ARMITAGE: DUAL MATRIX

What is it about robots wanting to become human? In film and anime, the theme of the sentient simulacrum has yielded some near-masterpieces (”Blade Runner,” ”Ghost in the Shell”) and some ambitious failures (”A.I.,” ”Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis”). Dual Matrix, the latest installment in the popular anime series, falls somewhere in between: solid if not quite state-of-the-art animation dragged down by ponderous musings and an impenetrable back story. ”Armitage” fans will undoubtedly object, so here’s one point on which buffs and newbies can agree: Best, the voice of ”Star Wars”’ hated Jar Jar Binks, needs to find a day job.