Paprika (2006)

This is an animated movie about an agency that has developed a device that allows an agent to go into a client's dreams and provide therapy. Things start to get strange however, when the dreams start getting out of control and begin trying to take over people's waking lives, even influencing the to kill themselves. Kind of sounds like Inception (2010), doesn't it. Doesn't it. Well, it's not exactly like Inception, but there are several similar themes.

Paprika is the dream form of a young woman whose job it is to help clients work out psychological problems by participating in and interacting with their dreams. The company she works for has developed a device that allows the company to see the client's dreams, and interact with them in their dreams, but this new technology is still in the trial period and has not been sanctioned by the government yet. The government decides that these devices are too dangerous to be on the market, but before they can remove these products, one of them is stolen, and is being used to drive some of the scientists to insanity, and even death. The dream world slowly begins to seep into the real world, and it's up to Paprika to overcome the obstacles put in her way to find who is behind this madness, and to stop it before it's too late.

This is an amazing movie. The plot is interesting of course, but I would recommend that you watch this more for the visual and aural experience, and I guarantee that that will be what you will take away from the film, and what you'll be talking about with your friends (if you are a loser like me and talk about films with your friends). Watching this film is like watching a moving canvas. Because it takes place in the dream world (and because it's Japanese) weird is ok, which makes for an amazing visual experience. I can't stress this enough, you'll be tripping even if you're sober.  There are one of two disturbing scenes, the film is rated R, but if you're a mature adolescent or older, I'm sure you'll be just fine. The soundtrack is also amazing. I don't usually go out of my way to enjoy a soundtrack if the film is not a musical, but I listen to this soundtrack on a regular basis. It's high energy and quirky.

The movie starts off kind of slow, but once it gets going you'll be unable to tear your eyes away... maybe in a good way and maybe in a bad way... but you'll remember watching it either way.