Rating: 
Summary: Watchable But Lacks Impact
Review: * Fans of the PATLABOR anime series know the basic elements
of the scenario: a near-future Japan in which giant robotlike
"mecha" called "labors" are in widespread use, with a
Japanese police group operating "Patlabors" -- patrol labors
-- to fight labor crime.What PATLABOR fans may be surprised by with the third PATLABOR
movie, "WXIII" (for "Wasted-13") is that the Patlabor team plays
only a supporting role in this film, which instead focuses on
two police detectives, the old hand Kutsumi and his young
partner Hata. The two are drawn into an investigation of
a number of gruesome killings along the Tokyo waterfront,
while Hata becomes increasingly involved with a mysterious
bio-researcher. Soon the two detectives find out that the
killer is not human at all ... That's about as much as I can say without giving everything
away, and I would rather not do that because this movie really
needs some help to maintain some suspense. I have to say first that PATLABOR: WXIII is a well-produced film,
implemented in the style I call "cinanime" or "ciname" -- what
looks like a live-action movie rendered in good quality
animation. The production values demonstrate fine craftsmanship
and the production crew was working hard to
give the customers what they paid for. The script is written in a conscientious fashion to provide
convincing characterizations and many plot twists. However,
despite all the credible work here, PATLABOR WXIII is not a
memorable movie, unlike its predecessor, the excellent and
underrated PATLABOR II. One of the problems with PATLABOR WXIII is that the basic
plot concept is familiar -- it's essentially the old
IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE DEEPS scenario, though it does
introduce an interesting variation on the mad scientist
stereotype. Another problem is that PATLABOR WXIII
is slowly paced. While I don't think this movie would
have worked as a high-gear action flic, it goes slightly
off the centerline in the other direction and tends to drag.
It tries to be a cerebral movie and the story concept really
can't support it. A third problem, a big one, is that by
reducing most of the PATLABOR squad to bit parts, the script
has to reconnect with the viewers from scratch, and Kutsumi and
Hata are just not that interesting. I have to emphasize that this is a watchable movie.
Its production quality is good, and at no point,
unlike many other anime movies, does it insult the viewer's
intelligence. It's just that lacks impact.
When it's over, viewers will get up as if nothing in particular
happened. If you haven't seen PATLABOR II, pick it up and
don't bother with PATLABOR: WXIII. Even PATLABOR I,
though something of a mixed bag, is a much better bet than
PATLABOR: WXIII. One little bit in PATLABOR: WXIII that did make an impression
on me is that they have an American character in the movie
-- a big, loud, and foul-mouthed music video producer -- who
was actually voiced by what sounds like an American. I always watch anime in Japanese with subtitles, and when
they have an English-speaking character anime producers
usually try to fake it and use an English-speaking
Japanese person as the voice actor. It's never convincing
to a native English speaker of any sort. So this was a nice touch, and it also provided some of the
few traces of humor in this otherwise dark film. The
American couldn't speak Japanese, so he had a Japanese
woman as a translator. He'd say something loaded with
EXPLETIVES DELETED and she'd pause for a moment, then
translate it into very polite and formal Japanese. I'd
howl.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't know what movie some of you were watching...
Review: ...but this movie stinks. Not that the fact it had nothing to do with Patlabor at all, but the movie itself was basically pointless. Fans of Patlabor should avoid this picture, but for the people who want to order anime (at a cheap price) then be advised this movie isn't as great as the high marks other reviewers are giving it.
Rating: 
Summary: A GOOD movie but should not be titled "Patlabor"
Review: As an American Anime fan I backed into the Patlabor series meaning I bought the first two movies before I had seen any of the OVA series at all and well I loved the films. I have been periodically picking up the original 2 series as they come out on DVD and when I heard a third movie was on it's way out I was ecstatic. Well, once it was available I picked it up and watched it immdeiately. Now here's what I have to say. This IS A GOOD MOVIE! Compared to most Anime I found this story to be very standard but the characters and animation were strong enough to make it interesting. Following in the lines with the Second Patlabor film the story moves at a very slow pace with many musical interludes focusing on the lives of the main characters accompanied by no dialouge. The animation is beautiful and is probably the best in any of the Patlabor series. The two main characters are well done with the main detective a carryover charater from the second film. Detective Hata is a new character and is the true main character. What was dissappointing about this film is it really isn't a Patlabor film. Aside from the main detective being a carryover character Section 2 characters barely have a role and for the most part don't even appear until the end of the film. Captain Goah has 3 lines I believe and even less for any others. In fact the patlabors are nto even seen until the end and onlty for perhaps 5 minutes. Following in line with the original two films the film is pure story and slow plot development for about 2 hours and then culminates in a decisive battle. So don't expect an action packed shoot-em-up here. For the basic DVD which I purchased the extra features are pretty lacking aside from some trailers and previews there isn't much else worth while. I thought the image quality and audio was very well done on this DVD. So if your a fan of the Patlabor movie series especially the 2nd you will enjoy this film just don't expect to see much of the Patlabors since this story barely concerns them.
Rating: 
Summary: it is as good!
Review: for those of you who already saw ,and know abnout the patlabor previous movies,let me tell you that this one is as good as part 1 and 2.thanks to masami yuuki's story-who is one of the patlabor creators-and miki tori's script.cuse that what really makes patlabor movies so great,the story.and when they combine that with a talented director,they get a masterpiec.
this time around though,captain goto is guest appearing,and his chubby, police detective buddy kusumi is leading the ivestigation,with his young -i don't recpect the eldery that much -partner hata,who we so in part one.also guest appearin are noah and azuma.
it's a genetic engineering crime this time,it may sound [weak],but yuuki turned it -as always- into a political thriller.a military sponsored experiment turned wrong,so, the cover up starts,and the investigation starts.it's the same style as goto's detective work ,but without acting dumb like columbo.he is serious .i really missed goto at the begining,but kusumi is not bad at all.he looks older and skinnier this time ,with grey hair and a healing broken leg.
don't watch this film if you're tired or sleepy,you need concentration to follow up the clues with the detective.but usually you'll end up watching the film again,that is way i like patlabor.
no mamoru oshii behined the camer.it's fumihiko takayama.he gave us the enjoyable city strolling scenes and longshots,not as oshii's,but still good.
if you liked 1 and 2 you'll like this one too.
as for first timers,if you like clancy and doyle ,you'll enjoy this film.
the extra's trailler tells of a new oshii project (minipato).there are also some pioneer previews.
Rating:
Summary: Patlabor in Name, Brilliance in Execution..
Review: For years, "Akira" was the Gold Standard, the movie that you showed to your non-anime fans to turn them into true believers. With "Patlabor WXIII: The Movie", "Akira" is dethroned.
This movie, is, without a doubt the new feature movie anime that all others will be measured against.
It's a movie that takes it's time, in a poetic way, to tell the story of two detectives who are trying to solve a series of brutal murders. Like the best episode of "Homicide: LOTS" or "NYPD Blue" the story gradually unfolds involving bioengineering, death of loved ones due to cancer, a tragic failed attempt at romance by the younger detective, and the realization of age and decay by the older.
Each frame is breathtakingly beautiful, the music is hypnotic and the director makes full use of the Surround Sound 5.1 in the effects.
The Special Forces Unit 2, our regular stable of Patlabor characters are a small but important part at the end of the movie, but their absence is not important. What is important is the story and how it unfolds.
This is the movie to rent, then own, to show others what anime is all about.
Rating:
Summary: Patlabor in Name, Brilliance in Execution..
Review: For years, "Akira" was the Gold Standard, the movie that you showed to your non-anime fans to turn them into true believers. With "Patlabor WXIII: The Movie", "Akira" is dethroned.
This movie, is, without a doubt the new feature movie anime that all others will be measured against.
It's a movie that takes it's time, in a poetic way, to tell the story of two detectives who are trying to solve a series of brutal murders. Like the best episode of "Homicide: LOTS" or "NYPD Blue" the story gradually unfolds involving bioengineering, death of loved ones due to cancer, a tragic failed attempt at romance by the younger detective, and the realization of age and decay by the older.
Each frame is breathtakingly beautiful, the music is hypnotic and the director makes full use of the Surround Sound 5.1 in the effects.
The Special Forces Unit 2, our regular stable of Patlabor characters are a small but important part at the end of the movie, but their absence is not important. What is important is the story and how it unfolds.
This is the movie to rent, then own, to show others what anime is all about.
Rating:
Summary: Rent it first!!!
Review: I picked up this title during my vacation in Japan as a second hand item. Good thing too because it certainly didn't worth the full price. Story is so-so and slow paced... Unlike the movie: Patlabor II, this time, the story is much easier to follow as it has almost no reference to Japanese politics. As for the mystery of who made the monster and why, one could figure this out pretty early (about 30 minutes from the start)... Similar to the previous two Patlabour movies, there is never enough action in this series but the art work is great but nothing is new. After watching the movie for the first time, I don't really want to see it again. Unless you life mission is to buy all Japanese animation on DVD, I would suggest something else.
Rating: 
Summary: Maybe not even worth a rental...
Review: I'm usually open to anime but this movie just plain, for lack of a better word, [stinks]. I will admit that before this movie I have never watched the Patlabor series or movies before. I thought there would be a lot of mecha action but there was just about 5-10 mins of it. It was so boring in the beginning but I gave it a chance because that's how Gasaraki started and I loved that series after watching it past the first few boring chapters. I can dare say that this movie isn't even for die hard Patlabor fans.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe not even worth a rental...
Review: I'm usually open to anime but this movie just plain, for lack of a better word, [stinks]. I will admit that before this movie I have never watched the Patlabor series or movies before. I thought there would be a lot of mecha action but there was just about 5-10 mins of it. It was so boring in the beginning but I gave it a chance because that's how Gasaraki started and I loved that series after watching it past the first few boring chapters. I can dare say that this movie isn't even for die hard Patlabor fans.
Rating:
Summary: The Classic Anime Returns
Review: It's been a long decade since the last Patlabor movie, but the wait was worth it. While Production IG's latests works are more theatrical and original, this film is strictly for fans. WXIII is a new twist on an old trick. WXIII (or Wasted 13) starts out with a new detective called Hata working for public security. Hata teams up with the lovable old Kusumi from the last film to take on a an investigation involving the murder of several people who were piloting Labors. As with the last film, the main characters of the TV series, Division 2, gets pushed aside for most of the film. However, Goto does show up often to make some funny jokes. Sadly, no one from Division 1 or the mechanics in Division 2 make an appearence in this film, which might turn some people off. Despite all those short comings, that little magic that makes Patlabor so good is still here and has not withered away at all. The story might be different from the past movies, but it is still an interesting one. I'd go deeper into the story, but if you've seen past Patlabor features, you already know it's very complex. Mini-Pato: Mini-Pato is a parody of the the original Patlabor TV series that was made not too long ago. Warning: You MUST see the original TV series in order to understand the characters in these bits. The show uses a new type of animation called digital puppets. In other words, it's like claymation, except it's done with cardboard and 3D software. Very inventive. There are three individual 15-minute episodes on the disc. Captain Goto explains the Patlabor gun, Shiogi explains the history of mecha animation and Nagumo talks about the underground controversal matter of (if you've seen the TV series, you'll love this) the Gobi food conspiracy. Supplemental Matterials: This should be helpful to some who don't know much about Patlabor or just want to know more. First off there are three documentaries. One on WXIII, one on the history of Patlabor and one on the Japanese vocal cast. Other extras include a storyboard gallery complete with the original Patlabor radio drama, Say Young 21. Sadly, there are no subtitles for it so you're left on your own to translate it. There is also an art gallery with two tracks from WXIII in 5.1. And lastly is the two minute pilot film. All in all, if your Patlabor fan, I highly recommend this box, reguardless of what others say. If your not a fan, you may want to see the original series and then watch this. Otherwise the film won't make much sense.
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