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Patlabor, Movie 2
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Title Info
- type: movie
- grade: exemplary
- Other elements of this title:
- This title has been commercially released in Australia.
- This title is a personal favourite.
- made: 1993
- Review created: Too long ago, revision desperately needed.
- mod: none
The first Patlabor movie is a brilliant piece of work, but you have to admire this title for pushing the envelope even further. This movie is a complex political conspiracy piece (reminds me a little of OAV 1 episodes 5-6) involving the manipulation of japanese politics and other power structures by a bitter militarist. Who's being used, who are the good guys and what is the aim are questions that will continue to mystify you through most of the film. The action is slow, the movie is very wordy but the plot and character are almost mind bending in their ambition and intensity. This is complimented by strange and moody animation, with a very cinematic quality, and wonderful sounds and sights. I'm not entirely sure the plot is without holes, but given the complexity. and scope, of the plot they are minor. The biggest disappointment for the Patlabor fan is that the familiar cast is largely sidelined (apart from Goto and Nagumo), the dry humor is absent and there is little mech action. In addition the subtitled version apparently never made it to Australia, so I had to watch the Dub, which while competent still sounds wrong to someone familiar to the Japanese voices. Regardless, if you like political conspiracies you should find much to admire in this skillful movie.
Words by Andrew Shelton, Web by Ticti, Last Compile: Wed Aug 5 12:39:23 WST 2009