salmanalfarisi-81574 This is a movie that's said as an inspirational from Christopher Nolan in making Inception which is the best sci-fi film of this decade. Satoshi Kon is one of the famous directors with his expertise in making an anime with brilliant artwork to the details of it. In addition, he always shows a story that is still fresh, complicated, but interesting to follow it entirely. He is also known for his expertise that combines reality and hallucinations between stories and characters. Paprika is also like that, no exception to deal with them.The story consists of three major characters: Atsuko Chiba, Torataro Shima, and Kosaku Tokita who worked on a psychiatric research foundation and failed to keep a device they created. This device can enter a person's dreams, explore their subconscious and the three of them must know who the mastermind behind it. Just read by the synopsis, it's not kinda interesting to tell the story in front of it but not the whole. The story's presented with the same premise with Perfect Blue that combines a reality and fiction. For me, the story doesn't seem as non-linear or complicated as presented by Christopher Nolan's Inception. But, the more you watch it the more interesting because we don't know also how to distinguish dreams within the reality.Sometimes we think of it as the real world but is the opposite. Not too complicated to me, nothing is too exaggerated but there is something that makes me want to see it more, especially on the story about Toshimi which is always whirling on the top. The beginning of his impression, he didn't belong into the story and not too obvious to get into the main story but the further it actually becomes closer to the main character and story that initially has no relationship at all into a story that is focused on him.The story is not too devoted to people who are still laid but more focused for you who like Hollywood movies with a complex story. Not to non-linear but it's interesting to understand it.The art is excellent to blend a reality into a more vivid image. In terms of character, background diversion, a dream scene, this is why Satoshi Kon is considered one of those who successfully changed the anime. The animation and art are very brilliant to make in terms of this anime that can be said as the best of all. A world which created by Satoshi Kon himself managed to pull the audience into his world.The atmosphere that he built is very strong because of it's over the realism of when it uses a location that looks similar to the real world. One of the best thing in this aspect is also when Satoshi Kon incorporates two things into one where we don't know if this is a dream or a reality. It's about using your imagination instead you follow the story.Excellent editing for Satoshi Kon with astonishing cinematography and graphics. Can't believe this is made by Madhouse who also worked on Perfect Blue and Mousou Dairinin, one of Satoshi Kon's other works.The soundtrack and music are so great if you wanna hear it again from all sides. Susumu Hirasawa composes it so well that every scene always invites some intense with scenes that are disturbing and confusing. The opening theme song reminds me of the song called "Baba O'Riley" by The Who, one of my favorite British classic rock bands ever. For the seiyuu is great too especially Megumi Hayashibara who plays two characters with two different personalities, a little spoiler in here.The characters are sometimes good at the right times but sometimes vice versa. The characters introductions are still very weak, though I hear the novel is worse than the anime. The antagonist also has a bad script in being a villain because they are only seen from one perspective only so it looks boring. There is no obvious reason why he did this and that. The explanation of the major character's background is still questionable and there are no feelings at all, some of the characters are putting each other's feelings but it's back because on top of all is not really developed.Konakawa is the best character of all although he initially impressed not too important for the main story. However, he is the one who recognizes the background, the feeling, and the character so that this character is more sympathetic than others. But overall, Satoshi Kon doesn't want to make this anime like cheesy considering he wants to make his own world which is mindblowing and memorable.Paprika is one anime with the director's imaginary world that he raises up. Sometimes, your mind is needed to understand what is really going on so you must also be able to make each interpretation. It's Madhouse Studios that creates some achievement that people can get out there. The animation can spoil your feelings, the music is good and the position is so good, but the character is one of the lacks that must be fixed.Somewhat it's slightly predictable in some scenes and sometimes an awkward little romance also make this anime break up little by little. Bottom line, it's worth watching since you watch Inception because these two movies will make you mindblowing.

SnoopyStyle Doctor Atsuko Chiba uses her alter-ego Paprika to treat police detective Toshimi Konakawa and his unsolved case in his recurring dream. Chiba, man-child genius Doctor Kōsaku Tokita and Doctor Toratarō Shima are running a secret program to enter into other people's dreams using the DC Mini. When the DC MIni is stolen in an inside job, people's dreams start to get invaded. The wheelchair bound chairman Doctor Seijirō Inui puts up roadblocks on the investigation.The wild dreamworld is amazing. It is imaginative and creepy. The story is another dreamworld mystery. It does need to work on the real world aspects. It needs to distinguish the real world from the dream world in the first half of the movie. When the worlds start to blend, the audience needs to feel it. The movie as it is never seems to leave the dreamworld. The dreams loses cohesiveness but it never loses its wonder. This is a superb visually wild movie.

TozzyOzzy Satoshi Kon's final work Paprika is a colourful, energetic and surreal trip. It's a film that asks us 'what is reality?' and for the most part does a great job of exploring the relationship between dreams and the real world. Filled to the brim with remarkable visuals from Madhouse, a good level of story complexity and even some commentary on the topic of cinema itself, it's a big love letter to industry. While Paprika is a visual feast and directed with great attention to detail, it's a shame that the story sacrifices clarity for surrealism at moments when questions need to be answered. The story contains a mix of ideas touching on ethics, discovering one's purpose and what defines reality. Some of these ideas get ditched and others explored in greater detail, but the end result is still a very memorable film.Our story follows Atsuko Chiba who uses newly created technology without permission, which allows people to share dreams, to help patients with stress in the form of an alter ego Paprika. Trouble starts when versions of the device with no security fall into the wrong hands. This would allow the culprit to enter the dreams of others and cause untold amounts of deeply rooted psychological damage, even enough to destroy one's psyche. I found myself actually drawn more towards the story of detective Toshimi Konakawa and his attempt to understand why his dreams are affecting him deeply at a psychological level. He is without a doubt the most deeply explored character, as one of Chiba's patients. His attempt to overcome the unsolved case at his job is starting to toy with his mind and his past becomes caught up in these thoughts. Every time his dream came to the fore I was captivated. I thought the payoff for his journey was slightly underwhelming. Yet at the same time I knew the ending was only appropriate things take the direction they do considering the themes of the film - hiding our true feelings and creating a new reality so we don't have to face the other one.It's only appropriate that our main character Chiba be the one to best represent the idea of discovering one's true self. While the film initially posits Paprika as a façade for her to treat others you start to question whether her fake persona is actually a better representation of her true self – someone more free spirited and approachable. While the internal struggle isn't as plainly laid out for the viewer to see compared to Konakawa, it's definitely there. Kon's clever direction goes a long way to achieving this. From the repetitious use of glass to mirror Chiba's other side of herself or the almost unnoticeable cut between reality and dreamscapes, it all works. Chiba herself isn't actually that interesting of a character at face level, though that's quite intentional. She has a cold demeanor, exuding this barrier of defence around herself. Paprika acts as a means to express her repressed emotions. As a collective, the two more are complete and fulfill what the other lacks.On my main criticism: Paprika as a film does little to explain the boundaries and the rules of its world and instead lets the film play out as an 'experience'. Even the exposition of the movie isn't clear at first. Though this lends to being entertaining it hinders the exploration of its themes. Something being intentionally difficult to understand without giving us an explanation doesn't instantly make something amazing, it can be infuriating. While I actually like the idea of figuring things out for yourself and applying your own interpretation to things, there's some cases where we need boundaries explained. This is one of those cases, in a film blending technology and the subconscious. The film's ending actually starts to go against our understanding of reality and I just took it as one of those things I'll have to accept. It actually reaches a point of absurdity that took me out of the experience. On top of this, the antagonist isn't that interesting and gives the grand finale an underwhelming amount of impact. On the topic of visuals, a much more positive point, I rarely see animation so good that I actually find myself saying 'wow' as I'm watching it. There are so many moments full of warped transitions, literal world-bending scenes that are breathtaking. Kon loves flow between scenes. His scene transition here was at master-level. It keeps the film dynamic and does a great job of keeping you engaged. The opening credits scene in particular is one of the most memorable moments which showcase this fluidity to Kon's direction. If you're also looking for a movie that utilises repetition well then this is the one for you. It allows to see several things, such as how far our characters have overcome their psychological problems or seeing things in our dreams that makes us reflect upon reality. Paprika is a must watch. Story-wise it may get a bit too big for its own boots but it's the perfect example of the journey sometimes being worth more than the destination.

Donald F I feel like Paprika is almost criticism-proof. Any bad thing I have to say about it can be attributed to intention. The dialog is poor, plot points pop out of nowhere, and logic is thrown out the window. But this all seems to be adding to the mood, a dream-like movie that doesn't follow reality.But I just don't see the point of this accomplishment. Its weird for the sake of being weird...so? That leaves no impression on me. It could have been any random assortment of images and be just as effective. I can't love a movie through mood alone.At least it was an interesting sit, with fine animation and plenty of bizarre action. If you're into this kind of style-over-subsistence, then you may love it. For me, its more forgettable than amazing.