Movie Digest
University student Haruhiko Kuzumi and novelist Rio Kijima are romantically involved. Rio Kijima went back to his hometown, but they continued to communicate by writing letters to one another. They have a different dynamic now that Haruhiko Kuzumi has a job. Rio Kijima suffered an arm injury one day. He ran into Shizuo Akemi and was assigned the task of transcribing a story written by Kijima. This task makes Rio Kijima reminisce about Haruhiko Kuzumi and their earlier mutual interest. Haruhiko Kuzumi visits Rio Kijima around this time.
The Feel-Good Part
The plot is excellent and perfectly fits all the storylines and conflicts seen in previous installments. The new characters are amicable, and you quickly develop a connection with them. The execution of some scenes is very effective that induces deep emotions in the fans.
The Disappointing Factor
It might not be as compelling and intriguing as the series is. Everything feels rushed compared to the series. The ways things end in the film are very similar to how they began, like how Kuzumi is an accessory that appears to have little to no learning or growth of his own, and Kijima’s development is little to none.
In-Depth Analysis
Pornographer: The Playback is the prequel to the short film Pornographer: Continued Spring Life. It describes what happens to Kijima and Kuzumi when they embark on a long-distance relationship. It is the final entry in the Pornographer franchise. The movie goes into greater detail about Rio’s personality and the progression of their relationship. The romantic element is disorganized. It presents the key challenges up close and personal and is by no means sugar-coated. Therefore, this film is not exactly a romance from beginning to end. A significant portion of romance is due to the characters’ need to grow apart before coming back together. The production and direction are of expert level. The score from the series, which is incredibly memorable, is featured in the suburban music. It never falls into the trap of using awkward background music or attempting to force themes or emotions on the listeners through extremely explicit scores. The more graphic scenes were not overused or cut away. They felt appropriate to the characters and the story because they were well-timed, well-shot, and had a natural flow. The plot was full of intriguing themes that could have been explored more in the film if there had not been one-dimensional supporting characters and constricting love tropes used to tell the story.
Star Power
Takezai Terunosuke and Izuka Kenta both give excellent performances. The actors went all out with the depths of their emotions, so it felt authentic and raw. They had the opportunity to share more scenes in this video, ranging from very hot to tender or dramatic, and their chemistry is electric.
Overall Opinion
It is a good film for Pornographer franchise fans. It gives a little more depth and extra insight into the relationship dynamics between Haruhiko Kuzumi and Rio Kijima. It is a must-watch!
