Review of Paprika

Prior to anything, let's just take a moment to appraise the unmatched ability of Kon to play with one’s mind tactfully, uninhibitedly, preposterously. You’ve got to admit how Satoshi loves to play riddles and run through mazes unbridled. And it begins just as the opening sequence commences, taking us through years via a short leap off a rollercoaster. However the ride wasn’t as enthralling as I hoped it could be, but I’ll put down something sort of a review to appreciate how Kon admixes reality with illusion to create a surreal world. Paprika. Dreamcatcher, dream reader, dream narrator. The concept of dreaming and dreamingas a concept has always fascinated me beyond bounds. I’ve always wondered if I could live the dream, yes, lucid dreaming is closest to that. Then appears DC Mini, which liquidates the confinement where dreams are restricted from reality, and offers wild navigation and activity. Offering this implausible invention to aid in psychiatry, Dr Atsuki along with others connect several minds to the device. Just like the invalidity of light without dark, there’s no thrill if one doesn’t breach the sanctum of rules. And henceforth, the story unfolds in its realm proper when you flinch in apprehension as the Chief actualizes the brainstorm journey into the world of ballyhoo and caprice, throwing himself out of the window.

The story line seems a bit chaotic at times, Reality warps into dreams and dreams get engorged by cacophony, merging and personality swaps, steering from one scene to another. The fact that the device can distort a dreamer’s personality sets ablaze one’s repressed desires.
“The conceit of the daydreams residents is what the nightdreams resident want.”
The device engulfs the city at the end collective everyone’s dreams which coalesced into a huge delusion. Pinched and provoked.
The plot isn’t appealing enough to substantiate gravity and is entirely dependent on its stellar imagery. All brownie points are earned by brilliant execution of the setting.
Characters are objectively bland and lacklustre. The only one who can tickle your fancy slightly is Dr Tokita, the fat-arse genius with the child of a mind, creator of DC-Mini. The villain doesn’t let anything to forebode. Even the two-into-one entity couldn’t upgrade him from one dimension. Ended up being an old school monster of any random shounen lacking depth and maturity. The forced feel-good romance was as meh as it could be.
Music isn’t remarkable. Inputs some peppy jams. However pretty much liked the opening sequence.
Art and character designs on the flip side are fresh and crisp, with pliable and fluid animation making it the other strongest suit of the movie. The use of colours are well justified. Daydreams being vibrant, while nightmares are depicted with shades of grey.

Withal, the movie holds a message, though vague but interpretative.
Dreams are sacred and to intrude upon them in any form is committing a sacrilege.
“The dreams are horrified that their safe refuge is destroyed by technology. In a world of inhumane reality, it is the only human sanctuary left.”
Dreams are to be left untouched, unsullied and pristine. It is a temple for our vulnerable minds.
For at the end of the day, “Science is nothing but a piece of trash before a profound dream.”