Jellyfish Eyes

                  

Takashi Murakami's Jellyfish Eyes is a second rate oddity and I mean that fondly. I've read a few commentators being bent out of shape that Criterion has released it, namely that it is not up to their standards, has amateurish acting, etc., etc., but I found it visually exciting and expressive; especially Murakami's use of color. The children of the cast (and some of the adults) are amateurish, but, within the context of the film's mix of genres (it is a mashup of Pokémon, Power Rangers, Mario Brawl, and Sci-Fi), I found it endearing. Murakami wants Jellyfish Eyes to be a family film and his broad strokes keep it from resembling a darker, more adult work.

Not that it doesn't have an adult theme, like a good chunk of Japanese Science Fiction, Jellyfish Eyes is an ecological protest film; albeit one with cuter monsters than usual. The film also functions as a meta critique/celebration of video gaming. I thought the creatures were fabulous and think gamers of any age would enjoy the film. (2/13/16)