HaydenJim

"First Love" is a Netflix Japanese drama inspired by Utada Hikaru's two iconic hits, "First Love" (1999) and "Hatsukoi" (2018). While the love story feels somewhat conventional, what I found more meaningful was its portrayal of certain Japanese professions and its exploration of life's destiny.

The male and female leads primarily work as a security guard and a taxi driver, respectively. Both occupations are demanding, requiring night shifts and offering modest pay. While a security guard's duties can be relatively uneventful during quiet periods, they carry inherent risks when confronting emergencies. Taxi drivers interact with diverse individuals and may even secure celebrity autographs, yet their work demands sustained attention for extended hours, with potential hazards if mistakes occur.

In Japan, these professions likely aren't particularly sought after, with limited prospects for advancement. The recurring imagery of large roundabouts in the show seems symbolic of the characters being trapped in their lives, unable to find a suitable way out. In this situation, both characters need a trigger to break free from their predicament, and their shared memories of past affection become that catalyst.

The show tends to portray professions like pilots, flight attendants, doctors, and artists in a more favorable light. While Japan's Self-Defense Air Defense Force may seem unnecessary to some Japanese, pilots remain an enviable profession globally. The ability to control flight and witness breathtaking vistas inaccessible to ordinary people makes it a worthy pursuit for many. Flight attendant work is actually demanding and tedious, yet its glamorous image remains highly appealing. The opportunity to travel extensively and interact with diverse people makes it a dream job for many young girls.

Through flashbacks, the protagonists recall their youthful love and aspirations, breaking free from life's stagnation to courageously pursue their dreams. While idealistic, life rarely changes without taking risks. Whether outcomes are positive or negative, only through effort can one avoid regrets.

Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamonds in the Desert is a documentary concert film featuring the live visuals and sound effects from Dubai, supplemented by some footage shot separately elsewhere. It also includes interviews with Hans Zimmer and his friends, which mostly feel awkward and forced-they might have been better left out.

I watched it in a Dolby Cinema, where the sound was decent-though the live experience must be more explosive. Most film scores were rearranged with added rock and electronic reverb, likely better suited for a live setting. The visuals primarily focus on the musicians' performances, some of which are quite exaggerated, along with lighting effects on the stage. The two-and-a-half-hour runtime delivers an auditory feast, but the visuals are average, lacking the classic movie scenes I anticipated.

The Lion King score left a strong impression. Composed by Hans Zimmer as a tribute to his father, it resonated deeply-where I once focused on the film's narrative, this listening experience conveyed the composer's profound affection for his father. This adaptation featured fewer percussion and electronic elements, relying primarily on strings to convey emotion. The violin truly excels at expressing intimate sentiments.

Other standout pieces were the scores from Inception and Interstellar. One film explores the depths of human emotion, while the other portrays love as the eternal constant amidst time-space traversal. Electronic elements added sci-fi flair, brass and percussion amplified the grandeur, but it was the unique melodies that truly highlighted the complex emotions.

Other widely beloved scores include Dune, Batman: The Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Gladiator. These are grand-scale compositions where reworked, faster drum beats amplify the spectacle's intensity and grandeur. Unique soundscapes also distinguish specific settings. While each score stands strong individually, their similar arrangement techniques make them feel somewhat repetitive when heard together.

I haven't seen the films associated with the other scores, so I can't speak to their impact. Hans Zimmer has composed hundreds of film scores, and the selections here represent the cream of the crop-though naturally, some favorites may be missing. For fans of these films and music enthusiasts, catching this documentary in theaters is well worth it. Most people won't get to experience the live performances, and the ticket prices are often prohibitive. Dolby Cinema tickets, however, are comparable to a meal out-affordable for the average person. Films capturing concerts or stage performances like this will likely become increasingly common. Finding a theater with excellent audiovisual quality can actually deliver most of the atmosphere and impact of a live event. This represents a promising new application for cinemas in the future.