Title: Honey and Clover (film)
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: yes (English)
Number of Discs: 1
Runtime: 116 minutes

Sometimes it’s good to go through your closet once in a while and pick up something totally different that you probably never got a chance to watch. This is fun especially if the film is good. Honey and Clover is that type of film. I have never seen the anime or read the manga so it was a totally fresh idea and I was completely blind to the story. It’s a good thing that I hadn’t seen the anime or read the manga, I really enjoyed the film.

Plot Summary: The plot is simple. This is a story about five art school students that are just trying to find their way. They get lost in the progress and that is what makes life fun. It’s a movie about living and learning. It also has a twist of love because when Hagumi Hanamoto enters the picture love triangles form and life becomes just a bit more complicated.

Why I think it deserves a watch: At first when I had heard that it was a romance story, I was hesitant to watch it. I thought it would be another “boy meets girl, boy falls in love with said girl, and they live happily ever after” type film but I was wrong. Though it does have some of those elements especially with the meeting of Hagumi and Takemoto where there is that awkward moment of silence while they look at each other or the seeing of blossoms at her artwork (I guess it’s the equivalent of fireworks after a kiss) this is still a story about life. The film outlines some interesting subjects. It covers popularity and what it feels like to be awkward in school while you try to uncover your own personality. It covers unrequited love it is funny watching Mayama stalk the girl that he likes all the way down to what lip gloss she wore. It talks about college life (pressure in classes and those wild college parties) and just about anything that can be fit into film format.

Overall, it’s a wonderful and enjoyable story, full of twists and unexpected turns (beach anyone?). They are all normal though and associated with life with bits of romance sprinkled here and there. This is a definite must watch for those that are fans of the genre or who are just looking for something new to watch.

Special Features:
Hanamoto’s Study Group – An interview of the cast about the film
Original Japanese Trailers – Original Japanese trailers for the film
Director and Cast – A little blurb about the creator of the anime and manga and the director
VIZ Pictures Presents – Previews for other films by VIZ Media

Note from the Editor: If you like the movie, or want to check out the anime before watching, check out yesterday’s announcement from VIZ Media:  ff0000;">iTunes will exclusively offer the first episode of HONEY AND CLOVER as a free download until August 31, 2009. Plus, every purchase of the complete first season of HONEY AND CLOVER will include a free, bonus episode download.