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A review by lapingveno
Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis by Yoshikazu Takeuchi
5.0
Is this just a pulpy thriller about a deranged, Silence-of-the-Lambs-esque super fan who wants his favorite pop idol sensation's skin? Yes.
But is it also a subtle commentary on how a man can be so absorbed by lust that he projects his hatred for himself onto women as though it were their fault that he lacks self-control? Is it also a commentary on the male proclivity to suffer from Pygmalion syndrome, to want to "fine tune" a woman into his exact image of perfection? Is it also a commentary on men's obsession with the maintenance of feminine purity while in the same breath excusing/ignoring their own perversions/sexual deviancies/shortcomings? Well, perhaps so.
This is certainly not the same plot as that of the anime film adaptation, but each does its own thing well (similar to the relationship between Richard Matheson's I Am Legend and the film of the same name staring Will Smith). Those who've read this should watch the film, and those who've watched the film first (as I did) should also read this, as both have rather deep points to be made (or at least found hidden within the subtext, or whatever artsy-fartsy thing I'm trying to say here).
In short: Bravo!
But is it also a subtle commentary on how a man can be so absorbed by lust that he projects his hatred for himself onto women as though it were their fault that he lacks self-control? Is it also a commentary on the male proclivity to suffer from Pygmalion syndrome, to want to "fine tune" a woman into his exact image of perfection? Is it also a commentary on men's obsession with the maintenance of feminine purity while in the same breath excusing/ignoring their own perversions/sexual deviancies/shortcomings? Well, perhaps so.
This is certainly not the same plot as that of the anime film adaptation, but each does its own thing well (similar to the relationship between Richard Matheson's I Am Legend and the film of the same name staring Will Smith). Those who've read this should watch the film, and those who've watched the film first (as I did) should also read this, as both have rather deep points to be made (or at least found hidden within the subtext, or whatever artsy-fartsy thing I'm trying to say here).
In short: Bravo!