If you hadn't shown him going to bed in the early stages, this could've been his life. The pieces fit together. Symbolic. Metaphoric. The Worker Joe, Warrior Joe, a strange take on the fears that follow the everyday Joe; you'd keep wondering... is this a dream? Is it an alternate world? What IS this? The intro explains it as it is, but I wonder the clarity's for better or worse. Not only at the end, but even at the beginning can you say "Oh, it's just a dream", as if that explains away the drama.
But intro or no intro: this was amazing! Such a showcase of skill, and suits, and secretaries, and yet in the end commitment, and the bane of kids are a bigger fear than the game of bids, and the big bad boss that sits in his office. Love the style. The overall vibe. Matrix-like suits. The secretaries in particular, and even without the intrigue the fights feel 'deeper' than fights usually do. Both nicely choreographed and scripted! I watched this a few times after each other, actually. Really great.
-cd-