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Information | |
Title (English) | Patlabor (movie 1) |
Title (Japanese) | Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor Gekijouban | Advertising Fantasy Novel |
Notes | PATLABOR (Manga Video, 120 mins, cert PG, £13.99, dubbed, subtitled special edition) |
Classification | - |
Synopsis | |
Review |
In the year 1999, mobile 'Labor' robots are extensively used for construction projects in the Tokyo metropolitan region. This poses potential problems of law enforcement, so the police are given their own patrol robots, or Patlabors. However, the story mainly concerns the introduction of new software for an improved Labor operating system, software which turns out to contain a disastrous BABEL virus. A team including young policewoman Noa Izumi has to track down the source of the virus or neutralise it before it is triggered in most of the Labors in Tokyo. The subtitled movie, clearly scripted by computer buffs, is the most convincing and authentic-sounding computer-virus story I've yet encountered in any medium. This movie really deserves a hard-SF label. Yet it is to a surprising degree a story of human interest, and even has an interlude in which some of the characters go fishing and philosophise. And there's plenty action for action fans too. Altogether one of the most satisfying and intelligent SF movies around- animated or otherwise. My enthusiasm for PATLABOR derives from an imported subtitled edition, so,if you can find it, I suggest you buy the alternative package (£??) which is subtitled and may optionally include an additional 'Making of'' video. The subtitles should be an improvement on the dub, which like many Manga Video dubs has the diminishing effect of making a striking original seem rather ordinary. |
Credits | |
Episodes | |
Release | US:DVD, UK:VHS,DVD |
TV Showing | See the whole series for free? This series may be syndicated to regional cable, satellite or terrestial TV stations. For Europe click here. |
Date | 1990 |
Production | |
Broadcaster | |
Animation | |
References & Help | Look up the latest data on this title at: Richard Llewellyn's Animated Divots, or Anime News Network (see Encyclopedia section) , or in "The Anime Encyclopedia" (Clements & McCarthy, Stone Bridge Press, 2001). Help & further information. |
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