takashi miike incursion into kiddie territory win me over almost immediately because he demonstrate nerve and bravery in deal with fantasy element . this be a fairy tale that dare to be dark . even a a kid and i think that there be something sinister about most fairy tale while horrible thing happen to people in most child book . miike understand that these classic tale be a bit scary ( and more disturb ) than what they appear to be at first glance . the filmmaker take the archetypical story of a kid on a wondrous quest out of the preschool classroom . he accentuate the very real fear of a world fill with never end hazardous mission . westerner like to downplay the seriousness behind bedtime story write specifically for kid . i appreciate the fact that miike be more honest than most american filmmaker . he go for the jugular of the story but he also show sign of restrain . but a self possess miike be still strange than most filmmaker . i think it be a great film . highly recommended .