Patlabor 2: The Movie

The one thing Japanese animated science-fiction films seem to have in common is that detail and attention are poured out on technical drawings, while things like story and character fall by the wayside.

That's certainly true of "Patlabor 2," the follow-up to an original film that did not play in Salt Lake theaters.

The setting is Japan in the year 2002, where unknown terrorists have destroyed a bridge that connects two major cities. When the mastermind behind the crime appears to be a former military cop, it's up to the Tokyo Police Department's Special Vehicle Division to track him down.

The SVD employs giant mobile robots to fight urban crime, but they are out of commission for most of the movie. Instead of a science-fiction thriller, "Patlabor 2" becomes largely a conventional action-thriller.

And while those action scenes work well, and some other moments are composed of spectacular drawings, most of the film is deadly dull, with far too much dialogue that goes nowhere.

The character is top cop Nagumo, faced with the conflict of knowning that the chief terrorist is her old boyfriend and law-enforcement mentor. In addition, there are far too many other subplots and characters that are vague and undistinguished.

"Patlabor 2" is strictly for Japanimation fans. (The first "Patlabor" film is scheduled to be in the Tower Video Store, located in the theater lobby, by this weekend.)

Though unrated, this one is in PG territory, for violence and language.