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Author Topic: Paprika  (Read 6126 times)

onewheelwizzard

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Paprika
« on: 18 Jun 2007, 09:16 »

Last night I went to see "Paprika," an anime movie by Satshi Kon.  It was fucking brilliant.

The basic premise is that a device has been developed that allows scientists to directly observe and take part in the dreams of people who wear it.  The title character, Paprika, is the dream alter ego of a scientist who is using the device to treat patients by entering their nightmares.  Then several of these devices, which are still not out of development and have no access restrictions placed on them, are stolen.  I won't get too far into the details, but the resulting movie is freakin' sweet.

I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys movies about the nature of reality and/or dreams.  There are parts where dreams and reality are indistinguishable, and the editing that allows for this ambiguity is superb.  Also, fans of Miyazaki will enjoy the fact that his influence is all over this movie.

Why am I bothering qualifying my recommendation?  Go see it!
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tomselleck69

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #1 on: 18 Jun 2007, 10:54 »

i saw it yesterday. pretty good and very attractive. also the strongest evidence i've seen in a while for my belief that white people will never fully be able to grasp what it means to be Japanese.
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bujiatang

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #2 on: 21 Jun 2007, 03:53 »

I still have the music from the parade stuck in my head
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LeeZion

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #3 on: 01 Jul 2007, 12:31 »

I finally got a chance to see it, myself. A good film, but not a great one. Unlike, for example, Perfect Blue — also directed by Satoshi Kon and also dealing with a world where it becomes impossible to distinguish fantasy from reality — this one submerges us into weirdness too soon, making it impossible for us to tell what SHOULD have been real. For example, we never see the dream device successfully used to treat the delusional patient. nor do we even MEET the delusional patient Instead, we see one dream taken over by another dream, and one of the characters has to TELL us, "Hey, wait a minute, this is the dream of that delusional patient I treated!" Nor do you ever see any kind of relationship developing between the doctor and the fatboy.

These were my main reservations. Other than that, the images were goregeous, the action and dialogue was engaging, and you can't go wrong with Megumi Hayashibara and her sexy voice as Paprika.
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TheFuriousWombat

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #4 on: 01 Jul 2007, 16:19 »

Damn you guys are lucky. I've wanted to see this for a while but it's on as very limited release. As far as I can tell, the nearest theaters to be showing it are little ones in NYC and I can't justify the $20 train ticket and $12-$15 movie ticket to see this. Guess I have to wait for the DVD....
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Blue Kitty

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #5 on: 01 Jul 2007, 22:03 »

I finally got a chance to see it, myself. A good film, but not a great one. Unlike, for example, Perfect Blue — also directed by Satoshi Kon and also dealing with a world where it becomes impossible to distinguish fantasy from reality — this one submerges us into weirdness too soon, making it impossible for us to tell what SHOULD have been real. For example, we never see the dream device successfully used to treat the delusional patient. nor do we even MEET the delusional patient Instead, we see one dream taken over by another dream, and one of the characters has to TELL us, "Hey, wait a minute, this is the dream of that delusional patient I treated!" Nor do you ever see any kind of relationship developing between the doctor and the fatboy.

These were my main reservations. Other than that, the images were goregeous, the action and dialogue was engaging, and you can't go wrong with Megumi Hayashibara and her sexy voice as Paprika.

it has been in the back of my mind that it looked like Perfect Blue.  I can not wait to see this and I hope that I can see it with a friend before the local theater lets it go
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LeeZion

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #6 on: 05 Jul 2007, 12:08 »

Damn you guys are lucky. I've wanted to see this for a while but it's on as very limited release. As far as I can tell, the nearest theaters to be showing it are little ones in NYC and I can't justify the $20 train ticket and $12-$15 movie ticket to see this. Guess I have to wait for the DVD....

Yes, it IS worth it, despite the reservations I mentioned earlier. I spent $48 on a car rental, since I don't have a car, plus $19 on gasoline and $9 on the movie ticket to see this film. (I also made it a day excursion, so I did other things on my trip rather than spend $76 just to see a movie.)

The images are so gorgeous and lavishly detailed that they deserve to be seen on the BIG SCREEN. No home system can do it justice.
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jimbunny

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #7 on: 05 Jul 2007, 23:23 »

I agree - good but not great. Satoshi Kon really reached with this one. After "Tokyo Godfathers" and "Millenium Actress" (both of which are excellent - better than this one, I'd say), it's great to see a return to an 'out there' kind of flick, but unlike "Perfect Blue," "Paprika" lets the madness get out of control before it tries to stop it. As a result, the film spends most of its time trying to catch up to its own plot (perhaps it barely succeeds) and not nearly enough time developing its characters, which end up sadly skimped.

The climax is a lot of fun to watch, though.


SPOILER RIGHT HERE (though not huge) YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED:

any movie that can reach its peak on a shot of its main character, nude, bathed in sunlight and as tall as a building is interesting at least
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Neuvost

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #8 on: 11 Jul 2007, 21:02 »

I saw it when it came out in a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed it! I'd never seen any of the other films by this director, but I'd like to. I also need to see Paprika itself again, because while I didn't think this just watching it the first time, I hear it's the sort of movie you get a lot more out of the second time around.
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bryanthelion

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #9 on: 20 Aug 2007, 17:40 »

I saw it a month ago, and I loved it.

Though, I dont like it how he doesnt tie up loose ends. How did dreams become reality anyhow? This happens in all of his other movies.
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pilsner

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #10 on: 20 Aug 2007, 19:07 »

Except for Tokyo Godfathers.  Definitely happened in Millennium Actress though.  I really enjoyed Paprika -- not as much as Godfathers but then Godfathers is one of my favorite movies.  The parade scenes were truly inspired.  I loved the part where the professor start babbling complete nonsense and you can see the entire theater trying to understand, thinking that it's just poor translation from the Japanese.  And the part where Paprika's skin is quite literally ripped off was immensely disturbing. 

Also: what is it about refrigerators that make screenwriters want to animate them and attack the protagonist.  I think I saw the same refrigerator from Requiem for a Dream reprising its role in Paprika during the parade scenes.  It must have an incredible agent.
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bryanthelion

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #11 on: 21 Aug 2007, 09:59 »

Anyone ever watch Paranoia Agent?
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greyhawk80

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #12 on: 29 Aug 2007, 08:58 »

Paranoia Agent's on my "to watch" list, along with about 10 other things. It really pissed me off that Paprika never came to the Atlanta area. Kon's movies need to be seen on a big screen.

On a related note, the soundtrack for Paprika is so sweet. Trippy Happy Trippy Happy Techno Explosion!
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pilsner

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #13 on: 29 Aug 2007, 09:19 »

Anyone ever watch Paranoia Agent?

So very netflixed.  Had no idea this existed.
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bryanthelion

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #14 on: 29 Aug 2007, 14:38 »

Wow,

It was on adult swim for like ever....

Its better than paprika
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pilsner

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Re: Paprika
« Reply #15 on: 29 Aug 2007, 14:47 »

You know it's a funny thing but by the time I went back to Adult Swim everything I liked was gone and I was left with %#%@# Naruto.
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