore. This one hands down, Kanju had a better post show performance. Not only they are more energetic, but their snog choices were better. Let me apologize in advance to all EbiKisu fans, but EbiKisu butchered all of those Broadway favorite score. I mean they have nice songs of their own, why choose the Broadway songs? Besides Totsuka-kun, Senga-kun, Kitayama-kun and Fujigaya-kun, the others, their voices just is not fit to sing a Broadway tune. What more a powerful tune as the one they chose…

However apart from the super fake fight scenes, the show was very entertaining. Yes I’m biased, but the point of a review is to tell the truth about what you think about something right? So this is just my thought. The DVD was really really really worth every penny that I’ve spent. The show was just that good it was almost perfect. But nothing in this world is perfect right…

Theater lovers, Johnny’s Entertainment lovers, Kanju lovers and musical lovers do not hesitate in buying this. Ignore the fact that these people are idols and singers, ignore the fact that I’m biased towards the Kanju, ignore the fact that these boys are terribly good looking and the fact that these boys are over exploited since they were young, the story itself is good enough to get audience left in awe. Adding the actors just made the story that much better. But considering the butchered Broadway songs, this DVD deserves a nine out of ten (9/10).

以上、
～ieja-ちゃん でした。

p/s: the links is temporary till I can find a proper link made by myself later...