Ultra-cool, Ultra-fun - ULTRAMAN!,
March 8, 2007
I really didn't get to
see ULTRAMAN that often when I was a young
child in the early '70's, but I still have
very fond memories. I especially remember
seeing ULTRAMAN gazing upward just before
leaping into flight (Suwatch!!). I also
remember him crossing his arms and then
blasting his enemies with a laser which shot
out of his hand. For a 5 or 6 year-old kid,
that was really awesome! Recently I
purchased ULTRAMAN Series 1, Volume 1 and
Volume 2, and let me tell you, even after 30
years I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
Sure, there were a few dud episodes, but
overall it was excellent. It was great to
watch the entire original ULTRAMAN series
all the way through and fill in the chinks
that my childhood had missed. Some of my
favorite episodes were those with the Baltan
(great villain). The series was very
original and creative at the time and I
believe, after watching the entire series,
that ULTRAMAN is a better giant character
and has better enemies than GODZILLA. A+
Highly recommended!
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A Joyous Memory of Things Past,
January 17, 2007
This is the official
DVD release of the first 20 of 39 episodes.
Color, 450 Minutes, English dubbed and
Japanese language originals, English
Subtitles, Special Features. Tsurubaya
Productions (c) 1966
This live action Sci-Fi series was a staple
of my childhood, surpassed in esteem only by
Star Trek and Doctor Who. The U.S. English
Language release stopped airing around 1980.
I was overjoyed to find that it was finally
available in a non-bootleg release. Although
some of the original footage has been
replaced with black and white (very minimal)
and the English language version
occasionally drops into Japanese due to the
loss of portions of the dubbed release, the
quality of this production is quite
excellent.
The story involves Hayata, the hero, and the
other members of the "Science Patrol" the
damsel Fuji, the clownish Ito (Ide), Captain
Mura (Muramatsu), dependable Ayashi, and boy
sidekick Hoshino. The Science Patrol is
called in to investigate strange phenomena,
natural and scientific disasters, and, of
course, monster sightings. In the first
episode, Hayata is accidentally killed by a
benevolent alien who merges with Hayata in
order to restore him to life. Hayata is
normally human, but when danger calls
(almost always in the form of a 200ft
Godzilla analog, but with ingenious
variations, including lobster-clawed bug
men, carnivorous space algae, and abominable
snow men) Hayata transforms into a giant
bug-eyed red and silver bio-mechanoid who
can shoot death rays, fly, "Shuwach!" and do
amazing Sumo moves. On watching this show
again as an adult after 30 years, I am
struck by the show's refreshing lack of
political correctness. The contrasts between
the English dialog (often cynical) and the
Japanese (overblown and exaggeratedly
technical) are striking, and show the
difference between the post-60's
anti-intellectual attitude of the U.S.
compared to the earnest sincerity of the
Japanese.
I strongly recommend that English speakers
listen with English audio and the subtitles
(which show the contrasting original
Japanese dialog) simultaneously.
This show is certainly intended for children
or those nostalgic for their childhood. But
as such, it is a wonderful addition to my
library. I have watched all the episodes
recalling the joy which they brought me as a
child, and can't stop singing the theme
song. I hope this would translate to present
day children. The special effects are done
with blue-screen imaging and men in plastic
monster suits, but, as with Doctor Who, the
plot (however minimal) and the monster
concepts drive the show. Many scenes have an
spookiness or poignancy which one wouldn't
expect from whatever today's version of
Pokemon or the Power Rangers might be.
The second volume is of no less a quality
and I recommend it for all the same reasons. |
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