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sketchley

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Everything posted by sketchley

  1. sketchley
    That film is thought provoking on a bunch of levels - the one most relevant for this discussion is Kubrick's theme of the deconstruction of mankind in his later movies and how it conflicts with Spielberg humanistic optimism, which got twisted (but still remains apparent) when Spielberg attempted to do Kubrick. It's hard to say if it would be 'better', but it definitely would've been less optimistic, and probably a lot darker (emotionally speaking, given Kubrick's Christmas tree scene lighting style ). ... and my vote for worst ever SF movie still stays on the douche of a movie: Armageddon.
  2. sketchley
    It *may* help to describe it as being like Smart-glass - something whose molecular properties changes when voltage is applied. I've found that to help wrap my head around the basic concept.
  3. sketchley
    It really depends on how closely you follow all of the rules. The basic combat system itself is quite nice. The problem is that it was designed for to people punching each other - boxing, more specifically. When they tacked on all the rules for regulating flying, it gets really problematic (as in you have to roll a piloting skill check, then roll an instruments check for a lock on, and then fire the weapon [which probably involves a weapon systems skill check]. And that's all before getting the D20 out!). Most people I know went straight to the D20 strike/dodge and ignored much of the rest. That solution made things quicker, but then Rifts tacked on magic, with its own way of managing combat... But that's all beside the point. I'm frankly surprised that the publisher has chosen to allow the conversion - given the history involved.
  4. sketchley
    Didn't they have a lot of trouble with a remote controlled R2-D2 on SW1? Though, given that BB-8 is completely remote controlled, maybe it has something to do with interference.
  5. sketchley
    Which raises the possibility that the "girls" that we see on the battlefield aren't really girls, but remote controlled cyborgs? There's also the question of what those egg-like cocoons are on the enemy command bridge - are they, also, where the real people behind the pilots of the SV-262 are? (If the pilots are remote controlled cyborgs, as well?) Lastly, the enemy fighters appear to be using the YF-21 BDI system - all we really see of the cockpits are the seats. And given that they have enclosed cockpits and the precedent set by previous Macross series on enemies using BDI...
  6. sketchley
    That's not quite what I was saying - in that that there is some muscle/movement enhancements (like the suits in Appleseed) and enhanced protection (like the leathers a biker wears - great for stopping road rash, but not much else). I was thinking more along the lines of they're wearing a power suit in something much more form fitting than what we've seen before. Like the next generation of the suits used in VF-X2 or something like that.
  7. sketchley
    Hmmm... maybe the EX-Gear is for the pilots (or for combat that needs the flight/combat/armour capabilities of EX-Gear proper, and the girls are wearing the micro-EX-Gear? Maybe EX-Gear isn't the right way to describe the girls' suits. Didn't the Quadolun pilots have something akin to a low-grade power suit? Perhaps their taking the development of screens on clothing (screens made from fabric) in reality and applying it to paper?
  8. sketchley
    Indeed. One of the highlights of the beginning is the new reiteration of that first shot of a Star Wars movie. You know, blockade runner followed by giant wedge shaped ship coming overhead from SW4. I found the one at the start of SW7 able to recapture some of that epic-ness, while still providing a new interpretation of it.
  9. sketchley
    On the 2nd viewing, I didn't mind the main singers doing their thing so much, but I found the holographic dancing girls behind the drones... jarring. I think they're too animated (in the sense of moving too much), and that tended to be distracting from the focus of the shots. Otherwise, I agree on the boomerang drones.
  10. sketchley
    I was initially turned off by the "magical suits" the singers are wearing in the series, but while contemplating them I've come up with an in-universe explanation that makes them plausible (aside from the lack of a helmet, but that's forgivable - we've gotta see their faces in their big introduction after all). The outfits appear to be a next generation type of EX-Gear (able to perform superhuman acrobatic leaps, etc, sustained high G maneuvers, and protection from falling concrete), with the miniaturized anti-gravity mechanism (from the boomerangs, used for hovering, anime leaps and so on). Despite the implied titillation, it's pretty much a given that they're using the same holographic emitters Sheryl used over her concert bodysuit (or Minmei and Hikaru used in the shop in DYRL), and there appears to be a Fold Wave (I believe that's what I hear them saying repeatedly) emitter amplifying their singing (the episode pretty much indicates that more than a few people naturally produce them like Ranka did). And if they're using Fold Waves, it's a short skip and a hop to Fold Barriers (which can explain away the aforementioned lack of a helmet and negigible effects from blast waves and so on). An alternative explanation for the visual and auditory effects would be the SES system from M7 sound and holographic emitters used in the Sound Force Valkyries.
  11. sketchley
    The first episode is much, much better on second viewing - at HD resolution (the Youtube version's down-scaling to 480p definitely hurts the viewing experience). Perhaps it was from knowing what to expect, but it was much more enjoyable, too. Nevertheless, it still feels more MF-ish than any other preceding series. About the plot - there appears to be at least one visual nod to MII, but in both viewings I'm feeling a very strong influence from the "Macross 7th Chord" manga - more to do with the whole Var Syndrome, its effects, and how they are alleviated. The main heroins are also quite similar (though there's a Ranka vibe to her, I was reminded more of M7C).
  12. sketchley
    I was emphasizing the fact that there were luxury goods produced (ie not expensive transforming toys, but jewelry made out of gold and silver) for Macross F, in addition to the regular run-of-the-mill pins/concerts/bread-in-a-can/what-have-you tie-ins. Given that some of the items are sold out, someone did buy them. I have yet to see a male Macross fan wearing those expensive jewelry items. So, as Japan has yet to recognize a third gender option, one is left with the inevitable conclusion... (Should it be mentioned that young, unmarried working age women in Japan are the demographic with the largest disposable income?)
  13. sketchley
    So, which demographic were these luxury goods aimed at? http://p-bandai.jp/item/item-1000096799/ (ï¿¥8,000+) http://online.thekiss.co.jp/user_data/sherylnome2.php (ï¿¥23,000+) I humbly submit that you rephrase your question from who purchased more (as in quantity), to who spent more (as in money spent).
  14. sketchley
    IMHO it's that some of the Valkyrie action happens too fast. I get that they want to highlight improvements and show how much the pace of combat has increased, but there are times when the 'hyper-kinetic' combat is visually confusing and unclear (MF also had this problem in some scenes). Maybe that's what they are complaining about?
  15. sketchley
    Yes. That's the official setting name for manned robots that don't transform in Macross (and some Variable Vehicles that have a GERWALK form that resembles one of them). In this case, the vehicle is based off of a combat Destroid (the Cheyenne II, or a local variant of it). The Super Packs appear to continue from the VF-25 lineage (as in minimizing the pilot's visual obstruction to the top and rear of the aircraft). Didn't notice the gap between the engine nacelles there - nice find! That the RADOME definitely appears to be able to be stowed away in the backpack/overhead container space (in the YF-30). Glad to see some creative uses for that thing (beyond the honkin' huge missile launcher arrangement in the YF-30).
  16. sketchley
    If memory serves - they had reaction weapons, but lost them (either used them all up, or they held onto them until the reactive material in them exceeded its half-life - can't remember which exactly, could be both). Nevertheless, again if memory serves, the Zentraadi were more interested in the ability to repair.
  17. sketchley
    What he said - they ran out of power (more like used it up in the barrier shield [i'm still unclear if it is a 'normal' barrier, like a PPB, or a Fold Barrier]), and were given power by the VF-31 (left side doohickey, the thing on the right looks like a big gun to me).
  18. sketchley
    Interesting bold direction to take the franchise. At times, I was fascinated, bored, or somewhere in between. The one thing that struck me while watching is that my two girls (5 and 7) might be more interested in it than I apparently am (got a big '"Precure" with Valkyries' vibe from it). Nevertheless, I like that the producers brought back the Zentraadi as antagonists (they don't appear to be the main ones, but hopefully they'll keep appearing!), and that they're using South-West Asia as an image source. Is it just me or does the intro showing the Emigrant Fleets suggest that the story is taking place in one of the satellite galaxies around the Milky Way? E.g. the Large Magellanic Cloud.
  19. sketchley
    The New Era calendar begins in 2013 (coinciding with the mass production/mass launching of Emigrant Ships/Fleets). Thus, Miko was born in 2016. Nevertheless, to answer the question about the rest of Miko's story: she disappeared with the rest of the main characters in SDFM when they disappeared into a "dark hole" at the center of the galaxy in 2016. My current web host is doing something wonky with the timeline php that has the info on the New Era. However, the linky works for the php on the fate of the main characters: http://monkeybacon.mywebcommunity.org/OTother/MinmeiLastMessage.php
  20. sketchley
    It could just be nothing more than a practical effect to emphasize the 'force' he used when he put the helmet down (pun intended). That, or another MacGuffin for fans to ponder.
  21. sketchley
    I thought so, too! I believe Palpatine's lines were the best scripted lines in that movie, and it's a credit to Ian McDiarmid for rising above the schmuck and delivering them with conviction (biting his tongue behind his teeth when he admits he's a Sith lord is another subtle move used to great effect). But yeah, that dialogue is interesting when considered outside of the immediate scope of that scene - and is just as applicable to the Force Ghosts that appear later!
  22. sketchley
    If memory serves, it was in the "Macross Graffiti" book. http://www.macrossworld.com/macross/books/series_best.htm
  23. sketchley
    Agreed that he's not a bad actor (more of a middling one), so there's only so much blame for it that rests on his shoulders. A lot of the problem lies in George Lucas's writing, and his directing style. It's kind of shocking to hear some of the actors complaints about it (especially, but not limited to the prequel series). On the other hand, Mr. Lucas is a much better business manager. The recent article on the BBC about it was quite an interesting read. It's a real shame that his people skills in a managerial situation didn't translate well when he was in the directorial seat.
  24. sketchley
    That's quite interesting. Everyone that I talk to (myself included) say that Star Wars is an action movie. And, well... in a recent rewatch, I was struck by how good an actor Alec Guinness is in the movie, and in explaining it to my students, I described it as "when he thinks, he really appears to be thinking". I didn't catch any characters being given time to think in SW7... And speaking of SW4 repacking old things - the documentary that came with the 3-disc DVD release about a decade ago was really telling. It floors some of my students when they hear that it is basically an Akira Kurosawa film set in the future (that would be the grown-up students, who know about Mr. Kurosawa!). So, SW7 repacking content that came before? Par for the course, IMHO. The production team added and/or changed enough to keep things fresh and interesting. Agreed. I even asked my son after the movie "when did they appear?!" Before seeing the movie, I didn't like the new Storm Trooper armour. Now... quite liking it.
  25. sketchley
    Just got back from seeing it with my son - and it was great. Best in the series? Not going to go there, but I will say this: there were a lot more exhilarating scenes in it than I was expecting (E.g. in Eps VI when the Millennium Falcon dives inside the Death Star II, that kind of "wow" factor). So, it's definitely better than the last movie produced in the series, and JJ has captured (some of?) the magic of the original series.
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