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 conditions1.
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.
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.
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 opuses2. 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.
