Rating: 
Summary: Reality and fantasy become blurred for former pop idol Mima
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: This is definitely as advertised
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Blue movies...
Review: This is one of my favorite, if not my favorite anime movie of all time. It is a well-done and well-thought-out movie and done exquisitely. The closest thing I can compare it to in American cinema is Blue Velvet. The whole movie has a very David Lynch-esque feel to it, and that just adds to the movie. If you like thinking movies, like anime, or like David Lynch, this is well worth the purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Will the real Mima Kirigoe please stand up?
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect Thriller
Review: This is definitly the best anime story Ive ever seen, the story keeps you mindboggled right until the end with exceptional plot twists and additional candies to pull the story to the next level of horror and confusion, and then, in a bright flash it suddenly reveales all answers in a single scene. The story revolves around a very confused girl, and the movie draws you into it by confusing the viewer. This is seldom a successfull approach, but both stunning and emotionally engaging when it works, and this one will stay in your mind until they put you into your wooden box at the end of the journey. From a technological viewpoint, the disc did nothing to me though, the extras are few and uninteresting, the english dub is okay, but it is often difficult to hear what they say, so I had to turn on the subtitles in addition, and was mildly annoyed by the text differing from the spoken language. The imagequality and animations are also okay, but no more. I dont think there is much to gain by buying the DVD prior to the VHS version if you already own that (Altough it may very well be a tape that gets worn out as you problably want to see it over and over!) But I still have to conclude with 5 stars, Im reviwing the movie here, and the movie is worth more than five stars anyway, if this was a hollywood product it would be a hit, its unfortunate that the western world is so narrow minded that pieces like this are left as a curiosity because very few movies, anime or conventional, succeeds so well in being a *thriller*, but it certainly is beatiful when it works. Do yourself a favour - Enjoy this movie!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic thriller, a must have for anime fansI
Review: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: Get a story that gives a meaning
Review: This was one of the first manga/anime movies I ever saw and was dissapointed. So if you never have seen a manga/anime movie don't start with this one.
Rating:
Summary: "Perfect" indeed.
Review: Being a psychological film enthusiast, and an Anime fan, I would have to say this is a complete package. The first time I saw this it really did a number on my brain. Many people whom I've discussed this film with say that the twists become redundant, and I can see where they're coming from. As for me I happen to like those sorts of mindbending twists, and I could pick up on them in this film. I have seen these type of scenarios play out before, like Jacob's Ladder, Brain Dead (Adam Simon), and Open Your Eyes (Vanilla Sky was the US remake). All films which I consider classics, and Perfect Blue stands along side them. It gets really whacked out when Mima's image of her former bubblegum pop self starts floating around like a ghost taunting, and terrorizing her. If you're into ultra psychological, and surreal movies, you'll definitely be doing yourself a favor by seeing this. A unique viewing experience.
Rating:
Summary: One of the top ten Psycho Thrillers of all time
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: perfect blue
Review: This movie was okay, but I wouldn't recommend it to any one under 18! this movie was pretty awesome but the sex scenes ruined it a little.
| 
