1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
|
+++
title = "Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993)"
author = ["Michał Sapka"]
date = 2024-04-26T22:08:00+02:00
categories = ["reviews"]
draft = false
weight = 2006
image_dir = "reviews/screenshots"
image_max_width = 765
abstract = "My review of a masterpiece"
rating = 5
image = "reviews/covers/patlabor-2-movie.jpg"
related = ["Patlabor movie timeline"]
relatedName = "2: Movie"
aliases = ["/brain-rot/anime/patlabor/patlabor-2-the-movie/"]
reviewSection = ["Anime movies"]
+++
Ok, this one is a difficult movie to write about.
For a _gajin_ it may come as a visually beautiful, but very convoluted movie.
But inside, it's deeply rooted in Japan's history and one needs to understand a few facts before truly appreciating it.
So, before talking about the movie, allow me to take a brief jump into history territory.
After loosing World War II, Japan was under the USA's occupation.
Their post-war constitution ha a very important "Article 9" under which Japan was allowed to have defense military force, but it was to be never deployed on foreign soil.
After few changes, the defense force became Japanese Self-Defense Force, the _JSDF_.
Decades pass and the population kind of forgot about the WWII.
Mind you, Nagasaki and Hiroshima lives in their mindset, but war becomes something that was in the past.
In June 1992, the National Diet passed a UN Peacekeeping Cooperation Law which permitted the JSDF to participate in UN medicalonal Diet passed a UN Peacekeeping Cooperation Law which permitted the JSDF to participate in UN medical, refugee repatriation, logistical support, infrastructural reconstruction, election-monitoring, and policing operations under strictly limited conditions[^fn:1].
Amongst part of Japanese population it was seen as a dangerous precedence.
JSDF was, in fact, deployed on foreign soil.
Both creators of _Patlbor_, Mamoru Oshii and Kazunori Itō were vocal opponents of this decision.
_Patlabor 2: The Movie_ should be seen as their manifesto.
So, knowing this I have to say: _Patlabor 2: The Movie_ is amongst the greatest movies I've ever seen.
I always say that for me, SciFi for SciFi sake is boring; it can be elevated by using the setting as a mean to tell a human story.
What's more, I like SciFi movies that are not action-fests.
And for both of those measures _Patlabor 2: The Movie_ **excels** all expectations.
It is also a huge step-up from _Patlabor: The Movie_.
While that one had huge potential, but came out lacking in both, substance and form, the _2_ is a gigantic step.
There were only 4 years between release dates, but I am floored.
Ok, back to the movie itself.
It's 2002, 3 years after the events of _Patlabor: The Movie_.
Yokohama Bay Bridge is destroyed by a missile shot from a variation of F-16 Fighter.
JASDF (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) is blamed for the attack, and a result JSDF is ready to deploy forces all over Tokyo.
Japan is close to martial law.
{{< image class="centered" file="patlabor-2-movie-0001.jpg" >}}
Don't get used to the old main characters.
They are barerly here.
{{< /image >}}
{{< image class="centered" file="patlabor-2-movie-0002.jpg" >}}
Even the trickiest of perspectives are spot on.
{{< /image >}}
{{< image class="centered" file="patlabor-2-movie-0003.jpg" >}}
Not much for mecha fans, but quite a lot for aviation fans.
{{< /image >}}
One thing to get straight of the way: there's not much of Labors here to be seen.
I think there are more shots of fighters and tanks, than there are of the mechs.
This _not_ a mecha anime even though it is set in a mecha world.
It's also not an action movie, as most of the scenes are two/three people talking.
_P2TM_ requires significant attention, as it's all about those dialogues.
The message is more said than shown and it may be not to your liking.
Anime is mostly known for imaginative fight scenes and fan service.
This not that kind of movie.
It's slow and methodical.
But there are action scenes, and they are glorious.
_PTM_ was looking great; _P2TM_ sets incredible standards that are often unmatched even today.
I found it interesting, that the first portion of the movie uses very small color palette - everything is overblown, like in full sun, or lighted by fluorescent lamp.
People look more like cyborgs than living things.
Then, when authors start conveying their message, it all changes - the palette broadens and characters even get some tam.
Subtle and effective.
The city look incredible, the machines look amazing and characters no longer have perspective problems (like they had in _PTM_).
Overall, the presentation is perfect.
Unfortunately the style here seems mostly abandoned.
It's _distinctly_ Oshii and _Production IG_.
Anime no longer looks like this movie.
The only nitpick I can find when it comes to the visual aspect is that in a few scenes the snow looks bad.
That's all.
{{< image class="centered" file="patlabor-2-movie-0004.jpg" >}}
This made me feel things.
I'd give a lot for such audio setup.
It even has a great CD transport!
{{< /image >}}
{{< image class="centered" file="patlabor-2-movie-0005.jpg" >}}
Basset, reporting in.
{{< /image >}}
The music is great.
It's not _Ghost in the Shell_ but Kenji Kawaii is a master of his craft.
The only negative I can find is the main villain.
He is absent from most of his movie and his motivations are hidden until the very last few scenes.
His work is ever-present, but he is not here... which is fitting.
Oshii said that the "evil" character here is himself.
Everything the villain say is what the director thinks.
_Patlabor 2: The Movie_ is a masterpiece.
Oshii is one of the most brilliant directors in history, and this movie is one of his magnum opuses[^fn:2].
It's not only something **every** fan of anime should watch but everyone who enjoys cinematography.
It's smart, beautiful and haunting.
It is also a very strong anti-war manifest.
It dares to put a mirror in front of our faces and _as of this_ type of movie, I fail to find any real flaw.
{{< image class="centered" file="patlabor-2-movie-0006.jpg" >}}
There's some eye candy here.
{{< /image >}}
\#+begin_image
It's not there are no mechs here.
They are, in very small doses.
\#+end_img-c
[^fn:1]: Source: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Self-Defense_Forces#Peacekeeping)
[^fn:2]: How many directors have achiever greatness on a few occasions?
Oshii certainly did!
|
