roko-7

Now if you are an anime fan then this review is preaching to the converted.Satoshi Kon has gone way out with his hallucinatory stance. The images throughout this movie are reminiscent of bigtime madhatter-teaparty type LSD trip visuals. The storyline is akin to a Philip K. Dick story with the main character,Paprika,moving through dreamscapes that are lush,weird nd sometimes disturbing. PAPRIKA is the movie that pulls the rug from beneath the viewer,leaving you wanting to replay it straight away.

As always there is the referential stuff going on,comic styles make themselves apparent to the initiated. Definitely some Wally Wood influence,5o's children's book illustration,Belgian comics et al. If you want to introduce someone to the magic of anime then this is an ideal place to start.

A movie dealing with outsiders stuck out in an inhospitable bucolic nightmare. Definitely a paced and concentrated mix of tension and violence.Hostility sticks out all over this film and the performances are superb. This is a well worked trope but it doesn't matter. Highly recommended if you are keen on things like HAUTE TENSION, WOLF CREEK , SHY PEOPLE or DELIVERANCE. Gary Oldman,who has a great track record and versatility not matched does a grand job here.Probably one of his best roles to date. The villains are a sinister bunch of hill-folk,hints are made in reference to inbreeding and unspeakable acts but all is understated.A climate of violence prevails but does not descend into cartoon-like nonsense ala Tarantino(not knocking Mr T.). Rural Spanish Gothic.

Jodorowsky is the top alchemist and brujo extraordinaire.This is an event of non-linear proportions. Visually traumatic and disturbing THE HOLY MOUNTAIN works its magic on the viewer like a good dose of magic mushrooms or acid ! Shamanistic symbolism abounds,reference to the esoteric enneagram system is made.An ancient occult system used by the Sufis. Alchemical process is one of the major themes in all Jodorowsky's movies,never so much as in THE HOLY MOUNTAIN. The cast of extras are always interesting in Jodorowsky's films,he out-fellinis Fellini.Casting cripples,amputees and weird fringe characters from the locales of Mexico. So many references to psychotropic compounds throughout this magik flick. Whatever technique Alexandro Jodorowsky uses to mesmerize and deeply affect his audience it is certainly effective. Beautiful and violent brimming with profundity.

Funky Nipponese martial arts period piece.Chiba stamps his trademark well & truly.Things progress along nicely with a standard plot line.Camera-work is a bit dodgy but who cares.The fight sequences are masterfully turned out.Definitely worth a look if you like this genre. This movie has enough blood and action to maintain the viewer's interest though because of its technical shortcomings can be hard to follow at times visually. Lots of dark sequences contributing to the general mayhem with a hokey soundtrack. The dubbed dialog is somewhat stilted,but who cares,this is ultimate fun to watch. Chiba has a long track record for making wickedly masterful fight films,one can only equate the fight sequences with high ballet. This is early fare but still serves up the usual dollop of action.