Paprika [DVD] [2007]

Put simply Paprika is one of the strangest films I have ever seen and is a work of pure genius at the same time. In the film a device that allows someone to enter another's dream has been stolen and the devices designers try to track it down before it falls into the hands of a dream terrorist. This is what it says on in the blurb on the back of the DVD and although this is a good description the basic plot there is far more to it than this rather basic description. Paprika is a very difficult film to classify and it is definitely a film you will need to watch multiple times to understand it.

Paprika is brilliantly made with some stunning and surreal animation easily showing how, when used properly, animation can be as good as if not better than anything live action can produce. The films plot can be very confusing but despite this, it never ceases to be anything less than engrossing. Whether you watch this film with the English dub or subtitles will have to be a personal choice as both have their advantages but I would have to say that the dubbed version is the easiest one to follow in places. Paprika is a simply stunning film and although definitely not to everyone's taste, it is easily one of my all time favourite films.

If you're going to convince people that anime isn't totally crazy, Paprika is not the film to choose.
If you're going to convince them that it's one of the lushest, most imaginative and progressive forms of visual entertainment there is, you've come to the right place.
I've owned Paprika for a few weeks now, thanks to a French import (a word of advice- it works OK on UK players and even the menus and subtitles are English). Suffice to say that I haven't been so impressed by a film's visuals since Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. I'll go straight into those, as they are the first thing you will notice. The amount of activity going on in some scenes is astounding, and the bright, happy colours in the disturbing dream world (more on that later) look fantastic on this DVD. The CG used has been integrated so well that you can hardly notice it- look at the corridor in the first scene. Overall it's an astonishing achievement, and fortunately every other aspect of the film is brilliant as well.
The story is just as engaging as the fabulous visuals. It focuses on Dr Atsuko Chiba, who uses an invention called the DC Mini to enter people's dreams. As the technology has not yet been legalised, she has to assume another identity in dreams- the titular Paprika, who, in contrast to the sharp, serious doctor, is a fun, friendly redheaded young woman.
The plot soon takes a sinister turn, as someone has been abusing the DC Mini's abilities to manipulate people's dreams and control them. Soon people are being held in their dreams indefinitely, although thanks to the DC Mini those in the "real" world can view the dream on monitors. The highlight of the dream sequences has to be the parade of household objects, which contains a stunning amount of detail, with literally thousands of objects parading around various locations. This is a recurring image, which seems to be the trademark of the unknown villain.
Of course, Paprika tries to investigate just what's going on, but soon events become very confusing, and the dream and real worlds slide together, so it becomes impossible to tell what is real.
Despite the events becoming very confusing, you are never frustrated with trying to follow the plot. It actually makes a lot of sense, and later events tie up loose ends from the start.
The music in this film is also some of the best in recent years, with the faintly disturbing march played by the objects in the parade being a highlight. The theme tune that plays in the opening credits (and bits of which are repeated later) is also fantastic. Unlike some films, the music always fits the action perfectly, and is an essential element in creating the mood of the film.
Another great aspect to this film is the character design. Part of the enjoyment comes from meeting all the various characters as you go along, but watch out for the two barmen, played (in the Japanese version) by director Satoshi Kon and original author Yasutaka Tsutsui!
There is very little, if anything, to fault with this film, as everything fits together perfectly, and is to such a high standard that nothing feels out of place. The extras on the French DVD are brilliant as well, with interviews and features on how the art and CG were made, but I gather that the UK DVD will not have all of these. If you can put up with not getting the English audio, and really want those extras, it might be worth your while getting an import, but either way, you're going to end up with one of the best films of recent years, and a thoroughly worthwhile purchase.

I'd been putting off watching Paprika for a while, mostly because I was a dubious about how a film based on dreams could hold it's own against a film like "Millenium actress". I've been humbled.

You can see that every part of the film has been observed through a fine toothed comb. The lush backgrounds, the characters created with depth and personality, the amazing plot and storyline. All of these are done superbly, but even more incredibly the score was mesmerising. I don't normally notice such things, but every time music came in, it created an atmosphere, gave an emotion and enveloped you in the rest of the film. I can't think of any reason to give this film less than five stars, it's a pleasure to view, it's an auditory dream, it's story is second to none. My only gripe is that the majority of westerners won't see it because of subtitles, but more shame them.