I wouldn't normally do a review like this - but as I watched both Patlabor: The Movie and Patlabor 2 back to back again this weekend, it seemed to make sense. This time around, I'm really interested in reviewing these more as police procedural movies that include mechs. To be perfectly honest, as far as this month goes - I'm just too
I'd heard references to these movies for quite a while before I finally got around to picking them up on DVD a number of years ago. Of course, I don't believe the full series was available at that time on DVD, but might have been an out-of-print issue or something similar (see also the original Vampire Hunter D). Sometimes I also hold out on picking something up if the reviews bring up issues like the lack of a Japanese audio track or very poor audio/video quality.
But enough about that - let's get to the movies themselves. Starting with Patlabor: The Movie - even coming at it with no prior experience, it's easy to figure out what's going on for the most part. It can be a little more complicated with such a large, ensemble cast - particularly since some of them are introduced out of the picture or return only for the finale, but in general, I could keep up. I don't know if the plot is similar to any themes presented in the series, but the concept of a computer virus left behind by a suicidal programmer is well integrated - and all the more so when learning that this is a Mamoru Oshii movie.
Indeed, both Patlabor movies were directed by Oshii and both predate the pictures he's far better known for - ie. Ghost in the Shell. That said, being familiar with a number of his other animated and live-action films, it is quite easy to recognize his touches here.
There are contemplative moments or periods throughout each picture - just a series of images and city scenes over Kenji Kawai's haunting, almost dreamlike themes - even slow boat rides down canals where the past and the modern clash and then meld together. Each movie also pulls in elements of Biblical themes to give motivations to the antagonists - similar to a number of references in each following picture....and Patlabor 2 even has a basset hound!
But going back to the movies themselves - as I said before, I would describe them as police procedural films that happen to include mechs. By the time of the first movie, the Labors (as they're called in this alternate universe) have been recognizably integrated into the life of the people around them. Of the main characters, only a few of them actually operate the mechs on a regular basis - most of the other folks handle supervisory administrative matters, maintenance, support and other police duties - including several detectives (who I can only presume play more of a regular role in the normal series). To be perfectly honest...more for the first movie - and to a lesser degree in the second - I was really reminded of another Japanese cop TV series that I've only ever seen in movie form - Bayside Shakedown (and all its sequels).
While nevertheless remaining entertaining, both series regularly hammer down their characters with so much [probably realistic] Japanese bureaucratic nonsense that it's quite inspiring to see them pick themselves back up and make an end run around their bosses.
In any case, while Patlabor: The Movie is essentially a feature-length TV episode, appropriately Oshii'ized, Patlabor 2 is another animal - and does do a good job as a political-military thriller, while still involving the ground level characters (if to a lesser extent than the first film). The stakes are significantly increased, the action is broader and far more spread out - but at the same time, we also get less mech action - and only one real action involving our main characters. On the whole, the plot isn't particularly original regarding a bitter ex-military man bringing an axe to grind against the political animals that let his men die in a foreign war - but for a movie made in 1993, the cyber-war implications are positively (frighteningly) prophetic. (and on a side note, I would say that the lingo used by the pilots and controllers throughout the movie is all wonderfully authentic from my experience).
Now as far as the mechs or Labors themselves - honestly...for a unit specifically designed to be used by law enforcement, I have no idea who had the bright idea of utilizing open cockpits (see first screenshot). Not only are the pilots not even wearing goggles, but they're totally exposed to the weather not to mention tear gas, dust and any other atmospheric issues (actually demonstrated at the beginning of the first movie too). It really doesn't make a lot of sense - maybe it was explained during the show?
The actual operation appears to be mostly a fairly efficient fly-by-wire design, magnifying the operators movements - nothing too wild or crazy. By the standards of the average mecha anime, they're also ridiculously underarmed - an electric baton or a revolver that has to be reloaded by the pilot disembarking and manually swapping shells? Even a larger riot shotgun has it's limitations. No railguns or laser rifles here - strictly urban law enforcement use only. It's really somewhat humorous to see them going up against a few remote controlled robots in the second movie - wearing mecha sized flak jackets.
As far as the DVD goes....well....quite frankly right about now it looks like total and complete crap on a stick. My copy is the image above - a R4 Australian release that included both movies. Honestly, at the moment, I don't remember why I picked up this copy....maybe because it included both movies and other versions were already out of print....either way...I've got to upgrade - the picture is dark, muddy and not anamorphically enhanced at all - you get a wide screen picture with black borders on all four sides on a normal TV set - completely unsatisfactory - even for something released in 2003. Pretty lousy Dolby 2.0 mix as well if you want the Japanese audio (I didn't try the English dub).
Looks like both movies are available on blu-ray at this time - I'll look at checking them out later this year hopefully.
Either way - both movies are highly recommended - just don't pick up the DVD I did (which appears to also be out of print).
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