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Patlabor 2: The Movie
機動警察パトレイバー 2 the Movie
1993 116 min Japan PG-13 16+
★7.3
Animation, Science Fiction, Action, Thriller
Director: Mamoru Oshii
💬 Based on the comic
«Patlabor»
byMasami Yūki
Trailers
Description
A Japanese police unit who use giant anthropomorphic robots (called Labors) is caught up in a political struggle between the civilian authorities and the military when a terrorist act is blamed on an Air Force jet. With the aid of a government agent, the team gets close to a terrorist leader to stop things from going out of control when after the military is impelled to impose martial law.
Budget:
$2M
Starring
Mîna Tominaga
Actor
Briony Glassco
Actor
Julie Ann Taylor
Actor
Awards
1 win total
Key opinion
Patlabor 2: The Movie is a meditative, highly intellectual political thriller that serves as a profound meditation on systemic stability and the fragility of peace. It transcends the traditional anime medium, offering a complex, atmospheric experience that reflects the historical and economic anxieties of early 1990s Japan.
| Score | Kenji Kawai’s pulsating score effectively enhances the film's meditative and hypnotic atmosphere. | |
| Cinematography | The visuals are strikingly beautiful, utilizing a contemplative style that elevates the film beyond conventional animation. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay offers a deeply intellectual probe into systemic stability and political chaos, functioning as a sophisticated experiment in philosophy. | |
| Pacing | The narrative utilizes a wave-like, deliberate tempo that rewards viewers seeking reflection, though it diverges sharply from the high-energy pacing expected in typical action films. | |
| Accessibility | While prior franchise knowledge is helpful for context, the film stands as an accessible work for newcomers because it prioritizes standalone political concepts over linear narrative continuity. |