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Very good monster flick
For over ten years I have loved the world of Patlabor, and when I heard about the newest movie (thinking that they were done with the franchise) I was very excited.
First the story. Those familiar with Patlabor know that they have their run ins with monsters but this is the first time that a monster film was more of a thriller film than horror (though still has that spooky horror feel). The story follow two detectives new to the universe as they try to solve the case of several mysterious murders. They come across a conspiracy of a biological weapon and eventually leads to a dramatic showdown with the SVS 2 and WXIII.
The one thing I want to note that this is a huge departure from the Patlabor universe. While the OVA's and TV show were light hearted and funny, the movies dramatic but suitable for everyone, this one takes a more mature turn with people getting killed (on screen deaths, first time EVER) and strong language (popping off the F bomb several times, though in the MANGA release of the first two movies, the worse they said was the S word.) But it added a level of realism making this a very real world.
The animation was terrific and up to MAD HOUSE usual high standards (though there were some mistakes, namely a scene where one of the characters heads grew in size that always bugs me).
The music was written by the masterful Kenji Kawai who did the music for the franchise, very beautiful and appropriate works in the film.
The dubbing was the best that the series could ever ask for (having a history of mediocre english voice-overs).
The final judgement is that it may catch a lot of fans off guard but it is very worth the watch for a great experience and an ending that will stay with you long after the film is over.
First the story. Those familiar with Patlabor know that they have their run ins with monsters but this is the first time that a monster film was more of a thriller film than horror (though still has that spooky horror feel). The story follow two detectives new to the universe as they try to solve the case of several mysterious murders. They come across a conspiracy of a biological weapon and eventually leads to a dramatic showdown with the SVS 2 and WXIII.
The one thing I want to note that this is a huge departure from the Patlabor universe. While the OVA's and TV show were light hearted and funny, the movies dramatic but suitable for everyone, this one takes a more mature turn with people getting killed (on screen deaths, first time EVER) and strong language (popping off the F bomb several times, though in the MANGA release of the first two movies, the worse they said was the S word.) But it added a level of realism making this a very real world.
The animation was terrific and up to MAD HOUSE usual high standards (though there were some mistakes, namely a scene where one of the characters heads grew in size that always bugs me).
The music was written by the masterful Kenji Kawai who did the music for the franchise, very beautiful and appropriate works in the film.
The dubbing was the best that the series could ever ask for (having a history of mediocre english voice-overs).
The final judgement is that it may catch a lot of fans off guard but it is very worth the watch for a great experience and an ending that will stay with you long after the film is over.
Review ID: 10000000007075202
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WXIII?!? What the Heck Does THAT Mean?!???Review created: 02/22/08
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Proper protocol probably requires that I begin this review with information about the actual FILM first but, I've never been one to adhere to the norm where it wasn't a matter of life of death so, first, let me comment on the actual collection itself. I love the way that this Box set is packaged and the two companion DVDs were EXCELLENT!!! What I appreciated about them so much was that the "supplemental DVD" expressed detailed information about the "Patlabor Universe" in general. It was like an A to Z of Patlabor for the novice but was still full of interesting information that the long time fan and aficionado could probably still appreciate. Even the MINIPATO film was exceedingly informative as well as entertaining! It's very easy to see why fans have kept this series going for so long. The creators really seem to care a lot about the Patlabor mythos and it really comes through in the works! Additionally, the characters are so intensely rich, consistent, interesting and realistically human that one can't help but enjoy the stories.
This brings me to the movie itself. I have a horrible habit of spoiling reviews by letting far too much slip, so I won't say anything about the movie other than that you'll probably have to be paying attention pretty well to catch the meaning of WXIII (Or maybe you won't)and that although this was not quite the same caliber as a Mamoru Oshii production by quite a bit, it was a very interesting film in its own right. I made this purchase thinking that it would just be a "book-end" for my Patlabor Movie collection and that even if I found that I didn't like it, it would at least complete the set but to my surprise, it was actually a very interesting film and stood up well to my personal level of scrutiny. Definitely enjoyable, especially if you get it at the right price. The price I found it at was absolutely STELLAR!!!
This brings me to the movie itself. I have a horrible habit of spoiling reviews by letting far too much slip, so I won't say anything about the movie other than that you'll probably have to be paying attention pretty well to catch the meaning of WXIII (Or maybe you won't)and that although this was not quite the same caliber as a Mamoru Oshii production by quite a bit, it was a very interesting film in its own right. I made this purchase thinking that it would just be a "book-end" for my Patlabor Movie collection and that even if I found that I didn't like it, it would at least complete the set but to my surprise, it was actually a very interesting film and stood up well to my personal level of scrutiny. Definitely enjoyable, especially if you get it at the right price. The price I found it at was absolutely STELLAR!!!
Review ID: 10000000005767492
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