Personal review of Gatchaman movie

Ecclesiastes :1:9
That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:10
Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.


Okay, Saw the Gatchaman movie yesterday…to be honest…..I’m not sure how I feel…. I had to think about what to write
And in saying that
Yes…. I want to see it again (there are always bits you miss)
Yes … I recommend you all see it and form your own opinions
Yes. ..If it comes out in DVD I will get it for my collection
Yes.. I walked in with some preconceived ideas about the movie and being a fan of both BOTP and Gatchaman I had expectation about the characters and how they should act.

So… here goes..
The people from the Japanese Film festival are wonderful, they did not look at me like some crazed fan as I hovered around their table waiting to be allowed into the cinema ( I had left early in case of traffic jams into the city and had time to spare)

The cinema was about a quarter filled before the movie started, with pre-determined seating (as one man proudly announced never get between a geek and the seat he has chosen).

Alas no one got dressed up.

One man seated behind me stated that he had seen the movie in Tokyo – I asked him what he thought, he was evasive in his answer, but his friend got started on Gatchacrowd and that in itself started a small but spirited debate between different rows with many referenced that went over my head (alas I am so unworthy of calling myself a nerd or a geek and not as clicky, as someone commented on BOTP and was quickly ignored (with looks) and yes as we left the cinemas someone commented that he wanted to see striped pants, bell bottoms and the swan in her short dress ..haha.

The Story Line:
The year is 2015. Galactor has attached the earth and has killed millions of people, yet as we flash to Tokyo everything seems normal expect for numbers armed personnel.

ISO is fighting back with a group of specially trained persons who they call “Receptors” . There are other groups of receptors around the world. These are people/children who are able to use the energy from the “stones” and harness their power. The stones were found in an archaeology dig, approx. 37 were found ( Di-Gata Defenders etc.) In one particular flash back we see a group of children (reminded me of a Star Wars scene with Jedi children) who have a strong repour with the stone). At a later stage we see that both George and Ken have barcodes on the back of their necks, indicating receptors (George is 62, Ken is 72) (Dark Angel.)

(NB throughout the movie the characters make reference to wanting a normal life or giving up there childhood for training and some team infighting. It seems the there is a large amount of orphans due to the war as Galactor is taking them hostage (we do not know if they are still alive)
We also find out that the DNA of human and Galactor is different by only 1%. And the X virus that is present in Galactor has been linked to legends of zombies and vampires in the past. It also gives Galactors a red haze around their eyes and extra abilities and powers.

One of the opening fight scenes shows our heroes moving about at incredible speed and dexterity using the power of the stones to produce light to disable the cyborgs/goons of Galactor ( Cyberpunk, 20 Thousand Leagues and Dr. Who). Their movements while incredible (yes there was flying) had me thinking they were a cross between Nightcrawler popping from place to place and Spiderman using the building to propel him forward, the were also using each other like sling shots to propel themselves forward.

Off course there was a mecha - a very impressive piece of machinery. The shape of a spiked tyre heading for ISO building with a bomb. (It look like a centipede rolled up and I kept thinking metal Pokémon) While the heroes try and stop it they also have to fight some of galactors evil henchmen (Okay I have to say it one of the evil characters reminded me of a cross between a SailorMoon and something evil enemy of the Power Rangers with bad PMS, another character with his lips sew shut reminded me of a character from the movie 9 and a leather clad evil scarecrow with attitude)

I faltered a bit at that scene, seriously there was reminders of PowerRanger all though the movie, not to mention the appearance of shiny suits that looked like they were made of latex or should be worn at a rubber fetish party
“oh look shiny vinyl!!, oh G2 G5” yes they looked good.

Okay back to it
The weapons are impressive and there are indications that they thought about future gadgets. The use of the wrist comms with the stones in them to access computers via holograms, (projected from both wist and onto the floor, mobile phones, medical bay and communication equipment. The God Phoenix (we don’t see till late in the movie (inside I kept thinking Wonder Woman’s plane with a grid drawn over it, yes invisible looking) . The external God Phoenix impressive with grey army camouflage paint . The teams Weapons glowed blue.

Galactors own mecha reminded me of shades of Clash of the Titans, Farescape, , the giant turtle Great A’Tuit Discworld Terry Pratchett.

The action and fight scenes (when done) were fantastic and well-choreographed. Unfortunate the movie as a whole did not flow well. There were part of the movie when the special effects were not blended well (models, green screens, computer ) and is very noticeable
There are a few moments of unnecessary conversation between characters that did not fit in (yes I understand that they were trying to give character details, but the editing seemed hurried and unfinished)

The acting (cast and extras) was sometimes wooded or over dramatic (I don’t know if it just from a westerners expectations on how acting should be)

Characters-
Katse Berg steals the show, she is brilliant playing the part of a bored villain, wonderfully thought out the movie

Ryu came in a close second, he is constantly getting injured (minor), fights with attitude sarcasm and gruff, he stands out, especially in the fight scenes.

Ken is who I expected – duty driven and emotional restrained.

Nambu is okay but his character was not developed enough and he isn’t good with controlling the group

Jun is wonderful, perhaps slightly neurotic , in love with

Ken who ignores her

Jinpei is adorable, full of mischief, attitude and hacking ability, a kid with toys.

George is slightly sullen, disrespect authority, defiant, more like Jason than Joe to me. There was a little bit too much defeat in his attitude for me.





SPOILER alert
If a receptor gets infected by the x virus they can turn galactor indicated by red hazed eyes, as long as their stone glows they are okay.
There is a love triangle between ken, George (atlas not Jun) and another receptor Naomi, and a marriage proposal (I want those rings)
Watch till the end of the trailers, there is a scene in there that indicates sequel.


ps there was pictures but they don't seem to want to post
Also I loved this movie, but had a problems with all the other bits referenced from other movies and shows.

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May the bad things get lost on the way to you door!

A big THANK YOU from me, too, LW! That's an awesome and detailed review of yours, lending us your eyes for us to see! Your comments are very close to what I read in the following review, which link I'm going to try to attach (I hope the link works!), over drama, sloppy special effects and all.

http://psycho-drama.com/index.php/castin...-spot-boxoffice

In the attached review, the possibility of a sequel is also mentioned, so you're spot on on that, too! Like TJ said, I still wish to watch the movie, hopefully in an understandable language, some day!

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To be or not to be a gatchamaniac - that's the dilemma!

Thanks, LW, for being our undercover agent! I'm interested in seeing it, though I hope I don't get annoyed at all the "borrowing" from other shows!

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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury

Thanks for the review, LW.

They allowed George to have a defeatist attitude? That is sooooo not Joe.

Since there was a sense there could be a sequel, then I assume Gatchaman didn't win the war. If Ken and George had such high numbers, does that mean other receptors could be introduced in a sequel?

The bar codes on their necks - so they can never escape their responsibility? But it also cracks me up - go to the store, look them over, grab the one you want (he's the cutest!) and pay at the cash register.

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I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers so far...

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Playing darts with the Condor's feather shuriken...

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Thanks, LW! Still so excited that one of us actually got to see it (warts and all).

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"The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing." -- Blaise Pascal

LW, thank you for posting your honest opinion.

I am still looking forward to seeing it, when it eventually makes it to DVD.

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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

Thank you, LW -it's great to have your opinion!

True, but he would have only have been 8 or 9 at the most then -perhaps more a "bad boy Joe" in his mind than in reality. I'd like to think that Dr. Nambu proceeded to make him do his schoolwork, eat his veggies, go to bed on time, learn martial arts etc -though he might not have always had an easy time of it!