Perfect cast and a good story

It is a performances centric movie

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, written by Mamoru Oshii (Angel's Egg; Ghost in the Shell) and directed by Hiroyuki Okiura, conveys an alternative world in which the Japanese had collaborated with the Allies of World War II instead of the Axis powers. After the conclusion of this version of the war, Germany occupied Japan in a way similar to how America did in our timeline. This fictive setting allows criticism on the post-war policies of Japan and encourages the Japanese viewing audience to rethink normalised conservative dispositions. The main topic of this essay is to explore the way in which this criticism is formalised in the film.>Firstly, Greenhill and Kohm point to the effect of the leitmotif of little red riding hood in Jin-Roh, namely indicating the problematic aspects of 'absolute truth' as a linear construct (2013). Utilising this perspective is a valuable point of view to analyse the social criticism of Oshii and Okiura's work. Furthermore, this approach has the advantage of presenting a starting point for a Western film theorist, since Rotkäppchen was originally a German folk story, thus eliminating some of the traps that are inherent to cross-cultural studies. For example, it is not appropriate to position Japanese filmmakers in a symptomatic study and thereby attributing Western values to their work (Yoshimoto, 1991). This study clearly shows -as a preventative measure- that it is a Western interpretation of the film text and does not pretend that it corresponds to the original intention of both Mamoru Oshii and Hiroyuki Okiura.Additionally, this essay fits in with the more optimistic side of the Frankfurter school and the associated critical theory. It assumes, in the legacy of Kracauer and Benjamin, that even productions from the cultural industry can be a source of social criticism and critical self-reflection. The Japanese philosopher Tosaka Jun shares this view, as evidenced by his definition of culture as a 'mirror for critical reflection on morality' (Shimizu, 2014). In addition, social scientists such as Shimizu have shown that this definition is applicable for film analyses (2014).In contrast, the original Frankfurter School would label the audience of Jin-Roh as a passive, holistic and homogeneous mass that would not reach the deeper level of the reading of the film text; the upper limit would consist of recognising the red riding hood reference. Any possibility of a more profound understanding would probably have been written off, in which case the film would lose its potential for self-reflection. Due to the breakthroughs film theory has made in the 20th century, social scientists have changed their perspective on the audience, who are now regarded as autonomous and active participants that have various options in decoding a media text (Hall, 1980).Immediately after the end of World War II, there was a lot of protest, especially from the Left Students, yet over the years the conservative policy has been normalized and the hegemonic veil must be broken. In this respect, the film text is primarily a critique of the 'dictatorship' of the Liberal Democratic Party (ironically the conservative party) that lasted from 1955 (the establishment of the party) up to and including today (other parties were in power only in the short periods 1993-1994 and 2009-2012). This almost universal presence denied any possibility of change, as the status quo was always defended. The main theme of the film is the internal conflict between the need to belong - even more important in a collectivist society like Japan- and the attractiveness of change to facilitate progress.The fairy-tale of the Red Riding Hood, here specifically Rotkäppchen - the oldest version of the story, is intertwined throughout the film. Firstly, it is present from the opening scene, spoiler: click to readIn contrast to the superficial understanding of a passive viewer, a deeper reading of this narrative element indicates a metaphorical meaning to the red cap motif. Specifically the possibility of change in a situation where the conservative government does not allow for it and even actively bypasses it. This interpretation is most typified in the scene spoiler: click to read In a collectivist society like Japan no one can inhibit the goals of the pack.A government based on this collectivist system should not contain internal conflicts. However, in the absence of a national army - dissolved after the end of the Second World War (by either the Germans or Americans depending on which timeline), there was a need for other institutions to protect public order. In Jin-Roh these institutions are depicted more radical and violent, but there is no presence of foreign troops, as is still the case in Japan thanks to the 1951 US-Japan security treaty. In this respect, the film text therefore differs from a more nationalistic critique (cf. Yukio Mishima) and only criticizes the internal organisation. In this way it avoids a hypocritical attitude with its criticism on the conservative policy of post-war Japan.>To conclude, Jin-roh is a film text that offers active viewers an opportunity for self-reflection, which corresponds to the beneficial aspects of media that Kracauer and Benjamin highlighted in their theories about film, which reconciled critical theory with cultural studies to activate the concept of the 'passive viewer'.First of all, the leitmotif of Red Riding Hood is a critique on the stubbornness of the conservative policy of Japan since the end of the Second World War. Subsequently, the complicated political plot is a critique of the obfuscated workings of the bureaucracy (similar to the criticism in Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa). It is an analysis of Japanese institutions that had to protect public order in the absence of a national army, in this respect the situation of the film corresponds to the real history of Japan. As a result, the mixture of similarities and differences in the alternative history of Jin-Roh can serve as a mirror for the socio-political reality of contemporary Japan.Greenhill, P., & Kohm, S. (2013). Hoodwinked! and Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade. Marvels & Tales, 27(1), 89-108. Hall, S. (1980). Encoding/Decoding. In S. Hall, D. Hobson, A. Lowe, & P. Willis (Eds.), Culture, media, language: working papers in cultural studies, 1972-1979 (pp. 128-138). London: Routledge.Shimizu, K. (2014). The Ambivalent Relationship of Japan's Soft Power Diplomacy and Princess Mononoke: Tosaka Jun's philosophy of culture as moral reflection. Japanese Journal of Political Science, 15(4), 683-698. doi:10.1017/s1468109914000309Yoshimoto, M. (1991). THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING RADICAL, THE DISCIPLINE OF FILM STUDIES AND THE POSTCOLONIAL WORLD-ORDER. Boundary 2-an International Journal of Literature and Culture, 18(3), 242-257. doi:10.2307/303211

Great film one of the single best animes out there. The story is deep sad and tragic. The ending will leave you speechless. The story is set in an alternate future were japan is ruled with an iron fist and kill innocent victim's and any one in there way. And a group of rebels Who call themselves the sec. Rise to fight the government. If you like anime like ninja scroll or those others chances are you will hate this. This is a real story that is sad but very strong and is a great film. Witch is worth seeing as long as you can apprecisate the story and dialog. And not have to see a shootout ever ten seconds. It has action and its intense and it's well done. And very blood And graphic and realistic. but it only happens when the story Requires it. This is more of a character piece more of a drama than an action flick. But there is a action sense at the start the middle and the end. And a few in between. However it does move at a slow pace after the begging and then is fairly slow till the end. the twist is amazing. Overall this is a very thought provoking and moving piece that will stay with you for quite some time. I hope you give this a chance because the story is amazing. The plot is a soldier witness a young girl commit suicide. And his superior's Say he hesitated and should have shot her on site because she was one of the rebels fighting against the government. but he feels diffidently about and is having trouble living with himself after this ordeal. And meets a mysterious girl that says she is the sister of the the girl he killed and a web on intrigue and suspense shoots off like a blot of lighting. Overall at the end you will feel drained and be begging for more to this masterpiece of cinema. Even if you hate anime cartoons or any thing of that short give this a try its moving well written and a superb story.

I gave it an 8 for two good reasons. 1: it kinda dragged out the emotional stuff a little too much. And 2(the reason I registered to write this review) The movie is overall a good movie but the ending, well it ticked me off something fierce. I won't spoil it, but I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Definitely no heroes in this flick.It's a look at another possible outcome for japan after the second world war. One that isn't so full of flashy gadgets and goofy cartoons. Poverty begets resentment, and resentment begets action, and action begets retaliation. Ultimately escalated civil unrest and the forces that are set up to fight it. Unlike most movies with similar settings we don't get a revolutionary hero. Just more politics, and conspiracy. Gives you an interesting look at the other side of the body armor and guns. Its a very well made movie but not one to see if you're after a movie to make you feel good or happy in any way. The only thing I left this movie with was a good bit of anger and resentment toward the creators. But maybe thats just my opinion.

Melodramatic is what this is. During the first three fourths of this I was bored to tears. It plays the same symbolisms and melancholy atmosphere over and over again with almost no plot development. Don't get me wrong, I don't prefer fast action over a good thought provoking plot, but I didn't feel anything while watching this. The protagonist is the same stereotypical silent melancholy hero that just mopes around accomplishing nothing. I was so bored the first time I watched this that after the first half I skipped through the rest only watching short 20-30 clips and was able to piece together a the story.To give some credit to the creators, the animation and sound quality were excellent. Only reason I was able to give this a 4.Some people may find something to like about this, but I found it extremely lacking and unthought provoking. I felt like a vegetable while watching this.