Perfect Blue

The good: full on intrigue
The bad: more questions than answers
Mima is one-third of a semi-popular pop idol group called Cham. However, tired of her craft and encouraged by her agency to try her hand at acting, she prematurely leaves the group. Atleast one fan doesn't take this news lightly, and what happens next becomes a rollercoaster ride of suspense, mystery, and murder.

Being at its heart an animated suspense/mystery, Perfect Blue weaves an ambitious and unorthodox story which could have been easily made into live action. In fact, unlike other animated films like Grave of the Fireflies, the story seems more appropriate in non-animated form. Regardless, the animation does bode well in presenting the almost incomprehensible plot right through the very end. Mima struggles against a known stalker who operates a website presenting itself as Mima's own diary. Furthermore, a series of murders involving the different people who comes into contact with her occurs. To add to the confusion, 'real' scenes are interspersed with footage from the crime/drama TV show that she's in - and the drama seems to mimic what's been happening to her. There are more characters, all of whom seem to be involved one way or the other, even Mima herself starts to think she's crazy

The plot, however, is both the movie's greatest strength and greatest weakness. It's superbly interesting and would keep you entranced (or bewildered) for the whole duration, but the illusion and deceit, appearing and disappearing, used by the director as style also means that by the end of the film, you'd either given up on following the tale or even if you were able to follow it, you'd be disappointed with the lack of clear answers.

Some people like cliff-hangers, I prefer a dramatic close. (3/5)