Jin-Roh Blu-ray – DVD, March 28, 2014

A dystopian future of civil unrest of an alternate history, in some respect not unlike the Watchmen even for its time peroid. However, the themes run akin to the Red Riding Hood parable when the soldier follows the sister of a suicide bomber after witnessing the occurence of the death. As an elite paramilitary soldier espionage and subterfuge reveal a police within the two conflicting police departments. A heavy movie that raises questions about how such tragic history creates even more so conflicts not only within society but down to the individual level. A proper handling of the theme 'wolves disguised as men.'

Just like Ghost in the Shell, the animation is great. The dialog is believable and well-delivered. The music is really good too and suits the movie excellently. The story is pretty straight forward but has lots of little clever twists and turns that keeps your interest. While the plot of the film isn't nearly as complex or substantial as Ghost in the Shell, it's still very good. Not nearly as much blood and violence as I was led to expect, actually a lot of politics and character building instead. I'd give it a 4.5 but I reserve 5 for the best anime and comparing Oshii's Ghost in the Shell to his Jin Roh is no contest. Still, quality film and worth the $30 price tag if you can afford it

One of the best movies I've seen. Top-notch in every way - story, characters, pacing, directing, cinematography, animation. It's incredible how much you're able to gleam about each character: their hopes, dreams, disappointments, etc., as well as their motivations within their relationships with one another. The themes of identity, friendship, group vs. individual, love, loyalty, it's all done phenomenally. Scenes are so well set-up, locations are evocative. There are dream sequences, a "story within the story" that is interwoven beautifully, tons of small details that come to light on a second and third viewing that enhance and deepen your understanding of characters' motivations and internal struggles. Truly a masterpiece of animation all the way around.

If you're looking for a fairy tail - this is not it. This anime is dark.A single mistake makes a Wolf shy away and yet desire?Can a Wolf become human?You'll understand if you watch this.It cannot. A wolf is always a wolf.This anime attempts and does an acceptable job of explaining the darkness of human reality when authority commands it. The individual is lost and the pigs stand on two feet and the wolves are there to enforces the peace.= Thus is Jin Roh.

Jin-Roh is among those animated films that can be considered for "adults." It's slow paced and character driven, there are action scenes sprinkled throughout the film and rather violent. If you're looking for non-stop action, you better look elsewhere. But if you like political thrillers mixed with a bit of alternate history, Jin-Roh is definitely an experience you cannot pass up.The quality of the animation in this movie is superb, you could even say better than most animated films today and Discotek has done a wonderful job with this Blu-Ray transfer, the audio is equally as good allowing you to enjoy the magnificent soundtrack by Hajime Mizoguchi. As for the quality of the english dub, it's decent, certainly will allow you to enjoy the plot.There are a few extras, such as trailers and a "making-off" documentary.My only complain is that the ending theme of the film "Omega" has been silenced completely if you're listening to English audio track, but it's present on the Japanese audio track. Kind of a weird decision for that.

Took a restart of the Blu Ray to get it to play. Played well till about 10 minutes to the end then skipped several minutes. Successive attempts to play resulted in worse performance. Bought DVD version and it worked perfectly from the get-go. Material contained is a masterpiece of storytelling, not on the level of 'Akira' but great, nonetheless.

This has been one of my favorite movies since it first came out. The movie is slower paced as far as action goes so don't expect a whole lot. But once the action is on its great. I recommend this to everybody at least give it a chance. Had it on DVD and once it released on Blu-ray I had o get it.

Just go to YouTube and watch Demolition D's review of this movie. Only thing that can do it justice.Great quality Blu-Ray, amazing animation, amazing sound effects and music, amazing dark and deep story. What's not to love?!Highly recommended ^^

No cringe. No fetishes. No exaggerations nor any raw violence.The soundtrack is great. The plot engaging. And almost everything is hand drawn with no use of computers whatsoever. Handsomely animated.Objectively speaking, it’s flawless. From then on it’s a matter of personal taste.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this and only bought the Blu-Ray because dvds in the past have been pretty grainy quality wise, but this was brilliant. It's weirdly nice to have an old anime style with a better definition.

5* very pleased

Really stylistic movie, and left me speechless at the end. Really cool and full of metaphors

Eigentlich sollte es eine Verfilmung des Mangas "Hellhounds: Panzer Cops" werden. Da der Regisseur Hiroyuki Okiura aber lieber eine neue Story wollte, musste "Ghost in the Shell"-Macher Mamoru Oshii sich auf die Schnelle eine ausdenken. Das ist schade, denn das "Panzer Cops"-Universum hätte sehr viel mehr hergegeben. Die stattdessen gebotene Geschichte dagegen ist einfach zu dünn für einen langen Kinofilm, da helfen auch die (etwas zu häufig eingestreuten) Verweise auf das Rotkäppchen-Märchen und speziell den bösen Wolf nicht viel.Der Hauptcharakter bleibt durch seine Schweigsamkeit extrem blass und es ist unklar, warum sich das Mädchen überhaupt in ihn verliebt. Die Liebesgeschichte, die der Regisseur sich eigentlich gewünscht hatte, wirkt wie ein aufgesetzes künstliches Element, das am Ende noch schnell eingebaut wurde, um zusätzliche Dramatik zu schaffen. Für echtes Drama braucht es aber auch echte Charaktere, und daran mangelt es in diesem Film einfach. Weichen Charaktere von ihren stereotypischen Handlungsschemata ab, dann wird das zwar thematisiert, letzten Endes aber nicht wirklich erklärt. Heutzutage wird man da (u.a. durch die Filme von Makoto Shinkai) auch in Animes mit deutlich mehr Charaktertiefe verwöhnt.Das Hauptproblem bleibt aber das Setting der Geschichte im "Panzer Cops"-Universum, weil es eine falsche Erwartungshaltung schürt: Der Anfang mit einer kurzen Zusammenfassung der Geschehnisse seit dem zweiten Weltkrieg (den in dieser Dystopie Hitler gewonnen hat) klingt interessant und spannend. Darauf folgt eine prima inszenierte Action-Sequenz, aber anschließend eben kein Film, der wirklich darauf aufbaut, sondern eher ein Agenten-Thriller, für den man auch ohne die wenigen Science-Fiction-Elemente ausgekommen wäre. Man hätte die gleiche Story ebenso rund um verschiedenen Unterabteilungen der CIA oder des KGB schreiben können.Das ist schade, denn sobald die futuristischen gepanzerten Uniformen im Spiel sind macht der Film durchaus Spaß:Die wenigen Action-Sequenzen sind toll umgesetzt, sowohl zeichnerisch als auch in der Auswahl von Perspektiven und Schnitt. Die deutsche Synchronisation ist überzeugend und die musikalische Untermalung ordentlich. Die Integration der Figuren in die Hintergründe ist auch in den ruhigen Teilen der Handlung gut gelungen und man merkt dem Film in jeder Sekunde an, dass es sich um eine Kino-Großproduktion handelt, die man auf jeden Fall als eine der besseren im Anime-Bereich bezeichnen kann. Darum drei Sterne und die Empfehlung an Freunde gehobener Anime-Kunst, sich den Film anzusehen. Die unausgewogene Handlung, die immer wieder Momente von Langeweile aufkommen lässt, ein wenig zu offensichtlich auf einen Twist am Filmende zusteuert und sich etwas zu sehr in der Rolle als Rotkäppchen-Parabel gefällt, verhindert eine bessere Bewertung.