When I first saw it, it kinda reminded me of Amelie (Not to the point where I thought it copied it completely. There was just moments that seemed similar, or had the same kind of look and feel.)
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doki-doki is definately REMINISCENT of amelie, but very different too. it's a tasty treat. i caught it on PBS, and was amused by it's initial low key "japanese slice of life" style, but the ending blew me away once i realized where it was going. i literally was talking to my TV, i got so worked up. then *BAM!* eska knocks it out of the park with THE BEST ENDING EVER! long after it was over, just thinking about it gave me goosebumps.
the ending EASILY competes with the likes of one flew over the cuckoo's nest, american beauty, harold and maude, & the world according to garp etc. and truly surpasses them the way it creeps up on you unaware. i'd hate to say anything more and spoil it for you.
make sure if you buy it you get the PBS edition. the "bittersweet" one cuts a few critical seconds off the end that give it a vague interpretation that could be OPPOSITE of what happens next.
both versions include a longer cut that adds 30 minutes more to the story. it's not a bad continuation, but it's a bit cliched where the PBS version ends at EXACTLY the right moment.
i wated a couple years for it to come out on DVD, and am happy with my $10 (shipping included) purchase. i've recommended it to two libraries and it's never on the shelf.
the film also features a terrific soundtrack that mirrors the action and tone of each sequence perfectly.
it's a rare movie and is in my top 20. were it not for amelie & kamikaze girls, it would easily fill that void and make top 10. last time i checked, it was rated 8.8 here which would have made it a TOP 10 FILM over EVERYTHING else in the entire world!
i LOVE my personal copy and wouldn't have hesitated to pay twice the price andi RARELY pay more than $15 for a disc! i still haven't replaced my old copy of one flew over the cuckoo's nest with the $20 remaster yet.
enough said.
"You'll have to take my word for it. We can't afford to show it."