Paprika, Satoshi Kon’s latest anime tour de force, plays a lot like The Matrix. There’s a head-spinning premise (scientists invent a device so they can enter people’s dreams), a shape-shifting villain, and some wonderful set pieces packed with explosions and giant robots. Time, space, and perspective are skewed beyond recognition in this perplexing, visually dazzling film. You won’t always know what’s going on (marching frogs?), but you’ll be knocked out all the same.
Thu., Sept. 27, 7 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 30, 9:10 p.m., 2007

This article appears in Sep 26 – Oct 2, 2007.