Ballad: Na Mo Naki Koi No Uta |
Japan • 2009 • 127m •
  • Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki. • Starring: Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Yui Aragaki, Akashi Takei, Michitaka Tsutsui, Yui Natsukawa, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Kyôko Kagawa, Kenji Motomiya, Atsuo Nakamura, Kazuki Namioka, Takao Ohsawa, Yukiyoshi Ozawa, Yuki Saitô. • Music by: Naoki Satô.    By sheer chance, the much-bullied Shinichi is transported back to 1574. His sudden arrival happens to save the life of Ijiri Matabee, a samurai general known as "Demon Ijiri," and he soon realizes that Matabee and Princess Ren, the daughter of his lord and a childhood friend, are in love with each other. But Princess Ren's beauty has become famous throughout the region, and Takatora, a fiery-tempered lord of a powerful domain, asks for her hand in marriage. She refuses, touching off a battle between the two domains.
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Review:
The tale is quite engaging, even if the time-shifting plot isn't particularly credible. But remember, this is a children's story - though there's enough acceptable period detail to appeal on the level of a parable. It's not particularly funny, aside from an unaffected humor, nor is it as thrilling as you might expect (despite some battle scenes). BALLAD has an appealing visual sense, with attractive photography and neat but rustic set decoration; the film has an unusually effective use of light and shadow. And once you're willing to forgive the inconsistencies of the time-shifting plot, the simple story is captivating enough. I was not as forgiving about the plot's time problems, as the boy goes from modern time to ancient Japan by conveniently falling asleep.
Review by poikkeus from the Internet Movie Database.
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