A friend of mine told me to check this film out. I was reluctant at first, since I find most thrillers to follow along the same lines, but my friend told me that this film was really different.
My friend was wrong. This film isn't different at all. This is basically your standard Ashley Judd thriller, except that it's anime. If you're familiar with anime, this film won't even make you budge. There's a scene where there's a dead body in an elevator. They way it was shown wasn't really shocking at all, even though that was obviously it's intent. Had it been filmed in live action, however, it would have made a very nice shot, which would probably have lingered with you for a long time afterwards. But in other scenes, the director goes all out anime and just lets there be blood spurting in every director. No matter what, it's not original, and we're all yawning twenty minutes into the film.
The plot follows Mima, a singer in a pop band called CHAM!. In the beginning of the film, Mima announces that she is going to retire from the pop scene and try to strike out as an actor instead. So she enters a TV-series called Double Bind, which is basically a thriller series. But not all of Mimas fans are happy with her decision to become an actress, and some feel that she is a traitor for giving up on the band. One fan takes the step to far as he begins to send her threats, and even harms some people around Mima. It is all to much for Mima, who eventually starts seeing illusions of herself, prancing around in her old CHAM!-dress. What follows is a series of events where we aren't sure what's real, who's killing who and why this is happening. In the end, only one thing is explained for sure, whereas all the rest is left open for interpretation.
But, by the end, you won't care anymore. You'll be snoring already. In fact, the second the end credits rolled, I hit the stop button, obviously disappointed and went to tell the world what a dull movie this is. Sure, the plot may not be exactly that of other thrillers, but it's close enough. Add to that, it brings absolutely nothing new with it. It's just an ordinary thriller, except for the fact that it's animated! Dull! And you don't really care for any of the characters either, because there's no background, or character even, given to any of the people in this film.
If you would compare this film to, say, Silence of the Lambs, this film pales in comparison. That film has you on the edge of your seats, and there's many chilling scenes. There's also the awesome performance of Anthony Hopkins, and a good story. This film has no good performances, since it's an animated film, it doesn't have a very good plot, and it's not chilling or atmospheric.
So what does this film really have going for it? I can't actually think of anything. It's just dull.
My friend was wrong. This film isn't different at all. This is basically your standard Ashley Judd thriller, except that it's anime. If you're familiar with anime, this film won't even make you budge. There's a scene where there's a dead body in an elevator. They way it was shown wasn't really shocking at all, even though that was obviously it's intent. Had it been filmed in live action, however, it would have made a very nice shot, which would probably have lingered with you for a long time afterwards. But in other scenes, the director goes all out anime and just lets there be blood spurting in every director. No matter what, it's not original, and we're all yawning twenty minutes into the film.
The plot follows Mima, a singer in a pop band called CHAM!. In the beginning of the film, Mima announces that she is going to retire from the pop scene and try to strike out as an actor instead. So she enters a TV-series called Double Bind, which is basically a thriller series. But not all of Mimas fans are happy with her decision to become an actress, and some feel that she is a traitor for giving up on the band. One fan takes the step to far as he begins to send her threats, and even harms some people around Mima. It is all to much for Mima, who eventually starts seeing illusions of herself, prancing around in her old CHAM!-dress. What follows is a series of events where we aren't sure what's real, who's killing who and why this is happening. In the end, only one thing is explained for sure, whereas all the rest is left open for interpretation.
But, by the end, you won't care anymore. You'll be snoring already. In fact, the second the end credits rolled, I hit the stop button, obviously disappointed and went to tell the world what a dull movie this is. Sure, the plot may not be exactly that of other thrillers, but it's close enough. Add to that, it brings absolutely nothing new with it. It's just an ordinary thriller, except for the fact that it's animated! Dull! And you don't really care for any of the characters either, because there's no background, or character even, given to any of the people in this film.
If you would compare this film to, say, Silence of the Lambs, this film pales in comparison. That film has you on the edge of your seats, and there's many chilling scenes. There's also the awesome performance of Anthony Hopkins, and a good story. This film has no good performances, since it's an animated film, it doesn't have a very good plot, and it's not chilling or atmospheric.
So what does this film really have going for it? I can't actually think of anything. It's just dull.