Patlabor 2 - The Movie
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Movie Reviews of Patlabor 2 - The Movie
Movie Review: Disapointing "Sound Renewal" Edition
Summary: 3 Stars
I was very excited to get this remastered version of Patlabor 2 from the Bandai Visual label. I've been a huge fan of the movie, and cherish my older Manga version DVD which is now out of print.
The Bandai release visuals lives up to everything it's advertised as: The picture quality has indeed been remastered and looks remarkable. If you plopped down the extra cash for the delux version, you're sure to get all kinds of extra goodies and bonuses. I bought the single disc "standard" version and there is almost no bonus material to speak of. But I knew that when I was buying it.
My problem with this edition of Patlabor 2 is in the sound mix. Yes, it's 5.1 as advertised, but here's the difference: The sound mix is the "Sound Renewal" mix which producer Kenji Kawaii and director Mamoru Oshii commissioned and oversaw in 1999. Songs that used to play at certain cues in the 2.0 stereo channel edition that I am used to from the Manga version no longer play. Most - if not all - of the music has been re-recorded with newer synths and sound strange and disorienting. There's also this weird hawk sound motif scattered throughout the movie which is just really odd and out of place? Essentially, the "Sound Renewal" mix is the audio equivalant of George Lucas' "Special Editions" Star Wars films. That is to say, Oshii and Kawaii went back and re-did a lot of the audio and soundtrack to "re-envision" the film. The pacing and mood has changed entirely. For someone like myself so accustomed to the original 2.0 mix, the "Renewal" version is so disorienting, it makes the movie unwatachable. And it's noticeable right from the very first scene. I sat and watched the movie for the 1st time waiting for the music to kick in and it never did. It took me about an hour into the movie to ask myself what the hell was going on, hit pause, and do do some research.
I wouldn't mind having the "Sound Renewal" 5.1 audio track on the disc if Bandai had also included either the original 2.0 track or remastered the non-"Renewal" audio track in 5.1. But they didn't. To compound the matter further for a Patlabor 2 purist (many of whom, if you're reading this, are interested in this remastered edition), Bandai makes no mention of "Sound Renewal" on the disc's packaging. BUT....all is not lost. Bandai Visual did indeed release a re-mastered video version with the original 2.0 audio track, but it is Region 2 and Region 3 only. And you'll have to research on your own whether or not English subtitles are included; I could not find an answer in regards to that.
This really feels like a missed opportunity on Bandai's part. I thought I was getting the definitive Ptlabor 2 disc with remastered video and sound but alas - I am so used to the original audio mix the film is unwatachable for an old fogey like me. If you're new to Patlabor 2, you're not predisposed like myself, and I wholly suggest picking the film up in its remastered splendor. But anyone else used to the old Manga/2.0 audio mix and soundtrack, you should at least know the deal with this disc's audio track. Whole songs are missing or have been replaced with others. And beware the hawk screech!
Movie Review: Patlabor in decline?
Summary: 3 Stars
Pros: Robots, the animation, and less Noa screen-time.
Cons: Too political, Shinobu is annoying as usual, needs more Ohta, constant talking, more talking, talk, talk, TALK! >:[
Final Verdict: A real keeper...as long it's cheap.
Movie Review: A great mystery with Lots of slow moments within...
Summary: 2 Stars
This would of been a great Anime movie if it wasn't attached to a story I loved where all the characters I liked got pigeonholed holed into bit players. And it would of helped had they edited it a little more tightly to get to the frigging point.
And the creator has this weird~ WEIRD fetish about basset hounds. His history with the mutt: 'Ghost in the shell'~'StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops'(where his camera is used to be viewed thru a mutts eyes)~ 'Patlabor'~'Patlabor 2'~'Innocence'~'Sky Crawlers' and who knows what else I didn't see!
The dude needs to go with John Woo and his own problem with white pigeons into a rehab center to fix these problems!