Perfect Blue - Standard Edition [Blu-ray]

Perfect Blue perfectly blends psychologically disturbed fantasy with grounded reality. Mima Kirigoe. A pop-idol. An actress. An X-rated model. Public image and its personifying echoes circulate around the world, adhering to the desires of endearing fans alike. But when their inspirational idol haphazardly shifts career, from pop sensation to dramatic actress, the psychosis of the modern consumer society ultimately changes with her. Saddened, angered and crazed. Mima’s abrupt persona altering career move may have developed maddened stalkers, including her fantastically imagined past self haunting the newly suppressed version.The late Satoshi Kon was known for seamlessly blending fantasy with reality. Depicting an opaque blurred line between delusions and actualities. None more so, than in his exaggerated psychologically disturbed work in Perfect Blue. For many the art form of Japanese animation, commonly titled as “anime”, is cited as “childish”. “Anime is for losers” tweeted kickboxer Andrew Tate. Well, if like Mr. Tate you believe anime to be childish, I implore you to watch Perfect Blue. Without illustrating the voyeuristic nature of Murai’s narrative, it is the most accessibly invigorating piece of psychological stimulation, that is strictly aimed towards adults, to ever be constructed from this art form.The complete metamorphosis of a character that questions her own perceived identity through inquisitional explicit acts of graphic nature. Exploring the psychosis of shared delusional disorder and the acute harassment of an obsessive stalker. Kon establishes a murder mystery whilst inciting the emasculation of a vulnerable female’s world. Male controllers, likened to manipulative deities of authoritative powers, are gradually weakened by a mysterious individual. Culminating into a twistingly fragmented climax that grants Mima the independence that she was repressed from.Kon’s intelligence in foreshadowing, the drama series ‘Double Bind’ essentially replicating Mima’s regressive state of mind, allows the audience to question several aspects. He smartly manages to maintain the central mystery without deterring from Mima’s mental instability. He doesn’t stop there though. Kon refuses to relinquish thematic presence in every frame. Exploring the fragility of a rape victim and the traumatisation of such an explicitly heightened ordeal. The dangers of online anonymity and the tarnishing of existing careers. Challenging the extremities of art in all its mediums. The realism of Perfect Blue is what forces its story to be so utterly terrifying. It’s not just a psychological thriller. It’s horror.Kon’s signature animation style is gloriously vibrant as always, with attentive detail towards realistic environments. The grotesque facial features of “Me-Mania”, only possible in this art form, heighten the natural malformed detest we have for him. Ikumi’s audacious score enables the heart to palpitate more frequently with its sharp tones and ethereal voices. And, as rare as this is, the English dub is surprisingly decent.The reality is that Perfect Blue transcends the medium that it is presented in. It stimulates through Kon’s trademark visceral style, allowing the dangers of early Internet culture to produce a thrilling psychologically adept feature that blurs fantasy with reality. I mean, for a film to make me stand up, clap my hands and utter the words “perfection”, it has to be something special right?. Well, Perfect Blue is special, because it is perfect. And yes, with that said it does indeed garner the perfect rating. Quite possibly the best anime feature to ever be released.

I don't have huge experience of Anime, but this film seems unusual compared to Studio Ghibli, for instance. It is basically a dark thriller, but it mixes up reality, dreams, psychotic illusion and a TV show.....and a lot of the time you're not exactly sure which one you're seeing. I got very confused about what was going on at times and there did appear to be some plot holes (but if you're dealing with dreams and illusions can you even have plot holes?) but the film was constantly great entertainment, and I would certainly watch it again. With this type of film (like Inception and Memento) the second viewing is often better than the first.

As a fan on the darker side of animie this is perfect. Thrilling, surreal, can be a little confusing but it's never dull. Visually stunning with a satisfying ending

Perfect Blue is very different to the majority of anime that I have watched, and even though it was hard to watch in certain scenes, it kept my attention throughout the whole 81 minute runtime, and that is often hard to do.It is not a movie I would recommend to those who dislike heavy themes or being made to feel uneasy, but for those that do, this movie is very well-executed, and will almost certainly capture and hold your attention.

Breathtaking film. An absolutely tremendous showing of our modern era and the ever defining reality of show-business and being in the public eye that still plays to the modern world. It is one of the greatest animated Japanese films I have watched and would wholeheartedly recommend it for its suspense and soul to anyone . Truly a masterpiece.

So, Perfect Blue is basically like David Lynch directing an Anime.There's a LOAD of stupid reviews about stuff being damaged - mine is pristine, so I feel people just got maybe bad delivery drivers?In terms of the film - it's sublime. Don't even wanna spoil it.

Film: 8.5/10Blu-ray Picture Quality: 4/10 -This needs another re-scan and remastering, there is much room for improvement.Audio Quality: 10/10 -The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is simply outstanding! Energetic during those pop music scenes, surround activity is alive and immersive and the low frequency bass is deep and unnerving when used. Perfect.

It's Perfect Blue - what else can I say?Thriller, painful to watch from time to time, exceptional voice acting (Japanese, I don't know about others), very nice subtitles (well done to the team). The new HQ video is also something I have been waiting for. Now I can watch it on a larger display without a problem... And yes, the case and disk were in perfect condition.Just so you know ;)