Paprika
by Satoshi Kon
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DVD details
Director: Satoshi KonBrand: HAYASHIBARA,MEGUMI
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: Japanese (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-11-27
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures
DVD Reviews of Paprika
DVD Review: A well-told story with wonderful animation
Summary: 4 Stars
The film is set in the "near future," and the film's plot revolves around a psychotherapy treatment called dream therapy. Dream therapy uses a device called a "DC Mini," which allows the user to view other people's dreams. However, this technology has not been announced to the media. It turns out that three DC Mini prototypes have been stolen, and the protagonists of the story must find out where they went, as well as for clues to figure out what exactly is going on. As the film progresses, the narrative becomes more and more muddled between dreams and reality, to the point where the viewer is questioning whether what they are seeing on the screen is actually happening in the story, or is just someone's dream. However, this blurring of the lines really helps to tell the story that Satoshi Kon is wanting to convey in the film.
The DVD release of Paprika contains six special features. The first is the filmmakers' commentary. Next is a thirty minute documentary titled, "Tsutsui and Kon's Paprika." This documentary includes interviews with both Yasutaka Tsutsui and Satoshi Kon, and tells how the film was adapted from the novel. Next is a documentary titled, "A Conversation About the `Dream'." It runs for thirty minutes, and it features two of the voice actors, Yasutaka Tsutsui, and Satoshi Kon. They talk about the dream world in the film. Next is a fifteen minute documentary titled, "The Dream CG World"; this talks about the technological aspects of producing the film. The final documentary is titled, "The Art of Fantasy," and it runs for about twelve minutes. The final extra is previews for other titles released by Sony Pictures Classics.
Paprika is a very well-made film. Not only does it have a compelling story to tell, but the story is illustrated with some wonderful animation. However, since Paprika is an R-rated film, I can only recommend it to anime viewers who are seventeen years of age and older.
DVD Review: A delightful thrill of highest quality.
Summary: 4 Stars
Warning, may contain spoilers!!!
So, to start off, I thought this was a wonderful film. The animation was superb and the story was marvelous. The soundtrack is fantastic and sets such a great mood to the whole film (the Parade and Opening credits are the first to pop to mind), and it stands well on it's own. So to get this on the right foot, I want it to be clear that I in no way dislike this film and think very highly of it, I just think it could have been executed a little better.
I was torn between giving it a 5 star rating or a 4 star, but I had to make my decision lean towards giving it 4 (although I would have made it 4 1/2). I have a good reason for it, so please read on before giving this rating a thumbs down, and decide for yourself whether my reasoning was sound or extreme.
I gave the film 4/5 was because of problems I found in the scripting of it. How the DC-Mini began to spill into reality was not explained very well and the origin of Paprika and who she was was a bit ambiguous. The film also didn't develop the two baddies Osanai and Inui (and how he came to be) and their sexual relationship (thus explaining some of the plot), and it hardly touched the romance between Tokita and Chiba. There is more, but I wish not to reveal too much of the plot.
It really missed the mark of the book, which I highly recommend. I am unsure if it is being sold in Amazon.com, but I was able to purchase it through Amazon.co.uk. It's a marvelous book, Tsutsui is a phenomenal writer and makes me wish I could read Japanese in order to get the full force of his skill.
At any rate, I realize that liberties must be taken with film adaptations of books, but I think the screenwriters could have done a better job in character development (which I had thought before reading the novel that inspired the film). There is so much I could say about what they could have done differently, or even better, so I would say it'd be easier if you read the book and you'll fully understand what I mean (a side note, if you're interested in Psychology or in any sort of Psychological/Philosophical field, you'll definitely enjoy reading it). Aside from that, it's a wonderfully fun film to watch filled with suspense and wonder and it's a movie that I'm proud to have in my collection of films.
As the Japanese may say, 'Sugoi'!
DVD Review: Unique amongst unique
Summary: 5 Stars
All i have to say about Paprika is what a wonderful movie it is. It doesn't take long after the movie starts for you to start gasping at how imaginative the movie is. With its focus on dreams the creators had no limit to what they could put in here and it shows. Buy it and watch it, then watch it again, and watch it a couple dozen times after that.DVD Review: An Artsy Journey Through The Mind - Blu-ray
Summary: 5 Stars
Paprika is the out going and perky alter ego of Atsuko Chiba, a young research psychologist who uses a revolutionary device dubbed the DC Mini to help patients by entering their dreams. Unfortunately, the DC Mini has fallen into the wrong hands, and it is up to the buxom Paprika to prevent the dreamworld from melding with reality.
The beautiful Paprika is seemingly a polar opposite of her reality based self. Atsuko dresses more conservatively and is more cautious, while Paprika's wardrobe is a little more hip and revealing, and she has no problem leaping before looking. It is Paprika whom we spend most of our time with as she enters people's mental landscapes in an attempt to discover who stole the DC Mini and how to stop them from destroying the line between reality and fantasy. This is a "save the world" story with some pretty unique twists.
I was quite pleased with the English dub. While it is not without fault, it is significantly better than the monotonic, melodramatic dubs that we are use to. Of course, purist still have the option of listening to the Japanese language track if they prefer, but they should give the English track a chance.
Paprika is truly a work of art. You could quite literally randomly press pause, and have an image that you would be proud to have on your wall. Reality is rigid and structured with slightly a subdued color palette.. The dreamworld is vibrant, loose and whimsical. It is a striking contrast that I have never seen in anime before.
Picture quality is simply sublime. This is a show piece Blu-ray disc. Colors are incredibly deep and vibrant, but they never bleed unlike my experience with the DVD. This disc is the definition of eye candy. Audio is impressive as well. The soundtrack is creative and memorable with one in particular nasty ear worm that will run in your head for days, but you won't complain.
The special features are pretty much what we have come to expect - commentary, behind the scenes, the making of, etc. - though they are rather in depth. Be warned, however, they the special features are in Japanese only. There is, however, the option for subtitles.
This Blu-ray transfer is what all anime should strive for. Lines are crisp (when need be), and colors pop off the screen. It is difficult to talk about the story without giving too much away, but rest assured that it is complex and mature, though I never felt lost. It is worth mentioning for those who are sensitive to nudity that there is a full nude body shot of Paprika, though only her breasts are revealed - no genitalia. This is a title that every anime fan needs in their collection, and is the perfect entry to the world of anime for those who are unfamiliar.
Tech Specs
Video: 1080p, 1.85:1
Audio: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Japanese Dolby TrueHD 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, Chinese Mandarin/Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1, Thai Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai
DVD Review: Foreign and Intriguing
Summary: 4 Stars
Over the years, I have developed a love for good quality Anime. My sister saw this movie and LOVED it. So, with some excitement I bought it and watched it with my family. It is about device that allows Psychotherapists to enter into dreams with their patients to aide in understanding dreams and diagnosing psychological disorders. However, someone steals the device and starts to use it for evil.
The movie sounded interesting so I was surprised when, it left me with sort of a confused, disoriented, mind-screw sort of feeling in my head. This is because, through much of the movie you are never sure if you are in the dream world, or in reality. Coming from western society, where all our movie dream sequences are very well defined or well explained, this movie never really tells where you are. However, it was still possible for me to follow the plot mostly, even though the end was even more confusing still.
After watching the movie (the art was beautiful), my sister helped explain it (apparently her brain is pre-wired to understand these sorts of things. She tends to reject the western notion of categorizing and dividing which I think makes her more eastern in her perception and philosophy.) Her explanations helped me understand it, but it did nothing to help our father understand or appreciate the film more.
Ultimately I find this to be an interesting film that is a must-watch if you are interested in experiencing a different way of perceiving reality. And if you have difficulty understanding it the first time, I recommend waiting a year, and watching it again. (That tactic usually helps me understand things that are initially baffling to me). The film is very artistic and intriguing, so I highly recommend watching it.
Also, Recently we found an article that found that most Asians look exclusively at the eyes when looking for emotions. So, my whole family watched only the eyes of the characters in this movie and it helped immensely for understanding what the characters were thinking and made them seem a whole lot less stiff.
Description of Paprika
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.Based on a novel by the noted Japanese science fiction writer Yasutaka Tsutui, the brilliant and unsettling feature Paprika continues director Satoshi Kon's exploration of the disturbingly permeable boundaries between dreams and reality. Techno-geek Kosaku Tokita invented the DC Mini to allow therapists to enter a patient's dreams and explore his unconscious, but an evil cabal uses the Mini to create a mass nightmare that causes multiple suicides. Psychotherapist Atsuko Chiba uses her alter-identity, "dream detective" Paprika, to intervene. Entering the nightmare, she witness a bizarre parade of appliances, toys, and kitsch objects: All of her intelligence and imagination are needed to escape this nightmare and its perpetrators. As he did in Millennium Actress and Paranoia Agent, Kon effortlessly carries the audience between reality and fantasy, confirming his reputation as one of the most talented and interesting directors working in animation today. (Rated R: violence, violence against women, grotesque imagery, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
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