Patlabor 2 (1993)

 

If you, like a lot of people, would go into this movie expecting a smorgasbord of giant robots kicking the mechanical snot out of each other, then you would be better off looking in a different direction. In fact, 'Patlabor 2' is a lot more akin to a political thriller of sorts, with plenty of very serious and grounded dialogue, long takes of people contemplating their next move and of course quite a lot of modern day politics and everything that entails.

Not exactly the easiest material to get into, rest assured.

After a prologue, during which a Japanese piloted Labor (one of the big robots used for either manual labour - hence the name - or the military) gets destroyed during a conflict, it is clear the pilot that survives is none too happy with a decision that led to his squad being decimated. 

Fast forward a few years and about three years after the events of the first film, and the mobile police force is all but out of commission. Things get warped when a sudden bombing of a bridge happens. Government is looking to blame someone, but machinations reveal that there is a sort-of terrorist group behind this, trying to pit the American military against the Japanese and trying to disturb the peace. It gets even more tricky when it transpires that the leader of these attacks is the former trainer (and lover) of police chief Naburo. It all comes to a head when eager and incompetent politicians decide to get the Mobile Police Force involved to lay siege to a military base and things escalate to the point of martial law, straining the fragile peace even more. 

So our gang decide to try and apprehend the culprit behind the backs of pretty much everyone, knowing full well this will mean they will all be fired and possibly receive prison sentences... 

The story in itself is truly interesting and well crafted, as one would come to expect from Mamoru Oshii. The characters are clearly defined and this could have been a live action political drama/thriller if the technology had allowed it (there are a few action scenes and set pieces that are pretty big). But herein lies the downside to the movie: it is gruellingly slow and uneventful. Sure, there is the big attack on the city with military helicopters and a relatively short sequence in which the police Labors try to break through to the terrorists' stronghold, but that's it. Mainly, this story is comprised of lengthy scenes where characters talk and discuss politics. 

Doesn't make for the most enjoyable of rides, does it?

Don't get me wrong: it does work as a take on the entire idea of political scheming and how easily people in power forget that there should be limits to what they can or can't do. In that respect, 'Patlabor 2' absolutely works. But it didn't have to take almost two hours for that, as there are quite a few times when the story slows down to a near stop and you're left wondering if you are watching the right thing. 

This is one of those anime-movies that I can't wholeheartedly recommend. If politics are your jam, then maybe you might like this better, but the pacing is a little too slow for most and makes this one quite a slog to get through.