Customer Reviews

Paradise Kiss, Vol. 5

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I like this volume a little better than the first one, because we get to know the whole cast a little more and get some hints as to what drives the characters. Yukari does seem a bit weak in most of the volume, but she starts to pull herself together toward the end, trying to establish herself. I thought her weakness was actually well done and sets up her trying to carve a place for herself. All I know is I can't wait to get my grubby paws on volume 3. I haven't been this hungry for the next volume of a comic in ages!...

This volume of course, starts exactly where we left off in Volume 4. The show is over and George is dealing with the fact that his designs are to unique to ever be widely accepted. Yukari abd George's relationship has hit a plateau and Yukari's not sure where to go with the relationship.

I really don't want to say anything else about the plot, but I will say that this, as far as shoujo goes, is the most realistic one I've ever read. I mean even though there are some unrealistic characters(Seiji for example), the story always stays firmly rooted in reality. And the ending is no different. It is a very bittersweet ending, I wouldn't have ended it differently, but its still very bittersweet.

I hope you enjoy this last volume of Paradise Kiss, I did, oh, and if you need ANY reason to read it, you find out Isabella's real name. hehe ;P

God Bless & *enjoy* ~Amy

The drwing style is a bit wierd, but possible to adjust to. And so worth doing so!
Yukari is one of those perfect kind of girls: Very studious, always obeying her parents wishes, never doing anything unexpected, wrong, or, well, anything except perfect. She doesn't have an easy time with it, though. When she runs into a punk and a transvestite on the street one day and is asked to modle clothing for them, she adamently refuses. At first. But then she meets George, the designer for Para-kiss, and she has to wonder if she should accept their invitation into this new, wonderful, and forbidden world.

Tokyopop finally releases the final volume of Paradise Kiss (Parakiss for short)! Do you know how long I've been waiting for this, it's been torturous since I am a huge fan of Yazawa-san. *bows down*. Here is what the back says from Tokyopop:

Fashion, glamour, divas and designers put on their best threads and put on a show-stopping catwalk, featuring Yukari in the creations by the always stylish and aloof George. George's unusual and gorgeous creations receive mixed reactions, with more attention going to Yukari's good looks than the clothes she modeled.

With his future uncertain, his and Yukari's relationship comes to a crossroads. He has never found himself so enamored with one woman, yet his career might not unfold as he has always planned. Was the somewhat cold reception at the fashion show a preview to the reaction he can expect to his future designs?

As George wrestles with his next step following graduation from design school, the rest of the Paradise Kiss crew debate their next moves. Yukari wants to go to school but also pursue modeling, and with exams coming up, it's hard to concentrate with George seeming so distant and upset. As the crew struggles with their post-graduation plans, the New Year approaches. Major decisions will be made and lives will be altered ... forever.

What will become of Paradise Kiss?!

** SPOILERS **

As hinted in TKP's synopsis, "Major decisions will be made and lives will be altered ... forever. What will become of Paradise Kiss?!" we learn that Parakiss is no more. v_v

Kaori, George's gal-friend that studies in England visits him at his apartment. Yukari and George are there celebrating Christmas Eve together which is interrupted by Kaori. Yukari becomes jealous of Kaori's relationship towards George and starts to cry. George has told Kaori a lot of personal feelings on designing clothes and whether or not he should switch his interests towards make up. Everything he does is all talented and amazing =P! Kaori urges him to study in England with her because his 'style' will be favoured there than Japan. We see that George wishes to go there but has a 'burden' in which he cares for his mother. Since his mother is not married to his father, they are not entitled in the "will" so if anything were to happen to George's father, who would support them? With George's talent, he knows he can support himself but not live in such luxury but for his mother...?

Yukari listens the conversation between George and Kaori and feels left out. Thinking that she's only a "doll" whose only purpose is too look pretty and wear clothes. This is when Yukari discovers George's close-bond to Kaori and worries about her relationship between George. George has never slept with Kaori, instead he considers her a special friend that understands him.

George has not told the gang (Miwako, Arashi, and Isabella) about his decision to leave Parakiss so they continue working hard to make more new pieces to their brand name. Yukari was about to tell Miwako but realizes that it's something George must tell to them. She doesn't "chicken-out" okay! =P

Kaori visits George's father at his work and convinces him to allow George to study in England, but to keep herself out as a secret. George meets up with his father at the expensive Japanese restaurant where he first took Yukari on their first date. His father accidentally slips that it was Kaori who had visited him about George's problem. His father has talked to lawyers and have changed his will to insure the security of his mother and his son. *aww* ^^; Of course, George tells Kaori but hides the secret that he knew it was her who had convinced his dad to change the will.

As we all know, the frienship between Arashi and Hiro is not good. Their friendship has been ruined because Arashi has 'stole' Miwako away from Hiro. At Arashi's place, Miwako sends a sms message to Hiro's cell phone and sends back messages while Arashi is sleeping. She falls asleep but awakens when she sees Arashi reading her messages! Angry from the messages, Arashi throws her cellphone and breaks it. Miwako cries and Arashi feels guilty for his actions.

Miwako goes shopping with Yukari to both buy the same cellphones. They decide on a flip-phone with digicam capabilities so they can share pictures with each other! (It's not fair, I want a cellcam... *sobs* v-v). Arashi offers to pay for Miwako's cellphone and they are interrupted from George's excitemend of selling one of their designs to a store.

* END OF SPOILERS *

There's is more but I currently do not have the time so I will be back to update this review in the next few days. ^_^;

Compare to the first 4 volumes, vol. 5 is a letdown. Not so much b'cos of the ending, it seems the author was out of time, squeezing the story should have a couple more volumes into one volume. At times, it seems abrupt and a bit far-fetched, probably just haven't been given enough time to adjust to it.

The author sometimes have a bizzare way to put things together, there are parts in the last volume, I find it a bit strange for my taste, it could well possibly due to the translation (since I don't read Japanese). In short, it's a bit anti-climatic.

The ending to the series is bittersweet, but also realistic. There's some happiness, but not every ending is happy, otherwise that'd be cliched. The fashion designs and illustrations are simply beautiful. The characters are also nicely developed as they make choices regarding their lives and possibilities.

The plot of this manga feels like reality in the sense that the characters are forced to make decisions, and with every decision they make they lose something they didn't want to...in order to keep something else precious. I know this SOUNDS very typical of a romance manga but you'll have to see for yourself what I mean. This type of romance manga is for those who have a more mature view. Ai protrays how deeply Hikari and George love one another very well, it doesn't feel like a silly high school crush at all.

The story of Paradise Kiss is very interesting. Its a great love story. It will appeal to an age group starting at around age 15+. This is the story of a young girl torn between two paths in life. The life she wants and the life she is made to feel she should live. Very enjoyable.

Pretty good manga.
I'm in my twenties and this is one of the mangas I've really enjoyed.

Its not like MARS :(
But still good!

Yukari agrees to model for Paradise Kiss (George, Isabella, Arashi, and of course Miwako) and they begin to work on THE DRESS to enter in the competition. Yukari becomes attach to George in a romantic relationship but knowing George he'll just go for anyone! ;P We are introduced to new characters that are from Ai Yazawa's previous work, Gokinjo. Miwako and her sister, Mikako (she's introduced in this volume) looks exactly the same when in fact, Mikako is much older than her little sister.