Rating: Summary: You can win them all.... Review: After reviewing my last reviews of the earlier robotech, I came to the conclusion that this IS Robotech. There are the 2 versions, the original japanese Macross, and the North American dub which are totally unrelated. Yes, the price is great, but that just makes up for the poor quality of the DVD. We all can benefit because of the great price. On the other hand, there's the Japanese original version that will be totally remastered and have great quality from AnimeIGO. You lose the quality of the North American dub....but you win with the price. You win with the AnimeIGO version and the quality, but it's the subtitled Japanese version.In short, for the people who have never seen this show before, it's what really started the Japanimation craze in North America. Robotech the Macross saga has the romance, drama, and tragedy that any great show has, and this 3 pack is no exception. It features the death of a main character, defections of the enemy from one side to the other, budding romances between fellow officers, and enemies, and that's just the beginning! This 3 pack, with the inclusion of the bonus cd, regardless of the dvd picture quality, is a great set to get. I highly recommend it to all, including the dubbed Japanese version which again, is different. You win either way. Enjoy them both.
Rating: Summary: Robotech is back! Review: After the first 3 DVDs released, here comes the second trio and guys, these are really cool! Robotech as you already know, changed a lot the way we all see japanese animation and in some cases made a huge impact in our lives as kids. Don't miss this oportunity to own the complete series.
Rating: Summary: Malcolm Jamal-Warner? Review: Although I'm glad ROBOTECH is available on the digital format- with 6 shows per disc, no less!- I'm somewhat disappointed by the picture quality. Sadly, it's only a slight improvement over the old VHS tapes I used to own. The sound's not too much better, either. But, at least there's some improvement. And if given the proper care, I'll never have to worry about the picture & sound quality degrading on the DVD format like I did with the VHS counterparts. So there's some good news, anyway. Another disappointment I have is the fact that the Robotech DVDs aren't in 'Perfect Collection' format, where the viewer can watch both the American-release eppie and its original unedited Japanese (w/ English subtitles) counterpart. You know, a little something for both the hard-core Robotech nut and the Macross/anime purist. Sadly, this ain't likely to happen in the near future- the Macross series (which was re-made into the first part of Robotech) is getting its own separate DVD release. Looks like I'll have to clear off some more space on my video shelf... Anyway, this particular set includes Volumes 3 & 4 (shows 13 through 24) of "Robotech: The Macross Saga" (lots more death & destruction, and the loss of a couple of the series' beloved stalwarts), and an extra features disc that's exclusive to this set. Probably the most interesting bit on this extras platter is a 15-minute interview with producer/writer Carl Macek on a Dallas-area community-access show. Although the clip is somewhat bland, Macek does discuss the other then-upcoming Robotech projects that never really took off, including the Sentinels series and rarely-seen Robotech Movie, which saw only a limited release in the Dallas- Fort Worth area before it pretty much disappeared from the scene. In fact, a few scenes from the movie are shown here, and are likely the only parts of the ill-fated flick that'll ever see the light of day in a legitimate commercial recording. BTW it's probably just as well anyway; I've seen the entire Robotech Movie on bootleg video. It's a pretty sad sight to say the least... Also featured are brief character bios & animation model sketches of various mecha & equipment seen in the Macross segment. Unfortunately, these extras weren't too new to me, since most of the bios & sketches are also available in the Robotech Art 1 book. But, since Robotech Art 1 is a rare book, and thus very hard to track down, these particular bits are likely to be brand-spankin'-new to the average 'Techie. Then there's the featurette that takes you behind-the-scenes at the 1986 Robotech Galaxy of the Stars convention, complete with droves of geekin' fanboys, autograph booths, toys, buttons, posters, & other swag, and... Malcolm Jamal-Warner? What's he doing there, and why does he have his own autograph table? Was it part of a plot to cross over ROBOTECH with 'The Cosby Show'? Methinks a sinister conspiracy is afoot... Like the previous box set extra features platter, this set's disc includes clips from the show dubbed in different languages. I find these parts kinda painful to look at. It's mainly due to the fact that the voice actors doing the foreign dubs tend to sound better than the English ones! Better emoting, inflections, the whole nine yards- especially the French & Portuguese voice-overs! I'm glad to see some folks still take pride in their work. Too bad it's in languages I only partially understand! Finally, there's the wide array of Robotech toy ads- action figures, vehicles, die-cast toys, playsets, and fashion dolls! All done in that trademark loud, pumped-up 80s hype-it-to-death style that got many a spoiled brat to annoy the 'rents to buy, buy, buy! And you thought Transformers & G.I. Joe toy commercials were obnoxious! 'Late!
Rating: Summary: Don't let complaints about video quality bother you Review: Anyone who doesn't like the video quality, must not have seen the originals. I've seen the show on broadcast, on the original retail videotapes, and on home recorded tapes. The DVD version is outstandingly better than even the broadcast shows. BTW, don't complain about video quality and then call Robotech 'Japanimation' in the same review. If anyone wants to see before and after restoration photos check out robotech.com they have a good selection. If you're reading this then you probably know the show well, and if you know the show well then you want to own these no matter what any review says. So buy them. As another reviewer pointed out the extras on this disk are great. It looks like ADV bothered to even restore the original toy commercials, and even a local access cable show. The commercial with Bretai skulking around the SDF-1 is great. Rivaled only by the notorious 'magical bicycle' line that can be heard on one of the episodes.
Rating: Summary: Great series, but DVD quality is nothing to brag about here Review: Anyone who has seen the series knows that Robotech had a huge following, and was a turning point for cartoons. This was the 'soap opera' of cartoons, addicting people to tune in religiously each day. A great series.... But as far the the DVD goes.... the DVD quality is no better than when I watched in on TV as a kid. Nothing was done to improve the original quality. Oh well, it is still an awsome series.... if a little more work had been put into the DVD I would have given it a 5..... hell, they didn't even edit out the part before and after the commercials.... "You are commanded to stay tuned for Robotech".... "Robotech is back now"...... you would think they could have just cut out that part and spiced the episode together....
Rating: Summary: Quality is more important than quantity... Review: As a long-time fan of the Robotech genre and the author of a modestly popular Robotech novel...I have to scratch my head, yet again, regarding this latest release of Robotech on DVD. Despite nearly twenty years of technological advancement these DVDs are no better than the VHS tapes released by Palladium Books in the late 1980s and vastly inferior to the Laserdiscs incompletely released by FHE in the mid-1990s. The sound has not improved, nor has the footage, which looks old. Contrast this with the Animego "Macross" DVD project which includes digital restoration of both print and audio and one begins to wonder if Robotech's copyright owners are just after a quick buck on their way toward burying Robotech for good. (Indeed, everything with Robotech's license from toys to videos to books, with the exception of Tom Bateman's "Robotech: Perfect Collection Soundtrack" has been sorely lacking.) Carl Macek took three unrelated Japanese television shows and managed to change the dialogue enough to link them all together. In the process he unwittingly created a marvelous piece of storytelling. Though the characters sometimes contradict themselves in words and action (a result of the rushed nature of the Robotech project's production) it is a truly wonderful thing, the first--and probably last--epic of its kind. Though the quality is extremely poor given the technology available, I plan to purchase the entire set and recommend it to anyone who has in his heart affection for this show, especially those who do not have the series in another medium. Despite its shortcomings, this is the most convenient format to date for viewing the Robotech Saga--and may very well be the last, so get it while you can. For those who have not seen it, take a look...you will be pleasantly surprised with what you find.
Rating: Summary: highly impressed Review: as i wrote about the first collection, this is simply excellent. i hope all get a chance to watch this great show. i'm glad that they did the DVDs the way they did them. i love watching them over and over.
Rating: Summary: ROBOTECH Rocks! Review: Ever since I started watching the show before school in the mornings, I've been hooked. A great story (perhaps somewhat cheesy at times, but it doesn't detract from the overall presentation) with memorable characters and of course...Veritechs! Should belong in everyone's collection, wether you like anime or not.
Rating: Summary: A Classic Review: Few people today can truly appreciate the genius, creativity, etc... behind the original Robotech series. To put it simply, it was ahead of its time. Robotech was more then just high tech robots, intergalatic war, and cheesy plots. The Robotech series dealt wiht many issues during its tenure from topics such as sex, gender/race descrimination, interracial marriages, young love, growing up, war, death, etc... Cartoons/animated series don't even compare today to what Robotech was back then. The story line was so in depth, dealt with so many issues, encompassed a wide variety of characters, and at the same time was fun to watch. Discovering that the original series would be released on DVD was a dream come true . For less then 40$ I could buy a priceless piece of my childhood and to a certain extent, see where a lot of my beliefs/morals/ideals came from. It may not be the most technologically advanced anime out there today, but it is without a doubt a classic series which I will enjoy watching over and over again.
Rating: Summary: Keep em comming.....Cant wait fot #3 Review: For anyone who waited for the TV show to unfold this SAGA is a Must Have. As a long time fan of Robotech, I am glad to know that this great work ( for the time it was made ) is finally being made available again. Not only that but in the DVD format with all the extra's and goodies we have come to expect from this new format. This Second Boxed edition is great. Not only did they put a nicely packaged Box-Set together, they added a bonus disk that Iced the cake and made up my mind in a heartbeat. The only drawback is that like the previous Boxed-Set there is not a whole lot to it. The Gloval report is OK, but the interview with Carl was [bad]. Had i seen it when it aired i would have called and complained to the TV Station. Knowing how many of us were in the DFW area at the time we shoulda complained, but is a little late now. Hope you enjoy it. I am now patiently waiting on the Third Boxed-Set.
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