Perfect Blue: The great underrated anime

S

Sy

Time-Traveller
I'm going to shed some light on this movie for all of those who avoid it because of the reputation it has. I'm not surprised that some people think this is a hentai, after all the cover artwork of the UK DVD isn't exactly flattering (I could see how people could assume that she's strung up by the arms in some sort of bondage). Madonna including it in her live shows with clips of hentai didn't help the movie much either. There are also the people that did actually see it but all they seem to remember was the violence and nudity, they obviously missed the point. It's because of all these misconceptions that I feel the movie is severely underrated.

This film is not for kids that's for sure but it is a mature look on the effects of fame. Some people describe it as a horror movie or slasher flick but to label it as that is overly simplifying it. The violence is in bursts and serves to the confusion of the story. Others have said that their is too much nudity and sex. Well although there is nudity, like the violence it serves the plot and isn't as graphic as some have made it out to be. Perhaps the scariest thing about this movie is that it's grounded in reality with believeable characters, settings and designs.

It's an intelligent movie that keeps you guessing right up until the very end but although confusing at points when it reaches the climax everything falls into place. In my eyes it's a superb piece of storytelling and people need to get rid of these preconcieved ideas they have of it out of their heads and actually take the time to watch it.
 
It was alright, I don't have a great appreciation for this movie, unlike Mustaine [I will always refer to you as that.] I was baffled by it at times, and didn't know what the f-ck was going on, but it did piece together at the end and was quite the good movie.
 
Link100p said:
I will be surprised if there is anyone here who hasn't seen it.
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I know there are a few people on here who won't watch it because of the rep it's had in the past. Plus the fact it's recently been bundled with Legend of the Overfiend can't help much.
 
Sy said:
Link100p said:
I will be surprised if there is anyone here who hasn't seen it.
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I know there are a few people on here who won't watch it because of the rep it's had in the past. Plus the fact it's recently been bundled with Legend of the Overfiend can't help much.
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Yeah but about a year or two ago it was also bundled With Millenium Princess.

Perfect Blue is a good movie just not one you set in front of a newb and say "sit & watch".
 
thekendyman said:
Yeah but about a year or two ago it was also bundled With Millenium Princess.
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Millenium Actress, which is also directed by Satoshi Kon. I recommend that as well.
CitizenGeek said:
I was going to get it, but the reputation this film has more being very confusing turned me off it!
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Ignore all that and just give it a try. It's only confusing in the sense that it keeps you guessing throughout the movie. Just when you think you've got it all worked out it throws and punch and you're blindly guessing. The first time I watched it I honestly didn't expect the ending.

I've got to give props to Satoshi Kon, Madhouse and everyone else that was involved in this movie because from what I've been told it was made on a modest budget. Apparently it was originally going to be a live action film until Kon took over but they only had the budget of an OAV to work with. They made good use of it.
 
I'm honestly surprised to hear it has a "hentai" image, i came across it from some anime review site stating it was one of the best animes to show to newbies of the genre! lol.

Yeah its got some nudity in it but i certainly wouldnt call it hentai, just a very clever, adult anime. Its also one of the most "real" animes i've ever seen, no towering mecha, no magical girls, no harem comedy, the closest comparison i can think of is Fight Club off the top of my head.
 
Is that the cover in the UK?

I don't know about you, but when I bought the DVD last week, this was the cover:

perfect_blue.jpg


I do agree though that this is a very underrated movie. I have seen it a couple of times when it was regularly shown on Sci Fi (Ah yes, the days when I actually watched Sci Fi) but it was on late at night that I didn't really grasp it properly.

I watched it a couple of nights ago and it still gave me chills no matter how many times I watched it.

It really shows the twisted price of fame and I highly recommend anybody to watch it.
 
Trowa_Ayanami said:
Is that the cover in the UK?

I don't know about you, but when I bought the DVD last week, this was the cover:
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No, what you posted is the current UK DVD cover. The cover I posted was for the UK VHS release and I think it looks a lot more stylish as simple as it may be. It doesn't make it look like she's tied up either.
 
I've heard about it since I got into the whole Anime thing, but never really got around to watching it. At some point I will probably give it go, but right now I have over thirty other shows on my wishlist that take priority.
 
I'll eventually get around to watching it when I splash out on all of Kons work. That should happen before the end of the year. Hopefully.
 
I didn't find it confusing at all, it seemed to flow quite nicely.


I didn't actually say I liked it or not, I think it's brilliant worth watching whether you like anime or not.
 
A very good anime indeed, there's a moment in it when you think it's nearly ended and then it's back to waking up in the morning not being able to tell dreams from reality. Brilliant. Satoshi Kon did good on this :)
 
A very good film all round. Not as polished as Kon's later work perhaps, but still brutally emphasising in what it does. And for those who are confused, I think it was pretty easy to understand, especially in comparison to Millennium acress :roll: (not that MA is bad, it is very good)

Still, I hold that Kon's best when he has more than c. 90 minutes to tell a story, which is why Paranoia Agent is still my fave work of his.
 
Warmaster said:
Still, I hold that Kon's best when he has more than c. 90 minutes to tell a story, which is why Paranoia Agent is still my fave work of his.
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Interesting, I would've said that I felt Paranoia Agent was too much time for him, and would have been more effective if it had been forced into fewer episodes. Millenium Actress is my favourite work of his :D .

Oh, and sticking on topic - Perfect Blue is great. Watch it :wink: .
 
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