Rating: Summary: Great DVD especially for a classic show. Review: If you like the classic anime then these are the DVDs to get. Ydo not just get Battle of the Planets version but also the Gatchaman & G-Force. ALL THREE SERIES!!!! I can't understand how anyone can complain. Definitely one of the few classic series done right the first time.I tried to be more brief than the other long winded brief guy below. ;)
Rating: Summary: Alot of fun. Review: Is the Japanese Gatchaman versions better? Sure to an adult they are. But when I was 10 getting up on a Saturday morning to watch it the American version is what I saw and I couldn't get enough of it. I didn't buy this DVD to get the Japanese version although they are very interesting and I do like them more. But I bought it as something from my youth. A show that I just couldn't get enough of and something to share with my kids. Sure 7-Zark-7 is campy beyond belief. But I don't mind. For now I will show kids the American version with it's more family ideals and when they are a little older they can watch whichever version they want. I was just happy that the Americans did a version. Because if they didn't then I probobly would not have seen it as a kid and found a love for anime.
Rating: Summary: It has Returned!! Review: It has finally come back, I got hooked on G-Force on the Cartoon Network, then they took it off. I thought I was the only person who knew about it but I'm not and I can watch it again. I never saw battle of the Planets, but I like G-Force and Gatchaman was better than I thought. The Animation may not be what we have today but that is what I really like about it. If you like Speed Racer, G-Force, Battle of the Planets. Get it now!!
Rating: Summary: Compare and Contrast! Review: It's about time someone put out this great cartoon series on DVD! It sure beats shelling out the several thousand dollars that the Japanese Laserdiscs are demanding. THANK YOU, Rhino!!! I think it was a stroke of brilliance on the part of Rhino to team up episodes of Battle of the Planets with the corresponding G-Force (Turnerized version of the show) and Gatchaman (orignal Japanese version) episodes. This gives the viewer the ability to see how the show was ORIGINALLY envisioned as Gatchaman (THANK YOU for the subtitles, Rhino!), how it was pathetically watered down as Battle of the Planets (I hope 7-Zark-7 rusts!!) and how G-Force tried to strike a balance by leaving in more of the violence and action (yet still missing the consistency and flow evidenced in the Japanese version). The only problem I encountered on the DVDs dealt with the audio tracks for both Gatchaman episodes -- the one on Volume 1 and the one on Volume 2. The English audio track was VERY low and sounded like people were speaking underwater. It was unintelligible. Does anyone else out there have this problem with these disks? ...For the record, the Spanish and Portuguese audio tracks work just fine on the G-Force episodes (in case you speak Spanish or Portuguese!) All in all, a great product, well worth the money. Like several who posted before me, I hope for a full run to be released!
Rating: Summary: Hey What took you so long?! Review: it's great to have these shows on dvd & video , it was good to see mark & company back in the action after it seems like 20 year absent & i wondered why they did'nt do it sooner geez the pet peeve i've got is the butchered bonus battle of the planets retitled g-force on the dvd come on fellas & gals i felt like i was having my teeth pulled just induring it yuck get it together. besides that i'm delighted with volume one& two. 7zark7 & one rover one are funny come on where's the next volume of battle of the planets i'm hungry for more jason , mark , tiny & kehop & princess keep the memory flowing thanks a fan this great stuff.
Rating: Summary: Finally! Review: It's really something to be able to compare the beloved cartoon of my childhood with the original ("Gatchaman") and the update ("G-Force"). It's fascinating to see how Sandy Frank was forced to shred the characters and storylines to satisfy the censors and their "protect the chiiiildruuunnn" mania - and resulted in the abomination that was 7-Zark-7. One problem - my DVDs came with absolutely no audio in the English language version of the "G-Force" episodes. And, since I don't speak Spanish or Portuguese, I had to return them. But I salute your customer services folks with their wonderful, prompt response.
Rating: Summary: It was a long time coming but well worth the wait! Review: Kudos to Rhino Video for bringing "Battle of the Planets" (and even more important, the original "Science Ninja Team: Gatchaman" episodes) to the American masses. Those of us who grew up on BotP will undeniably get a massive dose of goose bump inducing nostalgia as the familiar Hoyt Curtain BotP theme begins and the sun rises behind the Earth during the opening moments of the show. It's as seminal a childhood moment for me (and many fans) as the signature intros to the Star Wars films. That being said, BotP by itself has some rather dated elements. The obvious editing out of the violence from the original "Gatchaman" episodes is more obvious to today's viewer and there seems to be less and less tolerance for the American inserted scenes featuring 7Zark7 as the years go by. The result can often lead to confusing moments and inconsistencies in the stories. But overall, much is still wonderful. The early 70's animation still looks good, the voice talents of Casey Kasem and company are top notch as is much of the music(even with those 70's grooves). For a trip down memory lane and a great introduction for the young ones, Battle of the Planets still brings a lot to the table and is highly recommended based on that(and a good reason to get the VHS versions if you don't have a DVD player). What really makes these DVD's great however is the inclusion of the two corresponding Gatchaman episodes. Anime fans will not want to miss out on these as Gatchaman is one of the most influential anime shows ever. Contrasting them with BotP is fascinating and the episodes themselves are classic, introducing the team and the formula that will sustain 105 episodes. The print and the sound is decent for an old show and Rhino put alot of quality into the DVD menu's and interface. The bonus G-Force Guardians of Space episode is rather redundant but still presents a nice overview of the myriad incarnations that Gatchaman has gone thru here in America. Thank you, Rhino, for bringing us BotP and Gatchaman and here's hoping for more volumes to come!
Rating: Summary: Slight technical difficulty Review: Lots of other reviews here do an excellent job covering the content of this DVD. I just wanted to mention that there is a slight technical problem with this DVD (and the rest of vols. 1-4). The English language track on the G-Force episode is virtually inaudible, which is a real disappointment and knocked the DVD down a star. I tried on two different players (Pioneer DV-626D and Playstation 2), and they both have the same trouble. I even wrote in to Rhino's technical support and they kindly exchanged the discs for me, but sadly, the replacement discs are the same way. I just wanted to put out the warning here. The rest of the disc is fine and has great content - it's just that one problematic audio track.
Rating: Summary: G-Force Fans Rejoice! Review: Ohmigod! I think I have died and gone to heaven watching this DVD. I've been a G-Force fan for the last 10 years or so *ducks behind the computer as things are flung at her from all over cyberspace*. Laugh all you want, it is definitely my favorite of the English versions, no stupid robots, no 'androids' that certainly look human to me, no flights to planets identical to the earth, etc.... And it kills me to see people rip it to shreds in all of their reviews! Forget about BOTP! I still don't get all the hype about it. In fact I turned it off after watching what had to be ten minutes of new footage of nothing but a cheesy robot yammering on about stuff that certainly wasn't in either G-Force or Gatchaman (I guess someone stealing uranium was 'not appropriate' for a kid's show as someone just might die as a result *gasps of horror from parents everywhere*). Seriously though, I wanted to cry when I saw what Sandy Frank did to this show! Buy this thing for the Original! BOTP fans find out what you've been missing all these years, G-Force fans rejoice in watching your favorite show whenever you want (there's one episode on each DVD)! And even better, these things have the equivalent Gatchaman episodes! Where else are you gonna find three versions of show you love on the same DVD? You can always watch BOTP for a good laugh now and then, but take my word for it, stick to Gatchaman and if you want to hear it in English (i.e. you can't handle subtitles) G-Force is as close to an accurate translation as you're ever gonna get! Just when I was about to give up hope that I would ever see G-Force on my television again it comes out on DVD! And all you G-Force fans out there are gonna love Gatchaman if you don't already! Buy it fool! What are you waiting for?
Rating: Summary: Forget Sandy Franks BOTP, check out Gatchaman! Review: Personally, if you're really interested in BOTP, then check out the BOTP episodes, but don't do yourself a disservice and skip watching the original, UNCUT, Gatchaman episodes. Don't expect to find any trace of the abominable 7-Zark-7 or his robot dog. And sorry, no Casy Casem either. Just pure Gatchaman in it's unbutchered form. This disc is a great example of what American companies will do to "mainstream" a foreign show for broadcast in the states. Check it out, these are a must have! Lets hope Rhino keeps up the great work.
|