Review of Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999) by Nicholas D — 29 Jul 2008

I don't know what I was expecting from this movie. Probably badass action, from the look of the Capitol Police, but that's definitely not what I got. I won't make the argument that what this movie is is better than that could have been, but it's still damned good. I definitely didn't expect to find something as deep and interesting as this.

If you don't like dark movies, slow movies, or movies with unhappy ending, don't see this. The pacing isn't that great. It kinda ponders along and could've benefitted from a little bit shorter of a run-time. The ending was completely unexpected, because, by this time, I hadn't quite fully understood that the movie was a modern version of Little Red Riding Hood. The wolf doesn't hesitate to betray what human emotions he has.

It can get confusing, at times. Some of the more dialogue heavy scenes between department heads who you're never properly introduced to can sail over your head. However, as the action plays out, everything they talk about becomes clear through normal progression of the movie, and kinda makes all the verbal exposition unnecessary. They speak in metaphors involving wolves and humans a little too much. It's like they're pummeling you with the theme of the movie just in case you don't get it.

The animation was very detailed and nice looking. It wasn't very fluid, but it wasn't a kinetic kind of movie that necessitates fluid animation.

Overall it's a very good film and worth watching if you've got the patience and the emotional fortitude to not be perturbed by such a dark ending.