004 4 Don't watch the commentaries or other extras before the film as it will give away key plot points - namely the ending . Go to the official dotcom website of the same name for information about the making of the film . The official site says that this was meant to be a live action film but production was interrupted by the Kobi earthquake and it was decided to change it to an anime . There is a mention of an earthquake in the background of a scene on a television set .
I'm reviewing the version I saw , the Australian DVD release by Madman Entertainment as the licensee for Manga Entertainment . It is unusually Region Coded 1,2 and 4 ( the zones of USA and Canada , Europe and Japan and South America as well ) . However , it is recorded in PAL format and except for Europe , these countries use NTSC , a different playback format . As a general point , make sure your DVD player has PAL playback before buying any PAL disc even if the disc is your region code or region zero ( no region code ) otherwise it won't play back properly or at all . There might also be differences between this disc and other region versions so check what extras you get .
I don't like watching dubbed live action films but I'm perfectly happy with the English dubbed version on this disc which is well done . The Japanese language track with or without subtitles is also available . It's worth watching the watching the Japanese subtitled version . It gives a different feel to the movie . Some dialogue gets a different emphasis . It also shows up one error in the English dub at 1 hour 1 minute and 32 seconds . Mima should have said Rika Takakura not Mima Kirigoe . This is confirmed by the Japanese language track and accompanying subtitles . This is important as it clears up some confusion that might be created in that scene as a result .
Mima Kirigoe is a pop singer who is quitting her group Cham to take up acting . We quickly learn that longevity in the music business can be short in Japan . Starting at ground level in the acting business means she has no choice but to do scenes which are worlds apart from her wholesome pop image . Someone starts stalking her and sending threatening letters . One explodes injuring her manager . Even more disturbingly , she finds a website ( called Mima's Room ) that has details of her life that only she could know . Things get really scary when she starts using it herself to find out what she's been up to as her emotional state deteriorates .
Murders of people involved with her acting career start happening . She might be being haunted and terrorised by her former pop persona that objects to the indecent things she has to act out . Mima may actually be hallucinating the threats and that she's being stalked . She may also be hallucinating the murders . She might actually be committing the murders . In fact , she might even be hallucinating her entire career but committing the murders - or not . Or she may be simply be going mad . Believe me when I say anything is possible in this film .
The last 30 minutes continually keep you guessing as the filmmakers keep shifting the ground beneath the viewer's feet . You have to repeatedly question what is real and what it not , a difficult but enjoyable task and you have to especially be on your toes to keep up . What has been going on seems to be conclusively settled , if for no more reason that there is nothing following the end to contradict the final scene . The theme music is quite eerie and totally appropriate for the tone of key scenes in the film as Mima starts her spiral downwards . There is also a frenetic score that perfectly fits the intensity of the murders ( or is it ' murders ' ? ) .
This is an excellent film and a first class thriller . Within the first few minutes , I had even forgotten that I was watching an animated film . This film has a great twist ending , a killer final half hour and a streamlined plot in a compact running time . 3 things a recent and totally unrelated release Minority Report didn't have and needed desperately .
The DVD extras are very good . A screen says you are being connecting you Mima's Room and uses a reverse of the pull away shot from Mima's apartment window in the film by zooming into her apartment , past Mima and then displaying a menu for the extras . Commentary from three of the main English voice actors is very informative and thought provoking about how they interpreted the film and decided to play their roles as a result . It is also interesting to compare Mima's English voice actor to her Japanese equivalent's take on the role . This is the director Satoshi Kon's first animated feature and he does a great job .
There is a photo montage using frames from the film and text that details the key events of the film . Also , some studio footage of the Japanese voice actors singing a Cham song and the separate English equivalent ( sound only ) is an option . There is also some footage of the animators working on the film in the opening menu screen , it would have been nice if a small feature had been added showing the making of the film as well .
Surprisingly ( and fortunately ) this film has not yet been optioned by Hollywood for a remake . This would not be a popular suggestion but IF amongst the current lot of Britney Spears , Mandy Moore et al , one of them did appear in a remake of this film and IF they stuck as closely as possible to this film and IF they did a good job , it would definitely add a dimension to their acting careers . There are obvious parallels as they also are all shifting their focus from their music to acting , which is the theme of this film , especially the downside of that transition and that of fame in general . However , that is a lot of ' if's and probably far too many to give great odds of success . All things considered it's probably good we have fortunately been spared the threat of a remake .
A great movie and a great disc . Go see it , buy it if you can't rent it .
029 4 Japanese Anime is interesting in that while there are commercially driven movies and series made simply to sell toys and merchandise , amid the glut of such mainstream productions exist more daring , ambitious experiments which can nonetheless be considered great works of art . Satoshi Kon's directorial debut , PERFECT BLUE , is one such Anime . It is very rare to see an adult-driven , psychologically frightening suspense-drama that we would mostly get from directors such as Alfred Hitchcock , and the creator of THE SIXTH SENSE and SIGNS , but Satoshi Kon proves that , if given the proper treatment , animation can be used to not only entertain , but to strike emotional chords and leave a lasting impact on even the most jaded of viewers .
First and foremost , PERFECT BLUE is ABSOLUTELY NOT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN . This is an extremely dark and occasionally bloody thriller that will probably leave young viewers traumatized for weeks . It's about a Japanese pop idol , Mima , who decides to abandon her longtime J-Pop status with her performing group , CHAM , and become an actress . This doesn't sit well with her fans , particularly one deranged , creepy looking schmuck who stalks her from the shadows for a large marjority of the film . Matters take a turn for the worse when Mima takes part in a sexually-charged psycho-thriller series ( which requires our heroine to shoot a disturbing rape sequence ) . A fan-made website details Mima's activities . . . even her most intimate ones ! ( She even starts to get hate mail from her fans . ) Things get even more out of hand when her virtual identical twin ( or something along those lines , who still wears the pop idol dress and has a deceivingly cheerful smile on her face ) emerges from the website and taunts the young ex-pop idol about her tarnished reputation . In addition , her friends and associates become the targets of a mysterious imposter posing as Mima .
If there's anything going against PERFECT BLUE , it may be the second half . While the first half is carefully cultivated and plotted , the latter part of the film becomes a little difficult and confusing to follow , as director Kon switches between real-life events and dream-like events , leaving viewers struggling to figure out what's REALLY going on and what isn't . Suffice to say , this isn't a film for everyone , but what ultimately makes PERFECT BLUE is how engrossed we are with the film , even when it starts to get more complicated ( not in a mind-numbingly incoherent way like , say , NEON GENESIS EVANGELION ) , risque ( in addition to the aforementioned rape scene - - which , although obviously artificial , is quite disturbing to watch - - we see shots of Mima posing nude for a perverted photographer as well as a classic scene involving Mima kneeling in her bathtub , clutching her knees , screaming her frustration over participating in such stuff ) , and violent ( there are quite a bit of bloody scenes at points - - not extraneously sickening like in NINJA SCROLL , WICKED CITY , or AKIRA , but shown for the horror that it is - - including one person stabbed repeatedly to death in the eye , hands , back , etc . , and occasional shots of brutally wounded suspects via letters containing bombs ) . I normally cannot stomach these kind of films , but this one is an exception . Primarily because Kon makes us FEEL Mima's plight and compels us to root for her in order to avoid being killed herself . Of course , I WAS very puzzled at points in the film , but perhaps that is the point Kon is trying to make - - some scenes give us the information we are asking for , but with others , we are simply required to interpret them ourselves .
This certainly seems to be the case with the ( absolutely unexpected ) surprise ending . I won't give it away , but it WILL take one a lot of viewings to truly comprehend the meaning of the last scene .
MANGA ENTERTAINMENT has done a top-notch job with this title on DVD , presenting a solid visual transfer in addition to a well-adapted and adequately performed English track courtesy of the folks at AniMaze , inc . In particular , Ruby Marlowe and Wendee Lee really stand out , and it's nice to have strong supplementary extras as well , the best of which are interviews from the voice cast and director Satoshi Kon himself .
PERFECT BLUE is disturbing and violent , yes , but as an animated horror / thriller tale for grown-ups , its kinetic direction and dramatic staging is unparalleled .
034 4 I saw this film directly after my first ( and pray not , my last ) trip to Japan . And the first thing I have to say is that , unlike most Anime that makes it over to America , this film actually shows you a true depiction of Tokyo ( and most of Japan ) . I know this isn't the most pressing thing on your mind , but I believe I should say it .
Now on to the meat : This move is extremely well written and a complete joy to watch . Yes , it is fairly adult for most Anime we see in America , but as another reviewer said , it is necessary to convey a point . Basically , ' Perfect Blue ' is about a J-pop singer that decides to quit and move to acting ( and eventually , modelling ) , yet still misses her singing roots . Once that explanation is done with , this movie plunges into an awesome plot that leaves you guessing up until the very end ( at which , it's still VERY SHOCKING ) . This is definately better then most regular American suspense thrillers . For the first time in awhile , I LITERALLY found myself on the edge of my seat staring intently at a glimpse of what was going to happen next .
Anyone that searches for great psychological thrillers ( ala Fight Club ) should definately see this movie .
5 of 5 !
063 4 This was the first real feature length Anime I saw many years ago and it had a profound effect on me . I have since bought countless DVD's with anime and this one still stands out as one of the best .
CONTENT : The movie is really special . By that I mean : No 2 people will get quite the same experience out of watching it . It's unique for everyone . I remember going through several emotional stages as I was watching it . Through the first 30 mins . I was completely uninterested . A story about a pop idol ? BOOORING . How long did they expect us to watch this ? Then as things started to happen the next 30 mins . I was totally confused but now at least mildly interested . What the heck was going on ? The last 20 mins . or so I was totally hooked . I didn't dare to blink fearing I might miss something important . How was this story ever going to end ? Would it make sense ? COULD it ever make sense ?
In the end it did , and upon rewatching it again and again I have found that not a single second of this film is a waste of time . It obviously doesn't have a huge budget , and it shows on the big screen , but the framing , coloring , lighting , camera movement , storyboarding , timing , animation and editing is absolutely perfect . They used what little they had avalable and made the best possible movie .
And the english dub actually isn't half bad . Not the best but certainly not the worst . ( A contender for worst possible dub ever has to be X the movie . Movie's fine but the dub - yeech ! )
DVD : Very cool extras . Interviews with director . Trailers and such . And brief thoughts from the english cast which by the way includes Ruby Marlowe as Mima . She also did the voice of LAIN . A performance that was truly one step beyond perfection . Highly recomendable .
093 4 don't be fooled by the title , this is a straight forward thriler with the usual nudity found in almost al the japsnese animation its about a stalker whno flows a teenage pop star and gets mad when she changes careers to become anctress and stop singing you might to check this title out if you like these kinds of storys .
if not it's still worth checking it out but i don't think you would want to watch it a secind time .
101 4 This movie is haunting in it's pacing and imagery . At points aswe see Japan , we forget that we are watching animation and imagine weare watching a film . At points that is . There is also some rough roughanimation that detracts . But the story , the characters , the pacing all works , and you get drawn in . And . . . you get those Cham songs stuck in your head , I warn you now !
Also there is some great supplemental information about the cast , directors and the company that released it . This is a special movie and MANGA obviously agreed , because they gave it a great support package .
156 4 Throw out everything you ever thought about psychological horror films and prepare to have you mind twisted beyond recognition and you body leave the room and cower in a corner while making squeaking noises .
This movie is bar none one of the freakiest , most-twisted and down right terrifying movies I have ever seen . It is quite literally the main characters downward spiral from sanity to a complete lack thereof . And don't forget several grisly murders and a lot of extremely disturbing material . But for some reason it all comes together brilliantly and can really screw with your brain . The director makes the movie come together and turns the whole experience into something you live through the character , a rare feat indeed .
Bear in mind that although I highly recommend this movie , it ABSOLUTELY NOT FOR CHILDREN ! There are many extremely graphic scenes and this movie is the only movie to have ever succeeded in scaring me from sleeping .
I wish I had more to say about how much I liked this movie , or how much it terrified me .
But if you want to see an absolutely amazing piece of work , then watch this .
007 4 A movie like this makes us question the limits of our own consciousness . It allows us to explore in a space not our own , the endless possibilities and the demons lurking within the human psyche - and alerts us to the reality of what it is we do not know . We should be scared of what we are capable of , not to mention to celebrate our potential . One of the good things about anime is that the simulation seems less real , since it is in this invented space . I'm not trying to downplay the effect - as I feel that the impact on the viewer is no less real - just merely stating an observation . Let this not fool you , I am not that naïve - anything in cinema is a simulation , sometimes a simulacra , of reality . However , despite the impact being as real , the images - no matter how explicitly sexual or graphically violent - are not as real as in motion pictures . I most certainly don't expect too much of a buy-in on that last comment . However , images seem more sanitized and we don't need to spend so much of the budget on scenes and the potential for good is astronomical . I guess that is why I endorse this genre . I'm as confused about the sexuality and violence as anyone . The Jody Fosteresque traumatic rape scene ( ala The Accused ) borders on the exploitive . Perfect blue flirts beyond anime at times bordering on hentai .
The story is a simple one but the execution is not . Mima Kigiroe is a struggling entertainer with a bevy of loyal fans . She starts her career as a singer and transitions into a career in acting . Her entrée into this world is a series called Double Bind - of which the subtlety was not missed on me . As yes , the seemingly disjointed story evolves , Mima ( as well as the viewers ) reality begins to collapse . I have to admit , I was lost several times while watching the movie , about what was reality and what was fantasy , as if the writer purposefully wanted me , the viewer to emulate the sense of utter confusion that Mima was going through . Was it successful ? Absolutely ! Anyway , coupled with the ever present updates on a website called Mima's Room - we are presented with ( as Mima is ) with several apparitions . Mima is forced to utter ( in a moment of epiphany ) that someone sure knows her . For the resolution ( or lack thereof ) you will need to watch the movie yourself .
What is really cool about Perfect Blue particular anime is that it does not fit into one of the many popular categories of anime already out there . It neither fits into the post-apocalyptic strata of an Akira or Ghost in the Shell nor is it romantic ( in the Byronian sense ) as say something coming out of Hayao Miyazaki . Perfect Blue cuts new ground . Japanese have , for a long time , been interested in psycho-thrillers and the good detective story . What with the popularity of writers like Matsumoto Seicho ( Points and Lines - also available on Amazon.com ) as well as Sogo Ishii ( Angel Dust - also available on Amazon.com ) is proof positive of the popularity of mystery and suspense . Make no mistake it is an adult psycho thriller . Having said all that , I am hopeful that this movie is not representative of modern Japan . As a critique of the excesses of voyeurism as well as the sadistic and misogynistic excesses of some manga , Perfect Blue stands head and shoulders above all the other anime features . Is it reflective of Japanese pop culture ? On what ground and under what context , that still has to be further explored . Not to belabor the point , for the resolution ( or lack thereof ) you will need to watch the movie yourself .
Miguel Llora
001 4 This review is from :
Perfect Blue ( DVD )
Based on a novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi , ' Perfect Blue ' is one of those anime that successfully attempt the unexpected . Written and paced more like a Hitchcock film than the typical action film , this is a story where the psychological aspects are as compelling as the sometimes-ferocious action .
Mima Kirigoe is an idol singer , part of a moderately successful trio called Cham . Since the career life of these singers is , at best , a matter of a few years , Mima has decided to leave Cham to try her hand at being an actress . She lands a part in ' Double Bind , ' a suspense thriller that will test her commitment in many ways , putting her in situations that some of her old fans find uncomfortable . This explodes into her life in a big way when Mima finds an internet website that purports to be written by her .
Whoever is writing the site knows too much about what Mima is going through , and she finds herself stalked by an unhappy fan that has developed a fixation on her . Soon people are dying in gruesome circumstances , and Mima becomes more and more confused about whom she really is and what is real . First time director Satoshi Kon is merciless , making sure that the viewer gets few clues about which reality is real and whether what one sees is in ' Double Bind , ' ' Perfect Blue , ' or in Mima's mind alone .
This is really a remarkable piece of work . Great care is put into artistic and musical values . It has striking graphic qualities without the viewer ever getting the feeling that the images are overwhelming the story . In addition , I particularly like the imaginative use of color . Of course , the use of music is particularly important in a film about Japanese popular entertainment figures , and Kon makes sure that the film lives up to aural expectations .
This is a rough , gripping film . Violence , murder , and rape are depicted with the deliberate intention of making the watcher uncomfortable . It skirts the edge of being offensive , and is sometimes classified as hentai - animated pornography . It isn't by my standards , but ' Perfect Blue ' is graphic enough to offend some people . Take this into consideration before deciding to watch .
002 4 Based on a novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi , ' Perfect Blue ' is one of those anime that successfully attempt the unexpected . Written and paced more like a Hitchcock film than the typical action film , this is a story where the psychological aspects are as compelling as the sometimes-ferocious action .
Mima Kirigoe is an idol singer , part of a moderately successful trio called Cham . Since the career life of these singers is , at best , a matter of a few years , Mima has decided to leave Cham to try her hand at being an actress . She lands a part in ' Double Bind , ' a suspense thriller that will test her commitment in many ways , putting her in situations that some of her old fans find uncomfortable . This explodes into her life in a big way when Mima finds an internet website that purports to be written by her .
Whoever is writing the site knows too much about what Mima is going through , and she finds herself stalked by an unhappy fan that has developed a fixation on her . Soon people are dying in gruesome circumstances , and Mima becomes more and more confused about whom she really is and what is real . First time director Satoshi Kon is merciless , making sure that the viewer gets few clues about which reality is real and whether what one sees is in ' Double Bind , ' ' Perfect Blue , ' or in Mima's mind alone .
This is really a remarkable piece of work . Great care is put into artistic and musical values . It has striking graphic qualities without the viewer ever getting the feeling that the images are overwhelming the story . In addition , I particularly like the imaginative use of color . Of course , the use of music is particularly important in a film about Japanese popular entertainment figures , and Kon makes sure that the film lives up to aural expectations .
This is a rough , gripping film . Violence , murder , and rape are depicted with the deliberate intention of making the watcher uncomfortable . It skirts the edge of being offensive , and is sometimes classified as hentai - animated pornography . It isn't by my standards , but ' Perfect Blue ' is graphic enough to offend some people . Take this into consideration before deciding to watch .
003 4 Anime can fall into apocalyptic ( Akira ) , cutesy heroine ( Sailor Moon ) , hentai ( LA Blue Girl ) , samurai ( Ninja Scroll ) , or mechanistic ( Neon Evangelion ) . Perfect Blue is notable in that it does not fit in any of those well-trod genres .
After two and a half years of being lead singer with the techno-pop trio Cham , 21 - year old Mima Kigiroe announces at a concert that she is leaving the group to pursue a movie career . One of the other members puts it more colourfully , that Mima has graduated from Cham . The move stuns her fans , but Mima sees her time there as wonderful , but felt suffocated by the innocent pop-idol image and that it was time to move on to newer things , such as her role in Double Bind , a psycho-thriller drama series where she plays the sister of a victim . Tadokoro feels that there's no place for pop idols to appeal to the masses . Acting in this drama will be Mima's make it or break it opportunity .
Upon the insistence of her agent Tadokoro to Shibuya , the scriptwriter , and the producer ( ? ) Tejima , her role gradually increases , from the line Who are you ? to something drastic , involving a traumatic scene Jodie Foster did in The Accused , only it's the stage of a strip club and not on a pool table . Besides , it's simulated anyway . This does indeed change Mima's image , but Rumi Hidaka , her other agent and former pop idol , is upset and even leaves during that scene .
Mima has other problems . She comes across a website called Mima's Room , which initially causes her amusement , as it details an imagined day in her life , Someone sures knows me - - but when she reads some things that actually happened , she gets scared .
Mima is then confronted not only with those things , but with a version of herself as she was as Cham's lead singer , wearing her Cham dress . This old version insists HERSELF as is the real Mima , which makes the real and new Mima an impostor . There's also a sinister stalker , a mysterious hunchback with bad teeth that she notices and sees during her shooting scenes .
Meanwhile , people associated with promoting Mima's new career move are getting brutally murdered , such as a photographer who took some nude photos of Mima for a magazine . For an anime , there is some detail in the photos shown that would not ordinarily be seen even in anime of this kind .
There is one puzzling aspect . Despite having a fervent following , it seems inconsistent that Cham never hit the charts , yet when Mima leaves , we learn that Cham debuted in the Japanese pop charts for the first time . Normally , when a key member leaves a well-loved group , a new sound and sliding sales result , ( q.v . Spice Girls , Bananarama ) . Trivia : the fax Mima receives reads uragiri , which indeed does mean traitor .
Most of it is influenced by Hitchcock's Psycho , but the violence of the murders recall Basic Instinct and Scream . Then there's the blurring between reality and delusion explored in Vertigo ( Hitchcock again ) and Alejandro Amenebar's Abre Los Ojos . Double Bind is similar to Silence Of The Lambs ( modus operandus of the killer ) . The upbeat techno-pop and a trio becoming a duo also mirrors Bananarama , although the music is more Pet Shop Boys during their Very period . Then there's the usual lead singer leaving the group for individual fame and more money , as was the case for Peter Cetera and Bobby Brown . And one need look no further than John Lennon and Rebecca Schaffer in terms of demented stalker fans . These influences entwine themselves to yield an exceptional thriller , with a likeable heroine ( Mima ) to root for , as she grows despite her traumatic experiences .
005 4 The anime universe is pretty self-contained , and as the canon grows the need to reference the outside world decreases . Most of the famous exceptions ( eg Mononoke , Barefoot Gen , Grave of the Fireflies ) aim for universal moral messages . Perfect Blue stands out in that it's an anime about contemporary Japan . Although it owes a lot to the thriller genre , Perfect Blue isn't as widely accessible as the familiar storyline might suggest . People who have spent time in Japan will recognize this . Those who haven't should just be aware that despite its being anime , and despite the surreal elements , Perfect Blue is about the real , present , non-anime Japan . The beautifully drawn scenes of everyday life in Tokyo , particularly the supermarket and train scenes , are a nice indication of this .
Perfect Blue tries to do lot of things and mostly succeeds . On one hand , it's a critique of the voyeurism and violent , juvenile misogyny of Japanese pop culture . On the other hand it's part of that culture itself , loaded with these very elements . For the most part , director Satoshi Kon not only manages to do everything , but actually integrates his own balancing act with the story's theme of existence on the margins of a predatory and all-pervasive pop culture . Kon's decision to produce Perfect Blue as an anime - - sometimes criticized on the grounds that it doesn't take full advantage of the genre - - was a stroke of genius .
Toward the end , Perfect Blue loses its balance and becomes more complicit than critical . The final action sequence is video-gamey and the contrived ending explains too much , undermining much of what was interesting about the movie .
Still , this is one of the best and smartest anime around . In its use of anime as a vehicle for examining contemporary Japan , Perfect Blue is highly original . On top of everything the theme song , Ai no tenshi , is the best Japanese pop song ever . And in a fitting display of voyeuristic excess , the DVD lets you watch it being recorded in the studio .
008 4 I have always lived with the opinion that a good thriller movie should adhere to one of two set rules . Rule one : a plot that keeps you guessing to the very end with a multitute of plot twists , complimented with a climax that leaves all previous perception to dust ( Take Scream for example ) . Rule two : a plot that is simple on the surface , yet has an ending that adds a twist not previously noticed ( Such as the Sixth Sense or Psycho ) . Perfect Blue is an example of the first rule . The story surrounds a pop singer ( Mima Kirigoe ) making a transition from music to acting in a commercialised world . Along the way she suffers scrutiny for her choice of career from fans , fear of being stalked , and dillusions of her actions and very identity when things start to get violent . Visuals and repeated use of certain scenes help examplify the confusion that Mima is experiencing , coupled with a pop and haunting score which keeps the viewers as much in the dark as Mima is and guessing every minute . The ending is a worthy tribute to one of Hitchcock's classic movies , but I'm not going to tell you which one . A top film .
009 4 For the first half of Perfect Blue I was wondering why this 1999 film , based on the novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi , had to be an anime . It seemed to me that director Satoshi Kon was simply trying to show that anything a real motion picture could do could be done by anime . After all , Perfect Blue is devoid of mythical creatures or futuristic settings , so why bother to use animation to tell the story ? But by the end I was too caught up in trying to figure out what was really going on to matter , and when you are talking about a psychological thriller that it as much more important consideration than whether the film is photographed or drawn . Even if the story is rather conventional by anime standards , Kon does take advantage of the medium to tell the story with artistic flair .
The basic story of Perfect Blue is nothing new at its heart , but that is hardly a concern . Mima Kirigoe ( voiced in the Japanese language version by Junko Iwao and in English by Ruby Marlow ) decides to give up being a plastic pop idol to be a serious actress on a television police drama about a serial killer ( although the writer has no clue who the killer is at this point ) . These major career change sets two things in motion for our heroine : First , she has to try to accept the new Mima , who has to endure a rape scene on the show and shooting a nude layout for publicity . Second , she has a fan ( Uchida in Japanese , but Mr . No-Mania in English ) who does not like the radical change in the objective of his obsession . The link between the two at first is Mima's Room , a website he has set that reveals far more about her than anyone should know . But then they share something even more disturbing in common : Mima the pop idol starts visiting them both and while Mima is degraded by her past self for having sunk so low , her fan is being told the new Mima is a fake who needs to be removed from the picture .
What happens then is a collapse of reality , both from the psychological perspective of Mima and the viewing perspective of the audience . People who have harmed Mima in some way start showing up dead and the lines between reality and fantasy become totally obliterated . The result is not only disorienting , but also totally compelling . I have seen lots of films like this where I am supposed to put myself in the shoes of the main character as such reality and fantasy become indistinguishable , but few of them succeed as well as the last act of Perfect Blue . There is a point where Mima wonders if maybe she was hit by a truck she avoided at one point in the story because she can no longer remember the last moment in her life she knew to be real . The paranoia of both Mima and the audience becomes complete .
The animation is rather simplistic , but still provides the stylized realism of detailed drawings that makes anime visually compelling . Kon takes advantage of the medium throughout the film in ways that would never have occurred to the director of a regular film . There are also certain scenes , as when the stalker Mr . Me-Mania hears his beloved target Mima talk to him as she speaks from every picture of her he has plastered on his wall , that certainly work a lot better as animation . The revelation of the truth during the climatic scene is actually done so subtly that I almost did not catch it .
To return to my original question as to why Perfect Blue was made as an anime , I have to wonder if there is some sort of taboo regarding nudity in Japanese films . I have no idea . But I know that in the hands of a western director this story could have easily descended to the level of an exploitation film . The end becomes something anticlimactic , but given the torturous web that was constructed I doubt any ending could be totally fulfilling . Besides , there is something to be said for the ironic commentary of Mima's goodbye .
The DVD includes a clip of the real CHAM trio recording their song in the studio and access to a faux Mima's Room web site . There are also brief interview clips with some of the vocal talent on both sides of the ocean and a rather disappointing chat with director Kon , who seems unable to offer any insights into this production . Perfect Blue is an ambitious anime that succeeds well enough in the second half to forgive any faults in the first . Thanks to Marc Ruby for the heads up on this one .
010 4 Perfect Blue , one those few animes that actually sound good in English or Japanese with English subtitles . Like it says on the cover of the box , if Alfred Hitchcock and Walt Disney made a movie together , this would be it . Perfect Blue is amazing in the fact that it is one of those movies that you think you know what is going on , but it has such a twist in the plot that you don't .
Plot : 4 1 / 2 stars . Though in the grand scheme of thriller movies , it's not that new of plot it's still very deep and full of twists . If you are a person who got lost of the plots of some movies like Scream , The Matrix , or Fight Club , stop ! Press back on you're browser and do not buy this movie . This is a movie you must pay attention to the plot or you will be lost . I was lost when I first watched it half way through the movie , but I paid closer attention and all questions were answered in the last 1 / 3 of the movie .
Animation : 3 stars . This is not robots ripping hearts out of people , so the animation is average , but , on the other hand , it doesn't need to be out of this world because the story doesn't need it .
Music : 4 stars . Music usually fits the scenes . Sometimes it gets in the way of some scenes , but not usually ( That thought is really up to your opinion ) .
Voice Acting : 5 stars . As stated before , I run into very few anime movies where the dialog sounds just as good in English as in Japanese . With the American Dragonball Z out there and terrible voice acting , I am very picky about getting my anime in original Japanese dialog , but this movie pulls off both sides of the Pacific well .
Bottom Line : You loved the Scream or Alfred Hitchcock movies plus anime ? You will love this !
011 4 Perfect Blue is a strange and wonderful movie , and this DVD really does it justice . The menus are beautiful and fit the film perfectly , and the extras are refreshingly good . We actually get interviews with the three main actors and actresses who contributed their talents to the ( pretty good ) English dub ; it's beautiful and kind of strange to hear them speak in a normal conversational tone about the film and its meanings . The interviews with director Satoshi Kon and Japanese voice actress Junko Iwao aren't as good , but at least they're there . Everything else is good for an anime DVD release , and the film . . . well , you have to see it and make up your own mind . A lot of people hate it and others ( like me ) think it's great ; everybody will agree , though , that it's confusing as hell at times thanks to some crazy editing . The movie tries to take us into the psyche of a crazy person , and for this film that means not knowing what's real and what isn't . You really lose track of reality , because the screenplay keeps turning the old The character wakes up and it's all a dream cliche on itself . After a while you forget whether it's a dream or not , and you start to sympathize with the insanity of the various characters . It's a powerful and unusual film , one of those movies you keep thinking about six months after watching it , and I think everyone should experience its lunacy .
012 4 Being that I lived in Tokyo for three years , I was blown away by the authenticity of the background in scences of Perfect Blue . The story itself shows the psychological collapse of a young and beautiful Japanese woman , Mima , on the rise to pop and acting stardom . This descent into madness is brought on by a super-creepy stalker , a taunting alter-ego , and the fact that everyone connected to her is being brutally murdered .
With a haunting score , frightening images , shocking violence , and superb animation , Perfect Blue socks you in the stomach and demands that you view it multiple times . Definitely not for anyone under 17 .
013 4 I have seen many animes in the past , but I have to say that Perfect Blue is probably one of the best Japanese animation films I have ever had the privilege to watch . Certainly , one of the reviewers at the New York Times Daily Review was correct in quoting that if Alfred Hitchock and Walt Disney got together to make a thiller , they would have created Perfect Blue .
This is a modern film with a modern setting , and the filmmakers have effectively balanced a plausible and realistic background with the surreal images of Mima's delirium . The animation is top notch-fluid , detailed , and very cinematic . There are no cyborgs or magical girls / boys here , folks . Just pure surrealism set in the heart of Tokyo , Japan , amidst the tumultuous pop culture that is part of the real Japan . The blurred transitions between reality , dreams , and the well crafted movie-within-a-movie ( also a thriller , inspired by Silence of the Lambs ) leave the viewer guessing until the final scene . I kept getting the feeling that the director was a great fan of Jodie Foster's films . Behind all of this resides Mima's character - one which we can empathize with throughout the film . This is a masterfully directed work .
This anime is definitely a keeper and a great achievement for Japanese animation . I never thought any other anime could come close to Ghost In The Shell , but I guess I was wrong . Buy the DVD , it's definitely worth it .
~ Michelle Harris
014 4 Perfect Blue is an excellent psychological thriller which depicts the decent into maddness of young pop idol turned actress , Mima Kirigoe . The film slowly turns from Mima's struggle as an actress to a fight for her own identity and sanity . The film takes you inside her paranoid delussions and nightmares , as you start to loose track of what is acctually happening , and what is just a product of Mima's fears . The film will leave you wondering what really did happen during its course and inspires insightful debate . The film also bears striking resemblances to a film named Audition by Miike Takashi which also has simmilar mind trips and the sudden switch from normal situations to violent or non sensical ones .
Satoshi Kon's direction is a true marvel , echoing the best works of Kubrick and Hitchcock through the ubundance of suspense and tension in his scenes . The cinematography is excellent promoting the feeling of confusion and paranoia that is vital during the pivitol scenes of the film .
Perfect Blue is really one of those films that breaks the boundaries and conventions that are expected from animation , just through the depiction of the characters and the world .
The films animation rate may not be as high as others , but it puts all its efforts mainly into detailed stills that are used throughout the film .
Perfect Blue is really a hit and miss film depending on the person , the film does explain things at the end , but it doesn't make all that much sense , requiring you to put the pieces together ( but the pieces are there ) , this film will not spell things out for you as most films do . It's quite subjective and you can read it in different ways , this can tend to turn some people off , but that's what I really love about this film , as you can watch it a few times over and read differently each time .
016 4 Imagine what Alfred Hitchcock could have done in the field of animation . That is what Perfect Blue is , an animated thriller in the Hitchcock-ian style . Pop idol singer Mima Kirigoe decides to quit her career as a singer and become a serious actress . She has the talent to succede , but it requires her to leave Cham , her singing group , as well as all her fans . That proves dangerous , for one fan doesn't want her to go , and he will stop at nothing to bring her back , even if it means he must kill to do it . At the same time , Mima is being haunted by a vision of herself as a pop idol , and the apparition doesn't want to leave . This film is very twisted . It's surreal to a point where trying to guess who the killer is becomes nearly impossible . The animation isn't excellent , but it is nice to look at sometimes . The music is not bad . The real asset of the film is it's story . This is definately for adults . The biggest flaw with the DVD is that it promises you many features and only delivers on a few . You have to find ways to open other features ( I had a hell of a time trying to find the Manga 2000 trailer - which was a disapointment when I did finally open it . ) Maybe it's just my DVD , I don't know . Get this film if you enjoy Wicked City and Silence of the Lambs . PS . Doesn't the show ( ? ) Mima is working on seem an awfully like Silence of the Lambs ?
018 4 This review is from :
Perfect Blue ( Unrated ) ( Dub ) [ VHS ] ( VHS Tape )
Perfect Blue is a perfect psychological thriller which wonderfully places the spectator firmly into the mind of the protagonist , Mima Kirigoe . As a Japanese pop idol attempting to shed her idol image to become an actress , the identity crisis which quickly envelopes her is also vividly felt by the spectator . Furthernore , the triple separation - between dream , Mima's first role in the television thriller Double Bind , and the real-world events of Mima's life surrounding her shift to an acting career - is so fuzzy that the spectator becomes just as confused as Mima , which is itself a superb and refreshing facet of the film .
Those who do now know Japanese are are not habituated to watching films with subtitles should see the dubbed version first , as the necessity of literally reading a film would detract from the overall experience due to the spectator's wavering attention between the subtitles and the almost non-stop on-screen action . Perfect Blue is , in my opinion , a perfect film ( except that the characters - all Japanese - appear to be white ) - or as close to perfection as is possible in animation .
However , MINORS SHOULD NOT SEE THIS FILM due to some highly adult scenes . Even most adults will find these scenes to be extremely troubling .
019 4 Perfect Blue is a perfect psychological thriller which wonderfully places the spectator firmly into the mind of the protagonist , Mima Kirigoe . As a Japanese pop idol attempting to shed her idol image to become an actress , the identity crisis which quickly envelopes her is also vividly felt by the spectator . Furthernore , the triple separation - between dream , Mima's first role in the television thriller Double Bind , and the real-world events of Mima's life surrounding her shift to an acting career - is so fuzzy that the spectator becomes just as confused as Mima , which is itself a superb and refreshing facet of the film .
Those who do now know Japanese are are not habituated to watching films with subtitles should see the dubbed version first , as the necessity of literally reading a film would detract from the overall experience due to the spectator's wavering attention between the subtitles and the almost non-stop on-screen action . Perfect Blue is , in my opinion , a perfect film ( except that the characters - all Japanese - appear to be white ) - or as close to perfection as is possible in animation .
However , MINORS SHOULD NOT SEE THIS FILM due to some highly adult scenes . Even most adults will find these scenes to be extremely troubling .
020 4 I enjoyed this movie . I felt that it was very well done . At times , I actually forgot that I was watching anime . The subject matter is not for children ( as it does involve rape , murder and other adult themes ) . I agree with one reviewer that if purposely is made to make you feel uncomfortable watching in some scenes .
The story revolves around a young woman and her flashbacks . Only at the end of the film , do you really appreciate what has happened and how the director ( Satoshi Kan ) has planned things out .
This film is for the serious japanese animated fan only . I hesistate to call it anime , because it is not an animated serial but a film that has been animated . Superb !
021 4 NOTE : This is a review on the Director's Cut / NR version that I own .
I saw this first by myself because my brother handed it to me . I watched it , and ended up being creeped out for several hours , always glancing at myself in the mirror and expecting it to wink and hop away . Okay , maybe not that extreme , but it sounded good ! @ _ o
To sum up the story , Mima is a young adult , barely on her own , who decides to leave her bubblegum-pop trio to become an actress , but soon finds it's harder than she ever could have thought . Beginning as a one-liner , she soon finds herself the main attraction of the show due to the perverted whims of the middle aged directors . After a series of humiliating things she's forced to do , her sanity slips and she spirals into self doubt and hallucinations . ( I won't go any further because it'll ruin the story . )
Cons : In the NR version , an extensive rape scene took a good 2 or 3 minutes , and it really didn't have that much meaning . Slightly hard to decipher storyline , but I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing . Lots of violence but it kind of works in , and maybe the tuned down version isn't so bloody . Ending wasn't too fantastic .
Pros : Psychological thriller that's a lot of fun to watch ; very scary . Beautiful animation . Fairly good voice acting . Fairly good dubbing . 100% unique storyline . Funny pop music . Twisty and turny plotline that keeps you guessing .
Analysis : Worth buying , but don't let your little cousin or relation borrow it as it will probably scare them . . . or amuse them . = P
022 4 Hope you don't have a virgin mind because it's gonna get raped . This is one of the most brilliantly put together movies ever . Perfect Blue is quite a mind trip and will have you guessing the whole way through . And what's better , since you're getting the DVD , you get to see the Director's Cut which features footage never shown in theatres . But every DVD has it's ups and downs .
Good
You get a nice set of extras here including interviews with the dub cast , a making of documentary , and recording sessions .
Bad
The animation in this movie is pretty choppy and dry . It'll make you want to put lotion on it . Plus in the tradition of Manga Entertainment , you get a load of trailers for a lot of animes you probably don't care about , and a non-animorphic transfer . Is it so much to ask for an animorphic transfer , huh Manga ? ! Also it would have been nice if they included the original 2 channel mix for the Japanese version . ( this really isn't a problem though )
I would have also like to see the original Japanese credits instead of these horrible looking iMovie looking credits some of these American companies love to throw in instead .
Reguardless of all of this , it's still worth getting just for the movie .
023 4 Teeny-bop princess calls it quits ! Goes all the way to become a serious actress ! Is it too far ?
With Mariah , Lance , Britney and Mandy all doing their best to move from celebrated pop idols to the big screen , their real-life adventures will only add fuel to your imagination as you watch this marvelous anime feature . As the central character , Mima , stresses out over her adult decisions to become a serious star , her walls between dreams , reality and her career begin to break down .
There's some stunning violence and generous helpings of female nudity involved , but neither seems out of place for the seriousness of this thriller . I cringed at the gore and I winced as this girl gave away her innocence . The finale had me on the edge of my seat . This story is just as thrilling and disturbing as Psycho , Seven or Fatal Attraction .
The best part is , it has an ending . Quite unlike Akira ( which is fantastic , but leaves you wondering what you just witnessed ) , or Ghost in the Shell ( which is splendid , but the ending leaves one saying So then what happens ? ) , or Princess Mononoke ( which is beautiful , but the mythology is just too darn hard to relate to ) . . . . Thank goodness , for once , everything is explained and resolved with one series of climactic events .
Someone said earlier on this forum that the animation wasn't real enough . Um , may I point out that this is hand drawn and wonderfully so . If the situations and acting and visuals here were so engrossing that the only thing holding that person to the 3 - D flesh-n-blood world was the number of frames per second , then the animators surely have achieved their goal . If Disney is cooking up a piece of art like this somewhere , I welcome it , but I'm not about to hold my breath waiting for them to get past their kids-only entertainment factory .
So , if we're fishing for criticisms , I'd have to say that it was only the murkiness of Mima's confused mind that frustrated me . Well , okay - - maybe it's fairly obvious early on that a couple of bodyguards will avoid the inevitable . But they mention that Mima is supposed to be an up-annd-coming star and , apparently unknown to her and her managment , she's been developing some obsessive fans .
024 4 I watched this without knowing a thing about it . I'm relatively new to the whole anime genre so at first I was turned off by the dated look and kind of annoying music ( personal tastes of course ) BUT I had nothing else to do so I just kept watching it .
Turns out this movie is psycho . Before I knew it I was completely immersed in the story and captivated by the schizo explosion . The bad guy is so creepy looking I can still see his face in my head months later without having to look at a picture . I completely did not expect the twist at the end which was great - so either I wasn't paying enough attention to catch it or a movie actually surprised me . Overall , it was a pretty good movie . If it had been made as live action , I could see it being a frightening film that would do well in a mainstream thriller market .
The story isn't perfect and the beginning can move kind of slow , but once it gets rolling , it really moves .
025 4 I first watched Perfect Blue during a meeting of the Anime club at my college . Our somewhat sarcastic president told us beforehand that this would be a lighthearted , G-rated tale of magic and hope . This false description made the reality of the movie all the more shocking .
This is definately a film to be watched with a group of people in a dark room with plenty of snacks . A half hour into the movie saw me and my classmates calling out WHOA ! or NO WAY ! every 5 minutes , as we reeled at the surprises and dream-within-a-dream organization that leaves the audience bewildered but in a good way ( like a Hitchcock film or a good Twighlight Zone . ) Perfect Blue is a fabulous example of Anime at its best and should be a part of anyone's collection from the serious collector to the casual viewer ! : )
027 4 I saw this film a while ago and i will not lie it is quite freaky . The story is solid , interesting & scary in places . You actually feel and , much of the time , fear for the character .
A young pop star , the main character , leaves her group behind and tries to make it as an actress . You physically feel the sickness in your gut as you come to the realisation that she is being taken advantage of by the people around her .
You jump at the shock of her reactions , you get worried when she is accused of murder and at the same time is being hunted by the murderer . Finally you clench the arm of the chair in learning who and why ?
One of the better animation films . And a great addition to the scheme of realistic ( almost live-action ) films .
Seriously worth a look .
028 4 Perhaps the strangest anime I've ever seen . No wait , the strangest film I've ever seen .
But the greatest part of this film is that I started watching it without knowing what it was about . I literally had no idea what was going on and that's the best way to watch the film for the first time . So , if you ever plan on getting your mind totally warped , read no further and rent ( or download ) the film . Otherwise , read on .
This isn't your typical anime ( as I've said before and I'll probably say quite a bit more ) . It starts out with a pop singer , Mimi , who is in a bubblegum pop band called Cham . Don't ask me what it means , because I don't know . . . nor is it important . Suffice it to say , that's the name .
When the film starts off , Mimi is performing her last show with Cham . She's moving on to become an actress in this upcoming serial killer film . She's anxious about it , because she's gathered quite a fan base in her pop singing career ( as short as it may have been - 1 ½ years ) and moving on to another can be suicide . Also the film involves some rather risky scenes for an ex-pop star , including a rape scene in a nightclub .
But she forges ahead and does the scene , telling herself that this is just a hurdle she has to deal with in order to make it in the movie business .
Meanwhile , various people involved with the movie are being killed . . . stabbed to be exact .
And this is where things get strange . If the following seems sporadic , then it's only because there's no other way to summarize the events .
Mimi comes across a website called Mimi's Room . It's a fan website with a diary section where apparently someone ( or Mimi herself ) is posting Mimi's every action and even some of her thoughts . She takes it as a joke at first , but of course eventually begins to think that someone is stalking her .
Mimi meets this photographer on the street one day and he says she could be a model . They set a date and they meet at his studio . . . him taking pictures , her modeling . He's renown for taking some risqué photos and naturally the ones with Mimi get out of hand . Eventually , they become full-fledged nude photos . Later on she feels ashamed and this adds to her unhinging .
Later on the photographer is found stabbed to death .
Then the director of the movie opens one of Mimi's fan mail and an explosion sends him to the hospital .
Mimi begins to hallucinate , seeing herself as what she once was - a pop star . She begins to have erratic daydreams , confusing fantasy with reality , blacking out . . . until the end .
I highly recommend it . While the animation isn't the greatest , it's not terribly bad . If you can make it past the first 10 minutes and the whole bubblegum pop show , you'll be in for quite a surprise , this film knows no boundaries . Truly the most ambitious anime ever .
031 4 This Japanese anime feature is a tense , violent exploration of identity and madness . The closest animated American equivalent is the film Waking Life , but , where Waking Life is a dreamlike movie , Perfect Blue is nightmarish , punctuated by graphic murders . The film traces teen idol Mima as she tries to become a film star , diving into near-porn because it's what I have to do as an actress - - or is she dreaming this all ? She is pursued by a mysterious internet stalker who hates her for sullying his idol - - or is she the stalker , murdering her film co-workers one by one ? Her sole protector is her best friend - - or is her best friend impersonating her and trying to kill her ? Does Mima exist at all ? Is she the fantasy of a young girl in an insane asylum ?
I couldn't possibly take the violence in this film in live action , but animation makes it tolerable . It's not great or even particularly smooth animation ( much less accomplished than the director's work in Tokyo Godfathers ) , but it has a slightly demented feeling that matches the subject well . ( It reminds me of the scene in Brazil where a torturer wears the mask of an insipid , smiling baby . ) The colors are pastel , candy-colored , until blood splashes the screen ; then the film reaches the kind of graphic art genius the Japanese do so well .
036 4 Perfect Blue is a movie with a reputation . What I mean is that every time I asked someone about it , most of wom had heard but never seen , the imediate response was that it was loaded with nudity . Not that it messes with the brain or that it is chilling , that it is loaded with nudity . Well it does , in more areas of the female anatomy than most in anime . But not to the full overblown extent that most take it to . With that said here is the plot .
Mia is a pop idol aka like Britney Spears or the Spice Girls . She wants out of that field however to pursue a career in acting . To shatter the Pop Idol look she plays a very adult role in a very adult TV soap . Along the way she also poses in some very adult pictures for the fans , all in the attempt to shatter the Pop Idol stigma . However a certain fan doesn't appreciate the new Mia . He thinks the new Mia is a no longer the innocent little girl he fell in love with and is now a dirty tramp , and he is making her life hell .
Overall this is a very impressive piece of work that will go into the catagory of the cult . It is one of the best pieces of work I have seen and definetlty one of the top 10 psycho thrillers . Just don't let the reputation behind it pull you in . The movie speaks for itself .
038 4 This review is from :
Perfect Blue ( DVD )
As an avid anime watcher , I've seen all of the staples . Akira , Princess Mononoke , Sailor Moon , DBZ , Gundam . . . . and as much as I absolutely adore all of these animes , Perfect Blue is what I consider to be the pinnacle of what a good anime should be . The art , even this many years later is stunning and mind-bending , the characters believable and well rounded , and the story line will just blow you away .
When I meet people or have friends who haven't seen anime , my other fellow nerds often say that I should ease them into the genre with something familiar . A good mech story , or a Miyazaki film . . . and as good as those are , they are just a little stereotypical for what you'd expect from an anime . Perfect Blue , on the other hand , to me , is more like a actual full length thriller that just happens to be animated . It's an excellent transition movie to get people into anime .
039 4 As an avid anime watcher , I've seen all of the staples . Akira , Princess Mononoke , Sailor Moon , DBZ , Gundam . . . . and as much as I absolutely adore all of these animes , Perfect Blue is what I consider to be the pinnacle of what a good anime should be . The art , even this many years later is stunning and mind-bending , the characters believable and well rounded , and the story line will just blow you away .
When I meet people or have friends who haven't seen anime , my other fellow nerds often say that I should ease them into the genre with something familiar . A good mech story , or a Miyazaki film . . . and as good as those are , they are just a little stereotypical for what you'd expect from an anime . Perfect Blue , on the other hand , to me , is more like a actual full length thriller that just happens to be animated . It's an excellent transition movie to get people into anime .
040 4 Based on the novel by Yoshikazu Tekeuchi , Perfect Blue is the story of a beautiful rising pop starlet named Mima who decides to leave her singing trio under the urging of her agency to become an actress instead . It becomes an inner struggle for initially innocent Mima , who does not want to give up her singing career and is uncomfortable with the exploitive route she is being steered into of nude photo shoots and rape victim roles . Mima becomes psychologically unstable as she struggles to separate fantasy from reality , especially when she starts to receive visits from her own former , untainted pop-star self . Add to that a suspicious website , a horrifically ugly stalker , and a sudden string of murders focused on those who have tainted Mima's image , and it all becomes too much for the troubled beauty , but a final confrontation makes everything startlingly clear .
Directed by Satoshi Kon , 1997 ' s Perfect Blue has often been described and praised as a Hitchcockian achievement . How much of this praise stems from the amazement some may have of seeing such a story done in animation I really don't know . Still , it IS an excellent film . I won't deny that I correctly guessed the true antagonist of the story very early on , but enough red herrings are floating about to keep you unsure throughout the film anyway . Going along for the ride with Mima , the audience soon becomes as unsure as she is of what is real and what is not . The scenario is well thought out and disturbingly played out , and beautifully drawn . I was a bit worried at the opening , as the animation there was not much to be thrilled about ( good drawings , but not much movement ) , but it quickly picked up and began to look more like other Anime films at least . In the big argument about Japanese animation vs . American animation , if their is one , it's in the story department and willingness to not limit the medium to children's fodder where the Japanese win out ( though , don't get me wrong , I'll always be a Disney guy over anything else ) . Perfect Blue is a film strictly for adult viewers . There's violence , there's nudity , . . . think of it like any R-rated psychological thriller you might go to the movies to see here in the U.S . , only this one happens to be animated . And , if you like that genre , Perfect Blue is as good as any live-action example .
The DVD is widescreen and comes with Japanese and English dialogue , and subtitles too , of course . It's an unrated director's cut ( the one I have is , anyway ) , and there is a neat menu of extras in the form of a mock webpage like the one in the film . It features interviews with the director and voice actors ( unfortunately , we don't get to see the English dub ones , just hear them ) , a recording session for the pop-group in the film ( Cham ) , a photogallery , audio track , theatrical trailer , and other Manga 2000 previews .
041 4 . . . but for you , perhaps not . If you are sensitive about rape , violent murders and / or are prone to nightmares , this is a movie that you would perhaps want to avoid . If suspense is not your thing and you don't like to think while watching a movie , don't bother .
Perfect Blue starts out as a story about a pop-star-turned-actress ( Mima ) who might have a fan stalking her . The broader question asked could be summed up as What is reality ? What is fake ? Most scenes seem to have two sides to them , which is explained by the ending with a little thought to connect the dots .
Personally , I had a hard time watching this the first time through . Graphic murders don't bother me much , but rape scenes are hard for me to watch , especially because we aren't really sure if Mima is being raped or if she's truly just acting out a scene for her acting job . And I will admit , it is confusing , but I'm the type of person who doesn't mind being confused as long as the ending clears things up and I have that Ooooooooh , that's what happened moment .
042 4 I loved this movie so much I've watched it over and over .
Highly recommened . . . great psychological thriller .
046 4 Perfect Blue is a mesmerizing psychological thriller in the style of Memento or Vertigo . This was director Satashi Kon's first feature film . The story is about pop idol Mima , who wants to branch out and become an actress . At the height of her fame , she announces her graduation from her three-girl group , Cham . But her acting career starts out seedy , and things start to get very strange very fast . There is a fairly disturbing rape scene , and nudity .
I can't tell too much of the plot because the story is simple , yet deep . The animation is good , with more attention paid to characters than to background . The ending was a bit implausible for me , but as a whole , Perfect Blue is a thought-provoking movie with lessons on fame , aspirations , and the consequences selling yourself out when you are not even sure who you really are .
047 4 This review is from :
Perfect Blue ( DVD )
If you're in the mood for an anime with nail-biting suspense and a touch or horror , then Perfect Blue is definitely for you . The story plays out well , the setting fits , and the characters all act like real people . And it is certainly creepy ! I saw it late at night with my best friend , and it succeeded in making me lie awake far into the night . I'd reccommend this to anyone who loves a good thriller .
049 4 Perfect Blue is the first physcological thriller to have ever disturbed in such a way .
It also takes us to the darker part of stardom .
You won't know what to think , each scene is unpredictable as the next . The voices in the dubbed version is well done with good acting .
But be prepared for a confusing plot and mind bending questions .
052 4 Watching Perfect Blue , I came up with dozens of theories as to what was going on and how the movie would end .
They were all wrong .
Perfect Blue is suspense in the truest sense of the word . By the end of the movie , I was out of my seat and on the floor in front of the TV , as if sitting closer would somehow ease the suspense . It didn't , but all for the better , because the suspenseful feeling is so powerful and it works that way .
Of note was the animation , which had a nice style that was just realistic enough , but I maybe would have liked it to be a bit more reaslitic or stylized differently .
Animation aside , the characters were truly spooky and throw you off your guard at every turn . Much of the movie is spent in confusion as to what these characters are actually doing and what is real , but it only builds the suspense up even higher .
Beautifully crafter , a true suspense , and the dub isn't that bad , either . If you like anime , or just a good movie ( and can look past the fact that this is animated ) then this movie is for you . It'll really keep you guessing .
053 4 It's vocal songs will leave your feet taping for hours and it's story line will keep you thinking for days . Perfect Blue is truly an amazing piece of anime .
Mima is a pop singer that decides to become an actress . Certain people out there think that she would better serve the public if she stayed a singer and is willing to kill her and the people around her if she doesn't .
When her new associates start dying in startling , eye-poping murders , she can't help but wonder if SHE herself is the real killer . As the film nears the climax , we can't help but wonder if she really is .
Perfect Blue does contain nudity and extremely graphic volience . If you are turned off by these or have young kids at home , think twice before buying this video ; but if you do purchase it , you will not be disappointed .
059 4 The Not For Sale To Persons Under 18 most likely tipped you off to this movie's rather adult nature ( though this is _ not _ pornographic , to make that clear ) . If , however , you are over 18 and have a strong stomach , you owe it to yourself to try this movie out .
Since Perfect Blue is a psycho-thriller whose suspense hinges on the various plot twists , I won't go into details about plot but will instead focus on the effect this movie had on me .
It has a horrifying momentum which pulled me in from the strangely happy yet unnerving opening scene all the way to the end of the credits ; the combination of oddly off-kilter character animations , almost no music , and bewilderingly rapid cuts from one time to another and from nightmare to reality , Perfect Blue kept me constantly guessing , constantly a little confused , and always completely riveted - - at one point I'd been staring at the TV for so long that my eyes were getting irritated from not blinking . The storyline is at first intriguing , then fascinating , then deeply , deeply disturbing - - and this is also the first movie I've watched in a very long time where the climax came as a complete surprise , yet a second viewing showed me exactly where the clues had lain - - very well-constructed . ( This is also the first movie to make me think , Gee , I'm glad _ I'm _ not a Japanese pop idol ~ ! ) The combination of its metaphysical ( I think ? ) themes and frighteningly skewed real-world Japanese setting reminded me of an anime combination of the PSX games Silent Hill and Persona .
As I mention in the beginning of this review , however , this movie also happens to have some extremely disturbing moments . It has the distinction of being the first movie _ ever _ to make me clamp my hand over my mouth and feel horrified and revolted ( and I've seen Showgirls ) . Though as a whole it isn't particularly violent - - this isn't one of those movies with blood , guts , and exploding heads in every scene - - the few violent or otherwise twisted scenes are very , very violent and twisted . You are warned - - Perfect Blue pulls no punches .
As I say , though , if you can stand the violent and twisted aspects of it , this is an amazing movie . Definitely recommended .
060 4 I had heard a lot about the film Perfect Blue , so I thought I would give it a try . I have been trying to watch the best of anime and this is one that keeps appearing on the lists . Here are my impressions . . .
The narrative of the film consists of multiple layers of reality and is fairly confusing . I do not intend to spoil the plot , but I would like to give a sense of where the confusing elements come from . The story centers around a young pop star named Mima would wants to change careers in order to be an actress . Once she makes the transition she find that the television producers don't have any faith in her acting skills , but want to exploit her good looks and her fame , so they cast her in a degrading , exploitative role where she has to film an explicit rape scene . Her management also insists that she goes on a risqué photo shoot , and otherwise exploit her at the lowest possible level . The film at times will switch without warning between Mima's real life and the television drama that she appears in . This becomes complex as events in both worlds start mirroring each other-dialogue in the drama seems to reflect events in her life and so forth . Besides the switching , this is pretty clear so far , right ? Then there is another character in the film who is suffering from split personality disorder and at times this character believes that she is Mima . The film switches between the point of view of the two characters without telling you when it makes the switch . This becomes especially complex since the mentally ill character will at times hallucinate and have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality . People from reality appear in the delusions of the mentally ill character as facets of her personality . This troubled , mentally ill character then tries to work through her problems by pitting the various facets of her personality against each other . So when you watch a scene you have to wonder whether it is really happening or whether it is simply a delusional fantasy of the mentally ill character . Then there is the crazy , obsessed fan who tries in a sense to become Mima by posting an online diary where he pretends to be Mima and writes about intimate details of her day from what he alleges to be her point of view . Mima discovers the diary and becomes disturbed and frightened both by the level of detail and by the interpretations that this diary writer makes about daily events in her life . OK , so this already confusing since there are two other characters trying to take over the life of the main character . But maybe that's not it at all . Maybe there is no distinction between fantasy and reality . Maybe there is no sane world in this film . Maybe there is no television drama . And maybe there is no real Mima , or at least no real Mima in the film . Perhaps all of the characters are multiple personalities of the main character and the other two characters trying to steal Mima's life are really personalities trying to emerge and become the dominant personality . At any rate the film is a mix of all of these different elements-the delusions , the Mima's crime drama , reality . Watch the film for yourself to figure out what you believe is going on .
Some of you may be complaining at this point that I just spoiled the entire film . Not quite . As may other reviewers have suggested , this film is best understood after multiple viewings . The film is filled with so many plot twists and multiple layers that it becomes difficult to keep them all straight . Perhaps it is true that the film becomes more clear with multiple viewings . I have to say that I have seen Perfect Blue once and that's enough for me . The film is an entry in the shocking , sexually-charged thriller genre that was quite popular in Hollywood in the late eighties and early nineties . Perfect Blue missed the peak of that genre by a fair number of years . By now this genre seems overexposed and tired . The film certainly is shocking - - explicit rape scenes , graphic eyeball gouging , blood splattered everywhere - - but hasn't this been done a thousand times before ? Once we've been shocked , it become increasingly more difficult to make things shocking . Perfect Blue attempts to raise the bar of shocking content , but ends up delivering scenes that are distasteful , but not really as shocking as they were intended to be . In comparison to this film , Hitchcock's shower murder scene in Psycho was a masterpiece of subtlety and restraint . Perfect Blue does have a few moments where the viewer discovers that scenes in the film may have really meant something completely different than we were originally lead to believe . These scenes are effective and deliver more shocks than the graphic violence .
Bottom line : This film is definitely not for children or for people who have had their fill of thrillers in the style of those starring Michael Douglas . I'm not a fan of that genre , but someone who is may enjoy this film . Perfect Blue does offer the viewer the same kind of puzzling , multilayered narrative structure that we all know and love from Existenz , Vanilla Sky , and a multitude of other films .
061 4 Imagine if Walt Disney were alive today , he then worked with master directors Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick on an adult animated film . The result of this partnership would be Perfect Blue . This is the most interestingly thought provocative and graphic animes that I have ever seen and I have seen my share of graphic animes . But the story which centers around an aspiring singer turned aspiring actress Mima as she leaves her cutsy teen pop group for a hopeful chance at real stardom as an actress . For me this film was unsettlingly ingrossing from the opening to the ending . The characters are so thurougly thought out and the script is good in either langauge . You can easily take a side on the characters considering there are some sterotypical characters , mainly her managers , one who doesn't like the actress idea and one who is happy about it , but it's better if you just sit back , brain turned on and enjoy the drama , the horror , and the thrill of this suberb creation from Director Satoshi Kon and Screenwriter Sadayuki Murai , based on the original story by Yoshikazu Takeuchi .
Warning : Mature audiences only . Anyone younger won't understand the masterpiece of this work .
065 4 This is without a doubt one of the better thrillers in the past few years , live action or not . Be warned though ( to those new to anime or just learning distinctions within the genre ) , it is also one of the most adult-oriented mainstream anime movies out there . I have the unrated DVD , and it would quite handily earn at least an R rating based on violence and nudity , both of which have negative and disturbing impact on Mima , the main character .
This is a primary example of how Japanese anime comes in many forms and is aimed at many demographics , just as live-action movies in general . This is equivalent to a violent , thought-provoking Hollywood rated-R thriller and is in no way related to what simple mainstream America thinks broadly of as anime ( Pokemon , Escaflowne , G-Force perhaps ) .
Only complaints about the presentation : the English voice actors sound great but read through some iffy translations . And yet when in native language , I find myself liking the English female voice better ! Hey , you can't win ' em all , but overall , Perfect Blue will make an excellent addition to many an adult DVD collection .
068 4 Perfect Blue is an absolute masterpiece . The plot is incredible ; full of drama , horror and suspense . Confusing at times , the movie leaves you guessing . It make you think , which is a wonderful part of it .
The animation is very good and detailed . Some of the part were most definately situations for adults only and added to the depth of this movie . All in all , I recommend this movie if you are looking for a thrill ride .
069 4 Kiss your days of Disney animation watching goodbye . Perfect Blue is by far one of the best anime's to come out of Japan in recent memory or movie to be released anywhere . The storyline will sound weird to those not into Japanese pop culture and their pop singers . So to put into perspective think of Mima as someone along the likes of Mariah Carey or Brittany Spears , and a very obsessive fan is stalking them .
This film is truly terrifying and disturbing . The psychological aspects make this film awesome . Forget that witch movie and its psycho terror ( although that movie is very good ) . If you see movies on a regular basis do yourself some good and watch this movie , you won't be dissapointed . For all you others watch and witness one of the greatest triumphs in filmaking .
071 4 This review is from :
Perfect Blue ( DVD )
This was purchased as a gift for someone . It came on time and was said to be in good condition .
073 4 This review is from :
Perfect Blue ( DVD )
I LOVE it when Japanese anime turns to horror ! Really cool movie , I watch it every now and then when I'm in the mood for a Japanese horror film .
076 4 This review is from :
Perfect Blue ( DVD )
Perfect Blue / B00000JL42
* Spoilers *
When young idol Mima leaves her pop girl-band group in the hopes of breaking big into an acting career , she becomes entranced with a new website ( Mima's Room ) that purports to be written entirely by her and which details her thoughts , dreams , and desires to the public . Although Mima knows that the website must be run by an imposter ( after all , if the ' real ' Mima was the website author , then she would know that . . . wouldn't she ? ) , she becomes increasingly confused and concerned when the most private details of her life are posted for all to see - private details that most people would have no knowledge of .
And as Mima struggles with her acting career and is forced to make difficult choices in ' how far ' she is willing to go to further her career ( including a difficult ' adult ' acting scene ) , she becomes increasingly disassociated from reality and cannot seem to tear herself away from Mima's Room , where the perfect ' Mima ' there seems so much larger than life than the ' real ' Mima . And what of her various colleagues who keep meeting with serious injuries , accidents , and outright murder ? Are the scenes - increasingly violent - that Mima is acting on stage just acting . . . or is it reality , edited into a TV show in order for her to cope ?
This particular director , also involved ( I believe ) with
Millennium Actress
and
Paprika
, is a master at blending reality with fantasy ( dreams and / or movies ) in such a way that you can never be quite sure which is the fantasy and which is the reality . This thriller movie will mess with the viewer's mind , as we wonder what the nature of Mima's life truly is , and whether she is an innocent victim or a crazed psychopath . I was pleased that the resolute ending is clear and unambiguous , but with a touch of irony that I deeply appreciated . I won't say anymore , for fear of spoiling the surprise , but can only say that if you enjoy having your mind messed with , you will enjoy Perfect Blue .
Content warning , though : This movie depicts a lot of female nudity ( and not just the common above-the-waist variety ) and also depicts Mima acting out a graphic rape scene for her TV series - a scene that could be considered highly triggering for some .
077 4 Perfect Blue / B00000JL42
* Spoilers *
When young idol Mima leaves her pop girl-band group in the hopes of breaking big into an acting career , she becomes entranced with a new website ( Mima's Room ) that purports to be written entirely by her and which details her thoughts , dreams , and desires to the public . Although Mima knows that the website must be run by an imposter ( after all , if the ' real ' Mima was the website author , then she would know that . . . wouldn't she ? ) , she becomes increasingly confused and concerned when the most private details of her life are posted for all to see - private details that most people would have no knowledge of .
And as Mima struggles with her acting career and is forced to make difficult choices in ' how far ' she is willing to go to further her career ( including a difficult ' adult ' acting scene ) , she becomes increasingly disassociated from reality and cannot seem to tear herself away from Mima's Room , where the perfect ' Mima ' there seems so much larger than life than the ' real ' Mima . And what of her various colleagues who keep meeting with serious injuries , accidents , and outright murder ? Are the scenes - increasingly violent - that Mima is acting on stage just acting . . . or is it reality , edited into a TV show in order for her to cope ?
This particular director , also involved ( I believe ) with
Millennium Actress
and
Paprika
, is a master at blending reality with fantasy ( dreams and / or movies ) in such a way that you can never be quite sure which is the fantasy and which is the reality . This thriller movie will mess with the viewer's mind , as we wonder what the nature of Mima's life truly is , and whether she is an innocent victim or a crazed psychopath . I was pleased that the resolute ending is clear and unambiguous , but with a touch of irony that I deeply appreciated . I won't say anymore , for fear of spoiling the surprise , but can only say that if you enjoy having your mind messed with , you will enjoy Perfect Blue .
Content warning , though : This movie depicts a lot of female nudity ( and not just the common above-the-waist variety ) and also depicts Mima acting out a graphic rape scene for her TV series - a scene that could be considered highly triggering for some .
080 4 This review is from :
Perfect Blue ( DVD )
this is one where the writters want to make you say What the hell is that about .
084 4 I absolutely love this movie . At moments it can be confusing due to switches between the past and present . But I think this just adds to what Mima is feeling and how she deals with her life once she quits CHAM . I was surprised at the twist in events towards the end , but it made the movie that more amazing .
I definitely recommend it for those who like horror and mystery , and can appreciate animation .
087 4 We all know what mangas are . A simple type of comic books dealing with the real world of today and its violence if not plain crime . Here this comic style is transferred to the big screen but it has kept its simple drawing and its modern and committed subject-matter . A young female singer decides to become an actress . Some of her fans start chasing her to force her to come back to singing . This is the socially committed subject that turns the film into a thriller . But that is only half of the film . The second half is the schizophrenia someone has to live through when shifting from one profession to another and this is expressed by the editing to erase the boundary between what the real life and the stage-acting of the actress are . Her acting is blended into her real life that becomes a real nightmare . But I am surprised by the ending that decides to stop the suspense by going back to the plain ordinary everyday world . When the illusion disappears , the neurosis and the schizophrenia are dropped but also intensity and even life , because there is absolutely no life without the tension between reality and dream . But this cinematographic manga reveals that very Japanese style : very simple drawing and animation , very good and dynamic editing for a deeply social , cultural and psychological subject . There is no equivalent anywhere in the world , neither the super heros of American comic books , nor the Tintins and Asterixes of the European French-speaking ones .
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU , Universit ? Paris Dauphine , Universit ? Paris I Panth ? on Sorbonne
090 4 A favorite of mine .
The animation is very crisp , unlike a lot of the other anime
( and I've seen plenty in my time ) , Perfect Blue has a done a
very outstanding job of capturing how people move . The very
first concert with their dance rountine is proof of that .
The store is very well done , focusing more on psychological
problems that ensue with they images you build for yourself .
Perfect Blue has a very wide range of themes that could make
an interesting conversational material .
I recommend watching it more than once . There are a lot of
things that I personally didn't quite get until watching it
the second time around . I also recommend that it be watched
subtitled w / japanese voices so that it can be enjoyed the
way that it was intended to be enjoyed ( as I would with any
other Anime - - with the exception of Vampire Hunter D 2 and
Blood the Last Vampire , but those are both special cases ) .
~ bgmdragon
091 4 This movie is screwed up . It starts out with a simple enough plot , pop star and stalker , and then it pulls multiple 180o turns and twists until you wonder what exactly is going on . Even when the film ends I was left with a feeling that I was missing something , due to the last line in the movie .
I can only give this 4 stars because the special features section locks up my DVD player sometimes . : (
If you love anime , and you've been looking for one that is not only devoid of sci-fi / fantasy elements , but also backed by a good story and brilliant voice acting this is the one my friends .
097 4 I picked up this video because the cover made fantastic promises of an incredible psychological thriller on par with Hitchcock . It was fairly good , but I still longed for more loose ends , more threads to be woven together . It all seemed so obvious . ( The stalker looks like a rip-off of Disney's hunchback , and he displays obsessive ' psycho ' traits from the beginning . ) There was one mild plot twist right at the end , but the character didn't have enough development to make me shocked or surprised .
The obligatory comments about the version I'm referring to : I watched the safe dubbed version . Thus , thankfully the rape scene was quite short . The dubbing was pretty standard . Sadly the high-pitched English Ok ! that the main character uttered many times only added to the annoying aspects of the her character .
104 4 This is the UMD version of Perfect Blue ( I have no idea why Amazon has it listed in such an oblique fashion . ) Anyway - - look , Manga , I appreciate you releasing stuff like this in the UMD format . But it's absolutely unforgivable to release a prominent anime film with an English dub only . There's no technical reason to do it this way . We know from your Perfect Blue DVD release that you have access to both tracks . Even the copy of freaking Godzilla : Final Wars I have on UMD has both Japanese and English tracks . Why do it this way ? I don't get it . Anyway , avoid unless you're unbothered by sterile English dubs .
105 4 After I saw Millenium Actress and Tokyo Godfathers , I had the highest hopes for other anime by Satoshi Kon .
I guess he just set the bar so high with those movies that even he can't always meet the standard he created . Perfect Blue is watchable . It says some interesting , even disturbing things about what it means to change . It just didn't have the impact on me that the other movies did .
108 4 Perfect Blue , directed by Satoshi Kon who would later do Millenium Actress , Tokyo Godfathers and the upcoming Paprika , takes a stab ( no pun intended ) at a more mature offering . Instead of having things such as mechs or special abilities or fighters who can fly 60 feet in the air , this is more like a traditional movie only done in animation . With some interesting , surrealistic visuals , an ever-shifting storyline and lots of twists Lost would be proud to have , this is a film for those looking for that little extra something in their anime movies .
Mima Kirogue is a pop singer for the band CHAM ! Like all pop singers who dream of being known for something else as well as the brevity of most careers , she quits and pursues an acting career . Some fans are not happy with this decision and one in particular is quite obsessed with Mima returning to her old career , even going as far as to follow her and impersonate her online as well as going to extremes involving people working with Mima . But is it the stalker or is something else entirely going on ?
What's really great ultimately about the story is its comfortable sense of pacing . Anyone who's a fan of film noir or the often used comparison to Hitchcock films knows pacing is very deliberate . Rather than have the slam-bang pace of a lot of anime films , here thinks start out quietly and strangely calm but soon things escalate and more and more things start to happen around Mima . It's a film that can probably work in live action but animation just gives it that extra surreal quality , especially the constant presence of someone in the mirror and their manner of moving which would look silly filmed .
The other is the story . The film very sneakily has so many elements and layers on it that you'll find yourself constantly figuring out the mystery only to have it not be the case . While at times it's incredibly hard to keep track of everything and what's in the mind and what's for real constantly shifts making you lose an understanding of what's going on only to be shown the answer later . You got to walk into this film prepared to challenge everything although the fun of it is seeing it unfold with you confused in a good way . Kon's style of animation at times can be somewhat distracting . While there's a lot of more cinematic elements used such as blurring or rotating camera movement , the characters look slightly ugly at times .
It may not be the most loved anime by most people with some calling it overrated or just plain weird for anything but I quite enjoyed it and you should check it out .
109 4 perfect blue is awesome . you reallly get in mimas head . you get as confused as she is . what still bothers me is that i cant understand everythin yet . its that difficult .
and about the sex and violence parts , i think they are justified and that hollywood is afraid of all these things . we have to see another contries films to see something a bit honest .
112 4 Perfect blue is not your average anime . It is not about weird alien landscapes , guns , creatures or martial art experts . What we have is a psychological thriller in the vein of fight club and psycho . A sweet young pop star who did not not really make it big in the pop charts with her group is advised to enter in to the world of acting . In this tranformation period , she slowly exits the pink heaven of half pop stardom and enters the hard and cold world of acting in which she slowly looses her innocence despite all her naivity which she desperately holds on to . This troubled part of her life is well placed and close to reality .
After clashes between her personality and egos and regret that comes out of this sudden transformation thus trapped in a nightmarish illusions and dissapearance of the perceiving time and space , she is also troubled by a fan who sets an internet fan page for her . I do not wish to explain any further in order not to spoil your enjoyment and all I can say is perfect blue is a classy , unique as well as an unusual manga . It is a very good psychological thriller which shifts in to real life drama genre . Ending is also very interesting.After all it is made in Japan and they know how to cook weird stuff very well without overdoing it .
One of the better examples of Japanese anime series .
116 4 I feel like I'm going to thow up after watching this movie . Near the end ( the last 20 minutes or so ) the plot undergoes about 40 twists . Each completely different from the others . Now if you like that kinda thing . . . then get the movie . But as for me , I perfer my plot twists to happen at least 10 minutes apart .
When the movie ended I wasn't sure it had . It was a unique feeling , but not worth the mental stress I had to endure to get to that point . I'll stick to my gratuitous blood and gore for a while , there's enough storyline here for a dozen movies .
118 4 This movie is the most frightening mystery / thriller worthy of Alfred Hitchcock himself ! The story itself is frightening on different levels . First you see Mima , who is not very sure of herself as a person and an aspiring celebrity . She's willing to sacrifice to hit the big time which leads her into several situations , including filming a disturbing rape scene for a movie ( or a TV series , depending on the version you saw ) . Slowly and not so surely , you see the industry strip away pieces of Mima , which she clings to . This gets really bad as she starts seeing the other Mima .
Then the murders take place . One by one people around Mima are being brutally and bloodily murdered . The climax and ending is spectacular as the mystery begins to unravel , and unlike lesser thought out movies , everything makes perfect sense throughout the madness and murders !
127 4 Perfect Blue is a very adult psychological puzzler about Mima , a pop star who leaves her popular group to become an actress . A soap opera role is offered , but Mima's character is less clean cut than desired . Regardless , she agrees to take the part and events take a turn for the worse . Soon , Mima's sense of reality begins to slip . She discovers her identical twin , a mirror image of herself that hasn't given up singing . Is it real , or part of her imagination ? Before long , internet sites appear describing every intimate detail of Mima's life and a mysterious figure stalks her from the shadows . Her friends and associates are threatened , and killed , as Mima descends into a dangerous world of paranoid delusion . She fears for her life and must unravel fact from illusion in order to stay alive .
This all makes for a surprisingly taut , suspenseful nailbiter that is gripping from start to finish . Perfect Blue is not the typical anime and that's what makes it so special . Ghosts , cyborgs , and mythical creatures are nowhere to be seen , instead , we are the players in a twisted psychological mind game . The last 30 minutes continually keep you guessing as the filmmakers keep bombarding us with brilliant twist after twist . You have to repeatedly question what is real and what it not , a difficult but enjoyable task that requires you to be on your toes to keep up . Great attention must be paid to detail because not everything makes sense at first sight , a perfect excuse for multiple viewings of this masterpiece . The theme music is quite eerie and totally appropriate for the tone of key scenes as Mima starts her downward spiral . It adds a creepiness to the film , giving it a terrific horror aspect that makes it perfect for late night viewing .
Perfect Blue is definitely not for everyone , and some might be disappointed , especially because of all the hype . But for fans of a true Hitchcockian thriller , this is a must . It is an excellent film in general and a first class thriller . If Walt Disney and Hitchcock collaborated on a movie , it would be something like this .
128 4 Let me say first that it ' ha been nearly a year since I've watched Perfect Blue but it's not the type of movie that one forgets easily . The story is about the main character what is attempting go from being a pop star to being a serious movie star . Now this may not sound like much of an interesting story however as any ne that has seen this directors other works like Paranoia Agent , Millennium Actress and Tokyo Godfathers know better .
Before I go on let me say DO NOT I repeat DO NOT watch this film when your tired , it is a mind trip . Also make sure not watch with kids around , suggest no one under eighteen . As there are scenes of nudity and a few of rape . Added the graphic murder scenes .
Well as I said before the story is about a pop star that wants to become an actress . Her managers are split , one is a guy and is all for it . The other a female is completely against it . Well see manages to get a spot on a show called double blind , think law and order . Everything is going fine until people on the show start popping up dead . First the writer then the director and so on . The real story though is what's going on in the lead's mind . The real plot is the main character trying to figure out what is real and what isn't real . This is where the story really shines and makes it a classic . Why ? Because the entire movie while the main character desperately trying to figure out if she's going crazy , all the while you're asking yourself are you going crazy . Yes this movie WILL make you question your own sanity . Hence why you should not watch this show when you're tired . Those of you who have watched his over works know what this director is capable of .
The art work is admittingly dated not surprising considering the age of the work but still very good . The music I really can't remember enough to even rate . The voice acting is amazing some of the best I've found . The story is kinda slow but will keep your attention . Character designs though not really original are still as good as one can expect from a tow hour movie with such a heavy plot . All together if you like dark interesting movies by all means buy this one its worth it . If you want a light happy no thinking film skip this one . If you can't find two consecutive hours away from kids and the under eighteen wait till you do to buy this one .
129 4 First and foremost , this movie is meant to be particularly disturbing . As such , I already can say that this is not a younger-crowds film , and is definitely R equivalent . Even more then that though , I'm still having trouble grasping whether it's my kind of film , and all the while , I just try to grasp the story in it's entirety .
The plot is like this . In the days where pop-idols were supposedly pure , Mima Kirigoe retires , and begins anew in acting as a way to fit into the ever-changing business of stardom . However , this may mean compromising all she knows , and giving up what she loved . Even more then this , murderous minds follow , as the world Mima once knew collapses , and the new world twists and turns into that of nightmares .
Psychological thriller is one way to put it , as it clear delves into the minds , characters and viewers alike . However , many deeper films that I like have a relative point ; and regretfully , for my tast at least , I cannot find that sense of closure I love . That's not giving away the ending in the least bit , because I am merely discussing the overall .
However , if you feel mature enough to attempt a relatively complex and adult plot , about a girl dealing with a definitely complex world , then this is all yours , and hopefully it may muse you .
133 4 Perfect Blue revolves around Mimi : a pretty and talented former pop idol who leaves her former trio behind for the pursuit of an acting career . That career begins in a starring role of a violent and sexually-filled series , which irks her fans that are still in love with her squeaky-clean image ; one of which takes it to an extreme as Mimi's co-workers are picked off one by one in brutal fashion , as Mimi herself is being haunted by her former self . Wonderfully stylized animation ( for the time it was produced ) and filled with a plethora of intelligent twists and turns that you actually won't see coming , Perfect Blue is one of the most memorable and suspenseful animes to ever make the cross over into mainstream America . Violent , bloody , and oh so provocative , Perfect Blue nears perfection up until the final moments of it's climax and conclusion , which wraps things up in all too a neat , little package . That aside , the majority of Perfect Blue is a suspenseful anime treat that deserves attention , and on that note alone is worth the price of admission .
140 4 As you watch Mima , the main character , make a move from her dream career as a pop-idol with all her spotlights and fans to an actor in a new murder-mystery drama series beause her agent persuaded her that she'll make more money . Her family , friends , and fans are against this change but support her and yet , as she gets more scenes in the murder-drama series , the people around her are being killed mysteriously as well - - almost as an onminous warning to her .
You are carried along with her throughout this change to its climatic resolution in which the final twist of plot is reminiscent of the classic Hitcock . You will want to watch this film several times over to see how each element will add up to its final value and see how they affect Mima's career , life , and mental sanity .
I've shown this piece to all of my friends ( Anime-fan or not ) and they have all agreed that it was awesome and exciting . If more movies were released of this calibur , there would be many , Many more Anime fans born .
142 4 Perfect Blue is about a girl who used to be a pop idol but made a coureer change to become an actor . After she changes professions she finds herself being stalked . ok . um . yeah . : : tries to remember other stuff : : wooo , I just watched this movie like a few hours ago and I'm starting to forget the complete story ! Maybe its because my brain just started melting after I watched the first 30 minutes ! Yes . It is that confusing . In fact the minute right when the credits started rolling my brain just EXPLODED and I couldn't think of anything at all . Thats how confusing Perfect Blue was . The whole thing is basically straightened out in the end , but still , that first 30 - 40 minutes is a real mind job .
Ok , anyway , now that I got that across , the film has very very nice quality animation . The dub is actually quite good aswell .
The story itself is actually quite good , it will make you fairly edgy .
Let me say this : This is the only pyschological thriller that has made me go crazy . To some extent .
143 4 The story is about a young singer , Mima , who has just quit her band to become an actress.BAD CAREER MOVE ! . ( perhaps she should have read the script first ) .
The TV series she plays in could easily win the first prize for the most filthy and violent series ever.Her role in
that series forces her to change her image dramatically , making a lot of her fans upset.Especially an obsessed maniac who follows every move she makes.After a while those who are closely involved
in the series are been brutaly murdered and as for Mima , she starts to have terible halucinations about an alter ego that accuses her of tarnishing her reputation .
I could say that this film was the most captivating I have ever seen.There are many times when even the one who is watching the film confuses reality with the ilusions and you begin to question yourself : ' What is real ? ' And as the film progresses to the end you don't know what to believe before the final disclosure of the killer .
144 4 this film has to be the greatest anime film of all time ! You cant beat the fantastic , thrilling , engrossing story .
all i can say is watch it as soon as possible !
147 4 Perfect Blue is one of the better anime's with a good plot and a good cast of charecters . The art work is ok but the plot makes up for it . The DVD is good you get the unrated version and a lot of other goodies .
Warning : This Film Is For Adults Only [ . . . ] .
150 4 First , the bad news . Perfect Blue is not the savior of anime that Princess Mononoke should have been . It is not in the same league as the latter , or of Ghost in the Shell or Akira , or any other 5 - star animes . It is not , contrary to what I've been told , a good place for anime newbies to jump in , especially if they are of the mentality that all animes are full of violence and nudity .
Nor is it particularly well-drawn . At times the imagery is very nicely done - - subtle shading and great detail , but at other times it is flat and lifeless . The opening few minutes are a perfect example of this - - fortunately , the animation quality for the most part improves later on .
That said , where Perfect Blue really shines is its story . It has been inevitably compared to Hitchcock and Fight Club , both with good reason . This is a plus for fans of either , but a negative for those who prefer to have plots handed to them on a silver platter . While the ending won't go down in history ala The Usual Suspects , it's still an interesting twist .
The voice acting is mostly good , with a few rough spots . The English dub is not bad - - not nearly as good as Princess Mononoke , or even the new Akira dub , but light-years ahead of the atrocious Ghost in the Shell dub . The dub's translation ( judging from the literal subtitles ) is relatively close , and ( with the exception of Mima's mother , who speaks like an American Southerner but thankfully has a very short role in the film ) well-cast . Neither language tracks suffer from over-the-top emotions like so many other dubbed movies are known to do , but only at a few points could the acting be considered truly excellent .
Overall Perfect Blue is a good story-driven anime , and moreover a good movie . But don't make the mistake of showing it to an anime non-fan expecting to convert them over , so to speak .
152 4 It's an adult thriller but it doesn't have too much adult content , a rape with brief nudity and some snap shots from a photoshoot .
This is a good movie , I added it to my list after a recommendation from a anime fan ( who didn't like Escaflowne ) . This movie is a psycho thriller that places emphasis on what is real , what isn't , what's a dream . The main character Mima is a pop-idol , until she makes a huge career change and becomes a small time actress . She later lands a large role in a series . This move upsets some people . She also becomes aware of a website called Mima's Room that list out her daily events , such things as the foot she used to step into the bathtub and the milk she buys , the words she has said during the day . This webpage becomes a focus as Mima visits it day after day , but soon the Mima in the web page becomes angry . Mima's pop-idol personality starts to haunt her , calling her dirty or contaminated , claiming that Mima the actress is not the real Mima at all . . . Soon Mima starts to believe all this . The story starts to take twists as murders pop up , a mysterious figure keeps showing itself and flashings between fantasy and the real world become more frequent and we lose the ability to determine which is which as scenes are repeated slightly different .
It's a good movie diving into the mind of Mima , showing us her struggle to claim her identity as an actress , a person who is mature with their own goals and paths for life .
I came up with a better ending , well a more twisted one that is , that might have turned it into more of a surprise ending than a psycho thriller ending . If you want to know , watch the movie and then email me and i'll tell ya .
153 4 from the beginning , it seemed just like any other common anime movie about singing and happy-go-luckyness . . . then of course it all goes downhill from there ! and what a rollercoaster ride it is ! thrilling and emotional , strange and shocking - this movie puts you inside the main character's [ Mima ] mind as she struggles to find out what is real and what isn't ! and the repetitive excuse me , who are you ? line thoroughout the movie just bring its even more hauntingly closer to what could happen in mainstream hollywood / life .
the video / audio seem perfect - unusual but good soundtrack . good DVD menu , even better behind the scenes look and other extras . definitely worth a look ! ! ! but this is not for the kids . . . this movie is strictly R rated !
015 4 Hands down Perfect Blue is the greatest Anime film I have ever seen . Roger Corman describes it as a merger between Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock . I see it as a merger between Walt Disney and David Lynch , who did such odd films as Blue Velvet and Lost Highway . Infact Perfect Blue looks exactly like an animated Mulholland Drive , which is Lynch's latest work . I won't give away any of the story , because everything in it is key . Perfect Blue steps away from the action scene which most Anime films focus on , and delivers a compelling , thrilling story that I have never encountered in animation before . The only reason I gave Perfect Blue 4.9 stars is because the ending song , which is the last audio impression you hear , it doesn't fit the film at all . The music during Perfect Blue is a chilling voice over music score . It fits the suspense of the film extremely well . But when the film ends , I felt like I had just watched an episode of Sailor Moon ! One could argue the music fits because of a couple of reasons , all which I may agree on . But the suspense of the film was so great during it , I felt that they should have left you with a feeling of suspense . The chilling music during the film would have fit perfectly at the end , but it's just a small , minor detail only a critic like I would even care about . Overall Perfect Blue is the best Anime film out there , and what can I say , Perfect Blue is near Perfect .
044 4 I thought that Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue was seriously good . I bought it sheerly from hearsay and had no real idea of what it was about . I watched it through with little interruptions and came to the conclusion that , as I said before , this movie is seriously good . But not great . It was a little jumpy , if you ask me . I know , I know , it was probably meant to be that way and maybe my intelligence isn't high enough , but I thought it could be more fluid . Definitely worth the purchase , anyhow .
054 4 Perfect Blue , I came into this anime with very low expectations . By thirty minutes in , I wished for it to end not in a negative way in that it was a bad movie , but for the sake of Mima . The movie quickly draws you into the prontagonist , puts you in her shoes and takes you on a depressing skeptical . My type of anime is action but this sucked me in with a disturbing watch . This anime seemed so vivid in it's graphic and most often realistic journey of Mima from innocent pop girl to a world of suffering and confusion , I couldn't sit through another viewing of this . The music is dead-on amazing . I would recommend this to anyone , action fan or not . My idea of anime has changed ever since Perfect Blue .
066 4 Satoshi Kon's ' Perfect Blue ' is a true suspense film . It never relies on false scares or flashy monsters . It just slowly destroys your perceptions of reality , leaving you clueless as to where you are or what's really going on . Danger is always present and there is no where to hide . The story for ' Perfect Blue ' is convoluted , at best , but this is precisely the point . You never quite know what's real or not . Not since Roman Polanski's ' Repulsion ' have I believed a character's slow progression into madness as I have Mima Kirigoe's , the central character of the film . The violence is heavy-handed and the film pulls no punches in it's depiction of sexuality , but whereas most films would be considered exploitative for this , ' Perfect Blue ' is simply pushing you ever closer to reality . An animated film such as this truely makes you forget that you're not watching ' real ' actors and actresses up there on the screen . Everything . . . from it's super-glossy yet gritty presentation , it's mind-warping screenplay , it's eratic score . . . everything just clicks . Not since ' Akira ' has an animated film got me so involved in the lives of it's characters . It also contains one of the most disturbing conclusions ever seen on the screen . . . period . A true example of the power of animation , ' Perfect Blue ' is a great film that deserves repeated viewings . Just make sure you watch it with the lights off and the phone off the hook .
078 4 Don't let the very beginning of this movie fool you , this is not a movie for children . A pop singer ditches her usual routine to become an actress on a TV series . As a result and particularly crazed and obsessive fan decides he'll force her to become a pure pop singer again . It ends up taking the course of a particularly disturbing psychological thriller that lets you think you know what's going on only to show you that you're wrong . I enjoyed the art a great deal but the animation is pretty flawed . I actually really liked and got into all the characters except for , surprisingly enough , the main character Mima . She's dimwitted , annoying , and quite frankly unlikable . Despite these drawbacks Perfect Blue is still a smart and mesmerizing anime aimed at adults .
079 4 Almost in a genre of it's own , Perfect Blue is a deep and involving masterpiece . . . I would recommend the purchase of this movie to anyone , regardless of their tastes or interests in art or entertainment . . . I've never watched a movie this deep before . . . it's almost enough to make one regret watching it , for the fact that one wouldn't be able to again watch it for the first time . I won't spoil the plot at all , but it can be slightly confusing at times , alternate realities seemingly intergrated into one . . .
082 4 I cant say much that hasnt already been said about this fine piece of cinema but I will say that Perfect Blue has made an impression on me . Something about the style and delivery of this anime that isnt at all like anime grabbed me and left it's mark . Definitely recommended viewing for folks who like psychological thrillers , and especially fans of more real-life anime .
095 4 No giant robots , no swordplay and no space battles but I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film . The animation is very good and enhances this top-notch suspense story about a Japanese pop singer stalked by a maniac . There are fantasy elements in Perfect Blue but they are woven into the story very well . I recommend this film to anyone who likes good movies as well as Anime fans .
113 4 Anime films are not cartoons . To rephrase what I just said . Yes some anime are cartoons such as Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z . Perfect Blue though is a film and a very disturbing film at that . The film centers around Mima a pop idol in a little singing group called CHAM , however , she wants to expand her career and believes that she will not be able to do that as long as she is a pop idol . Many do not believe that is a smart move . They want Mima to keep a pure virginal image of a young helium voiced pop idol . Mima does nude scenes and even a very graphic rape scene for her acting career , and some of her die hard fans are not happy . The writer and the photographer are both brutally killed . What this film is cheifly about is the obsession of the otaku , before i get jumped on by anime otaku , otaku means obsession with anything and Perfect Blue that thing is Mima . A very frightening film check it out . Good for those who don't like multi colored hair and big eyed anime as well . Maybe not good for those who only do like that type of anime .
121 4 Perfect Blue is a great movie and you get so into the movie you dont even see it as an anime . Perfect Blue messes with your mind with a weird and confusing storyline . This is an action / adventure / thriller adult film . Just buy it .
141 4 This movie was top notch . All i have to say about Perfect Blue is nothing short of Fantastic . The animation was brilliant , the characters were likable , And the plot moves along like a waterfall . You should definetly keep this movie from the kiddies . This movie is violent , disturbing , and stylish all at the same time . The film is set around a pop singer Mima Kirigoe who wants to quite her singing career , and become an astounding actress . Yet not all is as it seems , when she starts to hallucinate , and her friends and colleags start to die by an unexpected stalker . Like I said before this movie is nothing short of fantastic . Please for your own good go buy it .
148 4 The first time I saw Perfect Blue , I was left with a huge question mark in my brain . Which parts of the movie were supposed to be reality , and which were supposed to be delusions ? After watching it a second time , the pieces began to fall into place . While this movie is definately not for children , as it deals with some very disturbing topics , it is quite high up on my list of recommendations for people getting tired of the more tame Anime that we seem to get here in America .
154 4 Perfect Blue is an incredible movie . I bought it at an anime convention because I had heard great reviews about it . And I don't regret buying it at all . To fully enjoy it , you have to pay attention , and you really have to appreciate suspense movies . In fact , it may take you more than one viewing to fully understand it . But it doesn't matter , because the fact of the matter is , Perfect Blue is one of the greatest anime films of all time , second only to Princess Mononoke and Akira .
035 4 This movie is visually stunning , aggressive , inspiring , strangely familiar , real , surreal , innovative , multi layered . In order to achieve all these qualities simultaneously , it needed to be animated . It is animated , in order to achieve effects , not possible with actors and real world sets . Only an animated feature can drift so seamlessly between dream and reality , visions of the inner eye and outside world perception . This movie does all this very , very well . The characters are drawn in a way that allows the viewer to accept them as real life personalities , yet ambiguous enough to allow the viewer to forget the psychological distance between the viewer and the viewed . The psychological identification with the main character , is possible and because of the nature of the movie , especially intimate . We can forget at times that we are watching an animated feature . And then there are these perfectly composed shots , so brutally perfect , so incredibly well constructed , so intricately composed in their frame , that they could only be created with the slow motion process of classic cell animation . If you are looking for a movie which is a very high quality animated feature , with intricate , complex characters , and a multi layered story line which goes beyond the monochrome characters of many western features , then you should definitely watch Perfect Blue . ( And because it is quite complex and really well done , you will want to watch it again , so buying it might be a really good idea ) . If you are looking for an action packed visual distraction , then this might not be the right one for you . There is action on screen , but it is not there to provide any pleasure to the viewer . It serves as another element of pain to the protagonist and therefore to the viewer . The movie contains nudity , which feels quite uncomfortable to the protagonist and therefore to the viewer . This is definitely a mature movie experience , for a mature , interested viewer who would like to take a look into the mind of a character who does not quite know how close she is to schizophrenia , and if it is really her at all .
033 4 Not long after i got married my husband turned me on to Anime ( Inuyasha , Ranma , Berserk , Lain , Nadesico , Fruits Basket ) . Perfect Blue got such good reviews , I bought it for my husband for Christmas . We watched as soon as he opened it ! The beginning was really lagging and i was getting really bored and easily distracted , that's why i gave it only 4 stars . Once the movie picked up the pace and got more interesting i was totally into it ! It's a great movie and the characters are more life like than most Anime i'm used to watching ! This wouldn't be my first choice , but i would recommend it !
051 4 This is without a doubt one of the best animes that I've seen . At first I was skeptical as to how well an anime could pull off a psychological thriller . But after about 30 minutes into the film , all doubts were erased . I was enthralled , captivated and thouroughly entertained . Perfect Blue is a wonder for even those that don't enjoy anime . I convinced one of my friends , who has always hated cartoons , and anime , to watch it with me and one it was over , they were rounding up others for another viewing . If you're a movie fan , then you're sure to enjoy Perfect Blue , If you're an anime fan as well , then be prepared to double your pleasure .
055 4 This is a beautiful DVD . The quality is mind blowing . The animation will literally make you forget your watching an anime . The characters motions , reactions , voices , and motives are so life like it's incredible . The story is easy to follow , only when the writers aren't trying to blur the line between the two worlds . The main character is convincing , you grow to care about her as the movie goes on . You will feel this , when the moch rap scene occurs , it's so very emotional , it envokes anger . The ending is unexpected , and leaves nothing to be desired . This is way above the plain of traditional anime . Story telling at it's very finest , and the best part about it , it's a story that hasn't been told before . Don't get me wrong , I like swords and sorcery , mechs and techs , but sometimes you want a new spin on the genre . This offers that . Put aginst modern day thrillers this excels and matches the likes of Seven , Silence of the Lambs , and Six Sense , really . This is worth every penny and more , easily one of the best animes in recent history .
057 4 You expect alot when there is a huge commotion about particular films and this is one DVD I had bought without thinking twice without having seen the movie . I was terribly dissapointed in it though . I truly don't understand what is so great about it , but thats the way I feel about certain other over-glorified anime also . Perfect Blue's animation was well done though it wasn't an eye-feast ( not that it should have been ) . I didn't find the plot intriguing whatsoever , it was not ' deep ' and it didn't really hold my attention . I found it to be rather bland and generic . I had figured out who the ' bad guy ' was 20minutes into the movie ; this movie is rather formulaic in it's use of side-tracking the viewer into believing one thing then revealing the other , there is no real twist . I guess if I judged this movie on what it aimed to do rather then its reputation I would give it 3.5 if I could but as it is , it's not one that I would wish to see again . I returned it to the store shortly after purchasing it . I would recommend you see it first before adding it to your collection . I would also add that people who review anime should keep an open mind - judge the movie on it's merits , not by who wrote / produced / directed it .
070 4 I saw this movie at the UC theater on Univercity Ave . here in Berkeley . It was the first anime movie I saw all the way through . And it was worth it . In the review above it says they did a bad dub job on the Mimanaic But I think it proved he was a crazed fan and not a guy . Freaks like that should have hi-pitched voices and it came as a surprise to me and my friend . There are a few parts where the movie is corny , and there are a few nude parts . I think this was a good movie and its at another theator and i'm seeing it again . If you get the chance check it out !
083 4 This is an amazing animated feature about a pop star who wants to become an actress . On her road to becoming an actress she does some things that compromises her morals . Satoshi Kon is an amazing story teller that puts alot of effort into his work . He has a way of telling stories that will leave you guessing to the end . I bought this because of Paprika which came much later than this . Although it is much older than Paprika it is just as good and I really enjoyed it .
085 4 and I love it ! ! ! This movie is one of the weirdest , tripiest movies I have ever seen . If your into suspense , violence , drama and action , then get this movie .
094 4 This is a very well-done , well-plotted psychological thriller , and indeed it would be even if it didn't have the added bonus of being animated ( ! ! ) . For anybody willing to spend any amount of time thinking about the plot of a movie , I highly recommend Perfect Blue . It's VERY scary , and a thouroughly engrossing movie . True , there are some confusing scenes , and if you easily get lost on plotlines , this is not for you . It takes a lot of thought . In some scenes you aren't even sure what's happening in real life ( which I thought was kinda neat ! ) . If you prefer your anime with subtitles ( as I do ) , rest assured that the dub is all right ( as in , no glaringly bad voice-overs , etc . ) . In any case , give it a shot . It's well worth it !
125 4 Now I watced this expecting a regular run of the mill murder mystery where the ending is anything but shocking or surprising . Was I ever wrong . The story is about a pop singer who give up her career to become and actress . When she first gives up her pop idol life things start to get weird , things happen . First there is an accident , a few murders and a mysterious web page . This anime is not intended for children . There is a rape scene ( acted out for the televison show she works on ) and blood and multiple stabs to someones eye . One thing I love about this anime is the cheerful song which is sung in the beging . This song soon begins to haunt the star as she desperatly struggles to figure out what is going on . The ending is one that I never saw coming and that is what makes it so good . If you want a wierd anime that keeps you guessing and you have a stomach for it get this uncut and subtitled anime .
132 4 I haven't seen such a good anime for a very long time . This anime is definitely much better than any of the Disney's titles . Anyone who thinks this anime is bad is really a sad person . . . yes , I must warn you that this can be a very disturbing movie . So disturbing that it is worth the watching it again and again . Can't really explain it . . You just have to watch it yourself .
139 4 Perfect is the word for this Anime , if you enjoy a mind bending and a mind blowing story , then this will definatly be eye candy.If you are going to watch this movie for the first time the secret is to just watch it ( only because it is very fast paced ) and then try to put the story together after it has finished , then simply watch it again and again . a must have for all Anime and Thriller fans .
149 4 Ive seen the dubbed version only , so I cant say a thing about the subtitled , but the dubbing was great , clear and totally understandable.The animation is what you would expect for a film of its age.The story is the best part of this movie.Perfect Blue is the japanese equivalent , if not superior , to Phsyco.I can only tell you one thing other than what the intro has.If you have a short attention span , or cant take confusion , do not watch this movie.IT WILL MESS WITH YOUR HEAD.I doubt even horror / thriller enthusiasts could predict this outcome as her lives become entangled . this movie contains one of the single goriest scenes I have seen in a movie , and Ive seen alot.I just want to say one more thing , watch this movie late at night with all the lights off by yourself . . . . . its breathtakng as you try to figure out what the heck is going on . . . . . . beware the boombox in the elevator .
067 4 Meer words can not even being to describe the brilliance of this film . Mima is a pop star who has decided to quite her band to persue a career in acting . Yet some people don't want her to quite and will go to deadly ways to see that see understands this . The movie Mima is staring in is a psychological thriller where she plays a woman whom was raped and forms a split personality that is homicidal . Yet as production begins Mima learns of a web site that records her every thought and movement . As Mima changes her image more and more peole start to die in a violent manner . Soon Mima finds herself talking to imaginary version of herself that mocks her for having changed her career . As Mima begins questioning her own sanity the film enters the climatic final ten minutes . Granted this film is not for everyone , especially children under the age of 17 . For those of you whom are looking for a pyschological thriller in the footsteps of Silence of the Lambs or Fight Club this film will shock and dazzle you . I don't care who you are the last ten minutes of this film will scare you to death .
074 4 I LOVE it when Japanese anime turns to horror ! Really cool movie , I watch it every now and then when I'm in the mood for a Japanese horror film .
098 4 A great film with fluid animation and unique cuts . Me being mostly facinated with the music group ' cham ' I was happily surprised with the ' cham ' video in the menu . The English dub is horrible , don't even consider watching it unless you have nothing else to do . Great picture quality and dolby 5.1 ; )
075 4 Excellent anime . My only complaint is that , like most anime , any character that is not a senior citizen can be aged by their height . When two women stand together , the taller one is always the oldest . With such depth and character development , to rely on that seems strange , but yet again this film , like so many others , was unwilling to break that tradition . Were the intended audience adolescent , then it is an understandable visual affect .
099 4 Effectively mounted psycho-thriller stumbles at the end , but like most decent entries in the genre , it keeps you engrossed throughout . Its creepy and evocative mood will envelope you , and your sense of reality will be as blurred as Mima's ( evident in the brilliantly prolonged sequence where it seems that she keeps waking up from a dream ) . The animation is nothing spectacular , but with subject matter like this , who can complain .
134 4 Satoshi Kon did an amazing job on this one . Me , being a fan of Paranoia Agent , and Tokyo Godfathers - I appreciate almost all of his animated films . It wasn't as good as Tokyo Godfathers however this isn't a place for comparison . I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good old fashioned mind bending thriller . With a little bit of a psychotic identity crisis and an unforeseen twist of an ending .
096 4 A stylish , and sometimes fairly quirky movie , in which a pop idol turned actress loses herself as she takes on the role of the sister of a murdered model in a soap opera type story . That , basically , without going too deep into this animated movie , is the main theme of this story . The twists and turns the story takes from this basic plot makes for an engaging , thought provoking , and sometimes a scratch your head in thought movie .
Mima Kirigoe is the pop idol turned actress whose role as the models younger sister , turns her world upside down , as her original one line role turns into something far more , threatening her life in the process . After doing a rape scene in the tv series she's in , reality and fantasy begin interweaving themselves into her life until she can't tell the fantasy from the reality . Subsequent events , such as posing nude for a famous photographer plummets her deeper into this fantasy world .
As Mima slips more into the fantasy world , she begins to see herself as two people , the actress she is becoming , but also sees her former self , the pop idol , who taunts her , telling her she is the illusion . The brutal murder of the writer of the tv show she is on , and the photographer who took the nude photos of her overlaps her paranoid delusions , blending through so that neither she , nor us as the audience , is quite sure what is really happening , and what she is imagining .
To add to the confusion , a crazed fan who has hundreds of pictures of the pop idol Mima in his room , is constantly following her , and logging onto Mima's website , which is called Mima's room . On this website is a personal diary of Mima , detailing the things she is doing and thinking , but Mima isn't the one who is writing it . Confusing , isn't it ? Until nearly the end of the movie , it isn't any clearer to us , and the twists and turns are well executed , leaving you to believe one thing , and then showing you another .
I won't give away the surprises of the film , but will say that the ending makes sense once you finally get to it . I really only have one real complaint about the movie itself , and that's in it's psychology . We are shown the progression of Mima's paranoia as events unfold , to where she can't separate reality from fantasy herself , but then , at the end , after the mystery is resolved , bam , she is just fine now . I don't think that she would have really been able to recover so fast like that , not without some sort of psychiatric help . It is true that some of what was happening was being caused , but there were also things going on inside her own mind , which she was creating , like the alternate images she would see of herself in the mirror . These were a case of a real psychological delusion , not just a make believe reality . That aside , I enjoyed this psychological thriller , and I think you will too .
030 4 Friday , February 25 , 2005 / 4 of 5 / Compelling and interesting anime .
What an interesting surprise this anime was . As a member of a pop idol trio leaves and strives to become a serious actress , she slowly begins to lose touch with reality . Questions of identity abound as she imagines her old pop idol persona has peeled away from her and is acting independent of her . Murders begin to occur and the viewer is left to wonder who is committing them from her alter ego to debased fans and other unknown entities . The final twist was very well done and in hind sight makes a lot of sense , but you won't see it coming . Straddling the line between light hearted and heavy drama it's a strangely compelling anime story .
037 4 Mina is a pop idol who decides to become an actress . A stalker feels that this is a bad decision . If I said any more then the picture would be ruined .
One review states that if Hitchcock and Disney had teamed up they'd make a movie like this . 1 . Disney was not this talented and 2 . Hitchcock was not this inteligent .
The animation is by far some of the most realistic I have seen in animie ; from the movement of the characters to the detailed city scapes , everything is stunning .
The story itself will leave you dazed and confused for days . It twists and turns so much that it's almost coma inducing . No matter how many times you think you have figured it out you are always given something new to think about .
If you are a slasher-thriller fan then this will be a valued part of your collection .
045 4 While I wouldn't go as far as some , who have compared this to some of the greatest anime ( and some of the greatest films of any genre - - this is not Hitchcock by any stretch ) , I found it to be a strong and well-told thriller . Be warned that the animation is not up to contemporary anime standards ( in that sense this film has not aged as well as , say , Miyazaki's early work or even of films like Akira or Ghost in the Shell ) - - and that the initial impression of a teeny bopper type film is misleading - - and you'll be prepared for an enjoyable and mind-bending thriller of confused identity .
107 4 When Mima , a pop idol switches careers to become an actress her life is turned upside down by an eerie and unusual spate of incidents . Who could be the cause of these ' accidents ' and why do they seem to be centered around her ?
As the action heats up reality and fiction blend together to create this masterpiece which will leave your head spinning until the end . At first you'll pick the obvious suspect , but soon you'll drop it for another .
The plot twists never end and you'll be on the edge of your seat to work out just who is causing it or whether its all in Mima's own mind . Definetly not one for the kids , this film contains sexual scenes and vicious murders . Watch it late at night and you'll be thinking about it ' till morning . . .
114 4 Despite what some reviewers say , the storyline is pretty predictable . Even worse , the main character is never fleshed out enough to make her psycho-drama truly compelling .
On the plus side , the animation is interesting , offering some realistic scenes of Akihabara , Shinjuku , and other Tokyo neighborhoods .
But for those who put this film in the same league as ' Princess Mononoke ' , ' Lain ' , ' Ghost in the Shell ' , ' Akira ' , or even ' Jin Roh ' . . . . well , I'd have to strongly disagree .
Worth renting , but not buying .
130 4 This movie was a real treat that gives the viewer ( s ) a big of mystery and suspense . Mima , the main character , is a J-pop singer who leaves her trio to persue an acting career . However , one fan just won't let her go , and it becomes somewhat of a stalking movie at the beginning . Mysterious deaths occur around the city and some of the people impacting Mima's life the most end up dead ( her manager , the director of her new TV show , etc . ) . This classic is the Alfred Hitchcock of anime - it can't be beat and it leaves those who watch it at the end with a big question - was it all a dream in , or did it really happen ? This movie plays with twists and turns that put roller coaster rides to shame , and it does so in such an art form that makes it a big hit with any fan of anime murder thrillers ( a rare breed indeed ) .
137 4 First a big error correction , this anime came out in 1997 not 1999 , anyhow Satoshi Kon makes an indelible imprint here on
this anime . He in a way satirizes in dark fashion the pop star
phenomem in Japan and in the US when we such crap as American
Idol and thinking that these performers have talent when in reality the winner of these shows is also predertimed .
In a way Satoshi satirizes how many actors an actress who
are pop stars think they can make the jump to acting and
vice versa and be a success and not be a sellout .
Junko Iwao as the voice of Mima Kirigoe is great she plays
a retired singer who wants to be an actress . However , she stars
in a very dark movie where she is raped . She has a huge
stalker Uchida who watches her every move unbeknowst to her .
When Uchida sees her raped onscreen , he sees the image of this
very pop star go down the drain and it energizes his hate
for her as well as his obsession .
Ironically too Mima also regrets making her jump to being
an actress she even develops a split personality with herself
as an actress and a singer . Reminiscent of personal demons
many actresses have .
This is a great anime it has it all suspense , action and a great
twist check it out .
157 4 I'm a big fan of eerie , disturbing , surreal films which jar me into reevaluating what's important and what's truly real . Many animated films asipre to this , but instead turn out very twee . Not Perfect Blue . This one definitely took me on the ride I was looking for .
I won't go over the plot , because so many other reviewers already have . I'll just say that cinematically , this film is the equal of any work by Ridley Scott , David Cronenburg , or David Lynch . Based on his latest work , I think David Lynch could really take a lesson from this film on how to portray surreal discontinuities in the concept of self without completely doing away with plot .
The idea of the cruel power-politics and general evil that lurk just beneath the pretty surface of a modern society is an idea that has been explored by my favorite American filmmakers . As a student of Asian cultures , I'm happy to see this same premise applied to Japanese society , because no matter what culture or social class we come from , there's something universally disturbing about how close to the surface our destructive primal urges are .
By the way , I'm excited to see that someone else caught the blatant reference to Silence of the Lambs , another one of my all time favorites . For those who didn't notice , in one of the rehearsal scenes , the lines Mima and her fellow actors speak are almost verbatim from S . of the L . I'm sure there are numerous other references to other movies as well , which I may not have caught . If this is any indication of Satoshi Kon's future films , I'd have to say it looks like smooth sailing for him .
102 4 Having recently watched Perfect blue I have found that the critics were partly right in saying that if Hitchcock made a film with Disney it would turn out like this.The film centres on a former pop idol turned actress who begins to think that she is losing her mind . The plot is very diverse in that it tries to show how stardom can deeply affect the mental state of the person in the spotlight . It entertains well with a strange mix of brutal violence and quiet reflection . It's downfall comes from the fact that it's plot does have some holes that are noticible when you finish watching the film . It is still a recommended purchase as it is different to most of the manga releases that are high on violence but low on plot .
017 4 an admirable attempt but hardly Hitchcockian . i don't know if it's because something was lost in the translation from japanese to english or that the director tried so hard not to be outguessed by the audience that logical progression did not , well , progress . the story just didn't flow . instead of the aha ! no wonder . . . amazing ! what i got was what the . . . ! that's it ! although i'm disappointed i still would recommend that you see this film . maybe you could tell me about the things that i missed .
072 4 This was purchased as a gift for someone . It came on time and was said to be in good condition .
120 4 This was my introduction to anime . And what a great start . Animation wasn't hard on the eyes like some and the dubbing was good . at first , it could be just some movie about a pop idol . When she decides to become an actress and lands her first roll in a Law Order : Special Victims Unit-style drama , she is thrown into a world of madness . A fan , angered by her choice to become an actress , begins stalking her and her mental state slowly deteriorates until at the end of the movie , she can't tell what's real or not . It's very well done . When she loses her mind , it's hard for the viewer to tell what's real or not along with her . It even has a awesome chase scene , and the plot twist at the end came out of nowhere - it will surprise anyone . I recommend you stop reading this review and go out right now to buy it . Definately one you'll watch more than once .
126 4 This video is a very good . It shows just how good animation can been when the time is taken to create charaters thatare believeable and put them in realastic surroundings . It is in the true tradition of a Hitchcock film which keeps you guessing till the very end of the movie . But beware this is not a video for kids
106 4 I've seen quite a few anime films and most of them are the same so i have to say that this movie was a breath of fresh air . I went to see it in limited release and after seeing it i thought Whoa ! . The plot concerns a young pop star named Mima who is leaving her singing trio named Cham to pursue acting . When she is given a role in a soap opera she is given a scene to do in it where she has to be violently raped ( think Jodie Foster's rape in THE ACCUSED ) and soon after she is being menaced by an obsessed fan who is infuriated by the way she is trashing her wholesome image . Soon after she starts to descend into a psychological state where she can't tell what is real or unreal and many of the people around her are violently murdered . Typically in an anime film the dubbing is poor but the dubbing here is great . The direction is very stylish and you really have to pay attention because the director really puts you into Mima's mind so that soon after you can't tell what is real or not . The animation is top notch and the suspense in this movie is constant and it keeps you on edge . This movie is not like an anime movie at all , you could easily mistake for a live action movie . This is one of the few movies where when it declares that it is a psychological thriller it turns out to be that . The violence is very startling , even if it is animated . I recommend this to anyone who loves a good psychological mystery . I look forward to more anime movies of this kind .
006 4 Perfect Blue is one of the most intelligent , creepy , funny , and disturbing films I have seen in a long while . I actually have the subtitled NR version , but I've seen both versions and there's only a few differences . The animation is fantastic , and the voice acting is well done . In the NR version , the length of the rape scene annoyed me ( too drawn out for my tastes ) but it's made up for by Mima's mental deterioation afterwards ( rather , it shows the cause and effect ) . The film is fantastic and what makes it so striking is that it is a somewhat nonconforming anime in the fact that it could easily pass as a live action movie . The storyline is deleciously creepy and the observations made on Japanese pop culture are interesting , to say the least . The only bad thing about this film is the last fourth of the movie , when Mima actually begins to lose it . The manifestation of her old self is muddled and the blurring of days and reality becomes somewhat annoying . It can become tiresome to think that Mima is committing a murder but then suddenly awakens in her bed . But other than its one flaw , this is an sublimely entertaining movie that should be seen by everyone .
050 4 I've seen a handful of Japanese anime and this is the first one I've seen that is a suspense thriller . It's not like anything I've seen before , and it's good in it's own right . The animation is not the best I've seen , but the story is interesting . It's based on a pop star turned actress named Mima . She was a singer in a group called Cham that had fans , but was weak in their popularity according to the music charts . When she decided to be an actress , this was established early in the movie , she begins seeing images of herself as a pop star which in turn taunts her and in a way tries to force her back into her singing career with Cham . She wasn't put in roles that makes her more established as being a serious actress , so she decides , out of desperation , to be noticed , to have nude pictures taken of her published in a porn magazine and before that , she agrees to do a scene with her being raped in a strip club . She is also stalked by a die hard fanatic of her pop idol image who follows her around and writes about her in his web site . She gets paranoid and scared when she discovers his web site and finally starts to notice him in the crowd . I won't reveal the conclusion in case you , the reader , wants to check this movie out , but it has a pretty surprising ending of who the real threat to Mima really is . I do want to warn that this film is sexually and violently graphic , so children should not be watching this .
062 4 This is an amazing story . Although it is not your typical anime , it is by far quite interesting . The story follows Mima , a pop star , who wants to make the transition to an actress . The only problem is that she has a part in a violent television series . A lot of fans are not too pleased however , considering that this may ruin her good girl pop image . This movie takes a lot of twists and turns . . . . . Mima is moving between different worlds . . . . dreams are blending into reality . . . . . she doesn't know which is end is up . You won't either . This is the beauty of the film . It will keep you guessing until the end . Once you've watched this movie , you'll definitely want to watch again from a different perspective . At least I know I did . This is an excellent addition to my growing collection of anime .
155 4 I can't help but say that this is the best anime film in a long time . Probubly of all time . I sincerely doubt that they can make another film to top this . With exceptionaly good animation and a story line that is just packed with twists and turns this is definatly an anime to see . I only wish the novel it was based off of was available . Oh , and don't worry if you don't get it the first time through . Your not supposed to . It had me in a stuper for a while . Here's a little tip , EVERYTHING in the story is link to the main idea and plot . The only scene I still have trouble with is the begining . Well , you'll see . In short , good animation , and outstanding story .
110 4 I was blown away by this movie and being the first anime film that i have bought i had high expectations after reading the various reviews . I've got to say though the animation itself is nothing to write home about but just hang in there and after the first scene you will be drawn into this mind bending thriller that makes you think WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON ! ! ! The characters themselves are fantastic and you really feel for the main character Mima as the movie makes you think what if this happens to me ? If what i have said hasnt convinced you to get this movie i dont know what will because its a must have for any collection !
115 4 Well , where should i start . If you like your animes to challenge you to actually pay attention , buy this one . I couldnt follow what i was watching the first time i watched this movie . However , everything fell into place when i saw it a second time the night after my first viewing . The second time made everything i missed or not understood fall into the spots that they needed to be . To confusing ? ? ? ? If you watch this movie without paying attention , you may find yourself in a confused state of mind afterward . I walked away from my viewing dazed and confused . I give it 3 stars for huge suspense , and unpredictability i have not seen till this movie . . . . . . i also give it three stars for poor if average animation , and one confusing story plot .
100 4 I was really impressed by Perfect Blue . The symbolisn and artistry was at a peak ; and the story was very horrorshow . Although my favorite is still Akira . . . Perfect Blue has managed to raise an eyebrow . It's not for eveyone though , a lot of nudity . . .
124 4 This was probabably one of the best animes I have ever seen ! It had a great plot with many twists and turns along with some great dubbing ! The actual movie is highly thought provoking and should not be seen by those who want pountless action . But , for those who love intellectual puzzles , this anime will amaze and astound you .
136 4 The interweaving of the story is phenominal in this movie . The story twist in many directions , while still giving you a feeling for what is going on , I dont mean you know what is going to happen , just that your feeling of lost is in sync with the story as it should be . Well developed storyline and all around good animation . I didnt expect to like this movie , but as stated it is a phycological masterpiece .
117 4 This by far is a good way to make you chuck your Britney Spears or Christina Aguleria CD's out the house , because this movie almost ( I say ALMOST here ) mirrors today society .
The fact that a well known J-Pop Idol getting Illusions of Grandieur and begins to distort reality with imagination , coupled with the deranged fan , and her change of venue could mirror to several artists of today ( Jennifer Lopez ring a bell ? )
Truely one to scare the bejesus outta you . Watch the rated version if your squeamish , but the Uncut version is better .
123 4 The first time I saw this movie and heard those five little words , I got an eerie chill down my spine . Having bought this movie only Sunday , June 18th , I was hooked from the first scene to the very end . The cliff-hanging suspense , snappy dialouge , and beutiful art kept me glued to the screen without moving once through the entire movie . I don't recomend this movie for anyone younger than me , 15 , because of the nude scenes , very detailed nude scenes . If you're over 15 then you should really try this movie !
048 4 If you're in the mood for an anime with nail-biting suspense and a touch or horror , then Perfect Blue is definitely for you . The story plays out well , the setting fits , and the characters all act like real people . And it is certainly creepy ! I saw it late at night with my best friend , and it succeeded in making me lie awake far into the night . I'd reccommend this to anyone who loves a good thriller .
064 4 If you're into psycho-thriller animes , I'd suggest Kite more than this . But it's your money . .
086 4 If you like Alfred Hitchcok , and / or Brian De Palma style Psycological thrillers your going to love this .
092 4 For numerous reasons I really enjoyed this movie . The plot drags you in and hooks you . A psychological thriller a la Hitchcock . If you want a movie that makes you think , consider buying this one !
151 4 AMAZING is the best way to rate this movie . If you like animes that grab you from the start and don't let go , this is one to pick up . Hitchcock himself would be impressed . The story line has no weaknesses and the animation . . . . what can I say ? Incredible . Well worth the price .
131 4 When I first looked at the box for this movie about a month ago , I knew I just HAD to see it . So , a week ago , I rented it , watched it , and couldn't sleep that night . It's one of the most whacked-out psychological thrillers I have ever seen . It's , basically , 45% Psycho , 25% Silence of the Lambs , 15% Scream , and 15% No Exit . I don't recommend anyone under 15 seeing it , because there's grisly murders , a rape scene , and a , er , ' ridiculous photo shoot ' . There's a HUGE reality / dream sequence where Mima Kiragoe , the delusional , paranoid protagonist , gets run over by a truck , then wakes up in her bed , breaks a teacup with her own shaking hands , then wakes up in her bed , then works on her movie Double Bind , then wakes up in her bed , and so on and so forth . Then there's the sequence in the TV station where she and the mysterious stalker get into , as my grandfather would say , a rip-snortin ' fight . And the last ten minutes of the movie will keep you so on the edge of your seat that rigor mortis will set in your clenched , shaky hands . All in all , a great , disturbing movie Hitchcock would have been envious of .
145 4 This is the best psychological / thriller that I have ever seen in my life ! I don't just mean anime , I mean all movies . This film really messes with your head , sometimes you think the VCR is messed up , or the DVD is skipping , but it's just messing with your head . I don't want to give anything away , but if you like American Psycho , don't rent , but buy this film . You will not be disappointed .
135 4 In a nutshell , this is a very interesting and well drawn Anime entry . The story line is one that makes the viewer wonder the real reality of the main character's situation . There is some gore ( but not enough for Gore Hounds ) , and suspense , but the ending is rather weak and abrupt . This leaves the viewer with the feeling that the writer did not quite know how to end this story . Still , it is an interesting popcorn piece . Get the popcorn , sit down , shut up , and watch the hopping teen idol .
089 4 A surprisingly good story - - and I'm not a manga fan ( although I'd like to be one ) . It's not a classic like Castle of Cagliostro - - now there's a movie ! And it's certainly more hard edged . But , it works , even if the narrative device that is used gets perhaps a little overused , and is one of the few compelling dramas in manga I've found . Good stuff .
