Dominion Tank Police (1988-2006) [OVA Review]

Dominion Tank Police; or, Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain

     Well, I wouldn't mind sending the guys out with atomic bombs instead of guns. If A-bombs can deter wars, they can deter crimes. Of course, we'll never completely deter crime in this world. You people gave us the tanks to fight the bad guys. We've known that the law creating the Tank Police was a bad one. But a law is a law! The Tank Police must stay on the front lines of this fight! I'm not asking you to find a cure for society. But if you want law and order, give us more tanks! Don't you understand?! We're already in the middle of a war!

Having suffered from the recent lack of Patlabor, I decided to look for some anime similar in tone and style to the unforgettable mecha series. Many sites, including MAL, named Dominion Tank Police as the go-to substitute. Needless to say, I became interested in the recommendation and ended up watching this old-ish OVA about over-the-top police officers in tanks.
Release Info

Created by: Masamune Shirow Voice actors: Hiromi Tsuru, Rei Sakuma, Yuusaku Yara, Ookura Masaaki, Yuuko Mita, Michie Tomizawa, Shigeru Chiba, Ichiro Nagai, Aya Hisakawa, Nina Kumagaya, Hiroyuki Shibamoto, Satsuki Yukino

Language: Japanese Original Title: ドミニオン No. of eps: 11

Synopsis

Welcome to the futuristic city of Newport. The pollution and intensification of bacteria in the air has become so severe that people have to wear gas masks whenever they are going outside. The crime rate also increased significantly. In order to protect the city, the police department has been equipped with large, military-style tanks. Leona Ozaki is a young and determined officer transferred from the motorcycle division. She accidentally crashes her tank during the first patrol, but she does not give up. From the collected scrap, she and her partner Al build a mini-tank which she fondly calls “Bonaparte”. Leona rushes to the streets of Newport in order to face off against gangs of thieves as well as corporate villains.

 

Extreme Problems Require Extreme Solutions

At the beginning of this review, it should be noted that the anime was adapted from a manga, simply entitled Dominion, created by none other than Masamune Shirow. The manga was serialised and published in 1986. Another manga called Dominion Conflict One: No More Noise was released in 1995. To be honest, I was surprised how much Dominion Tank Police has in common with Patlabor: The Mobile Police, both of which premiered the same year. Apart from the two shows’ light-hearted feels, the main heroine, Leona Ozaki, has a very similar attitude to Noa Izumi. What is more, they both give names to the machines they love. In addition, the great Shigeru Chiba gave his voice to the supporting characters in both shows.

 

However, Dominion Tank Police also has a great deal of differences. It feels like a satirical take on the what-if scenario about the world that is ruled by extremists. Members of the law enforcement are not knights in shining armour and they are not bothered by political correctness. In the first episode, we see the Squad Leader, Charles Benten, reading a guide How To Kill, and two other officers harassing the suspect by playing golf with grenades instead of balls. That’s the irreplaceable atmosphere of the 1980s!

 

The anime, in fact, has three different series that were made over the course of 20 years. So, if you are keen on checking out the OVAs, but you don’t know where to start, here’s the quick guide:

• Dominion Tank Police (1988): The four-part OVA which serves as the prequel to the events presented in the manga. We see the beginnings of Leona and how she chases after the Buaku Gang which is composed of an android and two Puma Twins, Annapuma and Unipuma. The gang is on the service of a higher authority and the small time crooks unknowingly contribute to a scheme that aims to wipe out Newport City.
• New Dominion Tank Police (1993-1994). The second OVA which lasts for six episodes. This time, it takes place after the events from the manga. Leona and her fellow police officers, together the Mayor of Newport City, are trying to combat a series of high-tech terrorist attacks. Even though the police does more damage than the actual progress, Leona uncovers a conspiracy of business sharks who want to get rich by developing the weapons industry.
• Tank S.W.A.T. 01 (2006): One episode made entirely in CGI. It feels more like a reboot or an adaptation of the second manga series. Leona was promoted to the Squad Leader and the Puma Twins are now members of the police force. They work on rescuing a fellow officer who has been taken hostage by an unknown android.

In total, the anime has 11 episodes which range in runtime from 30 to 45 minutes. The three OVAs were produced by different companies so the style differs from show to show. I safely recommend Dominion Tank Police (1988) as well as New Dominion Tank Police (1993-1994). Tank S.W.A.T. Police 01 (2006)… not really. The story is interesting and it’s a good comeback after the years, but the CGI is really off in some places.

 

I enjoyed Dominion Tank Police for the unusual setting (city after some sort of ecological disaster), colourful characters (Leona, Al, Benten, the Puma Twins), and City Pop/Rock soundtrack provided by Yoichiro Yoshikawa (first OVA) and Ayako Udagawa (second OVA). The animation level was also quite stylish and very 90-ish.

 

Recommendations

I recommend this anime to anyone who seeks funny, fast-paced, and action-packed series. 11 episodes will probably fly by quick, but the experience will certainly be worthwhile. I wish we could get more Dominion Tank Police nowadays. This franchise together with Appleseed are such underrated gems from the hands of Masamune Shirow and it is quite a shame that they were overshadowed by the ever-lasting Ghost in the Shell. Good old stuff.

Overall score: 8/10

Kung Fu Hustle (2004) [Film Review]

Kung Fu Hustle; or, From Zero to Hero

     Hey there, handsome boy. Stop. Amazing! Do you know you have a special aura? You're so young, but you have the bone structure... and chi flow of a kung-fu genius. If your chi flow can be channelled, then you will be invincible! Like the old saying: You cannot escape your destiny. The duty of upholding world peace and punishing evil will be yours. This is the scroll of the Buddhist Palm. It's priceless. But as it’s fate, I'll let you have it for $10.

In his review from 2005, Roget Ebert wrote the following: “Jackie Chan and Buster Keaton meet Quentin Tarantino and Bugs Bunny”. This description was so spot on that it ended up being printed on the U.S. promotional posters of Kung Fu Hustle. Directed and co-written by Stephen Chow, Kung Fu Hustle is an action comedy which broke the Hong Kong domestic box office records as well as won five Golden Horse Awards and six Hong Kong Film Awards. This year, this cult classic celebrates the 15th anniversary of its release and it is a great opportunity to revisit the movie again.
Release Info

Directed by: Stephen Chow Starring: Stephen Chow, Eva Huang, Yuen Qiu, Yuen Wah, Danny Chan Kwok-kwan

Language: Cantonese Original Title: 功夫 Runtime: 98 min

 

Synopsis

Shanghai, the 1930s. The city is ruled by mobster groups, the most powerful of which is the Axe Gang, led by Brother Sum (Danny Chan Kwok-kwan). Only in the poorest districts, where the mobsters have no influence, can ordinary people live peacefully. Sing (Stephen Chow) and Bone (Lam Chi-ling) are a pair of stooges who desperately want to make a name for themselves and join the Axe Gang. By a series of unfortunate events, Sing makes the Axe Gang declare a war on the inhabitants of the Pig Sty Alley, an apartment compound managed by the Landlady (Yuen Qiu) and the Landlord (Yuen Wah). When the gangsters are chased away by three retired kung fu masters, Brother Sum hires more and more sophisticated assassins so as  to annihilate the Pig Sty Alley. In the meantime, Sing realises that he does not want to harm anyone. In the fight with the Beast (Bruce Leung Siu-lung), the greatest kung fu master, Sing’s chi flow is fixed and he can now fully use the Buddhist Palm style in order to save the day.

 

The Power of Lollipop

The first time I saw Kung Fu Hustle was a couple of years ago, on TV. I barely recognised Stephen Chow, but when the epic dance sequence kicked in at the beginning, I knew that I struck gold and had to watch the whole film. It’s such a well made comedy indeed. Apart from standard Stephen Chow’s comic style (an idiot trying to talk his way out of heated situations), we get tons of references to other films (Matrix, Spiderman, The Blues Brothers, The Untouchables, The Shining, you name it), over-the-top CGI fights done in Looney Tunes fashion, and hilarious supporting characters.

 

What is more, Kung Fu Hustle is cited at the picture which brought back many famous Hong Kong actors from the 1970s, such as Bruce Leung Siu-lung, Chiu Chi Ling, and Yuen Wah together with Yuen Qiu; these two were the best as the kung fu fighting husband and wife! Gotta love the Lion’s Roar, the ultimate trump card against every opponent!

 

It has to be also noted that, although being a comedy, Kung Fu Hustle was meticulously prepared from the technical side. The Pig Style Alley was a real, enormous set designed by Chow and decorated with numerous Chinese antiques. The fights were aided with CGI, but on the set, traditional choreography and wire work were used. Speaking of the devil, Sammo Hung was the film’s original action choreographer before he had to quit due to ill health. He was replaced by Yuen Woo-ping who had done action stuff for The Matrix Trilogy and Kill Bill movies at that point. In addition, the traditionally scored music by Raymond Wong should not go unnoticed.

 

With regard to performances, Stephen Chow is hilarious as always. He is truly the master of making off-the-wall, heart-warming comedies with motivational messages. Yuen Qiu and Yuen Wah are right behind him as the epic Landlady/Landlord duo. They became so recognisable after the movie came out that Wong Jing used them in his Kung Fu Mahjong Trilogy (2005-2007) and My Kung Fu Sweetheart (2006) comedy. Additionally, Danny Chan Kwok-kwan and Bruce Leung Siu-lung were unforgettable as the bad guys. Honourable mention goes to Eva Huang who played Fong, Sing’s mute love interest. Her part might not have been big, but it was central to the story.

 

Recommendations

If you have a free afternoon and are looking for a decent comedy, then Kung Fu Hustle is the best choice. This movie is so great that even when you’re down, it will definitely uplift your spirits. For over 10 years Stephen Chow has been talking about making a sequel but none of the plans came to fruition so far. Personally, I would not like to see the continuation happening. Kung Fu Hustle is the perfect hero story and its legacy should be left untouched.

Overall score: 10/10

Survive Style 5+ (2004) [Film Review]

Survive Style 5+; or, Staying Alive

     What’s your function in life?

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to comedies. Some people like slapstick, whereas others are more keen on situational stuff. I’m quite open to many kinds of comedies, but when we are talking about Japanese super weird take on the genre, then I’m full on board with that. Gen Sekiguchi’s Survive Style 5+ is such a movie and it is just awesome.

Release Info

Directed by: Gen Sekiguchi Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Kyoko Koizumi, Ittoku Kishibe, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa

Language: Japanese Original Title: SURVIVE STYLE5+ Runtime: 120 min

 

Synopsis

The movie follows five stories that are loosely connected with each other. Ishigaki (Tadanobu Asano) is a guy who repeatedly kills his wife (Reika Hashimoto) only to find her waiting for him, furious, at their home. Yoko (Kyoko Koizumi) is a commercial executive who tries to come up with ideas for TV ads. Tatsuya (Ittoku Kishibe) is a salaryman who gets hypnotised on stage by a performer (Hiroshi Abe) who is killed in the middle of the act. There are also three burglars (Yoshiyuki Morishita, Jai West, Kanji Tsuda) who aimlessly wander through the city. In addition, all of the characters encounter a British assassin-for-hire (Vinnie Jones) and his frightened interpreter (Yoshiyoshi Arakawa).

 

You Can’t Unsee It!

While looking for Japanese comedies a few years ago, Survive Style 5+ was the number 1 recommendation on many movie sites. However, if you expect the type of a conventional and linear story with funny elements, then you are wrong. This movie feels more like a collection of a few shorts, each dealing with a different matter, which come together only at the very end. All in all, the film was directed by a guy specialising in making short films.

 

What made me like Survive Style 5+ is the freewheeling quirkiness that ultimately forms into morality tales. We have a guy who, for some reason, kills his wife and then she magically reappears at their home only to physically attack him in an epic way. There’s a lady with some really weird ideas for commercials which always get rejected. Not to mention a salaryman who acts as if he were a bird and a homosexual burglar who is afraid of admitting his love to a friend. As a result, we get lots of craziness thrown at us and this leads to the only inevitable outcome: hysterical laughter.

 

I was also surprised by a number of great actors and actresses who appear in this flick. We get to see Tadanobu Asano, Reika Hashimoto, Kyoko Koizumi, Hiroshi Abe, Ittoku Kishibe, and Yoshiyoshi Arakawa in one picture! Vinnie Jones and his overdone Brit accent also have to be mentioned. I loved their performances but my heart was stolen by Hiroshi Abe’s small part as the crazy, womanising hypnotist. You always rock, Hiroshi(!) In addition, I also liked the cameos made by Sonny Chiba, Tae Kimura, and Kotaro Shiga.

 

The additional plus of Survive Style 5+ is the soundtrack. Apart from James Shimoji’s wonderful compositions like the main theme or Angel Air, we get to hear a variety of recognisable tracks, such as Rob Laufer’s Go, Go, Go, Yasuyuki Okamura and Takkyu Isino's Come Baby, and Cake’s version of I Will Survive. The soundtrack is so good that it can be listened to on its own.

 

Recommendations

To sum up, if you are trying to get a taste of Japanese comedies, then Survive Style 5+ is the best starter. It has quirkiness, dynamic vibes, and (possibly) one of the greatest endings in film history. Apart from making you laugh, it will also heighten your emotions with a bit of touching messages. In short, Survive Style 5+ is an amazing film and you need to watch it ASAP if you have not done so already.

Overall score: 9/10

The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War (2015) [Film Review]

The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War; or, Oshii Strikes Back

It's a tradition of SV2. Is it OK with you, as the second generation Captain?

     We've made it this far. I consider the tradition as a blessing.

Four months after the release of the drama, Mamoru Oshii concluded his live-action Patlabor project with the premiere of The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War in Japanese cinemas on the 1st of May, 2015. It is the final chapter of the new SV2’s story arc while also explaining the aftermath of the events from Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993). Is it a worthy live-action adaptation? Let’s find out.

Release Info

Directed by: Mamoru Oshii Starring: Erina Mano, Toshio Kakei, Reiko Takashima, Yoshiko Sakakibara

Language: Japanese Original Title: THE NEXT GENERATION パトレイバー　首都決戦 Runtime: 94 min

 

Synopsis

13 years after Yukihito Tsuge’s attempted coup d’état, the followers of his ideals try to recreate the state of nationwide unrest with the bombing of the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo. Captain of the SV2, Keiji Gotoda (Toshio Kakei) is recruited by Kei Takahata (Reiko Takashima) from Public Security to help her find and arrest the terrorists. In the meantime, Captain Nagumo Shinobu (Yoshiko Sakakibara) returns from the UN’s mission in the Middle East and informs Gotoda what really happened to her and Goto after the apprehension of Tsuge. In order to stop the chaos, Gotoda opposes his incompetent superiors and sends the SV2 team on the search for a highly advanced military helicopter known as the Grey Ghost.

 

Shoot for Tomorrow!

Upon its original release, the movie did less than well at the box office, becoming the least grossing live-action Japanese production of 2015. Nevertheless, apart from the standard home video release, the producers pushed hard for a Director’s Cut edition in order to reimburse the income loss. However, Mamoru Oshii claims that he was the one lobbying for the Director’s Cut because he was denied of this privilege for theatres. Regardless of who is right in this conflict, one thing which is certain is that the movie is not for everyone.

 

In comparison with the drama, much of the light-hearted tone and comedy was significantly toned down. Right from the opening scene, Oshii replicates the dead-serious atmosphere from Patlabor 2: The Movie. In fact, The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War is not just a follow-up but also a remake of that classic anime feature. Did you like such sequences as Wyvern interception, assault on the Yokohama Bay Bridge, Shinobu’s demotion, Goto’s pondering about peace, the destruction of SV2 base, or exploding Tokyo MPD? Well, you’re in luck because Tokyo War re-enacts those scenes nearly frame by frame.

 

If you expect an original story with mecha action, then you may be disappointed. I, on the other hand, was quite satisfied. In spite of Oshii’s standard philosophical interjections, I enjoyed the film for what it was and what it tried to achieve. It serves as a poetic echoing of the second anime movie. While reiterating Oshii’s views from the anime on the current political state of Japan, it also gets across the message about doing the right thing. The “time bomb” in the story are Tsuge’s followers and it is up to Gotoda and his team to stop them, so that they could prove to themselves that they truly are SV2 police officers.

 

Apart from nostalgic referencing, I also liked the fact that the character of Captain Nagumo Shinobu was brought back. We can’t see her face but she speaks in her original voice from the anime, provided by the legendary Yoshiko Sakakibara. In addition, I also enjoyed the presence of Reiko Takashima who this time had more stuff to than in the drama. Her character felt as the substitute for Shinobu and she had a great chemistry with Toshio Kakei playing Gotoda. Other cast members from the drama (I’m looking at you Erina Mano, Seiji Fukushi, and Rina Ohta) also did extremely well.

 

Recommendations

If you like the drama and love the second anime film, then The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War is the movie for you. I appreciate the amount of sweat which Oshii put into this, but I don't approve his constant espionage-thriller take on the series. Nevertheless, I honestly would love to see the sequel (though it’s unlikely). This film proves that Patlabor can exist outside of the anime realm and that there’s still lots of cinematic potential for this franchise. Maybe somebody else will take over and come up with new live action films in the future? I can only hope. In the meantime, I will be revisiting this flick every once in a while.

Overall score: 7/10