MovieChat Forums > Paprika (2007) Discussion > I really have to say I hated this film

I really have to say I hated this film

posted 16 years ago by ultimatemst3kfan
26 replies | jump to latest

Alright, SOP here, I really do watch a lot of anime, it's not like I said, hey, I'm gonna go randomly watch Paprika. I saw this in theaters, drove about an hour and a half to see it, and what a let down. I enjoyed Perfect Blue a lot, Millenium Actress a lot too. Paranoia Agent was really awesome, I didn't like Tokyo Godfathers too much, but it was okay. This film, no. This was just WTF. I felt that there was really nothing that...happened. At all. Usual imagery same characters, unnecessary nudity, usual trademarks, and just nothing to speak of and nothing I liked. I don't know it just didn't work.

I am the master...and the commander!

[–] green_is_the_new_green 16 years ago

give it another shot. i've seen it 3 times and each time i get more from it.

anne-marie, do the interns get glocks?

[–] pyrobison2002 16 years ago

Yeah OP i know exactly how you feel. I watch a good amount of anime in addition to the plethora of other movies that I watch, and I gotta say that I hated this movie. Let me stress that I'm not just some 12 year old kid or somebody who got suckered into watching this film and wants to vent about it. A good chunk of my life involves films. I have been *wanting* to watch Paprika for a long time. I like Perfect Blue. I like Millenium Actress. I love all of the studio Ghibli films (except for that one about the moving tower). I checked out the DVD for Paprika, sat down to watch it, and was pretty syked. Then a whole lot of *beep* started to happen and I couldn't keep up. I watched this film from beginning to end *plus* the special features and I still have no *beep* clue as to what happened. I seriously don't think that there is a cohesive story to even understand. It's like a David Lynch film, except instead of Laura Dern or Naomi Watts I got really poorly dubbed and boring characters. The voice for the obese guy was just AWFUL, both the english dub and the japanese dub. He sounded ridiculous. I hated him. Paprika herself seemed pretty cool. It's just too bad that I HAD NO IDEA WHEN SHE WAS DREAMING, WHEN SHE WAS AWAKE, OR WHEN SHE WAS DREAMING THAT SHE WAS AWAKE BUT HAVING A DREAM THAT SHE WAS A MONKEY GOD! The imagery for the parade scene was pretty, as was the music that played over it. But overall, at least to me, I don't see any reason why I would ever watch this film again. I watched Ratatouille (sp?) last night for the first time and I absolutely loved it. It's not just that I could *beep* understand it (which doesn't hurt) but the characters were really funny, there were so many touching moments, and the pacing of the film (in addition to the music, voice acting, and animation) were just outstanding. Paprika is not Ratatouille on any level whatsoever. I understand that the styles of animation are completely different and Ratatouille was definitely aimed at a more mainstream audience but goddamn Paprika was just a nightmare (literally) to try and get into. Well, that's really all I have to say about that film. The OP said it pretty well when he said "this was just WTF." I have got say, I hope the film that the DVD advertised *beep* is going to be better when I pick it up from the library.

[–] coastercrazy92 16 years ago

You're comparing this to Ratatouille? Wtf? While they are both outstanding movies, they're on totally different playing fields. They're not even apples and oranges. They're like apples and streetcars.

As for your confusion, that was the point. Everyone should be confused by this movie the first time they see it.

[–] tallard 12 years ago

I watched it in Japanese with English subtitles. I never ever watch dubs, as usually with foreign films, I prefer to hear and appreciate the original intonations and personality of the actors. But in this the subtitles often made no sense grammatically or logically or in wording. I got the distinct impression that it was a very very poor translation job. I loved Spirited Away and Ratatouille, and hated this, because of the simpleton/nonsense story, the music, the lack of character development, and the crappy female lead. I'm a 45 year old female who has spent half the evenings of my life going to the movies to see a wide selection of international films. But this, nope, just too déjà-vu, cheesy and campy for me.

***So I've seen 4 movies/wk in theatre for a 1/4 century, call me crazy?**

[–] lowegoes 12 years ago

I hate to say it, but I kinda agree with the OP and others here. I wouldn't say I hated the film, but it seemed very hollow and artificial. There were some lovely visuals and some of the dream imagery was pretty striking. But the story had a lot of interesting potential that simply fizzled. It left zero impression on me. I loved Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress, but in some ways Paprika felt a lot more like a typical anime film, with some leaden dialogue and an under-developed story. It wasn't a total clunker but it wasn't great by any means.

[–] lubin-freddy 7 years ago

But in this the subtitles often made no sense grammatically or logically or in wording.

I'm wondering if that's a joke.

I assume that you're referring to the nonsense talk we hear when the people are sleep-dream-walking, which is the point.

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.

[–] wasspam 11 years ago

You write like a kid. Use paragraphs or I wont read your wall.

Do not question Uncle!

[–] Nokitron 10 years ago

He was supposed to portrayed a kid in order to be more sarcastic.

The spook never ends.

[–] Dancougar82 16 years ago

Its just like any movie. It's not for everyone's taste level. Paprika is and of itself not one of those movies that one can totally take in the first time one sees it. One must watch it at least twice, if not three times and try and take in those elements that one missed before. But of course, that is if one has the inclination to go to do so.
--Dancougar

[–] luckyfin 16 years ago

This film was *beep* Just *beep* Boring characters,terrible pacing,horrid voice acting and a plot that is harder to understand then quantam physics. It looked good,really good,but so does a delectable looking eclair made by a terrible chef,it looks yummy,but when you take that bite,your bound to spit it right back out. :)

[–] harryneopotter 16 years ago

ur taste is vry apparent by ur comparo of it vid ratatouille.....dat was just one of those *beep* stereotype hlywud anime vid their lame messages 'bout LOVE and all other usual truckload of gay messages......been there ..seen it...got bored of it....perspolis winning the oscar cud've made more sense...paprika was unique.....twisted but interesting nevertheless.....of course i did'nt get most of it at first go 'cos its interpretative.....dare not call it a stereotype jap anime flick 'cos it was'nt.

[–] tedne 16 years ago

I HAD NO IDEA WHEN SHE WAS DREAMING, WHEN SHE WAS AWAKE, OR WHEN SHE WAS DREAMING THAT SHE WAS AWAKE BUT HAVING A DREAM THAT SHE WAS A MONKEY GOD!

Uh, that really is kind of the whole point. There are far more ambiguities than the ones you mentioned and the distinction between dream and reality is NEVER clear in Paprika. Dreams and reality interact with each other constantly just like they do in the "real world." This is not some esoteric Eastern philosophy; the Brooklyn Bridge started as a dream in an engineer's mind.

[–] aisbelk 14 years ago

i am glad to read that there's some that really know WTF this movie is all about, and not *beep* comparing theme to ratatouille.

this movie is all about the thine line between dreams and reality and also this movie is like just unique in it's kind because it makes you say in the end WTF just happened, and it makes you watch it over and over and each time collect new details that you missed the first time and that fits all in the grand puzzle of the story and even the philosophy of it.

that's what makes it unique ITS ALL IN THE DETAILS!! and not like the *beep* rat that throws potatoes to make a mother *beep* ratatouille even thou i liked it .

[–] Piatt83 16 years ago

Its as ambiguous as the human mind. If your into really psychology and psychological phenomena or sci-fi then you'll enjoy this film. Also, IMO the themes in this film require an above average intelligence to interpret and enjoy. Not to say that anyone who didn't understand it is not intelligent, just that the themes are coming from an advanced psychological background of study. I read a lot of Jung and Freud and I found this movie to be exhilarating and original. It's definitely a movie to analyze, interpret, and enjoy for the value of insight.

[–] lucazd-1 16 years ago

Piatt, I don't know what do you mean by "advanced psychological background of study", but Freud and Jung are not part of today's psychology.
Therefore, having read a lot about them, doesn't make you a man with an "advanced psychological background of study" but a "psychoanalysis' reader".

[–] Piatt83 15 years ago

I knew I would sound arrogant, What I meant was that anyone who doesn't have some sort of familiarity with psychology would misinterpret much of this film and miss a lot. You are absolutely right though, "advanced" was quite an exaggeration. I also like how you are on these boards keeping people in check and out of the "BS" zone.

[–] Piatt83 15 years ago

I was mainly referring to the creators being advanced in their psychological studies, not my own. I was only referring to myself as having a loose grasp of the subject matter, but enough insight to understand the themes presented.

[–] maxpogues 14 years ago

Ako ne ide paprika, probaj krastavac.. ako ne ide ni to, a ti udri po turšiji.

[–] CharlieTheMan 12 years ago

The visuals were awesome. The parade scene was something out of this world.
Story was bit confusing though but good movie overall.

Ours is the Fury!

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] velvetcrowbar 11 years ago

I agree. It felt like something was missing, like the ending was rushed. I really don't understand why people seem to love it. Even the dream imagery wasn't quite what I expected (except towards the end when she's trying to get away from them).

[–] BwlBoy 11 years ago

I can't explain this film but then again can anyone explain dreams. I can understand why that could irritate or lead some people to hate the film but it pushes the boundaries of animation in terms of sheer imagination and creativity like no other I've seen and I've seen a lot of Studio Ghibli films. It's just nice to watch an animated film for adults. The visuals and score are quite outstanding. I only heard of the film via the Guardian newspaper website. I would regard it as one of the more underrated films of the last decade certainly in terms of the animation genre.