Jhee Reviews

The Superdimensional Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012 (1987 Video)

relive Macross one more time

[8/10 · 24 October 1998]

A touching tribute to both the Macross story and its fans. Watch some of the more memorable clips from both the famed Macross series and DYRL set to the music of Lynn Minmay. The live-action shots are kind of cheesy, and one particular metaphor made between the Japanese troops and the Macross soldiers seemed out of place, but otherwise, all Macross fans should see Flashback.

The icing on the cake is the original animation, portraying Minmay's final concert on Earth before embarking with Megaroad-01, and set to the the song "Angel's Paint."

Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984)

The perfect encore

[9/10 · 24 October 1998]

What better way to make an encore performance of a classic TV series? Make a movie.

The Superdimension (not Superdimensional) Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? re-tells the famed Macross story with a whole new style. Actually a "fiction within fiction," it varies from the original storyline, a near-perfect complement to the series. Perhaps it doesn't match the substance of the series, but the improved style makes up for it. With improved designs, animation, and the new title song, even the most ardent Macross "purist" will enjoy.

Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play OVA 1 (1996)

Fushigi Yuugi deserves better than this.

[3/10 · 17 October 1998]

OVA 1 fails to incorporate the qualities of the original anime series that made it such a success. The story lacked both coherence and consistency, jumping around from one idea to another without much development. The entire premise was absurd, almost trivializing the events of the series. Perhaps the writers also forgot that dead people stay that way, as they brought several of them back to take part in the battle. Viewers are left questioning how and why the events occurred, a sign of a poorly made production. I certainly don't recommend seeing this 3 part OVA, even to die-hard, curious FY fans.

Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again (1992)

Perhaps it should be Macross 2: DYRL again

[5/10 · 17 October 1998]

Sequels are supposed to build upon what was left behind by the original, not re-do it. Originally made to be a sequel to both the Macross series and Macross: Do You Remember Love?, Macross II lacks insight and originality. Macross II takes the key themes of the previous Macross' (love, song, and war) and replicates them under the guise of new characters and settings. To make matters worse, the execution of the themes is rather poor. The good news for Macross fans is that Macross II is not an "official" event in the Macross timeline. The premise wasn't entirely bad, but sloppy execution and repetition make this movie/OVA a bust.

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Style or Substance?

[7/10 · 17 October 1998]

Perhaps one of the flashier and hyped anime movies of all time, GitS flamboyant style and intriguing story has given this movie its place in anime history. However, one wonders if any movie can live up to the hype. Unfortunately, Ghost in the Shell can't.

The biggest flaws of Ghost in the Shell are the pace of development and the rushed ending, which pretty much go together hand in hand. It seems as though the first 70 minutes are devoted to the premise, whereas the heart of the story and the resolution are thrown into the last 10. Personally, I didn't like the end, but that is more of a matter of taste as opposed to quality.

However, these problems shouldn't overshadow the fact that GitS is indeed a good movie worth watching. If you get bored waiting for something important to happen, at least the animation will keep your attention. The overall message of the story is somewhat profound and noteworthy.