WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3

Full disclosure: I'm not a Patlabor fan at all, but I own and really like this movie. I've watched it at different times in my life, with years between viewings, and each time I've liked it more. Now, watching it again at a much more mature age, I fully enjoy it. It's not at all an anime film that kids or teens (or adults wanting to shut their brain off) would would watch to enjoy, and although I don't even enjoy police procedurals like I, ironically, did as a child, I feel this mature story is very underrated. Furthermore, now that I better understand a few things about film, my enjoyment was enhanced, especially regarding shots, editing choices, and themes in particular. Anime tends to bash you over the head with themes, even directly telling you over and over what they are (Gundam Wing, for example, is really bad about this-though I really like it), but, while the themes are clear, this film doesn't do that. It's another reason why it seems to be geared towards mature adults (not implying you're immature if you don't like it). It reminds me of Ghost in the Shell that way, except the action in GITS can draw all ages-but strip that away or minimize it even more and you have a very adult investigation story that would bore people who don't like such things.

I've tried to get into the Patlabor series, but it's always come across as a boring, childish A. D. Police or any other mechanized police unit anime. I don't like the Labors or the uniforms or, really, the characters. But I was fine with how they were utilized in this film.

Also, something I especially like is that the characters in this movie actually look Japanese!! I love colorful characters, BUT if the characters in this film looked like Westerners with Japanese names, I wouldn't have been able to take it as seriously (plus, it would contradict one of the major themes). The point is that it looks and plays more like a live-action film than most anime, making it easier to focus on the subject matter, and I appreciate that.

I would say watch this if you don't mind a slow-burn (that doesn't drag) police procedural with a sprinkle of intrigue and horror.

Anyone who comes to this anime expecting cliché Japanese robot/monster fights is in for deep, deep disappointment. But if you are interested in one of the finest Japanese procedural films since Kurosawa's High & Low, watch this film.

I have no idea what inspired the creators of the otherwise pedestrian Patlabor series to create this almost noirish meditation on the grey, atomized life of modern Japanese. But by combining the deliberate pace of Kurosawa's masterwork with portraits of weathered bureaucrats and alienated beauties lost in in Tokyo's concrete jungle, this work envelopes one in Japanese life at the millennium. It's an extraordinary piece of immersion into a culture that is superficially like ours but in reality vastly different.

The plot i subside the point--it is the day to day details of the two lead detectives that are the true subject of this astonishing film.

I was lucky enough to see this movie when it first came out in March 2002. It was featured at the 2002 Hong Kong Film Festival before the rest of the world sees it except Japan. Both the director and the writer of the movie came all the way from Japan to introduce and Q/A at the screening hall. How often do you see that? I had never seen a Patlabor movie before. I was totally blown away by how sophisticated this movie was. It rivals many Hollywood production movies if not better. The detective story, the visual, the soundtrack, the well written dialogues, the action sequences (though there are little) are all world-class beyond reproach. Fans of Patlabor will also be surprised by a change of perspective in this new movie, like that of "Metal Gear Solid 2" for PlayStation 2. This movie is simply amazing!

In the year 2000, one year after the Babylon incident. A mysterious creature has been spotted in the Tokyo Bay destroying fishing ships and patrol boats. Two detectives are on the case, and try to gather up clues on the mystery. As it later turns out, they're dealing with a biochemical monster that can only exist by being made by a human. And their yet to find out who's responsible for it's existence before it destroys Tokyo.

Unlike the previous Patlabor anime. This one revolves on 2 characters who aren't part of Special Vechiles Division 2. But it does take place in the same universe. Only we don't see too many Labors at all. And every one we know from Patlabor are only in 1/4 of the movie. With the exception of Captain Gota being the only original character having the most screen time. While everyone else is a minor character in this movie.

Making it not look like a Patlabor movie at all. Despite it directed by someone other than Mastu Ohjii and newer animation. This is consider to be the weakest in the Patlabor series. Not saying it's bad at all. Just the director failed in giving it the same spirit as the other movies and TV shows.

It's more of a Monster anime flick than a Mecha anime flick.

If it was directed by Ohjii, then we'd see it as the same level as the previous movies. That and it's more of an in-between movie than a sequel cause it takes place between the first 2.

Overrall Patlabor WXIII does succeed in having believable characters, actions, drama, and locations. If your a fan of the franchise, you might not find this one to be satisfying.

I was completely jazzed to track down the third Patlabor movie; the first two are among my favorites.

The third lacked that certain something...namely the main characters from the first two, reduced to minor supporting roles at best. We don't see the progression of the characters like we did between 1 and 2, which, to be honest, was part of what I was looking forward to seeing in the third. They showed up, a little; I found it funny when Captain Goto, in a meeting, asked why he was there. I had to laugh, because I was asking the same question, as he seemed to me to be in the scene just so people knew it was Patlabour 3. If Section 2 didn't show up in some form, even a few scenes, people would not have been able to tell. So they did. In a few scenes.

I was disappointed.