Review of Paprika (2006) by Luis V — 24 Jul 2011

A beautiful film about dream and the importance of why we should follow them. The film is a Japanese animated science-fiction film with a little dose of psychotherapy. The plot revolves around Dr. Atsuko Chiba whom uses a new device that lets her enter into people's dream as a way to solve their problems as the titular character Paprika. The film has two plots: The doctor is trying to solve the problems of a police man and the other one is that the devices where mysteriously stolen and now being used on innocent people. As the film progresses we see the characters change and ask of their purpose in their jobs.

Now by reading this you are thinking this is an Inception rip-off but this film actually served as an inspiration to the film Inception. Now which one is better? I think both are good as they are. Paprika is a good anime film because it has characters that we can connect, it has interesting premises and is good on character development. I think this film serves good as a psychological thriller because it constantly plays with your head, is one of those movies that serves as a puzzle and you are playing this mind game that at end you ask what happened.

Now this film had some things that I didn't like. For example right when we get to that third act on the film, when reality and dreams connects it really destroyed the film to me because it completely did not make any sense at all. This happens with most anime films that end in really ambiguous matter, if you thought that Inception was confusing then you are totally going to get confused in this movie. The plots where really confusing but it did had a message in this movie with the cop. The cop basically didn't wanted to enter film business because he thought wasn't going to be successful, his best friend dies, and he comes to hate movies but at the end he starts to accept who he is and starts to enjoy what he wanted to do with his life in the first place. Most of us we wanted to do something but we thought we never are going to get there. But if you believe in yourself and start fighting for what you want, then you are going to get if you face the obstacles in your life.

The film also has an important message in psychotherapy that might be realistic in the future. Doesn't become intrusive for the psychologist to enter the patient's mind? Shouldn't there be privacy between the patient and the psychologist? I mean when you enter another person's dreams you have complete control over that person and might bring fatal consequences to that person. It is basically telling us that we should not enter into people's minds because it might destroy the person completely. Some characters in this movie are complete child-like that have seriously no problem with entering another person's mind that shows you how irresponsible are we to handle things that should be handled carefully.

Is well-made action adventure with lovable characters that leave you with a smile at the end of the movie. Is riveting, smart and cool to watch. If you like these types of movie I know that you will have fun watching this movie. If you liked Inception, then you are going to like this movie because is cool, dramatic, and has a lot of hype this movie. As for the animation, it is beautiful, and I think it is worth seeing.

I recommend this movie to people that love anime films. It is not a perfect anime film but still is entertaining. As for people that like a combination of action and a confusing plot then you are going to love this movie. I wouldn't recommend this film to kids due its obscenity.