Jin-Roh, la brigade des loups

"Jin-Roh" or "The Wolf Brigade" is an amazing anime film. I had seen the 3-disc special edition DVD at a video store, and having never seen this movie before, I took a chance and bought it. I had heard nothing but good things about "Jin-Roh" and I was very pleased when I saw it.

The film is set in what it calls "an alternate Japan" and a special police force has been formed to defend the capital. It seems that the government is under constant threat from an underground terrorist organization that uses "Red Riding Hoods" (teenage girls) to deliver powerful explosives to the authorities. One of these "hoods" is cornered by Fuse in the sewers and in a grim act of suicide, blows herself up. Fuse who was right there, is instantly traumatized by the event, and is forced to undergo re-training at his academy. Seeking to gather information on her, he runs into the dead girl's older sister, who he befriends and eventually begins a romance with her. Soon forces in the government, as well as Fuse's own police unit, threaten to tear them apart and it becomes evident that the girl herself may or may not be all that she seems.

This is one of the most devastating films I've ever seen. They certainly picked the right actor to voice the gravely Fuse, who I don't think ever fully recovers from what happens. The soundtrack to this movie is one of the best I have ever heard. There are constant allusions to "Little Red Riding Hood" and excerpts from the story are read throughout the film, as it details with a lot of government conspiracy theory stuff.

The films ending, which I will not describe, is the saddest part of the film. Yet, movies, especially animated ones like "Jin-Roh", are rare. A film that focuses more on the emotions of the characters, much rather action and graphic bloodshed, like most anime films tend to do, is what "Jin-Roh" is. Though I won't let that discourage gore fans, as they will certainly get their fair share of blood and violent action when they watch "Jin-Roh", but be prepared to wait a while for any action.

As I stated earlier, this is one of the most depressing films I've ever seen. To say that Fuse's romance is doomed to end tragically is not saying much, as I expected that would happen. There is a lot of intrigue and conspiracy-like things going on in this movie and that sometimes tends to get in the way of the characters, but nonetheless I still awarded the film a 10 out of 10, and "Jin-Roh" is still a moving experience and it is one of the best anime films I have ever seen.

'Jin-Roh' is quiet possibly the best animated film to have come out in the 1990's. Sticking with the classical animation style, the creators of 'Jin-Roh' concocted one of the most impactful stories that I have ever seen on celluloid. Even though the plot is somewhat complex and the pacing of it slow-moving, I found myself drawn into the story of a hesistant storm trooper who falls for a bomb-carrying terrorist in a post-war Japan. As it progresses forth, we eventually see how more and more cold-blooded the film becomes. What really unnerved me was the interweaving of the real (uncut and uncensored) version of "Red Riding Hood". By the end of 'Jin-Roh', you can really feel as if you had your soul run over by a bus. The film's scathing look cruelty and depravity of human nature is unapologetic and unnerving. It will hit home in ways that some people may not fathom. To me, the message is that humanity should take a logical look at it's cruel side and try to find some way to keep it check. I loved this movie and I give it a 10 out of 10.

'Jin-Roh' is the best anime film of the 1990's and the second best anime all time.

I saw this at the New York Japan Society two and a half years ago. The director was there to take part in a symposium on Anime. For some odd reason this film has not received wide-release even in the major US cities (as far as I know anyway). Having just visited Japan, I found that it is only now being released on DVD but not on VHS; supposedly there are bootlegs videos of it going around New York but with the visuals this film offers to watch a crappy version of it would be a shame. Anyway, the film's a good one, one of the better anime films, up there with "Akira" and the works of Miyazaki; it's much better than the director's previous work "Ghost in the Shell." Similar to "Ghost in the Shell," the plot is confusing but not to the point of causing frustration and/or sleep. It sort of reminds me of the begining of "Akira": an underground movement vs. the government--minus all that sci-fi garbage. The animation's state of the art as you should expect. The animation featured in anime is usually top of the line but it's the stories that tend to disappoint. This film is the exception, its got the animation and the story something only a handful of anime films can claim. If you can find it watch it. Highly recommended.

After seeing this in the stores for a couple months and wondering if it was worth the $$$ i came to find out a friend of mine had bought it so he invited me over to check it out. Man am i ever glad he did because i would have been disappointed had i dropped the cash for it!!!

Jin-Roh is by no means a bad movie in fact it's quite good IF you have the patience it requires. After the opening riot scene things slow down ALOT. It's like 3/4 of the movie is spent building the movie up but it never really delivers in the end. I remember thinking "all that time for THIS ending?!"

As far as the animation, it is top notch. There is definetly an epic feel at work. Sound is also superb.

I think if maybe there had been a bit more action in the middle of this show it would have gone a long way in making this a bit more interesting.

Killer start and then a long middle and finally a pretty unsatisfying ending added up to something i wasn't thrilled about seeing save maybe for the art it'self.

I am pleased to see anime producing more mature adult titles. I am sick of mechs, dbz, and f#*king tentacles. For a welcome change from the above mentioned crap check Jin-Roh out(hey this review was just my opinion, you may love it) or better yet go pick up the far superior Perfect Blue

Whoa. Everything seems to click in the right place with Jin-Rô. Awfully tragic and cold story of a man with the nature of beast trying to interact with an ordinary girl. Of course it's all wrapped around political conspiracy plots and lots of references to fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood", but I think most of the time the movie still works quite nice as it is.

Animation is fluid and smooth, soundtrack is beautiful and the few action sequences the movie provides simply kick ass. But the main thing in Jin-Rô is the impossible and tragic relationship between a beast and a man. This aspect is done extremely well in the movie, thanks to supporting soundtrack, great voice actors and painfully emotional and touching end. I dare not to spoil it, but these kind of endings are rare in the movies, animated or real. Bold move, and it works like a dynamite.

Jin-Rô exceeded all my expectations, although they were quite high before I ever saw it.