Post by 00silvergt on Feb 12, 2007 16:14:31 GMT -5
I know there is already a thread discussing this DVD's release and that there has been a little bit of discussion about the story and opinions given, etc. However, I created this new thread to do a review on the DVD itself.
I would like to pre-warn that I will be discussing things that maybe spoilers, but they won't be anything that the trailers nor the DVD box itself would have not already mentioned or things a reasonable person would not have concluded given the written description on the box or scenes revealed in the trailers.
So if you are a story purist, then you can stop here. Actually, if you are a purist what are you doing reading a review! LOL J/K
The Packaging **
It is nothing very exciting, it shows a pic of Scott Bernard and Ariel/Marlene on the box.
The amaray cover has a clip cover.
THE Discs ***
Comes with a Single DVD-9 disc with artwork matching the cover.
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Sound *** [/img]
Nicely mixed and matrixed at Dobly Digital 5.1 or AC3. The special effects are nicely done, about average for an animated motion picure.
Music on the other hand is mediocre at best with a recycling to two of Minmei's songs, not Minmei Japanese with Do you remember Love and My boyfriend is a pilot, no this is Reba west songs albeit sung by a different singer; Chase Masterson (DS9) helps, but only a little.
Voice acting was okay, Mark Hamill plays the role of a commander in charge of Marcus, the new hero character of the series. Chase Masterson plays the android, Janice also known as the Hybrid.
![]()
Artwork/Animation ***[/img]
The Animation is very good, fluid. The ships and machs were rendered in CG and blend very well with the celluloid scenes.
The appearance of the CG artwork, though are nothing very spectacular. It is nothing we have not seen before. In fact, many of the ship rendering is similar to that off an old Eighties movie: The Last Starfighter. But it is also reminds me alot of Lensmen with better animation.
The characters are drawn in a hybrid style, featuring Japanese type eyes, hair, head with more American art style anatomy and proportional exaggerations. I liked it.
The review
The Story takes place during the end of Next Generation timeline. Those of you who saw the end of the Next Generation will notice a few things that are different immediately. The supporting Earth Resistance folks are not present at all. In fact, it is almost as if they were discounted by Scott Bernard as simply people he lead to slowdown the Invid domination. So, yes, Lancer, Lunk, Annie, Rook or Rand are not part of this series. I have not seen the final battle for Reflex point in a very long time, but The Shadow Chronicle accoung of the battle was a lot more desperate than I remember it.
Admiral Hunter makes an appearance as the captain of the SDF-3. However, he looks nothing like you would picture Hikaru Ichijoe or Rick Hunter would look like 40 years later after Macross. Gene Grant who is the commander of the Icarus and later the Archangel is Hunter's good friends who is a tie-in to his past. Sort of.
In a short non-spoiler account of the storyline. Basically, the Invid decides to get the heck out of dodge after noticing technology that the Robotech warriors were possessing. Then a new darker enemy is revealed and some treachery.
There story is teenage to adult themed. People dies, people sacrifice and people have desires. Life is not a Disney movie.
Opinion
This DVD is a great addition to your collection. One thing though, you need to get over the Robotech burr as many will certainly be prejudice. Take this as it is meant to be, more so than the actual Trilogy. Shadow Chronicles is a separate series from Super Dimensional Fortress: Macross, Super Dimension Calvary Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada. I guess what I'm saying is if you treat Shadow Chronicles more like Treasure Island rather than Ochuu Senkan Yamato or any other Anime, then you will not have the preconception and prejudices that will discount this movie.
Shadow Chronicles borrow mecha designs, mainly the Alpha and Beta and cyclone, however everything else is fairly original. With that said, the original designs do follow the Japanese design and it doesn't feel like a cop-out Americanize design. The characters are a bit shallow and character building is really not there. All the characters feel two dimensional and flat, but it is Robotech after all. Furthermore this really meant to be the pilot to what HArmony Gold and company wish will be new series.
I do hope that Harmony Gold doesn't follow their track record with spinoffs and mvoies, e.g. the Sentinels and follow through with is series, which has an interesting plot and storyline which has the potential for good story telling. I wouldn't mind if they even jsut make this into a series of movies rather than a full blown tv series. I' buy every volume.
I recommend this DVD for Robotech fans and Anime fans who have the ability to open their minds and accept a Harmony Gold production in its own right. I think the best way to encourage Harmony Gold to continue this series would be to run out great DVD sales figures.
Overall I'd rate this 3.5 stars out of 5.
I would like to pre-warn that I will be discussing things that maybe spoilers, but they won't be anything that the trailers nor the DVD box itself would have not already mentioned or things a reasonable person would not have concluded given the written description on the box or scenes revealed in the trailers.
So if you are a story purist, then you can stop here. Actually, if you are a purist what are you doing reading a review! LOL J/K
The Packaging **
It is nothing very exciting, it shows a pic of Scott Bernard and Ariel/Marlene on the box.
The amaray cover has a clip cover.
THE Discs ***
Comes with a Single DVD-9 disc with artwork matching the cover.
Nicely mixed and matrixed at Dobly Digital 5.1 or AC3. The special effects are nicely done, about average for an animated motion picure.
Music on the other hand is mediocre at best with a recycling to two of Minmei's songs, not Minmei Japanese with Do you remember Love and My boyfriend is a pilot, no this is Reba west songs albeit sung by a different singer; Chase Masterson (DS9) helps, but only a little.
Voice acting was okay, Mark Hamill plays the role of a commander in charge of Marcus, the new hero character of the series. Chase Masterson plays the android, Janice also known as the Hybrid.
The Animation is very good, fluid. The ships and machs were rendered in CG and blend very well with the celluloid scenes.
The appearance of the CG artwork, though are nothing very spectacular. It is nothing we have not seen before. In fact, many of the ship rendering is similar to that off an old Eighties movie: The Last Starfighter. But it is also reminds me alot of Lensmen with better animation.
The characters are drawn in a hybrid style, featuring Japanese type eyes, hair, head with more American art style anatomy and proportional exaggerations. I liked it.
The review
The Story takes place during the end of Next Generation timeline. Those of you who saw the end of the Next Generation will notice a few things that are different immediately. The supporting Earth Resistance folks are not present at all. In fact, it is almost as if they were discounted by Scott Bernard as simply people he lead to slowdown the Invid domination. So, yes, Lancer, Lunk, Annie, Rook or Rand are not part of this series. I have not seen the final battle for Reflex point in a very long time, but The Shadow Chronicle accoung of the battle was a lot more desperate than I remember it.
Admiral Hunter makes an appearance as the captain of the SDF-3. However, he looks nothing like you would picture Hikaru Ichijoe or Rick Hunter would look like 40 years later after Macross. Gene Grant who is the commander of the Icarus and later the Archangel is Hunter's good friends who is a tie-in to his past. Sort of.
In a short non-spoiler account of the storyline. Basically, the Invid decides to get the heck out of dodge after noticing technology that the Robotech warriors were possessing. Then a new darker enemy is revealed and some treachery.
There story is teenage to adult themed. People dies, people sacrifice and people have desires. Life is not a Disney movie.
Opinion
This DVD is a great addition to your collection. One thing though, you need to get over the Robotech burr as many will certainly be prejudice. Take this as it is meant to be, more so than the actual Trilogy. Shadow Chronicles is a separate series from Super Dimensional Fortress: Macross, Super Dimension Calvary Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada. I guess what I'm saying is if you treat Shadow Chronicles more like Treasure Island rather than Ochuu Senkan Yamato or any other Anime, then you will not have the preconception and prejudices that will discount this movie.
Shadow Chronicles borrow mecha designs, mainly the Alpha and Beta and cyclone, however everything else is fairly original. With that said, the original designs do follow the Japanese design and it doesn't feel like a cop-out Americanize design. The characters are a bit shallow and character building is really not there. All the characters feel two dimensional and flat, but it is Robotech after all. Furthermore this really meant to be the pilot to what HArmony Gold and company wish will be new series.
I do hope that Harmony Gold doesn't follow their track record with spinoffs and mvoies, e.g. the Sentinels and follow through with is series, which has an interesting plot and storyline which has the potential for good story telling. I wouldn't mind if they even jsut make this into a series of movies rather than a full blown tv series. I' buy every volume.
I recommend this DVD for Robotech fans and Anime fans who have the ability to open their minds and accept a Harmony Gold production in its own right. I think the best way to encourage Harmony Gold to continue this series would be to run out great DVD sales figures.
Overall I'd rate this 3.5 stars out of 5.
