Question about "Patlabor"

[RidleyofZebes]

Is is clean? I don't know anything about Patlabor except what I've heard, and that's not much. I don't buy Anime movies very often, but I found the movie in Wal-Mart, and the box said it was really good. I've heard some things about Patlabor to back up those statements. It was only rated 10 and up (For mild violence) instead of 14 and up like some other things they had there. The movie itself wasn't more that 30 dollars; about as cheap as most of the other DVD's in Wal-Mart. I was wondering if there's anything objectionable in it. Please notify me if there's ANYTHING wrong with it; I want to be able to watch it with my family. Thanks!

[jadestinger]

I haven't heard of it o_O So I can't help you there. Sorry :\

[Roy Mustang]

Which one is it?

There are three Patlabor movies.

Patlabor: The Movie
Patlabor 2: The Movie
Patlabor WXIII (this one is the 3rd movie)


Wingzero22

[RidleyofZebes]

I think it's the first one. Although, I love mechas, and it'd be cool to know about ALL of them! (I didn't know there was more than one, BTW! )

[That Dude]

I honestly can't remember a whole lot about the first two movies but I do remember that they were mostly clean, a little bit of cussing and voilence but not any worse than say, Pirates of The Carribean. The third movie Patlabor WXIII (Wasted Thirteen) is rated R for language...But honestly I've seen PG movies with more explitives. There is some bloody parts and some heavy themes dealing with genetics and also suicide. I honestly don't see how it earned the R but I would caution you about watching it because of some of the thematic material in it.

[JasonPratt]

There is also a whole television series (on which the movies are based); and an miniseries from which the television series came. (Plus manga behind all that, iirc. But I'm ignorant about the manga.)

The movies are as clean as described above (the third movie having been loosely based on an ep from the original miniseries, btw.) The plot of the first movie involves some biblical references, but no real theology to speak of (pro or con) that I can recall.

The first two movies are artistic marvels, especially for the time in which they were made; hyperrealistic and extremely detailed. In fact they look a lot like animated _paintings_. I don't recall being as artistically impressed about the third movie.

The main problem any person may have with the films, is that for movies about giant robots they tend to be kind of boring. They're very serious mood-films about Deep Themes (typically technology, culture and politics.) If you've ever watched the Gasaraki miniseries (a hyperrealistic Neo Genesis Eva kind of story and presentation, without the problematic and discussion-banning thematic problems ): take the action (such as it is) from that story, and divide by two. Maybe three.


The miniseries (and OVA preceding it) are in some ways much better, in the sense of being more entertaining. There's more fun involved, and generally more action, too. They don't take themselves altogether seriously.


For those who don't know about Patlabor: the series takes place in a present-day (or extremely near-future) Japan (keep in mind this was in the 90s) where giant robots are fairly common industrial tools. (They're colloquially called "Labors.) But because criminals are beginning to use them for their own purposes (and of course the military has its own fingers in the pie), Tokyo has instituted its own branch of the police department based around a pair of modified Labors (patrol Labors, i.e. Patlabors). There are actually two such squads, the first of which doesn't have much screen time because it's the older squad, and only makes use of specially modified industrial Labors. The series begins with the Patlabor-2 team being formed, who are being assigned the first Patlabors specifically designed from the ground up for police work. (The robots have no overt personalities, btw; they're just big machines, although there is some serious pondering about whether the love which one of the pilots has for her machine is wakening it to life. Nothing ultra-special ever comes from this, however.)

Unfortunately, the Patlabor-1 team turned out to be a public relations disaster, due to the inherent destructiveness of their operations (not their fault--it's just that having the equivalent of humanoid tanks as police vehicles tends to be problematic for buildings, populations, etc.), so the existence of Patlabor-2 at all was a bare political victory--and a very brief one. The team begins (and remains) assigned off to a hangar as far away from Tokyo population (out on an island in the bay) as feasibly possible, and they're always struggling against doing their jobs and being decommed _for_ doing their jobs. (This also means the team isn't an elite sort of force. Politically everyone knows that the whole concept is likely to be scrapped asap, so disavowables from the police force are assigned out there, partly to help generate political excuses for tossing the whole idea. Think _Irresponsible Captain Tyler_, but somewhat less rowdy and more realistic.)


The miniseries has no particular underlying plot that I recall (though the two-parter at the end about a military coup hints toward where the writers originally thought about going); and the main series more-or-less reboots from scratch. The tone and execution are much the same, though, and the first eps are still worth watching (if you're into a mix of serious concepts and goofy behavior--not unheard-of in anime, oro? ) So if you can find a collection of the original series, you might consider getting that first as a test for whether you think you'll like the main series.

The main series also doesn't _exactly_ have an underlying main story going on; but over time there's a recurrent plot that crops up on occasion, featuring a rogue military developer trying to set up super-combat robots specifically to sell on the free market (i.e. to criminal organizations and rogue states who can't afford the development costs--other nations are doing this, too)--and naturally he targets the Patlabor groups for testing purposes. Otherwise, one of the charms (or annoyances) of the series is that you can never be sure just what kind of ep you're going to watch when you tune in.

(Oh--there's a second miniseries, too, but it's in continuity, and the quality is the same overall.)

The first Patlabor movie happens more-or-less in continuity, and takes place between the first and second seasons (as I recall). The second Patlabor movie happens after the second season (only two seasons, I _think_. Maybe three.) Not sure when the second miniseries happens. The third movie almost has nothing at all to do with the Patlabor-2 squad, mainly focusing on a popular secondary character (inspector for the mundane police force--he has nothing against Patlabors, btw, that I recall) investigating a series of murders which ends up involving a giant monster (and thus, near the end of the film, the Patlabor-2 team, kind of as cameos! )

Thus endeth the Patlabor report.

[termyt]

The movies have a surprising lack of mecha in them, but the first one's pretty good about that.

It a very different kind of mecha show, kind of like a mix between a cop show and a mech bashing show with a good bit of "not taking yourself too seriously" mixed in. It's a favorite of mine.

The movies, and the TV and OVA episodes for that matter, are very clean. No nudity, some crude language, and light violence (except as noted with Wasted XIII).

If it's the mecha you want to see most, then the first movie and the TV and OVA's are for you. The movies go down a different path where the stars of the TV show (the Patlabor crews) become supporting cast to detectives unraveling mysteries.

My highest recommendation goes to one of the OVA series sold as "The Original Series". They are a light-hearted, almost condensed version of the TV series that I found very enjoyable.

[JasonPratt]

True, one thing going in favor of the first movie is a decent amount of mecha (considering that nominally the show is about mecha. {g}) Actually, I think there are many things in favor of the first (and even second) movie. _But_ in good conscience I felt it necessary to caution that even the first movie moves at a slower pace (fight scene near the end aside) than some people's patience may be able to bear.


Note: correction. I wrote above "[O]ne thing going in favor of the first movie is a decent amount of mecha (considering that nominally the show is about mecha. {g})" This is indicative of what I was meaning afterward, though. The show _REALLY IS NOT ABOUT MECHA_. It bounces back and forth between being a 'character drama' and a 'social drama'. (Except with more goofiness in the two miniseries and in the main series.) You could remove the mecha entirely, and reset the drama in any of a number of ways. The mecha are plot color contributors.

From what I gather on reading about the show's creator, this is _entirely_ intentional on his part. He's interested in social dynamics, both largescale (culturally) and smallscale (interpersonally). To give an example for comparison, this is the same fellow who created the Jin-Roh movie. Someone might go into that film thinking it's going to be about this kick-butt squad of elite police officers in 1960s alternate history Japan using a mix of Nazi Stormtrooper and Vietnam War era tactics; some of whom are also members of a secret cabal of somethingorother, doing something proportionately nifty and interesting. But you're likely to be disappointed, if you go into it that way, and not be quite able to put your finger on _why_. (I say 'you' generically.)

Addendum: oh. And in case anyone is curious, the violence level in Jin-Roh (when it happens) is extreme. Serious and non-exploitative, but exreme. Think Kenshin Trust/Betrayal miniseries, but with waist-held automatic cannons. (And, er, wolves eating a girl. Not a plot spoiler, btw.) That being said, its quality is very high. Just not as exciting as a viewer might be expecting.

[That Dude]

Yes it does take patience to watch the first movie...It's worth it, but if you like quick action shows, this title won't be for you at all.

[righteous_slave]

They haven't gotten the sit down focus all attention watch, but I and II were both pretty good. I didn't notice anything other than the profanity.

[GodWarrior4evar]

Mod Snip.

[That Dude]

I just rewatched Patlabor III which is rated R for language and all I cought was the S word twice, same with the D word and H word. All in all I've seen PG13 movies with much more offensive and pervasive language. Still it is on the dark side with genetic expirements and whatnot.