Hana Yori Dango Live Action (1)
December 24, 2007
Hanazawa Rui
Rui’s one of my favourites so he gets an entire entry to himself XD. Hana Yori Dango’s one of the biggest anime-to-film adaptations, since the phenomenal success of the 2001 Taiwanese version. Here’s a comparison of the various Live action ‘Hanazawa Rui’s that have perpetuated TV history.
原装花泽类 The One and Only, Original Hanazawa Rui
最具气质的花泽类 The Most Princely Rui
This is the 1995 version by Fujiki Naohito, the earliest adaption of Hanazawa Rui. Fujiki most closely resembles the original Rui in terms of looks and personal charisma. He is the one Rui who does not need a Tuxedo to appear Princely. However, his acting skills and the 1995 movie itself left much to be desired. His ‘Rui’ actually shouted at the students to leave Makino alone. I loved the last pic though. It is not very ‘Rui’ in terms of our understanding of this character, but Fujiki looks like such a sweetie. I can’t believe how young he looks in here.
演技最佳的花泽类 The Most Well-acted Rui
This is the most recent 2007 adaptation by Oguri Shun. Compared to Fujiki and Zhou who started their showbiz careers as ‘Hanazawa Rui’, Oguri was already an established actor with considerable acting chops by the time he tackled this role. He is definitely the ‘Rui’ with the best acting skills, thus able to present a more layered, sophisticated and carefully-crafted ‘Rui’. The 2007 adaptation puts a lot of emphasis on fashion and high life, so Oguri’s ‘Rui’ is also the most fashion-concious. What he lacks however, is an innate aristocratic air that Fujiki for e.g. possess.
最忧郁的花泽类 The Moodiest Rui
This is the most well-known 2001 Taiwanese adaptation. Vic Zhou made his name through Meteor Garden and was the only actor to become famous through this role. He is the essential moody, inert, sullen ‘Rui’, who projects an intensely melancholic aura. His ‘Rui’ however, is rather opaque and somewhat lacking in the spark of “reiki” (灵气) underneath his apathetic and indifferent appearence. Physically, he bears little similarity to the manga courtesy of his ‘do.
