Robotech: Shadow Chronicles
"Suprisingly Good"
After meandering the price menus in X3: Terran Conflict for what I imagined was hour 87, I needed to supplement the entertainment X3 was poorly providing.
Often in these situations of half awareness I tend to filter through anime that I've been neglecting for one reason or another. These titles, played in background to other activities, tend to be of the likes that are enjoyable if bothersome and painful to watch with keen awareness (Yu-Yu Hakusho and Dragon Ball come immediately to mind).
Some months ago I picked up "Shadow Chronicles" fully aware that it, like many of Harmony Gold's abortions, may very well suck. My blind fanboyism would have nothing of it at the store register though. Despite my gleeful disposition toward my new purchase I still couldn't force myself to watch it. So without the painfully slow moments of X3, it would have continued to collect dust.
I should thank Egosoft for making such a fun/boring game. Shadow Chronicles was surprisingly good. Enough so that after about 20 minutes of the movie, I shut the game off and watched the movie proper... from the beginning. I didn't mind revisiting what I just saw because it was just that entertaining.
Starting with brief recap of the Robotech timeline the movie quickly moves into the hallmarks of the series with roaring capital ship duels and the veritech fighters doing what they do best (missiles, lasers, turning into collectable toys, etc...). It manages direct continuity by taking place during the last episode of the series and moving forward, seamlessly integrating the events of the returning SDF fleet with the future events from the movie and even detailing some of the behind the scenes action. In more subtle gestures of continuity some of the crew members can be heard humming MinMay's old tunes. Skull squadron is still around and kicking, if somewhat different. Even some of the color changes from the original series and suspicious plot holes are addressed (or reprised, depending on context).
The production quality, aside from some few CG scenes, is spectacular. Lines are delivered convincingly and really show to the suprisingly high profile voice talents selected for the film. Even the orchestrated music manages to maintain the high quality of the rest of the film without dipping in to anything generically "Japanese", aside from a few anime - or sci fi in general - cliches.
Of which is of note, "Shadow Chronicles" isn't Japanese at all really. It was made in Korea with direction from Harmony Gold here in the 'States. It's something that really comes out in terms of tone and direction.
Though the last acts of the film really feel like a pitch toward an animated series (it apparently is), the rest of the film is top notch and highly recommended if you liked the original series or mecha anime in general.
Often in these situations of half awareness I tend to filter through anime that I've been neglecting for one reason or another. These titles, played in background to other activities, tend to be of the likes that are enjoyable if bothersome and painful to watch with keen awareness (Yu-Yu Hakusho and Dragon Ball come immediately to mind).
Some months ago I picked up "Shadow Chronicles" fully aware that it, like many of Harmony Gold's abortions, may very well suck. My blind fanboyism would have nothing of it at the store register though. Despite my gleeful disposition toward my new purchase I still couldn't force myself to watch it. So without the painfully slow moments of X3, it would have continued to collect dust.
I should thank Egosoft for making such a fun/boring game. Shadow Chronicles was surprisingly good. Enough so that after about 20 minutes of the movie, I shut the game off and watched the movie proper... from the beginning. I didn't mind revisiting what I just saw because it was just that entertaining.
Starting with brief recap of the Robotech timeline the movie quickly moves into the hallmarks of the series with roaring capital ship duels and the veritech fighters doing what they do best (missiles, lasers, turning into collectable toys, etc...). It manages direct continuity by taking place during the last episode of the series and moving forward, seamlessly integrating the events of the returning SDF fleet with the future events from the movie and even detailing some of the behind the scenes action. In more subtle gestures of continuity some of the crew members can be heard humming MinMay's old tunes. Skull squadron is still around and kicking, if somewhat different. Even some of the color changes from the original series and suspicious plot holes are addressed (or reprised, depending on context).
The production quality, aside from some few CG scenes, is spectacular. Lines are delivered convincingly and really show to the suprisingly high profile voice talents selected for the film. Even the orchestrated music manages to maintain the high quality of the rest of the film without dipping in to anything generically "Japanese", aside from a few anime - or sci fi in general - cliches.
Of which is of note, "Shadow Chronicles" isn't Japanese at all really. It was made in Korea with direction from Harmony Gold here in the 'States. It's something that really comes out in terms of tone and direction.
Though the last acts of the film really feel like a pitch toward an animated series (it apparently is), the rest of the film is top notch and highly recommended if you liked the original series or mecha anime in general.
posted by Ouchies at
11:25 AM
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