Recently seen movies #60

Perfect Blue (Japan, 1998 ) – 4/5

Like most Satoshi Kon films, Perfect Blue mixes dreams, fantasy and reality. But the approach differs greatly from his later works. The story is about a pop star turned actress who stars losing her sense of reality when she leaves the bright and happy pop idol image behind and takes increasingly dark and exploitative roles in the movie industy. The film begins as a thriller but later turns into a brutal nightmare. Perfect Blue would be best described as crossover between Argento, Lynch and De Palma. The only notable weakness is that near the end there’s there’s maybe one or two U-turns too many. Not for those looking for bubblegum entertainment; this one will not only churn your stomach, but also require heavy brainwork during and after the film.

Recently seen movies #53

Blood – The Last Vampire (Japan, 2000) – 4/5

James Cameron quote in the cover is hardly a good start but this 48 min vampire anime is quite breathtaking (and I don’t even like vampires). The visual look is gorgeous, but it’s the amazing audio that makes this a truly impressive and moody experience. The (Vietnam) war time setting and the presence of US military forces in Japan also play an important part in the story and give the film extra depth and detail. Additional plus from from having Youki Kudoh voice the main character.