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| Reviewer: RPL |
Run Time: 90 minutes |
Format: Dub/Sub |
Distributor: Pioneer |
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A R M I T A G E : D U A L M A T R I X |
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Armitage is back. For those of us who enjoyed the Pioneer UK release of the OAV, this is very good news - Armitage III was certainly one of my personal favourite anime series of the 90's. The movie picks up about 5 years after the ending of the first OAV/movie, with both ex-cops Ross and Armitage living peacefully under assumed names on Earth with their 4 year old daughter, Yoko. All seems well until Armitage receives a broadcast from an illegally produced Third type showing a massacre in an offshore laboratory. Without a word to her family, Armitage leaves to track down the assailants and in doing so uncovers a plot that runs far deeper than she could have realised. So there's the summary, but what's it like really? Well, the production values are excellent - the colours, backgrounds and music are all breathtaking, and evoke an excellent atmosphere and urgency. Juliette Lewis (Natural Born Killers) lends her voice to Armitage, and turns in an excellent performance which is both sensitive and aggressive in equal measure. I'm so used to Armitage in English, I didn't bother with the Japanese language and subtitles, but they're available for anyone who wants them. I wasn't as impressed by the character designs however - I thought Armitage in particular lost a lot in translation from her original appearance, and the rest of the cast seem to vary - from looking excellent (in a bizarre way, like Mouse) to plain dodgy... The series also features a healthy dosage of CGI, and this is also hit and miss. At times it lends a smoothness to larger vehicles, but at others it looks badly matched and unnecessary. The plot works, but seemed a bit dragged out - there are several scenes that really could've been shortened, and the direction of the fight scenes is nice at first, but suffer from "cliffhanger" syndrome - huge shot is fired, big explosion, short wait for dust to clear, Armitage/Ross is stood elsewhere. It works well at first, but it happens in every bloody fight scene (at least it certainly seems to) and eventually you'd just like to see something a bit... different? The plot is also rather leaden - it moves at its own pace, and little is offered in the way of explanation along the way (in which its very much like Patlabor). However, unlike Patlabor I actually found the plot compelling and was prepared to sit and watch. This is a rather long review for me, but that's because its such a mixed bag - as an overall product its a solid continuation of the Armitage story, but it still lacks what the original OVA/Movie had. It seems a sad fact that when the Japanese make a film based on a series they try to make it more adult and serious, but in doing so simply detract from the charm of the original, and occasionally just produce something deeply dull (Patlabor again - sorry folks!). 7/10 - Stylish as it is, Armitage has its problems, and whilst they don't wreck the film, they certainly serve to detract from the overall experience. Still, very much worth seeing and I hope we get another. Back to Menu |
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If you like this, you may enjoy Kite - assassins, beany hats and a girl
who can kick some serious butt. Its not for everyone but why not take
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