sketchley
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Everything posted by sketchley
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You're talking about the scientist set, right? Well, it looks interesting, fun, and most importantly has a much greater 'play' factor (and do I need to mention that give its reduced number of bricks, it's going to cost less?). If the finished set is reasonably priced (and easily available), I may end up getting it for my daughters. But as a Macross fan, I'm not the best example, as I'd probably end up getting the Valkyrie. Let's consider some of my students (who play with Lego) - on top of what I already mentioned, they will instantly recognize what it is (if not scientists per se, then teachers). The Valkyrie? When I draw Valkyries, the boys all ask if I'm drawing Gundam. I've learned that if I say its a transformer, and about half of them get it about half the time (girls are even less). Macross? Even in Japan, it's just not that well known. So, yeah, what Scyla says. It sucks, 'cuz I wanted my own Lego Valkrie set, too!
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Worst Science Fiction Film of All Time II: The Quickening
sketchley replied to areaseven's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Haven't seen any of his works since "The Island". Therefore, take this with a grain of salt: Worst: Armageddon (in this case, some of the problems can be nailed down to bad writing - as they were still writing it while filming! But that doesn't excuse the majority of mistakes in it). Best: The Island - as Ebert said, it's an interesting double feature. I was disappointed with the second half of the feature, and I'll leave it at that. (Note: in general, if it has his name attached to a project as director, I generally avoid it. I almost didn't watch the Island on Movie+, except the first 5 minutes were intriguing enough to continue.) -
Great Mechanics.DX 29 (summer 2014) Macross Content: 2 page buildup and review of the 1/48 VF-1S/A Strike/Super Valkyrie kit. It ends with a reveal of the 1/48 VF-1J Max/Mira Super Valkyrie with Reaction Weapons kit. What I found more interesting is the 6 page article just before that with a Kawamori Shoji interview basically on the new "M3" series and the design of the Argent transforming mecha. Most interesting is the article's subtitle: "the current form of Kawamori's design, seen in "Argent". Aside from some rough sketches and the finished Argent mecha, there's also a page showing the Lego design process - the new twist is that he's (or someone) rendered it in the Lego 3DCG build program, in addition to building it in bricks!
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RM++ Project: Mechanic: II UN 03A: VA-1SS Metal Siren: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#MII - The RM is only mildly informative, and the lack of details in the data block is frustrating. That said, the changes to Tenjin's painting are quite noteworthy. Mechanic: Ai Protoculture 01A: City Spaceship Arutira: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#DYRL - a bit more on how Misa was able to translate the Protoculture inscriptions. The letters themselves are quite interesting - a cross between kana (Hiragana/Katakana), kanji, and Roman script.
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RM++ Project: Episode: 7 48A & B: Macross 7 Eps. 48 "The Enthusiastic Singing Of Mylene's Tears": http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRepisode/MCRepisode.php#M7 - the topics just don't live up to the energy in the commentary - the one on Zomudo and Goramu is especially disappointing, as it doesn't delve deep enough. (The Max/Jeffrey one is a bit more palatable, but still too light for my tastes). Episode: II 05A & B: Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II -Lovers Again- Episode 5 "Station Break" - http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRepisode/MCRepisode.php#MII - these sheets are loaded with meat and potatoes. Not only do they explain the stylishness of the opening anime and this episode, but also the uniqueness of Mikimoto's character designs in this series (in short - they're not his any more!). On top of that, we get an overview of the different types of Marduk (something that the previous edition of Macross Chronicle neglected), and we're left with the delicious quandary of those non-human looking ones potentially being an entirely different alien race! And on top of that, a nice summary on the blink-and-you-miss-them mecha that appear in the episode.
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Complete! Mechanic: TF ETC 01A: AIF-9V Ghost: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#TMF - quite an interesting write-up. The thing is loaded for bear! (and elephant, and etc..) Alas the RM on the Consumer VF-1 leaves a lot to be desired, but the main topic of the sheet and the RM on the AIF-7S and QF-4000 more than make up for it.
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RM++ Project: History: TF 06A: The Decisive Battle At The Vajra Homeworld: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRhistory/MCRhistory.php#TMF - some interesting RMs. Not the least of it is that they give a reason why some Emigrant Fleets are (in the words of a previous page) semi-permanently voyaging in search of a suitable planet (though it doesn't go so far as explain why they don't accept less-than suitable planets). I also find it 'cute' that they avoid explicitly stating Ranka's 'true motives'. (fun fact: the kanji used for that could also be translated as "Ranka's lovers' suicide"!).
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There is something, but it's in an entirely different scope to Star Trek's Prime Directive. It's called the "Galactic Treaty", and was promulgated at the end of SWI. In short, reaction weapons are extremely dangerous (something, oddly, that the Heavy Quantum Reaction Weapons are not considered to be :confused: ), and there use is limited to life or death situations (Macross 7). On top of that, there are clauses that forbid Emigrant Fleets from "invading" planets with intelligent life (Macross F). There's information on the Zolans and how the relationship with mankind got started in Macross Chronicle. What's noteworthy is mankind considers the Zolans "quaint" and "old fashioned", but on the other hand the Zolans reject the majority of mankind's technology and modernity, because it's too destructive to the natural environment (that's in the sense of urban development and commerce, not war machinery).
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RM++ Project: Character: 7 UN 01A: Gamlin Kizaki: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRcharacter/MCRcharacter.php#M7 - the RM's quite light on new details...
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RM++ Project: Mechanic: Ai UN 01C: SDF-1 Macross: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#DYRL - the RM doesn't state much beyond the obvious... Character Ai UN 02B: Hayase Misa: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRcharacter/MCRcharacter.php#DYRL - quite informative. Not the least of it being the reason why Misa can decipher the Protoculture language. On the other hand, the FB related RM underlines the skill of the character designer.
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Complete! Mechanic: TF SMS 07A: Macross Quarter Class Carriers: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#TMF - a nice balance between stats and in-movie events/usage. Alas, there hasn't been that much information revealed on these "alternative" Macross Quarter Class ships in the first place, and this sheet doesn't go the extra mile and answer such glaring questions like: why is the Macross 17 attached Macross Quarter in camo?
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Thanks! Glad that the effort is proving beneficial to others.
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RM++ Project: Episode: M35A & B: Super Dimensional Fortress Macross Eps. 35 "Romanesque": http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRepisode/MCRepisode.php#SDFM - I found the commentary and topics quite enjoyable. A nice balance between in-universe, the production side, contrasting with the DYRL version, and putting an underline between Kawamori et al's trolling in Macross - before such a concept even existed! Episode: 7 47A & B: Macross 7 Eps. 47 "Basara Dies": http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRepisode/MCRepisode.php#M7 - the episode title is still quite provocative, eh. Alas, I didn't find the commentary and topics as enjoyable as the SDFM episode sheets. Not sure if there's anything to get worked up about. Look at the contents: Mechanic Sheets: UN Naval Vessels (MII), VF Cockpits Changes (new), Fz-109. Character: Saotome Aruto, Lynn Minmei Timeline: Frontier Fleet And The Fight With The Vajra (TF) History: Factory Satellite Op Episode: MD7 Opening/Ending, SDFM Eps 36, M7 Encore "On Stage" Song: Northern Cross/Fairy Goods: Macross Related Publications 2, Blu-Ray 2 All are single sheets, and the VF-1 on the cover is recycled from a previously released fold-out page. (Yeah, I get that we're receiving one less Tenjin painting, but the magazine is so much more than his paintings).
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Complete: Mechanic: Other UN 08A: YF-30 Chronos: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#Other - quite a nice sheet, with a nice blend of stats and story from the game (especially for those of us who don't have it). Also, Kodachi Ukyou's influence can really be felt in the character/aircraft/planet names. There's just something so much more literary about the stuff he produces (such as allusions and so on). Eg: the cyclicality meaning of Ouroboros in the context of the characters who appear in the game, and the "sayings of the high one" literal meaning of Havamal, the NUNS Special Forces in the game. I haven't seen a writer have this much fun with names since Harry Potter And on top of that, references to other great Macross games!
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RM++ Project: Timeline II 01A: The Marduk Invasion And Peace: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRtimeline/MCRtimeline.php - reading this reminds me of how many good ideas there were in this series, but how it ultimately wasn't executed very well as the production aimed at being an imitation, rather than a progression of the SDFM/DYRL story. Compare with Orguss II (truly the only thing MII is comparable to), where they took things in a new direction (like M7 did, but without some of the good ideas found in MII).
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RM++ Project: Mechanic: 7 UN 03B VF-11MAXL Kai: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#M7 - compared to the other pages that have been expanded, this one is light on changes and other new content - though, having a complete set of specs for the Sound Booster is nice.
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RM++ Project: Episode: 7 46A & B: Macross 7 Eps. 46 "Gamlin's Revolt": http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRepisode/MCRepisode.php#M7 - although the commentary raises some very good points, the two RM's leave me wondering what the point of them is (aside from summarizing things).
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RM++ Project: Episode: M34A & B: Super Dimensional Fortress Macross Eps. 34 "Private Time": http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRepisode/MCRepisode.php#SDFM - some good points, especially in the craftsmanship aspects. History M 15A: The Interstellar Wedding: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRhistory/MCRhistory.php#SDFM - the RMs are handing - collecting an overview of Max and Miria's activities between SDFM and M7, as well as the names of all 8 of their daughters.
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Complete: Mechanic: TF SMS 03A: VF-19EF/A "Isamu Special" / VF-25A Messiah: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#TMF - quite a tour de force. Not so much for the stats per se, but the back story. It fills in a lot of blanks about what happened to not only Isamu, but also Jan. I really like how it also incorporates MtR events in (not just the VF-19EF name), and, if I'm not mistaken, also references the VFMF:VF-19 book (that book is the only other place I've came across the "ARIEL" VF-19 control program. Not sure if it has appeared in anything more official before the VFMF book's publication).
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Screw the cover image - note the episode sheet for FB 2012! (And the timeline sheet for one of the 2 MF movies)
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Deagostini is releasing this series in Japan. http://deagostini.jp/site/sts/pretop/index.html?utm_source=google_lis&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=sts Alas, you have to pick up the first 20 issues to get the mail in rebate (or order the set) to get the Borg Cube. (apparently you get the USS Enterprise dedication plaque bonus for issues 21-40, and the NCC-1701-D refit model bonus for 41-70.) The ￥499 special price for the 1st issue, and the ￥1,299 special price for the 2nd are reasonable, but at ￥2,495 for the 3rd and beyond? Those extras are definitely out of my reach (approx $2,000 USD for the entire set!)
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RM++ Project: Timeline Ai 02A: The Love Song That Reverberates In The Giants: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRtimeline/MCRtimeline.php - quite informative. I like how the first RM delves into what and why the Zentraadi are doing what they're doing to the Macross at the beginning of the film, and the second RM adds a dimension to the Zentraadi that I haven't come across before: in the movie timeline, the Zentraadi (and Meltrandi) ARE the Protoculture - albeit twisted, and only a shadow of their former selves.
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Luca Angelloni Industries
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RM++ Project: Character: D7 Citizen 02A: Mylene Flare Jiinasu: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRcharacter/MCRcharacter.php#MD7 - alas the RM on Sazapii is too short and only ends up recycling a barest outline of what happened, let alone why Mylene got into it, or Sazapii's ulterior motive. History M 14A: Zentraadi Soldiers Defect: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRhistory/MCRhistory.php#SDFM - quite a bit more juicy - providing some insight into the thinking behind the actions of key players.
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New. Nora dies at the end of M0, in Jul. 2008, before Tales Of South Ataria Island is set (Dec. 2008).