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The second Patlabor feature shifts the focus from Noa Izumi, the heroine of the previous film and the broadcast series, to Kiichi Gotoh, the understated commander of Division #2. Gotoh may never have been a boy scout, but he believes in being prepared. With the assistance of Commander Shinobu, he outwits the officers of the Japanese Self-Defense Force, the police commanders, and the U.S. military to foil a terrorist's attempt to stage a coup d'etat in Tokyo. Noa and the other irregulars of Division #2 make brief appearances, but Gotoh carries the film in his quiet, unassuming way. If the plot feels less intriguing than the race against the dead genius in the first Patlabor feature, Patlabor 2: The Movie showcases director Mamoru Oshii's skill as a moviemaker. Oshii can make an ordinary conversation fascinating by staging it in a moving car at night, with the lights and shadows playing over the characters' faces. His use of flares and explosions turns a standard mecha battle into a striking visual experience. Oshii once again makes the city of Tokyo as much a part of the story as the characters. But instead of the crumbling warehouses of the first film, he offers peaceful yet ominous shots of the city on a snowy night. The Limited Collectors Edition...