Reply To: Live Actions & JDorama Review & discussion

movie version

original AH-88

Type: live action movie

Genre: mech, conspiracy, action

Year: 2015

Intro:

This is the final movie to the live action show of the same name. The movie is based on a 2011 novel by Oshii.

Synopsis:

2013, a disgruntled, and dissatisfied Self Defense Force group commits a series of terror attacks on the Japanese government. Their goal is to force awareness to the changes and new challenges in the post 9/11 world, and an increase in military spending.

Inspector Takahata Tosi arranges with the Police Security Unit – Special Vehicle Section 2 (and the russian FSB) to handle the crisis outside the law of the land. The terrorists preempt the police Patlabor unit by launching an attack that destroyed all the unit’s facilities. However, this was foreseen and the unit escaped just in time.

The Japanese Self Defense Force scrample their F-2 jets and AH-1 S&T Cobras into battle over the Tokyo skyline but are easily defeated. Takahata corners the renegade ground support crews and annihilates them.

The heroes are forced into a dramatic showdown. While Akira has trouble with her Labor, the other women fire away at the enemy bird. Akira has to stand in the open and remote control her labor’s weapon by eye sight. Akira, Takahata, and Kasha shoot down the enemy.

Critique:

The movie follows Patlabor 2: The Movie. See there for more insider or background details as they are pretty much the same.

The movie starts with a Hellfire destroying a the Yokohama Bay Bridge. It reminds of the Maverick attack in”True Lies”. Of course this is a movie trope. Neither missile would be able to destroy a section of such a large bridge. The difference is actually explained in the movie.

The terrorist’s motive in the movie to raise public interest was right at the time of the anime movie in 2002 but in 2015 events in the world has already overtaken it. As you may remember disagreement with China has raised Japan’s realization of their isolation and solitude. PM Abe and nationalists have worked hard to raise Japan’s foreign relations and international commitment. Major military projects were initiated and completed. Japan promised commitment in the war against terror, resulting in a Kenji Goto’s murder. As Abe “promised” in 2014, in early 2015, Japan changed its Constitution for international deployment & use of force, and the military budget was greatly increased.

Compared to regular action movies the movie is lacking a bit on action. By that I meant there’s no constant action. It has stretches that look like your regular drama show with long dialogues, too. The Patlabor actions are limited in their freedom of movement. I guess the budget wasn’t big enough for more.

The terrorists use a customized AH-88 “Hellhound” (see anime movie) classified as AH-88J2 Kai “Grey Ghost”. It’s a combined Comanche-esque design (completely different design! ) with an AI and state-of-the-art thermal optical camouflage. Obviously, the design was chosen for easy and cheap production of the mockup. It’s unlikely a real helicopter modified for the movie. It’s neither realistic, practical nor feasible as is. It still looks cool.

The story is kind of simple or rather does no dare to venture for more. Kasha’s FSB mentor is codenamed “Red Golgo”! Onodera is the master mind who idolizes and follows in the footstep of Tsuge (from the anime movie). He’s ruthless in achieving his goals. An eye for an eye – Takahata, executes the terrorists on the spot. Scary! Aside from the actors and their immediate surroundings, some news, etc. not much else is going on. It really feels limited. The air battle is good, although, not as extensive as say the american Godzilla movie.

Overall, it’s a Hollywood level movie with incomparable smaller budget. It’s well done in that regard but I doubt it will please everyone in the same manner as a real Hollywood action movie. It certainly sets a new bar for modern Japanese CG movies. If it wasn’t a live action but a full CG movie like Appleseed, it probably would have been a lot better.

Verdict: 8

Cast: 8

Cast performance: 8