Fan reviews: Pride

JAP FREAK · 16 Dec 2005

i thought tat it was really refreshing to see takuya don an entirely different character. halu is abit weird and eccentric but that was why the show is so worth it to watch. it's not draggy at all and everything slowly builds up tp the climax. i cant believe i cried at the end of the last episode because i was so happy tat halu and aki managed to end up happily together. it's exciting at the same time too because of all the ice hockey matches and this show jus DRAWS the interest of yours. i was hooked man. super.

kiimura+akuya · 10 Dec 2005

yuko and takuya perfected the lead couple... halu(spring) and aki(autumn) and natsu(summer).. even the names have special meanings... the ending was magnificent and it's a MUST WATCH takuya drama..

hide_hikaru_minako · 17 Nov 2005

Its one the best kimura takuya's dramas!!! he portrayed GREAT acting skills in the show.. great chemistry between Halu and Aki. the plot is really interesting gets u get sooo hooked on it! A MUST watch for all japanese dramas fans!!!!

Tatakau · 31 Oct 2005

I don't know what to say, this drama had great characters, plot and music, but the ending was complete and utter shit. SPOILERS>>

Aki went back to her boyfriend and he ended up being a complete wanker, after leaving Haru on the bridge, as soon as this happened the series went down the toilet, there was no tension or emotion in the ending, Haru left for the NHL then comes back and takes Aki back, it's like he has to be sorry for leaving when she is the one that left him to go back to a boyfriend that was already involved and beat her to make up for him being baka. I really liked this series until then, but the ending is just complete shit.

Yes, this is a drama but lets keep it somewhat real, You end up getting involved with a girl who you end up falling for, and after everything you go through she shafts you for some bloke she not seen in two years, the way she acts to Haru is so cold on that bridge scene, game or not it's obvious he cares for her, and she does him over like that, im sorry words can't really express how much the ending of this series pissed me off. I like Takuya Kimaru dramas, but you'd have to be a hardcore and somewhat blind fan to give this show 10/10 or even 9/10. Wake up the ending is the most dissapointing ending i've ever seen in a j-drama.

Basic premise:

Haru meets Aki who was left by her boyfriend 2 years ago and every sunday she waits for him to return on the bridge they departed on, Haru and Aki meet at an after match gathering, moving a long her boyfriend comes back, she gets all emotional and when she is waiting on the bridge after speaking to her boyfriend after he finally comes back (after she told him she wouldnt go) Haru meets her on the bridge at the same time, she them sees her boyfriend then totally blanks Haru and goes running and crying towards him, and Haru feels like crap, after Aki's boyfriend finally tells her he has a new woman and a kid she decideds she wants to go back to Haru, and there the story takes a stupid change, I can't go on im so dissapointed in how it ended, yeh they get back together, it's kind of how orange days ended, she goes off with some other bloke then comes back and acts like nothing happened and everyone lives happily ever after, go watch Good Luck instead, now that has everything, good cast, characters, plot, music and decent ending (im not one for "it must be a happy ending" but I dont want to feel cheated after everything like this series left me.

Reading all these 9/10 10/10 reviews it makes me wonder if they actually watched the whole series before reviewing, even the most hardcore Takuya fan must admit the ending is so weak and cheap. I hope his next drama is of better quality along the lines of Good Luck, even Long Vacation is better than this.

music 10/10 story 8/10 characters 6/10 ending 2/10

bad, bad ending, almost sorry I watched it.

rainbowtrails · 26 Oct 2005

totally rawks lar !
those who are really interested, you should BUY IT !
its quite cheap really ! XD hehees
ENJOY ! lalala

rainbowtrails · 24 Oct 2005

Takuya Kimura totally RAWKS MY SOCKS MAN !
he's soooo HOOTT !
ATTA GUY ! lols
you motivated me to learn jap PROPERLY. hahas
used to hate jap.
you made me change my VIEW OF JAP
you rawk !
lurve you to bits and pieces yeah !! <33

nickpoliseno · 20 Oct 2005

It seems like Kimura can do just about anything. A very interesting concept and lots of fun and emotion. The female lead is sometimes a bit weak in her intentions and emotions but it doesn't really take too much away from the whole drama. Music is great too.

dashx · 7 Oct 2005

So we find that often the best shows around are those with simple themes but yet managed to convey its message to the viewers and leave a deep impression. Pride reminds me of those great romance drama in the past that dominate the discussion for the year, like Beautiful Life, Summer Snow, Long Vacation.

Kimutaku plays a ice hockey team captain (Halu Satonaka) this time (iceman), a arrogant and closed individual who meets the beautiful and innocent Aki Murase (played by Takeuchi Yuko). Barring the subplot (good ones tho), the show revolves around their "love game" as Halu plays the role of a substitute boyfriend as Aki awaits the return of her boyfriend who has broken contact for 2 years.

This seems like the perfect recipe for heart-wrenching romance, and it is. We are brought along for the ride as we witness the development of something akin to true love between the two leads, feeling and rooting for them. Of course when things go bad, all of us brought up boxes of tissues as we struggle through the episodes.

All in all, Pride has all the right ingredients, love , sacrifice, honor, and it really left a touching impression in many of us. I'm pretty sure this would be one of the dramas people would be talking for a long time.

Asakuro · 27 Sep 2005

story is unique and touching--especially after episode 7, then the story reach its climate. MUST WATCH!!!!!

jenniferyeo_86 · 22 Sep 2005

Really love this drama alot... feel guilty to know about this drama only after the telecast on TV... Love those drama that involve takuya kimura.. he is really good in acting and is very cool!!!!!!! =P So envy the actress who act with him especially those love scene..

sherzes · 20 Sep 2005

i wonder is there such a guy in the world!!!!! i luv the role of Halu...he had the strong and weak side...kawaii & cool!!!

Bodhi · 13 Sep 2005

Pride is about a semi-pro hockey team and itfs star player. The first episode sets the stage for the rest of this 11 episode Japanese drama/dorama. The show starts with a great opening theme gI Was Born To Love Youh by Queen in arena rock style that is very well suited to a sports themed drama many other Queen songs are played throughout the series including "Bohemian Rhapsody", " We Will Rock You", "We Are the Champions", " Radio Ga-Ga", "Too Much Love Will Kill You" and "Let Me Live".

The star center Halu pronounced Haru is portrayed by Takuya Kimura a very popular Japanese drama star and member of the group SMAP. In the first episode, we are introduced to Halufs coach Anzai, played by Saburo Tokito, who is in the hospital dying, Anzai has always been Halufs idol and his first coach. Halu has tried to live up to his coachfs hockey career achievements and as we find out in later episodes that he has actually surpassed them. The coach has advised Halu that an iceman should not fall in love while playing hockey because a man who is in love cannot devote everything that is necessary to the game, he canft play fearlessly if he has a wife and child to support. The coach loves Halu, so much so that instead of spending his last hours with his wife and son, he leaves the hospital with Halu and goalkeeper Hotta portrayed nicely by Kenji Sakaguchi, to train Halu one last time. Halu for his part loves and idolizes the coach and gives his own money to the coachfs wife advising her to tell the coach that it came from the team.

After a winning game the entire team is in a bar their team hangout, Halu, Hotta and Ikegami protrayed by Ichikawa Somegoro, talk about their philosophy of dating, and Halu as his coach advised states that for icemen love must be kept a game. They spot three girls sitting at the bar and a bet is raised to see if Halu can truly keep it just a game. Halu refuses until he sees the Aki Murase, played by Yuko Takeuchi and states gShe looks like a woman from the last centuryh a repeated theme through the series. Old fashioned values are important to Halu we find out why as the series progresses. Halu stages a fight to get Akifs attention and email address.

Aki has waited for two years for a boyfriend she hasnft heard from on the strength of a promise that she made. Halu considers her perfect for a game of love so that neither will get too serious and proposes a contract that if Akifs boyfriend reappears then gGame Overh he will walk away. The theme of waiting is repeated throughout the series in a number of different ways. Halu is waiting for a relationship after hockey, Aki for her boyfriend, the coachfs wife was to wait for a previous lover who is now back as the new coach Yuichiro Hyodo but she tells Halu she didnft have the strength to wait for Hyodo and then married Anzai. Hydo is waiting for Halu to take his game to the next level.

Ifve seen Takuya Kimura in a Beautiful Life as a hairdresser, Love Generation as an ad man, Hero as a prosecutor, Good Luck as a pilot, his characterfs change jobs but his personality remains the same for all of these dramafs, he stars as a strong loner willing to sacrifice for his co-workers and do anything for the woman he loves.

I watched the Fan-subbed version by J-TV. They did a beautiful job on the widescreen Region 2 DVD release converting to a hard subbed XviD file that looks beautiful on my 46h HDTV. Audio is dolby prologic and sounds wonderful. The subs are easy to read and quite good, sometimes extra Japanese cultural information is included in subtitle format across the top of the screen. A great release from in my opinion the best quality fan-sub release group.

I just posted this to my blog with working links http://burndvdburn.blogspot.com/

Angel2001 · 9 Sep 2005

The drama got on a fabulous start. Takuya was the "star" of the show, his charisma, his dazzling eyes---- when confronting his hockey opponents, when searching for Aki among the spectators, when hitting the goal------is simply irresistable! The plot developed very well, but only up to the point when Halu and Aki discovered that they were in love with each other. Then, the story became wierd and the playful ending to the Halu-Aki relationship reduces their love to something of a game.

rai^_^ · 4 Sep 2005

cool as ice... ^_^

momoechan · 25 Aug 2005

One can never get tired of looking at Kimura Takuya. He's so convincing in his roles and I wouldn't believe it if he'd never played ice hockey prior to the filming of this dorama, he's a natural.

I enjoyed this dorama also because it gives me a feel good feeling and of cos, I like happy endings :)

gohmifune · 2 Aug 2005

I have never watched a drama in such a short time span. It was fantastic. Acting, pacing, plot, music, oh man Queen, everything is phenominal. I am a Kimura Takuya fan now. I forever will clutch shirt with my right hand.

blythebabez · 1 Aug 2005

Eiki!! Shuusaku!! Sugureta!!
Thumbs up to my kekshi..Kimura Takuya & Kenji Sakaguchi...
so Kawaii..Luv u both!! :P

triyandafilisus · 29 Jul 2005

I must admit that i have grown an obsession towards this dorama.My most fav dorama was GTO until I have watched this mindblowing master piece.I might as well be exaggerating,but in my opinion this dorama is totally the best !Firstly,Kimura Takuya is here,and this is enough of a reason to try out Pride.The plot is awesome,how the value pride gets connected with the matter of icehockey,which frankly one way or another achieves to get the watchers attention.(Take me,for example,i know absolutely nothing about icehockey but now i am pretty interested in it.)This dorama is more than a love story,it is something else,well,the love part is also as touching and fantastic,i have never seen such a beatiful first kiss before.Anyways,Pride is a dorama that even those who are not interested in doramas should watch,so make sure you dont miss it !! By the way,Kimura Takuya rocks! Man i am high over heels about him.

lovejdorama · 25 Jul 2005

Ice Hockey + romance +KimuTaku, what more can one ask for?

Yuko & Kimura make a lovely couple, other than my beloved Kimura looking aged & tired most of the time, this is really an enjoyable drama and worth rewatching.

ahweigor · 18 Jul 2005

This is really great drama which is really worth watching!
I can see myself watching this drama again in the future...
Maybe...
NO! Must Be!