One of the things that I love about anime (Japanese animation) is that it is less of a genre than a form of cinema. Just look at the variety of films and series that claim anime as home: Robotech (sci-fi), Ninja Scroll (fantasy action), and Sailor Moon (superhero teenagers). But perhaps what I could never expect was Perfect Blue, a suspenseful mystery with elements that some (namely Roger Corman) have called Hitchcockian.
Perfect Blue tells the tale of Mima, a young woman who has achieved decent success as a pop icon. But she wants to move on with her career and shed her pop icon image by starting a new career as an actress. She lands a minor role in a television series (apparently Japanese television has no censors to keep out the nekkid booty), which the screenwriter decides to gradually increase. Part of this increase involves writing Mima into a rape scene, which many fans and friends resist.
Meanwhile, someone is posting the intimate details of Mima's life on a Web page called "Mima's Room" in a series of eerily spot-on diary entries. Is Mima subconsciously regretting her change of image and posting these entries herself? Is some fan watching her every move and broadcasting it to the world? As Mima becomes affected by the rape scene as if it was real, her sense of reality and identity begin disintegrating.
If there was any doubt that animation could convey adult-themed stories before, Perfect Blue should eradicate that myth. It presents dark musings on identity, reality vs. illusion, and fame in our increasingly less private world with intelligence and maturity. Never does it become an intellectual wankfest, though, as the plot drives the on screen action forward while using the smoke and mirrors of what boils down to an animated murder mystery to slip the intellectual concepts past your defenses.
The movie begins slowly (perhaps a bit too slowly), drawing out the main characters and their initial situation. We see hints of what is to come, with signs of the resentment that someone feels towards Mima's new image. After the rape scene, the story begins to gradually loose linearity, shifting in and out of scenes brilliantly. We really get a sense of how Mima is teetering on the brink of insanity, perhaps glimpsing how she has already fallen over the edge. Non-linear composition is a technique that's tough to pull off completely convincingly, and while I think Perfect Blue may have indulged in one or two too many MacGuffins with this technique, the shifts ultimately add to the tension and hurtle the plot ever more wildly onward.
At one point, Mima asks if she dreamed the previous night. It feels like she just might have. Her sense of reality is visibly deteriorating into a muddled jumble where her life, dreams, and television character merge into one convoluted life. Are you the same person from moment to moment? After viewing this film, I'd say no. Mima consciously changes who she is, going from sweet, innocent pop singer to an adult and sullied actress. The two are diametrically opposed, like the difference between jeepers ain't she swell Christina Aguilera to Shannon Tweed.
The mystery itself is well executed, never giving away the ending but never shrouding it. While I couldn't peg precisely what was going on throughout the movie, I could see exactly how we got to the ending from the previous events. Hindsight is 20/20, after all. In fact, the ending leaves room for debate on what has transpired. It's a wonderfully trusting film that takes the intelligence of its audience as a given and then runs from there. Once the story gets fully running, it's tense and engaging until the end.
The animation here is beautifully fluid and detailed, with only mild stylization. It's nothing like the kawaii anime of Sailor Moon or even Dragon Ball Z. Perfect Blue opts for mostly realistic characters, with the occasional big eyes on the females. But, unlike any other anime I've seen, the females have pubic hair. I'm sure you are just squirming with glee now that I have divulged that little tidbit. Pubes, buddy, rent it now.
While it might not need to be said, look for Perfect Blue with subtitles, not English dubbing. The subtitles are excellent, readable and clear, except for perhaps the lyrics to the pop songs. Yeah, nice touch, way to be complete, but those lyrics are shallow and empty enough without having them spelled out in front of without the benefit of rhythm and meter to coat the bitter pill.
I recommend that anime fans check this film out. Casual moviegoers should enjoy the suspense and clever storyline as well, so don't be afraid to check out that animation section at your local video store. A little warning, though. There is some graphic violence and nudity, including the aforementioned simulated rape scene. This ain't a cartoon for kids, but you open-minded adults should enjoy watching this cleverly plotted and intelligent thriller.
In The Tradition Of Great Suspense Masters, Director Satoshi Kon, (memories), Special Advisor Katsuhiro Otomo (akira) And Madhouse, Studios (ninja Scr...More at HotMovieSale.com
DVDS. Without the exploding mutants and robotic high school babes that most Americans associate with Japanese anime, this film is a taut psychological...More at DeepDiscount.com
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2010 Shopping.com, Inc.