Macross Frontier Movie: Itsuwari no Utahime

[March]

Got a chance to see the movie the other day and was very entertained. My expectations were in line with the direction of a retelling, so I was pleased with the results. Comparing and contrasting the Macross Frontier Movie to the Macross Frontier TV Series is much like the similarities between the Macross Plus Movie and the Macross Plus OVA. I suspect I'll end up preferring various parts from each iteration of Macross Frontier (TV series and Movies) much like that of Plus, wishing there were an edit including everything I prefer. I viewed the complete series only once since it aired, so coming back to Macross Frontier via the movie was a welcome experience. The new animation seamlessly integrated with the older animation and it was great to see many of old TV series scenes either redrawn or refinished with superior artwork.

Spoiler:

I enjoyed many of the altered story elements, like the injuring of Ozma, the new introduction of Brera into the story (plus his VF-27 appearance) and the earring allowing Alto to learn of Sheryl's past. I also especially enjoyed a lot of the new CG mecha action. I found they utilized several far more dramatic and dynamic angles when depicting the mecha, especially the battle with Ozma vs. the Red Vajra and of course the Tornado Pack on Alto's VF-25F Messiah. The Macross Quarter battle was also particularly well done and I liked the reveal of a new Vajra warship. Watching the movie version has also reminded me how much I enjoyed the Frontier series and has got me really stoked for the second film.

I will say that in spite of enjoying the movie, I would have preferred a more radical retelling and redesign of the characters, mecha and sets. Perhaps it's just being spoiled by DYRL?, but given the time and money put into these productions it would have been nice to go a different route.

Spoiler:

One aspect of the film I found very off-putting was the ridiculous vampire imagery. Sheryl being bitten by her holographic doppelganger, Alto sinking his teeth into Sheryl's arm, etc. These visuals are very out of place in something like Macross. While it may just be nothing more than coincidence, I can't help but think the popularity of "Twilight" is rearing it's ugly head within Japanese pop culture.

Also, I agree with whoever criticized Klan's inclusion in the Mioshi school. It's such a random placement for the character and feels much like an afterthought just to include her in the story early so the audience can be aware of who she is. A much better introduction could have been made.

Questions:

During Grace's shower scene, is she talking to her co-conspirators on the Macross Galaxy? If so, this sets up the conspiracy much better than it did in the series.

Overall, this first film makes a great addition to the Macross Frontier story. I can see myself likely rewatching the two movies more than the actual series simply because the editing and story is that much more focused. I'd say 4 out of 5 for me.

[justavisitor]

@March

Spoiler for spoiler:

That shower scene is a bit confusing to me lol...I think she talked to her "partners" in Galaxy, and she also mentioned something like how the song from Sheryl will awake the power inside Ranka at the last day's concert

Which doesn't really make sense because Ranka was not supposed to go to the concert (Ozma told her not to go...plus Vajra defolded to Frontier because of Alto's ear rings that somehow transmitted the songs from Sheryl and Ranka to the battlefield should not be part of Grace's master plan because Grace didn't know that Alto would pick up the ear ring !!

I am thinking Grace's original plan at the last concert was just to buy more time for Sheryl and herself, pretending that Galaxy got destroyed so they could stay in the Frontier a bit longer, that's all...Vajra's defolding to Frontier should not be in their plan

I think I like the movie a bit better tho XD

[LC]

Originally Posted by Kikuchi

I think they realized over the course of the original series what was the appeal of such and such characters, and what point of the show would rack up money. The movie simply goes further in that direction, to the point it kinda (or totally) removes the original charm.

Just look at how over-the-top Sheryl and Ranka antics are this time. Sheryl songs are more pop-ish than ever and they zoom on her boobs and ass every time they can. Same for Ranka, which they try to make cute and everything at any given time. Not to say the series wasn't like this, especially in its final episodes. But when it started it was certainly more subtle than the movie.

Just my 2 cents.

That's disappointing to hear. I could already tell that Ranka was going to be flanderized from the previews, but I didn't think Sheryl would be.

[March]

justavisitor
Ah, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

Spoiler for Grace:

I agree that the plot seems a little too convenient unless Grace was somehow fed information from Brera. We do see him skulking around all the time and spying on the various characters. Grace's plan also need not be so "precise and dead-certain"; it's enough for Grace to know that Ranka will be drawn to and eventually affected by Sheryl and thus lure the Vajra where she wishes. The timing, if not sooner, can always come later. Grace is nothing if not patient. But of course, the limitations of the movie format means the plot of the Macross Frontier movie must resolve itself sooner rather than later

[magnuskn]

Originally Posted by CrowKenobi

Gentlemen, I had to delete a number of posts because someone couldn't help themselves and posted some comments that they knew would press another member's buttons. In the future, let's not have any more of that (which will be deleted on sight) and let's stay on topic!

Thanks, I appreciate that. At least I had the good sense this time to not link to inflammatory youtube videos.

[moncikoma]

Originally Posted by darkplataform

Too bad i miss the figth

Anyway, leaving that aside:

http://forum.tgbus.com/viewthread.ph...extra=page%3D1











Thats some high biddings for such small things!

Acttually that is quite normal for japanese...
Japanese people are like money tree's X3

[justavisitor]

Originally Posted by March

justavisitor
Ah, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

Spoiler for Grace:

I agree that the plot seems a little too convenient unless Grace was somehow fed information from Brera. We do see him skulking around all the time and spying on the various characters. Grace's plan also need not be so "precise and dead-certain"; it's enough for Grace to know that Ranka will be drawn to and eventually affected by Sheryl and thus lure the Vajra where she wishes. The timing, if not sooner, can always come later. Grace is nothing if not patient. But of course, the limitations of the movie format means the plot of the Macross Frontier movie must resolve itself sooner rather than later

@March

Spoiler for spoiler:

But I still think there is too many "if" in Grace's master plan lol...anyway now that Sheryl can stay in the Frontier a little bit longer since Galaxy more or less got "destroyed"

I really enjoy the movie...I think the plot is much more clearer than the TV series (except the Grace's master plan at the end)...The characters don't really change too much...Alto is still Alto..Ranka is still Ranka and Sheryl is still Sheryl...and I like it this way

And the fantastic battle at the end is really really cool...but Alto got to be a superman since he can withstand all those g forces while his VF doing all those crazy stunts

[March]

Originally Posted by justavisitor

@March

Spoiler for spoiler:

But I still think there is too many "if" in Grace's master plan lol...anyway now that Sheryl can stay in the Frontier a little bit longer since Galaxy more or less got "destroyed"

I really enjoy the movie...I think the plot is much more clearer than the TV series (except the Grace's master plan at the end)...The characters don't really change too much...Alto is still Alto..Ranka is still Ranka and Sheryl is still Sheryl...and I like it this way

And the fantastic battle at the end is really really cool...but Alto got to be a superman since he can withstand all those g forces while his VF doing all those crazy stunts

Spoiler for Grace:

I agree the Alto connection is too convenient for Grace. But it also depends upon how one interprets the plot since those events are just happenstance. I admit I never got the impression Grace's plan needed the earring or Alto to work. At least not in a general sense. The Alto-Sheryl-Ranka connection just happened to play into a plan Grace already had in motion...and it worked sooner than she expected all outside of her direct control. But the movie is vague on these plot points, which means your interpretation could be equally as valid. As you say, Grace could not have counted on Alto's involvement and had no control over his link in her conspiracy.

I will say this about your criticisms; the fact that we have to so intricately discuss and conjecture upon the plot in order for it to work justifies your critique of it. Grace's role in the plot could (and SHOULD) have been made more clear to the audience. Definitely a weaker element of the movie.

Despite that one problem, I share your affinity for the many plot elements from the series made much clearer (or simply more "pronounced") in the movie. The movie format distilled a lot of the clutter down and hit upon the essentials of the plot a lot better. It reminded me of all the things I liked about the Frontier series and entices me to watch it again

[magnuskn]

Originally Posted by March

Despite that one problem, I share your affinity for the many plot elements from the series made much clearer (or simply more "pronounced") in the movie. The movie format distilled a lot of the clutter down and hit upon the essentials of the plot a lot better. It reminded me of all the things I liked about the Frontier series and entices me to watch it again

Well, then you are in luck, since we plan to begin a re-watching of the series this Saturday, one episode a week. Which reminds me, time to ask for a new thread to be opened.

[raile]

After seeing the movie in it's glory, I have but one glaring nitpicky complaint:

The transitioning!

I hope it's not just me. Also, while Klan looks good in the Mihoshi uniform, I thought it was a cheap way of saving time of everyone knowing each other already.
Oh and since Nanase isn't in the first movie, my bet is that she is Ranka's costume designer in the second movie.

[magnuskn]

<sigh> Can a sub come out already?

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by raile

Oh and since Nanase isn't in the first movie, my bet is that she is Ranka's costume designer in the second movie.

That would sure make Yot-chan happy.

[Yot-chan]

My honest-to-goodness favorite bits (Part 1 of 4):

Spoiler for Purty:

Spoiler for I totally want to live here.:

Spoiler for ONLY red...?:

Spoiler for Puppet on a string:

Spoiler for My love-gun's loaded and he's in my sights...:

Spoiler for Considering I was just at Shibuya 109 a few days ago...:

Spoiler for I love the battle through the windows...the foreground ain't too shabby, either.:

Spoiler for I know it's not brains...but it sure looks like 'em.:

Spoiler for Wouldn't it have been emotional if he'd died?:

Spoiler for Oh, hi Luca. Nice view you got there.:

Spoiler for Oh, hi Michael. Nice gun you got there.:

Spoiler for "Condition of a patient." AND she's got the vocoderized Megazone 23 voice!:

Spoiler for Eww, Brera...that's a sewer...:

Spoiler for Honorable mention goes to...:

Alto puking. Get it all out of yer system, kid.

Spoiler for Second honorable mention goes to...:

the entire opening battle scene. But I'd need gifs of Youtube videos to do justice to it.

[Shiroth]

WE BELIEVE IN RED MAGIC.

& yeah, the battles shown in far away images are seriously spectacular. All the more reason why i wanna watch the Blu-ray that will arrive this week.

[ZODDGUTS]

For someone who thought the TV series was garbage is the movie any better? Heard they've made several changes.

[Yot-chan]

Originally Posted by ZODDGUTS

For someone who thought the TV series was garbage is the movie any better? Heard they've made several changes.

Yeah, they added some natto, some wind-up toys, and vampires. You'll love it.

[ZODDGUTS]

Well that's certainly an improvement.

[pinoy78]

Knowing my luck I'll get a mediocre film strip.

I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by Yot-chan

Yeah, they added some natto, some wind-up toys, and vampires. You'll love it.

Don't forget the cowgirl!

[woodearth]

My initial impressions of the movie:

Spoiler for Movie 1:

Likes:
- New establishing and master shots of the city. It really makes the city feel larger and complete. Same for the Frontier fleet.
- New character background information such as Alto visiting Galaxy.
- That Alto already knew Ranka, makes the narrative much smoother. Also Klan attending Mihoshi.
- Sheryl's Aimo (While it was on the TV OST, if I am not mistaken this first time it is used in the animation - looks like it was used in Ep 18 eyecatch.).
- Battle Frontier reveal. Too bad they did not animate the transformation.
- Movie colors of Macross Quarter.
- Brera's new costume. Much better than chesty Brera.
- Grace shower scene

Dislikes:
- The still inconsistent and average character animation. Dissapointing for a movie.
- Too many scene jumps. They are trying to have character development in a format more suited for plot-focused stories.
- Obvious shortcuts and cost saving measures such as showing a background shot because they do not want to reanimate the characters in a new setting due to dialog reuse. Would have helped if what they showing reinforces the dialog.
- New tech such as the Tornado pack and the Vajra batteship. Does not serve the story and not much of an eye candy either. How does a newbie like Alto rate a special pack?
- Akward joke moments such as Ranka's buns and Alto's joining ceremony.
- While I have not seen the movie in theaters: It took almost a year for a home release and they still did not fix spelling errors like Sharon Apple (Unless Shalon is new official spelling).
- And on that note, more Sheryl Nome and less Sheryl Apple.
- The battle scenes did not quite work for me. Especially in conjuction with the music. The Universal Bunny one was almost but not quite. The TV preview episode still has the best music-battle scene.

Huh?:
- Why is the cover of the booklet the same flimsy paper as the interior?

Overall I feel that the movie is average compared to the TV series. I think it also fails as a standalone movie in introducing a new audience to the universe. It feels like a hack-job, a Frankenstein. They are trying to tell character stories where given the time available, it should be focus more on the plot. That decision resulted in scenes jumping around and a lot of dialog. Coupled with the lack of battle scenes it bogs the movie down and slows the narrative. The time and money would have been better spent to create an OVA that extended the TV series. If you did not like the TV series, I don't think the movie will change your mind. Ultimately I bought the movie because I could not afford the TV series.

A side note: Half of the 54 minutes worth of extra is reading speech bubbles of the PS3 Mainichi cats. Sheryl's and figure CMs are nice though.