Thoughts on Mirrocle World PV/

[Faiza]

So doobie's uploaded it to jpopsuki, so many of us should've downloaded it by now. Thoughts on the PV?

It's such a step up from GUILTY's PV's, seriously, she's definately bringing sexy back. The song suits the Paris background IMO and she's looking more gorgeous than ever! Especially in the massive red dress and the lingerie? scene! The only complaint I have is with the doves flying when shes in the red dress. My jaw was on the floor the whole time the PV was on XDD


Okay, because there was so many WTF?! comments at this PV, new posters should read this post by Idealist, it's an amazing analysis of the PV and it makes sense ^-^

Spoiler:

Originally Posted by Idealist

Here is my analysis of the Mirrorcle World PV--

I don't think it's random at all. This is a very deep video. The song's lyrics are also important for understanding its meaning. All of the elements are chosen specifically to talk about Ayu's feelings and thoughts about the future. Not just her own personal future, but the future of mankind. Once you look at the video from the perspective of representing Ayu's internal discussion about the technological singularity, it all makes sense.

Briefly, there is a theory that our technology and ability to share information is increasing at an exponential rate; our technology allows us to create more advanced technology, which allows us to create even more advanced technology, etc., and in the not too distant future we will inevitably reach a point where the speed at which we gain new knowledge becomes nearly infinite and we transcend our bodies. That is the technological singularity.

Elements of this concept have been explored in Japanese pop culture before, for example in the anime series Ghost in the Shell and Neon Genesis Evangelion. In the west, one major example of pop culture touching on the singularity is The Matrix, which Ayu intentionally references with a couple aspects of the video.

Mirrorcle World starts out depicting a number of men who are direct references to the "agents" of The Matrix. This is important as it helps to explain the context of the video. These are beings of technology, who record information, and not in the way that human beings have had for most of our history. The seek to control information.



We see a very quick shot of Ayu in lingerie, but aren't given a context for this yet, but it does come later. This is the first of Ayu's five aspects in this video.

Next, we hear a modem dialing in. This is very important, because it tells us that what we are seeing in the video is not the real world; it is, instead, a virtual, electronic world, a "Mirrorcle World", a marvelous echo of the real thing. We are shown an aspect of Ayu, which likely represents her adventurousness in wanting to explore this new world of possibilities; she makes simple, factual statements, and asks simple questions, like so:





These lines express her wonder at the world; note also the emphasis on the "future".



These lines express what she has heard from other people. These lines are in reference to fears people have about the singularity; is it the beginning for mankind, or the end? There is a choice between giving up our physical bodies, or hanging on to them. Ayu is asked if she is "shrugging" it off because she is calm about it, or because she despairs about it.

Next we see that first aspect of Ayu, finally given context.



Here we have a representation of Ayu's body, or more specifically, of Ayu thinking about her body. Note the emphasis on her physical sexual appeal, and also the fact that the view of Ayu is in a mirror. She is thinking about her physical body, which she would have to give up if she simply became her disembodied consciousness.

Next we are introduced to a third Ayu aspect, which is her analytical mind.



Our view of this aspect is entirely on her head, all of the expression she conveys are with facial body language and hand gestures involving her head. She asks deeper, more cautious questions.



She expresses concern about whether people can cope with the era of the singularity.

We're shown another aspect of Ayu:



Her sudden appearance in a red dress may seem random, but it is likely a reference to "the woman in the red dress" from The Matrix. She is the Ayu that asks questions about what to do; the Ayu of choice and decision.



Here is the crux of the entire issue, and once I thought about this line in context with the rest of the song and the video, everything finally made sense. This is exactly the question that one must ask themselves when thinking about the possibility of the singularity.



Basically, if she decides to leave her body, should she just pretend she can still "see" it, that it still exists; or is the body really significant anyway? Is she her body, or is she more than her body?



She wonders if she should fight against the inevitable march of progress towards the singularity or not. She doesn't want to just "run away" from the question, and from the future, she wants to be an active participant in it and not a victim of fate.

Now we have her dropping a handkerchief, which is picked up by the "agents"; one concern about the singularity is that it will fundamentally strip us of our privacy due to the fact that all of humanity's knowledge will be shared instantaneously. Already in the present we see the ease with which personal information is accessed online.

The "agents" represent those malignant forces that would take personal information and use it to control others. They search for Ayu-choice, because they do not want her to be free to make the choice to realize her potential; with the singularity, all information will become free from their grasp. Ayu-choice is with doves. This is more difficult to get a definite interpretation of, but it may be representative of Ayu being "at peace" and not feeling threatened by the "agents".

Ayu-mind appears again, and talks about her thoughts.





She is thinking about the world we are in now, at the present, before the singularity occurs. We don't know everything, so, our pace is limited.



"That way" doesn't refer to her previous statement; it refers to the singularity. Ayu is thinking that it will clear the path for all people to reach their full potential.

Ayu-mind has reached a conclusion, and Ayu-adventurousness decides to act on it:



She "shatters" the mirror (Ayu-body, if you recall, was located in a mirror), because she has decided to embrace the singularity. We see Ayu-choice rejoice, and Ayu-body is in distress, mourning the loss of her relevance; she is not so attractive now.

The choice isn't without consequences--we are introduced to the final aspect of Ayu, her future, where she must contend with the negative forces of this brave new world.



They trap her in the phone booth. The phone booth symbolizes traditional means of communication, as we have now; the agents trap her, not wanting to give her freedom. Ayu-future echoes her earlier lines in the song, this time the sentiments of those malicious agents, who stand to gain by Ayu-future giving up and remaining in their control. They tell her just to continue on as she is, in their control.

But Ayu is saved from this fate.



She is not alone in this Mirrorcle World, and allies arrive to assist her, and shine a light on the misdeeds of those exploiting her vulnerability. She gives one last glance back to the phone booth, her past and our present, before getting in the car with her friends, driving off into the mists of the future.

Ayu-mind wonders:





Is it because she's so strong personally that she can face the future without suffering? Or...is it because of those others alongside her, who lend her their strength, as all people join together?

We hear a final tinkle of a connection signing off as the video ends.



Ultimately it is a very optimistic view of the future, and one that I strongly identify with. Oh, and why shoot the video in Paris? What better location for a fantastic place which Ayu is foreign to? As the virtual Mirrorcle World is to the physical world, so is Paris to Tokyo for Ayu.

Put in spoiler tags because it's so long~

[tethevo]

Meh

Yes. Individual looks are good. The background of Paris is great. BUT, it's so underwhelming to me.

I'm usually not picky with her PVs...but I guess I expected more. The shots are too random. I don't buy the whole I-must-interpret-it-as-something-insanely-deep crap this time. Even fierce-walking Ayu is not enough. Not a similar example but I think ourselves had more of an impact than this PV...and this song is supposed to be fierce!

I still like the song but...hm.

(I think GUILTY PVs are better.)

[Draggi]

to be honest..
i have no words..
it's absolutely amazing..
i can feel this pure energy and the strong lyrics..
it is indescribeable...

[milky_way]

Ayu's pretty in the PV, but that's all it's got going for it :/
I should've stuck with the CD-only

[stickyrice]

I gotta say... I'm a little underwhelmed =\ she looked good and the scenery was beautiful but...that's it. I didn't understand a thing. And the beginning was funny haha. And I swear the lingerie scene looked like she was having an orgasm with her flipping her hair back and what not XD Funny video. Oh well...

[Raiu-Ayu]

I really think it's disappointing. I mean they went the whole way to Paris and didn't really do anything different 0_0.

ayu in hat and coat - I liked the idea but I would have liked it better at night. And it is plainly obvious that she cannot walk properly in those heels!!
ayu in big red dress - Did not get the point of it at all but still think it would have looked better at night
ayu in dark room - I loved this bit and it barely even got included! The whole PV could have been done with this setting! It was great!!
ayu in phone box - Liked it but I still preferred the dark room bit better

I did like the PV but i was expecting something better.

[tenshi no hane]

The outfits and scenery were beautiful but that was it. I'm sorry to say it but she acted like an idiot...messing up her face by over-acting, her hands were all over the place >.> especially the bridge part.
Ayu can look very fierce but now she just overdid it imo. You don't have look like a fish when you're singing.

The PV's look beautiful and the guys were amusing. If Ayu hadn't overacted that much then it would've been a great PV.

[CHAS_AYU]

The PV is amazing! Ayu looks gorgeous!

[KLJames]

abit disappointed...

beautiful dress, ayu sexy pose, i like all the part where got ayu inside, esp in the scene when just start showing ayu inside the telephone booth, that standing pose so sexy...

but honestly, the male actor inside totally useless inside, esp intro, the editing didn't bring out the exciting part..

and the part when ayu hair cover with black feather, ermm, that part just too closed up to ayu face... plus too white... can't really c d hairstyle inside...

70% / 100%

[Madden-X]

She's pretty, sure.. but that's not gonna make a PV good or anything, mind you people

And well.. as expected she's now in the stage where she does everything to make herself look extra good (lingerie.. fierce walking, fierce looks.. fierce this.. fierce that)

[OogoeDiamond]

Nice PV! I like moments with phone and in Red dress. Ayu looks good as hooker xD

[Mai82Go]

Well, I really like it. It's just a PV not a short movie like glitter & fated so what if nothing overly exciting is happening? I think Ayu's sexy & beautiful. And I love the thought of Mirrorcle-World-Ayu calling Ladies-Night-Ayu who drops the phone in shock !

[s1012h]

I thought it was pretty horrendous. It's like (don't) Leave me alone meets Koda Kumi meets Ningyo-hime.
The song is good, but the PV has nothing to do with it.

And the fishnets and touching herself... kinda weird haha
She looks hot, but it just isn't her.

[ruixiong89]

Beautiful individual segments! That is undeniable, I think! All the different dresses are really pretty and she looks fantastic in them!

Biggest complaint though is that it's really random. And when I say random, I mean REALLY random! The colour saturation of the PV is everywhere. At the start, it's desaturated, then other shots have it saturated. And in that one with feathers, it's oversaturated. I seriously don't understand what's the point of doing this. Makes the whole PV all the more disjunct.

Ayu overreacting definitely made the PV worse (not that much but at certain junctures, I think she's really deranged, THOUGH to be honest, I enjoy watching her go nuts in that phone booth! Those 'fierce looks' are really interesting to watch! They're serious, yet funny at the same time!) And I really wanted to LMAO when she was in her red dress and running away! She really looks rather hilarious!

Not to mention the UGLY titling of the PV. I seriously expected a whole lot more from this PV. I mean, they went to Paris and all, why couldn't it even top a studio PV like Moments? That's the puzzling thing. It being in Paris doesn't really help the PV at all.

Indeed, Mirrorcle World. Just like the song, the PV too is really random. Individual looks really really work! But this is like, she released 5 different PVs and some fan just finished cutting and gluing them together to get "Mirrorcle World"!

Nonetheless, still really digging the song and the PV. I really like how empowering the song sounds, which will kind of explain her over-reacting in the PV. Mixing orchestra with rock does make for a deadly combination.

PV: 7/10 (Really really interesting, but it could have been so much better! Nonetheless, still an A grade for Ayu! Simply because this PV itself is hell loads still better than most PVs out there! The only competition that she really has is pretty much herself.)

[AmyRoseM]

It was alright. Its definitely pretty. But she did over-act. It's rather hilarious. I still love it though!

[ruixiong89]

Biggest disappointment for me though was how they handled the PV at the point where the glass breaking sound occurs! Just LOOK at Ayu! Her snaring and ripping of her coat out is just HILARIOUS!

I could just die laughing at it! Yup, that could have really been executed much better!

[Melrose]

I wanted something with an Ayu in the mirror..

Sitting on a chair in lingerie for no real reason in the middle of a beautifully decorated room reminds me of Victoria Beckham in the Spice Girls' "Headlines" video. It just feels awkward for Ayu, though--she rarely does "sexy", let alone "sexual", and suddenly we have a hand-bra single cover and this video.

I don't hate the video, but it just feels awkward... bold and safe at the same time. Hmmm... Need to watch it a bunch more times.


Edit: Okay, I've changed my mind. I hate the video. It's stupid, bland, and it even fails at being eye candy. Jewel had no content what-so-ever either, but it was visually stunning, cohesive, and interesting. In Mirrorcle World, Ayu is just wearing pretty clothes that we've seen before, and making exaggerated poses against a backdrop of Paris.

The story, too, was incredibly weak. If you're going to bother with a plot, you need to commit to it; you can't half-ass it. The phone booth scene and the story with the spies in general should have been more fully explored. It had potential to be something like a chic version of ourselves, but it just didn't make it even half way.

I will say that it looks nicer (i.e. more expensive and polished) than (don't) Leave Me Alone did, but it's still a bomb as a whole video. Such a shame, because the song is pretty cool.

[Not~Yet]

I didn't really like it =( Maybe I was expecting too much, a great storyline and awesome scenes.. But they wouldn't even have to go to Paris to shoot that O____o I dunno if it was purposely done so but for some reason I find the video kinda funny. Especially the phone box scene. Her facial expressions=lol. And the beginning where she walks ahead (god I dislike that outfit) her walking is really clumsy (oh come on why to wear so high heels if it's hard to walk...). The storyline was seriously bad (I bet some of you will come up with the most intelligent explanations but it could have been waaay better.). And what was with that Koda-copying? =___=

Dang I sound so cynical. I was just dissapointed. I still love the song , but I think I will erase this pv from my memory. :S

Originally Posted by ruixiong89

Biggest disappointment for me though was how they handled the PV at the point where the glass breaking sound occurs! Just LOOK at Ayu! Her snaring and ripping of her coat out is just HILARIOUS!

I could just die laughing at it! Yup, that could have really been executed much better!

So true.

[ken(d)t]

It's a really weird PV - kindda Alterna-ish... And gosh, could she do any more poses? ;P

But it looks like she had tons of fun, and when you're a star like ayu, I guess that's all that matters (:

I liked it - something fresh ... Though I would have liked it to actually have a story