Patlabor 2: The Movie by Mamoru Oshii could be used as course material for an upper-division political science class. It is that smart. Mr. Oshii is a literal genius. Right alongside Einstein. Some topics are too complex for words alone. This masterful director has found a way to make difficult subjects accessible to us ordinary humans. Historical attempts at exploring complex matters have been required to analyze all the little factors to the point that years of study are required for adequate comprehension. Pictures are worth a thousand words. A movie is many pictures, backed up by dialog, and as such may be the perfect medium to explore complex topics.
Mr. Oshii presents a subject and explores it for a few scenes. After completing his idea he then lets the information soak in by using scenes with no dialog, music, or complicated scenery. Then this wonderful director examines another facet of the message that he is trying to convey, followed by some more quiet time to think about it. Masterful!
Patlabor 2 was released in 1993. In the movie an incident occurred that was eerily close to a military scenario conceptualized years before. That was in the movie. That scenario was eerily close to 9-11. Yes. I am saying that my reality as an American in 2012 is very similar to the political reality in Patlabor 2. Shockingly so. I did not see any analysis that pointed this out so here it is. View the movie again and the whole thing may disturb you.
Mr. Oshii presents a subject and explores it for a few scenes. After completing his idea he then lets the information soak in by using scenes with no dialog, music, or complicated scenery. Then this wonderful director examines another facet of the message that he is trying to convey, followed by some more quiet time to think about it. Masterful!
Patlabor 2 was released in 1993. In the movie an incident occurred that was eerily close to a military scenario conceptualized years before. That was in the movie. That scenario was eerily close to 9-11. Yes. I am saying that my reality as an American in 2012 is very similar to the political reality in Patlabor 2. Shockingly so. I did not see any analysis that pointed this out so here it is. View the movie again and the whole thing may disturb you.