Search - Paranoia Agent - True Believers (Vol. 2) on DVD

Heady, creepy, and darkly satirical masterpiece.

The Mark Inside | 03/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"DON'T LOOK AT THE BACK COVER IF YOU BUY/RENT THIS VOLUME. IT GIVES THE ENDING AWAY. The Shonen Bat that was arrested might be an imposter, but either way he's one hell of a nutcase. In the hilarious first episode we see what this Shonen Bat thinks. He thinks he's out on a mission from a video game to rid the world of evil, and the two detectives get sucked right into this bizarre video game world (it's a strange retake/farce of Kon's earlier film "Millennium Actress"). The second episode is a highly disturbing drama about sexual obsession that you knew was coming if you listened closely during the fourth episode, but still really manages to floor you. The third episode gets us closer to solving the mystery... only to slam us in the end with an even bigger mystery. This one also delves deeper into the minds of the characters, which serves to throw you off and make you think, "Wait, is this a dream or is this really happening?" The final episode on this volume marks a turning point, both for the series itself, and for the opinion of the people who watch it: Either you're going to like where the show is going or you'll be scratching your head. Even with the latter opinion, you're still in for an interesting experimental episode. Obviously, this show isn't meant for people used to more mainstream shows and films, but for those of us weirdos out there, it hits every mark. Watch with an open mind, and make sure you've seen "THX 1138" before you see it."

Kon continues mind-bending goodness

Terry Dawson | Appleton, WI USA | 01/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The second volume of this four-volume series picks up where the first one left off. Writer-director Satoshi Kon is making this series a tour de force, as the three episodes on this disk introduce new characters, shed new light on previous characters and generally make the story more of a rich tapestry. There are a lot of threads in the fabric Kon is weaving: it's hard to tell where they're all coming from or where they're going, but some parts of the larger picture are beginning to emerge.

The first episode here is just fun, as the story seems to turn into a completely different type of anime, at least in the minds of a character or two. Here, as in his films Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress, Kon's storytelling consistently highlights differences of various subjective realities, as versions of truth are examined and re-examined from different characters' viewpoints.

Kon's strong writing and directing are complemented beautifully by well-done character design, strong understated animation and sound. This disk contains little in the way of extras, only textless opening and closings. It's hard to tell where Kon is going, but it's a fascinating ride.

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