Rookies - Sotsugyo (Normal Edition) (DVD) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2

In keeping with that, Rookies presents a cinematic continuation of the television drama - minus the "cinematic" part. Sure, the movie is shot on film and features the moments where a film camera moves. However, presentation here is only slightly better than normal television, with everything rendered in an obvious and self-indulgent way. Characters don't converse in Rookies - they explain, and everybody seemingly has the infinite patience to hang around and listen. The film also relates its pet themes in constantly repeated dialogue, with characters frequently talking about pursuing their dreams, hoping to see their dreams come true, and likely the dreams they had yesterday as they were having a dream about pursuing their dream. Every time a character talks to another character about their dreams or their respect for someone else's dreams, the music swells unbearably, and sometimes this can happen two or three times within the span of five minutes! As an accomplished piece of cinema, Rookies lacks.

Rookies essentially features two halves with various subplots interspersed throughout. In the first half, the team gears up for their senior season and their run at Koshien, with two new recruits making waves. The fabulously skilled Akahoshi (Yusuke Yamamoto) is too arrogant to play nicely with his new teammates, while Hamanaka (Takuya Ishida) is disappointed that his idol, team jester Hiratsuka (Kenta Kiritani), is all talk and no skill. Not surprisingly, both are integrated into the fold with some cloying, but still effective moments of unspoken honor and respect shining through. Then it's off to the film's centerpiece: an hour-long baseball game where many subplots bubble to the surface, greatest among them a lingering rivalry between star player Aniya (Hayato Ichihara) and the other team's opposing pitcher. The film actually achieves some fine sports tension here, as the players contend with superior pitching, injuries and their own determination to see things through. With the other team pulling ahead, will Futakotamagawa High fold or rise to the occasion?

As expected, they do rise to the occasion, though even doing that doesn't guarantee that they'll win. Despite being a pandering commercial film, Rookies effectively pushes themes of sportsmanship and teamwork, such that one may feel they accomplished something regardless of the outcome. The final hour of baseball action is actually fairly involving, even with plenty of screentime devoted to the handsome boys crying and urging each other on homoerotically. The soulful emoting during the final stretch gets tiring - the rampant stoppages of play during the final game tax any sort of realism - but the characters are much more engaging when emoting on the baseball field than off it. One particular moment of overdone emotional release earns its wings, effectively capturing just how exhausting and utterly overwhelming victory or defeat can be. Rookies goes overboard with the manly weeping, but when the players are on the playing field, it has cause to. If only it didn't happen so much.

The sports lifts Rookies beyond being just a "fan-only" film, making it accessible to those who haven't seen the drama. However, familiarity with the drama would improve the viewing experience by about 9000 percent - otherwise the references, cameos and self-indulgent filmmaking mean a whole lot less. When the ending rolls around, each player on the team gets 1-2 minutes to tell their teacher how they feel about him, and their words are respectful, glowing and overly emotional - and we have to listen to all ten of the players! That final bit of fan service pushes the film to its epic 137 minute running time, which is a long haul for someone who just turned up to watch some baseball. However, if the idea was to watch the same cute guys as the Rookies TV series overact on the big screen, then this is movie is an unqualified home run. On some level, it's impossible to rate a TV-to-film sequel poorly unless it completely, totally diverges from the original's themes and tone. Rookies does not.

by Kozo - LoveHKFilm.com