Paprika [Blu ray] :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Remember when Homer said "WEIRD"???

2008-08-17
That describes Paprika. I've watched it twice and still haven't been able to full graps what is going on, and to me that's why I gave it a 4/5 instead of 5. There IS such a thing as being too obscure... The animation is great though, especially the Blu Ray version I got.

What's the deal with that doll that looks like Ms. Snow from Mad TV???

Great Art Style, Complex Story, Nice Concept

2008-08-16
Paprika
Before I decided to watch this movie, I had heard a lot of hype about how good it would be. People were talking about this like it would be the best thing I have ever watched. It wasn't; it wasn't even close. This movie has a decent plot and art style. However, you never really care about the characters or feel like they are ever in any real danger.

A new invention called the DC Mini allows one to explore others dreams. This was supposed to be a gateway into many new psychological treatments for people. Maybe one day they would fix depression, insanity, and more mental problems that people have suffered. The misuse of this product could destroy the world though. A terrorist is assumed to have gained control of a DC Mini and is taking over people's dreams.

Chiba has been entering people's dreams for a while under her second half, known as Paprika. Chiba is quiet, smart, and honestly a bit uptight. Paprika is her wild side that enters the dreams of others. A police officer is having problems in his dream that only Paprika can help him solve. He soon becomes an interesting character.

The art style in this one is very interesting. It is extremely bright and colorful at times, but still keeps a bunch of neutral tones in there. I wouldn't say that the style surpasses something like Spirited Away, but it is very enjoyable to see. There is some nudity, but it is subtle.

The story is extremely hard to follow. You need to follow what is going on with Chiba and the police officer, because it is basically two stories in one. Sometimes you will be extremely confused, but this movie does a good job of explaining what have happened. This dialogue is very hard to keep up with as well. They use enormous words to try and make the scientists sound smart, but instead it just leaves you confused most of the time. I like some of the twists toward the end of the movie.

This DVD comes with concept art, a couple making of extras, and a commentary track. You can also watch it in Japanese or English Voice Over. The English voice over is not bad though, so listening to it won't kill any emotion.

This is a nice anime DVD for anyone looking for a weird journey. The story is hard to follow, but is still interesting. The artwork is very pleasing on the eyes. I wouldn't suggest this if you are looking for a deep experience that will have you coming back for more.

Best looking anime ever

2008-08-11
This has got to be the most visually stunning anime I have ever seen. I used to think that of Tokyo Godfathers so it's no surprise that the same art director for that movie also worked on Paprika. I watched the bonus feature with him and he said "If you get bored with the story you can always admire the backgrounds." And indeed I did. Sadly, I was bored with much for the story. But his visuals are enough for me to give this movie a 5 out of 5. He's just a brilliant artist.

The story is a little confusing, a little slow, and a little long. Which is sad because of all the hard work that went into the animation. Still, it'll be the best looking rental you've ever seen.

A mindbender but a grower

2008-06-29
One of the more lovelier things about the realm of Japanese animation is its sense of variety. American animation by contrast tends to be focused on younger audiences and those looking for more adult storylines have to go elsewhere. While the name Hayao Miyazaki has become an increasing presence among anime and animation fans in general, another name has been generating interest and he's Satoshi Kon. Responsible for Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers and the Paranoia Agent TV series, Kon's stories tend to be a little bit more abstract and a bit more heavier in terms of story but like I said, variety is very much welcome in the anime field. With his latest, Paprika, Kon offers a story that's just as convoluted as Perfect Blue but enough visual eye candy to compete with the best of them.

In the near future, a new device called the DC Mini has been used to interact with patients and their dreams and offer a bit of analysis but the device hasn't been approved by the government. Head of the team, Dr. Atsuko Chiba has been using the device illegally and after helping Detective Konakawa with his recurring dream, the team's horrified to learn that 3 DC Mini's have been stolen and since programming that restricts who uses the devices haven't been installed, the thief can infiltrate anyone's dreams and cause mischief. With Konakawa and Tokita, the device's inventor, Atsuko uses her dream persona "Paprika" to figure out who stole the devices as dreams and reality gradually begin to merge.

Describing the plot of Paprika is just as difficult as watching it. Unlike Tokyo Godfathers which was fairly easy to grasp, the story behind Paprika requires utmost attention and this isn't one of those films where you can just leave it running while you do homework or clean a bit, occasionally glancing at the screen. My first viewing I was ready to label it a huge disappointment which was a far cry from Perfect Blue which on one hand I didn't understand but still enjoyed; Paprika left me with a huge case of the "what the ****s?" Second viewing I understood way more and the slowness of the story all but vanished. This film requires more than one watch to fully wrap your head around it.

Whether hand drawn or computer animated, the artists who work in Japan whether on television shows or films are incredibly talented and Paprika is another example that people shouldn't just give up on hand-drawn animation too quickly. With bright visuals, a large mixture of colors and some impressive scenes such as the parade scenes, a chase or tons of butterflies), Paprika is easily one of Kon's more visually busy films (though I prefer the painting-esque feel of Tokyo Godfathers). The transfer also brings the visuals justice as the clarity and the vibrancy gives this film a sight-for-sight-eyes look.

Paprika is kind of a hard film to recommend since opinions will vary depending on whether you got it and whether you just didn't care for it but also based on Kon's previous films, this film might not be the choice for a "starter". For those looking to start on his films, I'd recommend Tokyo Godfathers and if you're a fan, work on this or the underrated Millennium Actress. But Paprika is definately worth a look but it's whether or not you'll love it that makes it a strange selection.

Mindbending!

2008-06-20
I first saw this film in Manhattan. I wasn't really there to see it, I just picked it at random. It's the sort of film that shows you just how far ahead in the animation business the Japanese really are, especially compared to us Americans. The film is strongly character driven, which is important because many of it's scenes use dream sequences, and dream logic depends strongly on the characters involved in it. It's deep, involving, and has quite a few unexpected twists before the end. I recommend this film to everyone.

The Perfect Manga

2008-06-06
Prepare to enter the realm of fantasy and imagination where reality and dreams collide in a kaleidoscopic mindscape of sheer visual genius. The magical tale centers on a revolutionary machine that allows scientists to enter and record a subject’s dream. After being stolen, a fearless detective and brilliant therapist join forces to recover the device before it falls into the hands of a dream terrorist in this gripping anime thriller from acclaimed director Satoshi Kon.

A "Perfect Blue" Companion

2008-05-28
From the Same director's mind who created the brilliant "Perfect Blue" movie, Animes Alfred Hitchcock of movies comes this wildly trippy story that has a futuristic concept that fuels the craziness. If you liked "Perfect Blue", this is also a movie to check out. -If you haven't seen "Perfect Blue", you need to watch that too!

Restored my faith in Anime

2008-05-13
I've been looking for a good anime for a very long time and just could not find one, until I found Paprika. Satoshi Kon is one of the best anime directors out there and has an amazing ability to suck you right into the story line. The immagry is beautiful, while the plot is given equally good detail and attention. I'd recommend it to anyone.

My first acid trip

2008-05-13
Odder than Oz.
Wilder than Wonderland.
Take the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. . .animate it. . .throw in a fat Transformer. . take a naked girl who sucks the life out of demonic force until she becomes a gigantic naked woman (who coincidentally earlier blew up Professor Shorty to orgasm). . .anime it. . .stick a detective--who never, incidentally, finished his first film--on the case of a psychotic dream implanter then top it with. . .
Paprika (everyone's wet dream).
"That's all folks."

WONDERFULLY IMAGINATIVE + GORGEOUS + BIZARRE = INSANITY, I LOVE IT! 9.25 OUT OF 10

2008-05-13
Paprika is a wonderful animated film that is perfect for people who like crazy movies, but it might be too crazy for some. I love this movie because of the wonderful animation, catchy music, unique storyline, and it's one of the most bizarre movies I've ever watched.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Scientists have invented a device called the DC Mini that can allow them to see and examine the dreams of a subject through dream therapy. When the device is stolen by dream terrorists it is up to Atsuko Chiba, her other half Paprika the woman who examines the dreams, Detective Konakowa, and Dr. Tokita to stop it before the terrorists begin to mess with people's dreams and make them insane in this insanely crazy and amazing sci-fi fantasy adventure beyond your wildest imagination.
STORY- SCORE: 9 OUT OF 10- This film has a unique story which has never really been thought of before, but the storyline and characters are difficult to understand the first few times you watch it because of how crazy this film really is.
MUSIC- SCORE: 9.5 OUT OF 10- I really don't know why I'm attracted to the music so much, it's just really catchy and feels like the music my brain has been craving something new, not yodeling music sequences though, those are lowest points of the amazing music.
ANIMATION- SCORE: 9 OUT OF 10: Not the most impressive animated movie ever, but that doesn't mean it isn't gorgeous and rather pretty compared to other animated films I've watched.
ENTERTAINMENT- SCORE: 9.25 OUT OF 10- This film is rather good, and highly entertaining and incredibly unique. You're not going to find anything like it anywhere. Not everyone who watches it will enjoy it though.
OVERALL: Highly recommendable to people looking for something new and different from the usual garbage of films these days (Will there ever be anything new or inventive from Hollywood again?).
THE GOOD: A high-quality film of gorgeous animation and design, it's beyond anything your imagination can think of, and it's completely insane in a very good way.
THE BAD: Not everyone will enjoy this film because it's really crazy, and it's a bit slow and hard to understand at first.