Jin-Rou

This movie is artistic animation. It does not have caricatures of people, use stereotypes to aid character development nor is there enough dialogue for easy digestion of characters feelings. The picture is thick of emotionally charged imagery and reflection, more clear and direct than can be done in live action. For example the fire bombs at the beginning and the reaction of the officers, the tears on Kei's face and breath of Fuze after running all cause connections with the audience instead of the usual detraction anime has.

Things like what Fuze is brooding about constantly are shown as glances into the character, ... you really have to be following the story to understand anything about the characters. Motivations and subterfuge are the grips of the story after viewing.

The animation is dry, on a color scale you would say that there are no 'warm' colors. Much like done in The Matrix or Gladiator, the lack of color is definitely intentional but still loses marks for art rating (made up for in char/enj).

Then there's the story, its very simple yet extremely complicated to piece together as-you-watch-it. I had particular trouble with understanding the back story, its not necessary and only briefly covered by prose. As the watcher this creates alot of interest to me, I am not given the required information to understand the entire situation going on in the government but still take blind leaps of faith into the characters, trusting them as genuine. I do not know if the good guy won in the end or if the country is worse off. But this isn't to say I felt a lack of resolution, I am very content in the story.

The character development is extremely interesting in this story, the use of imagery to portray characters as heroic, frightened, or animalistic in nature is wonderful. To play into the red riding hood theme you can clearly see at times the animation giving birth to wolf like qualities, or with the girl showing true meakness, frailty and confusion. The short dream sequence is quite graphic and horrible to fathom in reality, but shows the truth behind the story setting and how things felt to Fuze.

Hot breath dissipates into the cold night air, with muffled grunts escaping the shape of shadowy figures. Under the moonlit sky, nothing is seen but the stark red glare of a misshapen beast. Nothing is heard but the synchronize march of a predatory unit on the prowl. Nothing is felt but the lifeless icy grip of steel, held firmly by the dispassionate monstrosity as its crimson gaze locks onto its target. And nothing is smelt but the cloud of gunpowder, the pungent sting of sulfur assaulting the tongue, as the mist hovers over dispensed chrome casings smeared in the blood-soaked remnants of The Wolf Brigade's ... prey.

And as the moon cascades into its slumber and the sun perches itself on the thinly veiled horizon, a new figure emerges. Under the pitch-black headgear and ghoulish red frames, the wolf reverts back to its original form. The predator is gone, leaving a man in its place. This is the tale of Jin-Roh. The tale of a lone wolf.

Like an urban mythos being brought to life, Jin-Roh wisps the viewer up and sends them jettisoning into the unknown. A place where alternative Japan find itself in a state of civil unrest. Tension builds, tempers flare and riots break out in the damp decrepit streets. In an endless pursuit of unattainable justice, the people has had enough and violence is the only ultimatum that would voice their grievances. But standing between them, the bureaucrats that dip their probing fingers into their pockets and the satisfaction of unadulterated vengeance, are the Kerberos Panzer Cops: an elite counter-terrorism group tasked with oppressing and carrying out capital punishment against any individual or organized body that threatens the stability of Japan's government.

With swift precision and unwavering conviction, they descend upon the detractors. Giving no time for pause and leaving no room for sympathy, once their fangs sink in, there's no letting go. No pleading for mercy. No hints of empathy. Just the transparent hand of the pack delivering the gavel with a devastating blow.

But despite the atrocities committed by this unit in the name of justice, when their impenetrable armor is removed, what's shown are people that turn out to be surprisingly human, sober in their awareness of their cutthroat methods and expected duties. And it's this unmasking that introduces us to Kazuki Fuse; a man who isn't completely unified under the pack's objective, and the one we follow after an incident brands him with a hellish memory that he cannot erase — witnessing a girl taking her life by self-detonation right in front of his eyes. He could wash away her blood stains but he can't rinse away the permanent scar left on his psyche. And so the wolf is ousted from the pack, shedding his animalistic tendencies in search for answers far greater than himself and for a truth far crueler than the actions his pack partakes in.

More often than not, the best stories of fiction tend to be the ones that tell universal truths. These are the stories embellished with themes and life lessons that beckon back to real world scenarios. They adhere to primal instinct and timeless constants, making them tales with longevity beyond the topical comings and goings of contemporary media. Fairy tales are by far the most elementary example of these kind of stories. Originally starting out as a form of storytelling intended for listeners of all ages (as its original German term of "Märchen" meant "little story"), it's only in recent centuries that they've been narrowed down to being featured primarily in children's literature. And while not very common anymore, we still get rare cases of fairy tales being aimed towards a much older, intellectual crowd. Jin-Roh is one of these rare occurrences. It took the basic structure of the folktale, Little Red Riding Hood, and retrofitted it into a gripping tale of betrayal, yearning desire and fulfilling one's purpose.

But the movie is about much more than that. It's about coming to terms with the choices you have to make. Forgiving yourself, even when doing so only serves as self-pity for the defendant. It's a story about humanity's sins and how we go about dealing with it. But perhaps more important, Kazuki Fuse's sins and his willingness to carry that cross, even if it means discarding what little humanity he has left in the process. And in an almost ironic twist of faith, Fuse find himself coming face to face with a woman bearing a striking resemblance to that of the suicide bomber that set him on his journey to begin with. And so begins the warped tale of their uncanny relationship and the dreaded path they're destined to follow.

Originally intended to be a live-action film from Mamoru Oshii's Kerberos Saga manga, it was later decided that it would undergo the animation route instead, with Oshii hiring, who was at the time, an up-and-coming key animator and future frequent collaborator, Hiroyuki Okiura, in what would become his directorial debut, to help see Oshii's vision through. This decision to switch from live-action to animation was perhaps the best move that he could have taken for the project, as it allowed the movie to flourish in ways that only the boundless freedom of anime could allow. But since the screenplay was intended for the live-action treatment, we're given techniques and refined storytelling that's often reserved for that medium in particular. Jin-Roh, as a result, was an animated film that took the best of both worlds.

This was immediately noticeable with the hyper-realistic anatomical structure of all the characters introduced, the dark hues and lush layered color of the matte paintings that loomed in the background, the meticulous attention to detail to even the most minuscule of objects that found itself littered throughout each scene, and in the movement of the shifting environment that our characters find themselves traversing across. All of these attributes placed Jin-Roh in a realm rarely achieved by other animated features. It's a lived-in universe independent of the viewer's gaze and awareness of it. An almost tangible form that's just out of reach.

Scattered with motifs that beckon back to the classical Red Riding Hood folktale and other parables that were gracefully interwoven between these time-stamps of unkempt tranquility, Jin-Roh rides the thin line of heady content, while still being an enthralling thriller planted firmly in the realm of theater. It walks this tightrope effortlessly, stringing us along with it. And with the violins slowly creeping into the mix and the unnerving thump of drums that echoes the heartbeat of the city, the time spent here becomes symbiotic with our living quarters. Immersion that blurs the line of augmented reality and the screen that keeps us staring through the looking glass.

But the truly memorable moments blossoms when everything else takes pause, leaving the audiovisual cues and actions on screen to do the legwork. It's the mechanical thud of the Brigades' footsteps ringing out in the distance. The heavy breathing and frantic staggering of the prey, feet sloshing through the echo chamber of the sewage canal. Wind interspersing between follicles of hair, faint glimmer of cold sweat hanging off the chin. Beady eyes jutting frantically at its final glimpses of color, right before the thunderous clap of gunshots ring out, metal slugs tearing into the soft tissue of an unwilling participant. These are the moments that Jin-Roh becomes more than just a movie; it becomes an experience. Moments that keeps us under its spell, only to find ourselves snapping out of it when the credits begin to roll and our reflection enters the frame.

In-between all of this, we're given several stories meshing together into one cohesive piece. One of which is a game of cat and mouse carried out by several law-enforcing agencies within the government. Fuse finds himself caught up in the power struggle due to his connection with the Wolf Brigade — a secret subsidiary of the Kerberos Panzer Cops. Each of these agencies partakes in this charade of comradeship with fingers crossed and daggers pointed at each others' backs. But the Public Security division gets more than what they bargained for when their prey bites back. Political subterfuge is met with bloodshed and Fuse find himself at a crossroad that will forever alter his course.

A decision rests in his hands. Forbidden love or the special armed garrison that makes up his pack? Would he challenge the narrative, that red thread of ill-fate that binds the wolf and red-hooded woman? Or will he succumb to the natural flow of the world and snuff out the warmth he's found? And here we're forced to stand, in the ironclad boots along with Fuse, as the weight of his decision presses down on his shoulders. Hard-body wrapped around the soft, warm embrace of fragility incarnate. Time is up. An answer must be given. And we're all held hostage to hear the final verdict.

Jin-Roh never lets up, it keeps the viewer entrenched in the underpinnings of its universe. No stone is left unturned. No emotion is left unaccountable. It presses forward, taking us down every avenue along the way. By the time we're met with our final destination, every nook and cranny make itself known unto us. The world of Jin-Roh shows its hand without so much as flinching in its decision. We're left mentally exhausted but amply rewarded. And while there's no comfort assured to us at the end of the journey, there's a feeling of finality that gives us a chance to exhale burden-free.

But that blessing isn't extended to our man-at-arms.

Despite his best efforts, Kazuki Fuse will always be an outcast. He could walk upright, intermingle with the faceless masses, carry on trivial conversation and be just another sheep guided by the invisible hand of bureaucratic meddling. But when all the masquerading is over and the sun retires for the moon's return, Fuse finds himself facing the truth once more. The sheep's clothing is tucked away, blood-lust coats his throat, and his true nature, the wolf, is revealed once more.

Jin-Roh stands as one of the most visceral and haunting viewing experiences I've had in all the years I've spent consuming titles in the anime medium. There are moments here that still leave me with goosebumps from just reminiscing about it. Oshii's prowess for strong, uncompromising storytelling and Okiura's dedication to seeing it brought to life, made this a pairing on par with the unified work of other established duos in the medium like Yoko Kanno and Shinichirō Watanabe. It was a cerebral experience that knew when to land the emotional punches and when to rein it back to let the impact settle in.
And as far as an anime goes, Jin-Roh's shadow dwarfs the efforts of most animated films I've seen up to this point. There are even moments that I believe outshines Oshii's magnum opus, Ghost in the Shell. It's truly impeccable craftsmanship. A title that won me over with its opening sequence alone.

"We are not men disguised as mere dogs. We are wolves disguised as men."

Haunting, relentless and often contemplative, Jin-Roh brands its viewers with an unflinching look into the hidden folds of humanity's perpetual sin. It's a powerful romanticizing of a classic tale but done so with a modern twist. With powerful imagery that becomes ingrained into your subconscious, and a potent message that opens up the channels for meaningful discussion, Jin-Roh will go down as an unsung classic that will be appreciated by those fortunate enough to experience what it has to offer.

What a unique and interesting movie...

Jin Roh tells two stories. One is the one where the main character becomes the center key to a dispute between the police forces. The second one puts the protagonists in the shoes of the characters of an older and darker version of a famous story. While we are watching the first and main story, we are slowly taken through the second one. The stories to not clash, they combine and depend on each other to exist. The second one is easy and provides most of the character development, while the first one provides the setting and the introduction ... and development of secondary characters. Although not bad at its roots, the movie makes the story over complicated and doesn't manage to fully fledge it out. The amount of information we receive during 100 minutes is too unequally places and vast. It doesn't help that the major opposing factions have similar names. This does not help the characters either. The ending is very good and deep, yet unable to fully give us a conclusion. We finally see the truth about the main character and the second story comes to a conclusion, while the first one is somewhat left hanging.

The style of the animation makes the characters look very realistic and less anime like. It's a win or lose situation as the style may not appeal to every viewer, but it was an excellent thing to do. It also looks old, but once again it does not stand out as a bad thing. Both of these things add to the visual experience, and truthfully it is hard for me to imagine this movie using a different animation style.
I found it interesting to note that there are almost no bright colors. The movie shifts back and forth from washed out exteriors, to the dark sewers under the city. The only brighter color is the one from the 'eyes' of the Panzer Cops.

The sound was very good. Most of the background music was well places and did its job perfectly. The voice actors were nothing spectacular, though well chosen.

There is something else about Jin Roh, that doesn't feel right though, something that keeps it from being an excellent movie, yet rising it up to being an above than average movie. I cannot explain what it is... This is one of those movies that I need see only once and be able to forget it by the time I start watching something new, yet still remember it and its most shocking moments when the right time arises.

Is it worth watching? This depends. It requires quite a bit of patience, understanding, curiosity and a liking of the genre, but watching it will definitely not be a waste of time.

Jin-Roh, I've had this on my to-watch list for sooo long. Finally sitting down to enjoy this anime, my interest was initially piqued by the distinctive animation, and mixed with the intense realism of this sci-fi film, I instantly thought Jin-Roh would be great.

The story has direct parallels with that of the Grimm fairytale little red riding hood (not the watered down disney version), however there is no woodsman that arrives to slay this wolf. What I found most compelling about this theme in Jin-Roh is the idea that someone that you thought you could trust with your life could turn out to be a ... wolf in disguise; I've toyed with the idea that this is also referencing the Japanese government (then and now), or simply lovers and friends.

The animation is what first captured my attention, they actually look like real people! No gravity-defying hairstyles, eyes that would cause serious problems in a sandstorm, or bodies that could in no way hold 7m of small intestines. The use of Volkswagens, German style guns and the Panzer Cops wearing Stahlhelm helmets could simply be put off as the usual Japanese obsession with everything German. However in this context it reflects the political fears of the time, a fascist German takeover being all too real in 1960's Japan. The CAPO troops appear to be a reflection of the special police force formed after WWII, mainly because they were forbidden to raise a standing military force and simultaneously pressured by the US to prepare for communism.

The music is dark and molds itself well to the intense story and characters, however I don't think I'll remember it like I do other soundtracks.

Kazuki Fuse, the main protagonist is the tall, dark and brooding type who struggles with his loyalty to the wolf brigade and the last vestiges of his humanity. With the encouragement of Kei Amemiya his humanity is slowly revealed but is continuously beaten back by the interference of Atsuhi Henmi and his associates. It is an interesting note that Fuse's character can in the end be compared to the overwhelming conformity of the Japanese people, even when the political and social norms are due for revision.

All in all, Jin-Roh is one of the most compelling anime I have seen to date. It is further evidence that a truly great fiction must be in some way the truth, it must convince us that this could be applied to our reality, that its laws can be applied to us. I guess that's what you'd call a paradox. Jin-Roh has been one of the few anime that has actually compelled me to get up and find out what the hell is going on! (alongside FLCL)

Fairy tales have always been an interesting subject of discussion. Is there some sort of premise or bits of realistic semblance behind these mysterious tales or were they simply crafted as a thrilling form of entertainment for our wandering imaginations? Little Red Riding Hood is a classic tale that most have been exposed to, most likely in their adolescence. Whether it be the actual source material or some other variation the story stays relatively linear. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade takes Little Red Riding Hood and spins it into a heavy, serious, and gritty story about deception and politics. In this particular case I don't believe ... Little Red Riding Hood, though without a doubt symbolic, would be the right title. This particular story reflects more of the title: 'A Wolf At the Door.'

Watching the story of Jin-Roh progress felt both nostalgic and relieving. Why do I say that? Amongst the waves and waves of moe anime released with every new season, there is a perpetual need of more mature themes to be thrown into the mix from time to time. Because of dwindling amounts of serious, mature anime, it's become exponentially more difficult to find many anime which are intelligent and thought provoking; this is why I look to older animations.

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade breathes life into its mature themes by loosely using Little Red Riding Hood as a template. There are also loose adaptations from history as well, such as references to World War II, political figures, and Nazi influence(s). By taking issues such as the psychological toll of taking a life, betrayal, terrorism, and political coups, it's undeniable that Jin-Roh is a very serious animation. Unfortunately, it's also not a perfect film. While the movie is good at capturing a heavy, serious mood, it also suffers from a lack of definitive pacing. The pacing varies throughout and takes its sweet time in reaching its conclusion and climax. I believe that Jin-Roh also drowns a bit in somewhat seemingly forced references to Little Red Riding Hood; it's almost too much. The ending of this fairy tale isn't a blissful one, but it certainly is satisfying in its own ambiguous sense. Patience truly is a virtue.

If mature, political themes don't quite appeal to you, then at least the animation that this film offers will. Production I.G. is well known for their quality of work and it's very apparent in Jin-Roh that no punches were withheld. The animation and art is both stunning and detailed for its time. If you're into animation then look no further; Jin-Roh provides an hour and a half of visual eye candy. Sound quality is also quite good. It does its job at adding suspense and a supporting thrilling element into the fray.

As far as characters go, I was hoping for a little more development and depth to characters besides Fuse. Fuse is extremely detailed as a character and you're able to see his inner turmoils expressed vividly. While characters genuinely feel realistic, it's also hard to empathize with anyone other than Fuse simply because they're used to further along the plot rather than given time for development. It's not necessarily bad with all things considered, but it definitely left a little more to be desired besides that of which is implied through symbolism.

Overall, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is well worth the watch for anyone who is looking for a more mature animated film. It's a brilliant story depicting that the hunters kill the wolf in the end only in fairy tales.

I had great expectations for Jin Roh. However, after watching it I felt like a restaurant customer who was served a great appetizer and dessert with a merely decent main course.

STORY:
The general idea reflected in the story is an intriguing dillema. Unfortunately, at some point in the middle of the movie I had the feeling that its true potential was not realised to the end. Betreyal, loyalty, love and necessity are the key words for a great plot, yet in case of Jin Roh not all of them were the work of a true genius.

Some of the scenes (opening and ending acts in particular) are ... carved into memory the same way an sculpturer carves his work in stone, whereas others are better left forgotten.

The references to the popular story of the Little Red Ridding Hood add depth to the story, and that is one of the strongest points of this production.

The internal game between the central and local police is also interesting, though it lacks those great twists and turns, which one can expect from such a game of chess.

What brings the story down a notch is the relationship between the two main characters, which from time to time seem to be speaking different languages, because of what the emotional connection between them is lost.

Cocluding, the great potential held is not fully realised and what we get in return is a very good story, but without the element, which makes the viewer want to become a part of it.

ART:
Personally I found most of the art perfect. Especially the dark backgrounds are worth noticing, the desing of the special soldiers is remarkable and gives the image of a hell-born warrior.

The characters are design in fashion which makes them resemble natural human beings. Unfortunately sometimes, in emotional moments their faces don't give the impression one might expect.

Since emotions are crucial as well as voice acting, for they build the image of the particular character, despite the great background art I, with great regret, feel bound not to give more than a very good mark for the art.

SOUND:
The music is amazing, in pair with the background art it makes the impression as if we watched a couple dancing.

The voice play is very good, though the protagonist sometimes seems to be off his game. Besides him, all the other voice actors are doing a good job, though it does not get close to what one could describe as greateness.

CHARACTERS:
This the worst element of the picture. Supporting roles are more memorable than the main pair. While watching the two main characters in action I had serious problems establishing a lasting emotional connection with them. Simply speaking sometimes they get to you perfectly, but that connection is severed just a few minutes later.

Because of this, in the character department Jin-Roh performs fair. If it wasn't for the supporting roles I would have no regret to rating it even lower.

ENJOYMENT:
The story and art are very good, some might say great. The sound is trully creme de la creme. But the characters are more than one level below what you would expect from such an intriguing storyline. Therefore, they have negative impact on the enjoyment of the whole picture.

At one point you are completely involved in what you're watching, yet at the other you're just hoping that this boring scene will end as soon as possible.

OVERALL:
If you're not into all those police drama, betrayel, deadly game stories Jin-Roh is a great movie to watch. But if you hold some expectations before watching related to the particular genre of the production, you'll get a good show, though without any fireworks.

Jin Roh.. how can I explain it? as expected from this superb director you get a masterpiece movie, why?
Everything fits together to create this unique experience, you start by watching the background story, the development of the events, and when you reach the end everything is unveiled. The story seems good, nothing exceptional, but this is just part of the experience. Expertly guiding the viewer through the events leads to the extraordinary climax at the end, releasing all the bottled up emotions carefully placed in your mind through the characters. Only at the end you will understand what is all about and understand how amazing ... the movie is.
The soundtrack isn't much noticeable except the ending theme that accompanies the realization after the shock you just witnessed, it just feels right to let it play while rewinding and going thru everything that happened.
Everything else is just superb and this is one of those pieces of art that no one should miss, anime fan or not be sure to watch it.

Using animation as a medium often excels when the story calls for extravagance or impossibly fantastical setting and characters to literally jump out at it's' viewers.
Trying to paint drab, depressing pictures with such a palette would seem to be a confusing choice or worse, an exercise in futility.

Jin-Rou makes a profound statement with a quietly unsettling score, visceral images and clipped dialogue.

The ambiance that passes between scenes and the characters wandering a lonely landscape does an excellent job of complementing the film. The art works in much the same way, with people framed realistically and expressing themselves with very believable energy and poise.

The ... characters themselves are withdrawn and unhappy people; sympathetic and pitiable, mis-guided and naive, all kinds of very believable qualities that are superbly acted as well.

This movie makes up a quintessential part of the "Adult" section of animation. It sports no lewd jokes or exploitation of sex in extreme, but deals with the quiet, forlorn sadness of a doomed relationship and individuals destroyed by their respective groups.

Jin-Roh, The Wolf Brigade is a excellent political, romance, drama that is guaranteed to not disappoint. It comes very close to being masterpiece, but it is held back by poor character development.

What version of the film did I watch:

I just re-watched Jin-Roh on Blu-Ray the 2012 released limited press edition that includes both the Japanese, and English audio. Just a quick note about the blu-ray the quality difference is not very noticeable between the dvd, and blu-ray it is not a huge improvement in any way. The limited press version does come in a very nice white blu-ray case, and the menu's are great.

The Review:

... Jin-Roh is a fantastic movie set in post-war Japan that is a political thriller, as much as it is a tale of forbidden love. The story of the film is good it keeps you wanting to watch, and is very original in it its own ways. On the other hand though it is not like tales of forbidden love, and terrifying police forces are anything new. I would say it is a unique original take on something we have seen in many other films, and series. The story is also quite depressing there is little in the film that is gonna give you a good feeling the story is very dark through to the end.

The art in the film is very good it presents a Japan that is moving into the modern age with the scars of the past still very present. From the slums, to the downtown, as well as the countryside are all very well done. Even in the dark sewers where some of the best actions scenes take place the dark overlay of the film is well balanced with good lighting to make what needs to stand out stand out. Overall the film artwork is very dark, but the lighting of the scenery, the bright flashes of the firearms, and the brilliant explosions offset this dark tone. The only issue I had was with the explosive residue in some scenes which has a tendency to make things a little unclear.

The soundtrack of the film is filled with pieces that match well with the artwork, and overall story of the film. The action sequences, story sequences, and dream sequences all have their own specific pieces which help to bring them to life. The soundeffects in the film are some of the absolute best, the splashing of feet as the police run through the sewers, the sound of the special units armor as they run, and the heavy breath of combat come to life. One of my favorite sounds in the film is the MG42 'the Special Units main machine gun' which high fire rate makes for a chilling noise of bullets raining down on their targets. The sound the bullets make on contact with their targets is also top notch.

The character development in the film is good until the story pans out you start to really feel for the main character in the story for the first 3 quarters of the film. However as the whole plot comes into play most of the romantic development, and character development is kinda thrown out the window to some extent. Don't get me wrong the ending is in no means a bad ending, but you can't help but feel like you never really knew the characters like their true development was all off screen.

Overall Jin-Roh is a very enjoyable film that will leave you feeling sad, but with a great feeling of satisfaction. The great artwork, sound track/effects, and story make for a great unique film that is hard to find anywhere else. I only wish the characters had been developed a little better, as that is the only thing holding this back from being a true epic.

Well that is some misleading cover picture. I myself at least expected a well done action Anime seeing the kind of death-troop like figure on the cover picture. But it turns out this is more then a well done movie, but I would not go as far as to say they are many action sequences in this.
Movie starts of with a brief introduction about the kind of world the story taking place in, turns out this is a rather realistic version of our own world, all this drawn in incredible detail. Some splendid work done here. The characters themselves also have ... a realistic look, not the anime type look you would expect. So art wise it’s the bomb, how about the story?

A bit more complicated. You are not given so much information about the different groups (government, anti-government), and more then once I was waiting for answers that were not really given. The movie kind of wants you to figure out a lot of things for yourself.
Bottom line is that anti-government groups fight the government. The government that created some sort of “elite” force to get rid of the networks of underground movements trying to overtrow them.
The movie breaths a sense of “realism” you hardly see in Anime. The violence that does show sometimes is also shown without compromise. Not really a problem cause violence or not, this is no movie for a child, it would be fair to say they would label it as “boring”.
So if you are into movies that can have that artsy-feeling, show a alternate version of our world that actually could be. Then dig in, you will not regret. This is almost a true masterpiece, almost..

Jin Roh is an anime adaptation of a part of the long-running multimedia series called Kerberos Saga, whose author, Mamoru Oshii ( director of Patlabor 2 and Ghost in the Shell ), was the main driving force behind the production of the movie, having previously directed two live-action adaptations of the same saga. Oshii was responsible for writing the script, but the direction was handed to Hiroyuki Okura, the animation director of “the big two” – Akira and Ghost in the Shell. The sountrack for the movie was composed by Hajime Mizoguchi ( who also wrote the soundtrack for the widely popular Escaflowne series ), ... with a guest star appearance from Gabriela Robin: aka Yoko Kanno ( whose name should more than ring a bell- her works include the soundtracks for Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne: the girl in Gaia, Wolf’s Rain and GITS Stand Alone Complex series ). So, it’s got a big budget, lots of big-shots are involved with the production, and it’s an adaptation of a large and successful multimedia franchise –a formula for a Holywood-style cash-cow blockbuster. But Jin-Roh is not that. It’s a carefully constructed and complex story of love, political rivalries and social upheaval. In every scene it is clear that the movie was made with a lot of love and care for every detail, from the story and characters to the setting and visuals.

Produced by Studio I.G., who also worked with Oshii on his previous films Patlabor 2 and Ghost in the Shell, Jin Roh is nothing short of spectacular when it comes to the quality of its visuals. Interesting fact here – Jin Roh was the last major anime feature film made using traditional hand-drawn cel animation only, with no CGI whatsoever, causing the production to drag on for three whole years. Thankfully, the end product was worth the time. Due to the subtle use of brown in almost every scene, the movie leaves an impression of being shot through a sepia filter ( giving it an “aged” look to complement the historical setting ) while not actually sacrificing any of the colours as would be the case if it were really made with a sepia effect. Use of colours and shading is superb, and together with the highly detailed and realistic artwork that brilliantly depicts the turbulent streets of the late 50s/ early 60s Japan, the art direction manages to immerse the viewer in the movie to such an extent you’ll forget you’re watching an animated, and not a live-action movie.
The setting of the story is an alternate reality in which Germany, instead of America, occupied Japan after the end of WW2. Because of this the country is filled with Germanic influences, fashion and technology ( for example MG-42 machine guns and Volkswagen Beetles ). All of the weapons, vehicles and uniforms are very faithful to their historical real-life models, and the street scenes are meticulously drawn and incredibly well animated, making the setting one of the most atmospheric yet at the same time vibrant and realistic, in any animated movie I’ve ever seen.
But if I had to pick a single highlight of the visuals, it wouldn’t be realistic backdrops or the fluid animation; it would be the character designs.
Anime is notorious for its unrealistic, albeit distinctive, character designs ( not that the majority of Western animation is much better, often opting for a “cartoonish” look, i.e. caricatures ). While there are many exceptions to this rule, even the shows that have very realistic art ( e.g. basically anything from Studio Madhouse ) tend to feature at least some stereotypical anime elements in the designs of their characters, like the eyes half the size of the face, crazy hair colours, spiky hair, disproportionate limbs etc. Feature films are on the more realistic side when it comes to character designs, especially those made by Studio Madhouse ( e.g. Millennium Actress ) and studio I.G., but Jin Roh: the Wolf Brigade wins hands down when it comes to realistically portraying people in anime, especially the native Japanese. Every character, from the main cast to the regular mooks, are given a detailed life-like look, with a lot of attention payed to conveying their emotional reactions in a natural and realistic manner, which is of great importance given the emotional nature of the story. Combination of realistic character designs and highly detailed and well animated set pieces and backgrounds creates a unique and truly mesmerizing viewing experience and the film’s level of immersion in its world can only be matched by a handful of other anime movies, like Ghost in the Shell and Princess Mononoke. All in all, the visuals get a perfect score, which is to be expected seeing as they were made under the supervision of the man who brought us the visual orgasm that is the Ghost in the Shell movie.

However, to set the atmosphere and enhance the impact of the emotional moments, the movie needs a good score, and it has to be used it properly. As a yet another testament to the love and care that was put into this film, the soundtrack more than achieves this, setting the tone for every scene brilliantly. From the violent clashes between the protesters and the police to the intimate moments between the two main characters, the music is always spot on, and the opus ranges from minimalistic pieces that only play a supporting role in setting the tone and atmosphere for the particular scene, to large, dominant and memorable orchestral pieces for the few grander events.
Of particular note is the song played over the ending credits, performed by Gabriela Robin ( which is 99,9% confirmed to be just an artistic alias of Yoko Kanno ), and one of my personal favourite pieces in all anime soundtracks. The vocals are both haunting and very melancholic at the same time, sung in a language Kanno made up herself ( several pieces in the GITS SAC series also feature this “language” ), and the song fits the mood of the movie perfectly. Recommended for repeated listening.

As for the voice acting, you can really go either way, as both the sub and the dub are equally good. Ocean Studios have to be commended for the quality of their English dub, especially since most of the dubs at that time were not that good to say the least. The adapted script is extremely faithful to the original, especially since a significant portion of it consists of third-person narration. The casting is spot on and the voice actors manage to keep the essence of their characters as they were portrayed by the Japanese seyuu, while still bringing something distinctly “English” in their performance. Another reasons why you can try either the sub or the dub ( or both ) is that both have a distinct advantage and at the same time a shortcoming compared to the other. Both the themes and the setting are essentially Japanese, so listening to the characters in English takes a little bit away from the atmosphere. On the other hand, reading the subtitles moves your attention a little from the gorgeous art and animation, so opting for the dub will allow you to better immerse yourselves in the movie’s visuals.

As opposed to the universally acclaimed animation, art and music, the story and writing have been splitting the opinions of both critics and fans alike ever since the movie’s been released. And, to an extent, I can understand those who criticise Jin Roh, as it’s a film that makes itself a bit hard to like. The pacing is very slow and deliberate for the most part of the movie, the plot can occasionally be hard to follow and some of the plot twist can feel a bit forced. But are these few flaws in story-telling detrimental to the overall quality of the story itself? No.

Jin Roh combines the narrative of the traditional works of literature and a plot of a political thriller to discuss the themes of democracy, power struggle, social upheavals and is ultimately a harsh and cynical critique of Japan’s modern history and problems plaguing its people to this day. The entire movie is basically just one big allegory for the real-life Japan of that time, and the film’s nature as a fictional allegorical critique of the present day’s issues and problems is strikingly similar to the Wachowski brothers’ film adaptation of “V for Vendetta”.
In the movie’s timeline, after the end of WW2 Japan wasn’t occupied by the Americans, but by Germans, and their influence on the country is strongly felt even years after their withdrawal. While it is highly unrealistic to say the least, replacement of the US with Germany as the country who occupied Japan serves two important purposes. By taking the Americans out of the picture, the movie makes its setting more alien and enhances the feeling of this being an “alternative” reality in order to make the allegory at least a little more subtle ( similar to V for Vendetta which is a criticism of Bush’s America despite being set in the UK ). But more importantly, aside from its role to obfuscate the fact that the movie criticises the US involvement in Japan’s domestic politics during the post-war period, replacement of America with Nazi Germany of all countries ( instead of more realistic candidates like China or the USSR ), is an allegory in itself. The references in Jin-Roh to Germany taking over Japan parallel the political fears of the time, where many left-wing political factions thought that the ultra nationalists and militarists were returning to power. These fears were exacerbated by the assassination of the head of the Socialist Party of Japan, Inejiro Asanuma while he was addressing the Japanese Diet on live television. Fears were further exacerbated by the current head of the Japanese conservative Liberal Democratic Party Nobusuke Kishi who was a convicted war criminal.
The turbulence and uncertainties of the real-life Japan in the late 50s and early 60s are mirrored in the movie but are exaggerated and exacerbated to bring the point across more easily. This Japan is a land of great economic disarray and violent social unrest, brought on by the fragility of its political system and very aggressive economic policies of liberal capitalism that aim to achieve rapid growth and allow Japan to rejoin the developed world, regardless of the human and social costs. This results in frequent and violent clashes between the various militant groups ( who latter rally to form a single group called “The Sect” ) and the authorities, who set up a paramilitary force of their own, the “Capitol Police”, whose Special Unit becomes notorious for its ruthlessness and violence in dealing with the insurgents. The Capitol Police are an analog to the special police forces that were set up in response to the Article 9 of the 1947 Constitution of Japan, which prohibited Japan to deploy any offensive military force, as well as the political pressure from the US to be prepared to fight the threat of Communism. By the 1960s Japan had set up a virtual military under the title of a police force to circumvent this law. This form of military is exaggerated through the Capitol Police and its Special Unit in Jin-Roh. The protesters are all in reference to the anti-ANPO student groups of the 1960s, who primarily protested against the 1962 “Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan” that allowed for tens of thousands of American soldiers to be stationed in Japan even after the end of US occupation, but also fought for improved labor conditions and changes in economic and social policy.

The final piece of allegory is in the form of the main character, Kazuki Fuse, a member of the Special Unit who finds himself in the middle of a conflict between various government organizations in their struggle for power ( namely between the Special Unit on one side, and the leadership of the Capitol Police as well as other security and police forces on the other side ) after he fails to prevent a terrorist girl from blowing herself up, which thwarts the Special Unit’s security assignment during a large clash with protesters. Fuse is sent back to training after a disciplinary procedure, but the thoughts of a young girl killing herself in front of him continue to haunt him, so in order to find a peace of mind he decides to visit her grave. There he meets a girl who introduces herself as the deceased girl’s older sister and the two gradually form a romantic relationship. Their relationship is central to the plot of the movie, but also, and even more importantly, to its main underlying message.
I’m going to spoil things just a bit here and say that their relationship ends tragically. As previously stated, Jin Roh employs the traditional tales to better frame and narrate its own story. While the nature of the relationship between the two has parallels with the classical tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, more important to the film’s allegory is the old fairy tale Rotkappschen ( Red Riding Hood ), a traditional oral tale which was written down by Jean Baptiste Victor Smith in 1870. This interpretation predates the popular version by the Grimm brothers, and is the only one in which the protagonist visits her mother instead of her grandmother, and features the "clothing made completely out of metal" as found in the Jin-Roh version.

The movie keeps bashing the viewer with this tale to the point where Kei Amemiya, the terrorist girl’s sister, literally takes the book out of her bag and gives it to Fuse. The film’s lack of subtlety in drawing the parallels between itself and the fairy tale is jarring in comparison to its other allegories and messages, and there’s a reason for it – obfuscation. The lengths to which the story goes to make sure you get that Kei is the Little Red Riding Hood and Fuse, or rather the Special Unit, are the Big Bad Wolf, are taken to cloud the main point of these parallels; that the main focus of this story isn’t Red Riding Hood, but the wolf, or more precisely, the pack of wolfs ( Special Unit ).
The entire story of Jin Roh, and primarily its parallels with the political situation in Japan in the late 50s and early 60s is an allegory to the current state of Japan which was ruled by the LDP continuously from 1955 to 2009 with very little political opposition. This lack of opposition is shown by Fuse's inability to break from the "pack" in which he belongs, thus criticizing Japan as an overly conformist society unwilling to accept change even when times warrant it.

This brings us to the end of the review, which means it’s time for the final verdict. A superb achievement of Japanese animation, Jin Roh is a work of art in every way. Crafted with love and dedication, it excels in visual, musical, narrative and thematic departments. Slow pacing turns out to be a positive element in hindsight, and the occasional forced plot twist is easily forgiven once you watch the movie and realise that the political games only play the secondary role to the well written and even moving relationship between the main characters and the allegorical meaning behind it all. A sadly under-appreciated movie considering its quality and importance, largely due to the fact that it requires a substantial knowledge of the Japanese history to fully appreciate it. Nevertheless, watching Jin-Roh is a very rewarding experience and I highly recommend it to anyone and give it an 8,8/10.

"Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade" is a work that is characterized by its unique atmosphere and deep meaning. The events unfolding in National Socialist Japan in the 1960s, creating a backdrop that immediately captures the viewer's attention.

It is obvious that the movie is carefully crafted to convey not only the complex political and social aspects of the time, but also the inner world of the characters. The setting, being a vassal of the Third Reich, adds elements of tension and drama, creating a thought-provoking atmosphere.

But what makes this movie truly great is not only the context of the time and events, but also the deep characters. ... The relationships set amidst political intrige and a totalitarian regime allow the viewer to delve into the subtle nuances of moral dilemmas and internal conflicts.

Clearly, the filmmakers set out to not only tell a story, but to evoke a multitude of emotions and reflections in the viewer. "Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade" is a work that can make you think about the human life value , about how far we are willing to go in the face of social change.

In the end, this movie is not just good; it inspires respect with its deep plot, carefully crafted characters, and undeniable directorial skill. "Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade" is a work that leaves an indelible mark on the viewer's heart.

Jin-Roh for me was all about transformation: from a man to a beast - the wolf.
Fuse, a human in Special Forces and a member of a secret Wolf Brigade, is somewhat not fit in yet. He still has humanity within him when he hesitates to kill a terrorist girl. Is he the only human in the pack of wolves?
His dreams and thoughts throughout the movie suggests so. It’s an inner battle that goes inside him while the twisted plot of the movie unfolds and gives us reasons for his actions and dreams.

It is really slow paced and heavily emotional movie, but at the same time ... somehow it manages to be very intense and keep you at the edge of your seat.
Especially towards the end, when truth and lies become clear and you’re left racing with your mind wondering how it will end for the main characters.

Well written dialogs and realistic personalities makes you really care what happens to them.

Music is simply fascinating. From the opening scene I already knew I’m in for the something that will leave me thinking about. For me, sound is one of the most important aspects of any movie, especially if it is as emotional as this one.

Great and realistic characters, well written dialog, not straight forward story line and dark atmosphere makes Jin-Roh a remarkable experience.

10/10

originally written for www.mykkanime.tumblr.com

A twisted little red riding hood story, even though the action is quite good, it's not enough to entertain you further that's why it Bored me because of the Drama that comes along with it wich is Are very Looooong Boring Dialogues.

This is a perfect 10. The story, the atmosphere, the characters and their motivation, the subtlety, the sheer brilliance of narration, and the ending - a brilliant ending honestly - are all matched with a lot of sincerity.

On the whole, I think that the tone was the prize winning point of this movie. And for that reason alone, I will definitely recommend this anime.

Jin-Roh is a political/military drama centered in a fictional post-WWII environment where a Japanese special ops soldier named Kazuki Fuse develops a relationship with the sister of a young suicide bomber whose death torments him after becoming a witness to it.

It's a traditional theme about a desensitized soldier who has to cope between the comfort of his work and his former humanistic desires. As the title implies, it's a man having to choose between his constantly swaying identity of a soldier and a human being.

When it comes to plot, Jin-Roh doesn't really surprise. It's a very competent take on a familiar story that still doesn't ... rise to the most affecting war dramas. A large part of this is that it can't decide between being character-driven (which it should be) and being politically-driven (which it shouldn't). Too much of Jin-Roh's delicate running time is focused on the meetings and other discussions of various political suits and organizations, and much of this isn't interesting because the setting is largely fictional, and it's clear Fuse's personality and relationship are always at the center of the movie, regardless. This clash comes to a head near the end, as the motivations of indistinguishable factions risk taking precedence over some more interesting personal motivations.

Since Fuse is such a stoic soldier type, we get very little characterization verbally, and we're left determining his personality through his interactions with Kei and his tormenting dream sequences. Unfortunately, there isn't much beyond what meets the eye here since we're given so little to work with with the aforementioned political overtones demanding so much of the script.

But, wait! Jin-Roh lays its cards on the plot table and reveals it has a pretty damn good hand regardless. Not only do we have the legendary Mamoru Oshii of Ghost in the Shell and Patlabor fame, but also Yoko Kanno of... everything fame. Though directed by the far less known Hiroyuki Okiura, this feels completely like an Oshii work - understandable, since he wrote it.

Oshii delivers not only the political conspiracy plots he's known for, but also great attention to the setting's realism and plausibility. 1950s Japan is draped in sepia tones, and the volatile borderline-militia atmosphere is reflected in the eerie greyness emanating from the surprisingly empty city. Accompanied by Kanno's slow, subtle orchestral score this creates a dreary and uneasy air to the whole movie that elevates Jin-Roh beyond a standard soldier story and captivates where the characters, storyline premise, and their developments may not.

Your reaction to Jin-Roh will thus be dependent on how much a strong atmosphere can fill in a lacking script. If you're more easily moved by strong animation, art, and music, then Jin-Roh can deliver a good number of effective scenes that can chill to the bone when it's not too busy being, well, boring. Though there's still the after feeling that some potential went to waste, this is overall a quality effort that's bound to resonate strongly with specific people.

Jin-Roh should be must-watch movie if you're really into Anime and like elements from the science-fiction gerne or militairy series. I would for instance recommend this to people who liked Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.

But it's definitely not your anime for anybody, that seems clear.

Story: Dramatic and intoxicating, the silence and then the "loud action" was intriguing. Everybody should know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, "Rotkäppchen" in German. A diferent interpretation of Rotkäppchen is used here. The aspects of the psychology of the wolf are worthwhile to witness, the story is also told in a way, that I didn't even ... want to pause the movie for one minute. But others may not think like this, because it is very slow-paced on some parts. I on the other hand find this very befitting of the athmosphere.9/10

Art: Realistic and good, it is almost unusual to see an anime movie with art and actions being displayed this realistic. It's almost outstanding, 9/10

Sound: Especially the ending theme really got to me. It broke me down to pieces....
The silence...was something which showed more emotion than almost any other dialogue scenes I ever saw. The score is very good. 8/10

Character: 10/10. 'nuff said. But most of you will probably disagree with this rating. Still....wah!

Enjoyment: Wonderful. Just something you have to see once. I couldn't look away for a second. 9/10

Overall: The realism and story made this movie one I will always remember. 10/10

Jih-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is a visually impressive anime movie, the problem being that it's too visually impressive and as a result the plot and characters seem like more of a side. You're essentially going to see an art gallery with this movie so get ready.

Story 5/10: The plot of Jin-Roh is this, in an alternate reality Japan was conquered by Germany during the second world war (unfortunately they don't go into details about this, which might have made the story more compelling) and now a terrorist organization call the Sect are fighting against the police, but the police are almost useless against these guys ... with makeshift bombs and WWII era weaponry. Enter the Capital police, a special unit of heavily armored badasses armed with German LMG's. Fuse (A member of the capital police who was recently gunning down several men) encounters a girl in the sewer who suicide bombs him (he survives.) Later he encounters a girl who is the sister of the suicide bomber. That's as far as I'll go into the plot so I don't spoil it, on paper this plot seems good right? Well maybe not to you but to me it seemed like an interesting concept, the problem is the actual execution of this plot. The story is slow paced (much more then it should be) and at times it almost seems like the film has completely forsaken the plot just to show off the art.

Art 9/10: As stated before Jin-Roh is visually impressive, the movement is nice and fluid (almost on the same level that Akira's was) and it's obvious that great attention to detail was taken with the film. There is not a single scene of black background or speed lines, the animators (might I add that almost everything in this film is hand-drawn) went to great lengths to make sure every background, every character, every single miscellaneous thing was drawn perfectly, and as a result every scene looks amazing. One other thing I want to add is the character designs (I feel it would be more appropriate under art rather then characters,) the characters in Jin-Roh do look good, the capital police look downright terrifying, but the biggest thing that struck my eye was the realism of the designs. The characters actually looked like they were Asian, they didn't have massive eyes or pink hair, they simply looks so realistic it's as if they were painted based of real people, and let me tell you after watching countless modern anime where all the characters look like they were born in Chernobyl this is a breath of fresh air and it smells damn good.

Sound 7/10: Jin-Roh's soundtrack is kind of a hit and miss, the miss comes from the more action oriented music, it's simply so generic and forgettable that is has absolutely no reason to exist other then to provide extra noise so the audience is afraid they've gone deaf (which is pointless since during the action scenes you're gonna constantly hear footsteps and machine gun fire, which will generally drown out the music anyway.) However it's the slower more somber songs that will truly get you, many of these songs seem to have been done with a piano and various string instruments and the result is quite awe-inspiring, especially the end credits song (no, that's not a "hooray it's over" joke) which sound almost like an old Slavic church hymn, the only words that can describe them are beautiful. Now I generally talk about the voice acting however I'm afraid I'm going to have to pass on that this time, I didn't manage to see the dub and when it comes to the sub I'm generally to busy trying to read the subtitles to pay too much attention to the actual voice acting, therefore any rating I give it would be unfair.

Characters 6/10: There is one problem with the characters in Jin-Roh, only one of them really matters. Fuse, the main character of the film could hardly be called a "good guy," but he's also not a villain, and this is what I love, he's a shade of grey character who just follows orders. It's almost like he's more of an animal then a human being, however this is one of Fuse's major characteristics, through-out the film it is shown how Fuse is constantly struggling within two world (metaphorically speaking of course,) one in which he is a human, and the other in which he is ravenous wolf who kills simply because it is all he has ever been told to do. It's this constant struggle as well as trying to coup with the psychological trauma of seeing a little girl kill herself in front of him that makes Fuse such a great characters. This would be nice if any of the other characters were really shown in more light as well, sure the other characters have personalities and some have small backgrounds, however the main focus of the story is only ever on Fuse and his struggles. As good a character as Fuse is you can't simply make the story only about one person and only have other characters as background characters who don't really contribute much to the story, which is why I have reduced the score to six.

Enjoyment 8/10: Jin-Roh might be slow paced at times, however there is a great amount of enjoyment to be had from all kinds of viewers. Some will like the romance between Fuse and the suicide bombers sister, other will like the portrayal of Fuses struggles with his memories and instincts, and others will love one thing, the action scenes. Jih-Roh has amazing action scenes that are extreme while still managing to stay down to earth and realistic, action buffs will love the parts where Sect groups are being blown all the way into the devils raspberry red asshole with the capital polices big old MG-42's in beautifully fluid motions. Sight to see my friends.

Overall 7/10: All in all, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is a fairly decent movie and most anime fans (and people who watch anime only once in a while) will find something to like about it. So I would recommend you watch it, it may not (and probably will not) be your favourite anime movie but you will most likely enjoy it to a certain degree.

*i rarely write reviews so bear with me if it's not so good*
Jin Roh is the masterpiece of Japanese animation. This anime is one of the reasons I started watching anime in the first place. this is not a simple-minded Hollywood style happy-ending story. There are not so many dialogs in the anime, but every word and action have a deep meaning
if you are only into mainstream battle animes (like bleach, naruto and so on) this anime might not be for you.
I gave top scores to this anime simple because I can't find anything that it's lacking. i would also say that this is not ... an anime for kids.

i think that also special attention and respect should be given to the music in this anime. it has some of the best soundtracks which i know. I think that Jin Roh would simply not be complete without its soundtrack.

Mamoru Oshii is well known for his work on the Ghost in the Shell films. However, most people don't really know what other works he has been credited for. Sadly, it appears none of his other films have reached a western audience. If there was a film apart from the Ghost in the Shell series that he should be known for, it's this one.

Jin-Roh The Wolf Brigade is a film set in an alternative universe where Japan has gone to extreme lengths to rebuild itself after WW2. Within this dystopian backdrop, we meet Fuse; a soldier struggling to find himself, and Amemiya; a woman ... mourning the death of her sister. This is as far as I can go without delving into spoiler territory.

The story of Jin Roh is delivered without much dialogue. The storytelling is subtle, relying on imagery and sound, or lack of sound, to convey its message. The pacing is slow, but at no point is it boring. Contrary to the trailer, this film is all about building tension. The action sequences are few and far between and the violence is definitely not glorified. Instead, the action is brutal and realistic. Jin Roh is captivating from beginning to end.

One of the major highlights for this film is its sound department. The soundtrack was composed by Hajime Mizoguchi, who is credited for working on other projects such as Escaflowne and Texhnolyze. His work here is marvellous, especially the most notable track; Grace Omega. What shines the most are the sound effects themselves. Each gunshot sounds powerful and destructive, giving a real sense of fear during the action scenes. Watching this film is incredibly pleasing for the ears.

The animation quality in Jin Roh is just as high as its sound. The movements are fluid and the cinematography is fantastic. The are sets the tone; everything is dark and dreary. The characters themselves have a distinct Japanese look to them, making them feel real, as if this story could occur in Japan. The designs of the military armour are the stand out, as seen on the poster art used on this site. Not only is the design menacing, but it instantly lets the viewer know that the government has militarized the police to oppress the people. Then there's the gun porn, which speaks for itself.

The focus of Jin Roh is not the political commentary, but instead the lead two characters. The question this films asks the viewer and its characters is how would you survive in the situation presented to you. Can you change who you are to survive, or simply run away? Here is where my only criticism for the film comes in. The film likes to be very in your face with the Little Red Riding Hood narrative. While the narrative is completely relevant to the film, it suffers from constantly reminding the viewer that this connection exists. Nevertheless, the film is masterful in exploring many themes while staying focused on its plot and characters.

I can understand that some people may not enjoy this film due to its pacing and having expectations that it should be more action packed. However, for everyone else, this is a must-see film. Jin Roh is a gem that will survive the test of time.