F-ZeroOne
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Some first impressions, no spoilers I think (well, other than - you'll see): 1) Surprisingly "old school" in feel; did not immediately set my "WingBoyFive" alarms ringing like most non-UC Gundams do. It even has o'Neill cylinders [*], "proper" Haro and was that Camille Vidan making a cameo as a jeep driver?! 2) Still not entirely sold on the character designs; its an odd mix of Gundam current and almost 1970s Mazinger-era design. It doesn't help that one of the characters looks like a nine year old Sayla Mass, to the extent one wonders if it wasn't originally planned as a "White Base Junior" series. 3) Never really liked the trend started in SEED for Zoid-like Mobile SUIT designs. If you're gonna have transformers in Gundam, do it like they did in Zeta - make them bloody weird. 4) Currently a little unclear if its another alternate universe or some far-distant future one. Probably the former, but rather ambiguous. 5) Lead characters mother is killed off in the opening sequence, which is a speed record Tomino himself would have been hard-pressed to beat. 6) Ginger afro! Its been ages since we had a proper ginger afro in a mecha show! 7) The Gundam has a freakin' spoiler! A SPOILER! In summary: this first episode breaks very little new ground whatsoever. It is virtually the same opening episode as the last few Gundam series. However, the overall impression I got is that this is a Gundam aimed at an audience entirely new to Gundam - one possibly too young even to remember Gundam SEED - and is designed to introduce them to Gundams core concepts. I will be intrigued to see if the "multi-generational" plotline thats been talked about will make Gundam AGE stand out from its peers eventually, and although I still feel Bandai really does need to start thinking a bit more outside the box where non-Universal Century Gundam is concerned, I actually quite liked this latest entry to the Gundam multiverse. [*] Oh, just seen full outside shot. They're not UC-era colonies, with solar panels seemingly done for rule-of-cool purposes. And from the second episode: Introduces the thing that makes this Gundam not just for show, the AGE system. You have to laugh out very loud, because its both a way for Bandai to print even more yen, an incredibly convenient plot device and a really cool SF idea all rolled into one outrageously ingenious egg-shaped package (you'll see what I mean when you see it). I suddenly want a Kinder egg.
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Even David would find it hard to complain about this models accuracy...! http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/10/scratchbuilt-mi-24-hind-attack-helicopter-with-100k-parts.html
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Not sure if its directly related but its been in the news that the BBC is trying to make big money savings. "Must Repeat Dads Army Again"...
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Actually, I could make the case that Yoshiyuki Tomino at least was trying very hard to destroy the mecha toy industry... Hes widely blamed for bringing down Clover, one of the biggest toy companies of the early Gundam era, with late changes to the Gundam designs (though this may well be exaggerated, theres some evidence to suggest that certain Clover Gundam sets were actually big sellers), Ideon didn't exactly set the toy world on fire for Tomy, Dunbines curvy, organic designs weren't accurately reproduced until at least twenty years after the show aired, and if you ever want to make a Japanese toy designer weep, tell them to make a show-accurate transforming Zeta Gundam...
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http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110929p2g00m0dm016000c.html Near fatal roll and dive of an ANA flight caused by "the co-pilot, in trying to unlock the cockpit door for the captain who was returning from a rest room in the cabin, mistook the rudder trim knob for the cockpit door lock switch nearby". I would kind of have hoped that aircraft cockpits would make that kind of mistake sort of hard to make.
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Well, Graham beat me to it - I was also intending to throw in an art-droid into Mek-Quake for the Brits! I think I would have to add Cam Kennedy to the list, who did work on "Rogue Trooper" and had a fantastic eye for hardware. Kevin o'Neill, incidentally, has a pretty unique distinction - the only artist whose entire art style was "not approved by the Comics Code Authority"! Another favourite for me would be Ian Kennedy - when I was growing up, it was still possible to buy politically incorrect war comics with titles like "Battle" and "Warlord". Ian Kennedy did a great many beautiful covers for many of their annuals, as well as working on the revived "Dan Dare" for the 1980s "Eagle" comic relaunch. Steve Yeowell, who worked on "Zenith", a legendary early alternative take on superheroes that appeared in "2000AD", would be another one.
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Last nights episode was pure high-energy nightmare fuel. The BBC really shouldn't allow "League of Gentlemen" writers to script for what is supposed to be a childrens adventure series...
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Doctor Who, which - for us in BritUKland at least - fully deserves the label "iconic". Of course, "iconic" is not always the same as "respected", and for a very long time it was a case of "Great ideas, budget of six pence (not adjusted for inflation, or indeed, decimalisation)". But even before the reboot, the TARDIS and Daleks were as much a part of the UK as cups of tea and missed football penalties. And now its back and - well, not kicking butt as such, but sort of stumbling into scene, and then pulling a few levers, and maybe running down a corridor, then eating a banana - I like bananas - and, oh by the way, sorry, was that your Ultimate Death Machine self-destruct button? So sorry - and, oh, RUN! Turn-A Gundam. Seriously. Arguably the closest Gundam has ever come to making a live-action SF novel.
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Anddddd.... they're back. And if you thought Rory was cool for taking on the Cybermen last time, just wait till you see what he does this episode!
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I obviously didn't grow up with these anime, but back when the internet was something that existed only in William Gibsons mind, I used to read about it in magazines like Anime UK. Thats given a fondness for all those anime that I never got to see at the time (at least, until the anime 'splosion and the internet escaped from Gibsons brain into reality) and its still my favourite period of anime. Plus: Ayakawa Madoka. sigh.
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In the UK, we've recently had broadcast a four-part series called "Wonders of the Universe", featuring Professor Brian "Even the guys want him!" Cox. I haven't seen "Cosmos", but from what I've heard about that series, "Wonders" is pretty much a modern day update.
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Actually, using models presents a bit of an accuracy dilemma in itself - do you match them against the aircraft that were available or authentic, period-accurate aircraft? Many of the "real" aeroplanes in "The Battle of Britain" came from many different periods of the war - a few were actually post-war marks or variants, including many of the "German" aircraft, which IIRC were mostly post-war Spanish built with Merlin engines! Its been a while since I've seen that film, but IIRC the model He-111s had been built with "Merlins" as well...! CGI can help in this respect but due to the limited availability of period-accurate aircraft unless you replace the "real" thing completely you might still be using an aircraft that isn't "completely" authentic (actually, there probably isn't a "warbird" flying today thats 100% authentic, due to the necessity or re-manufacturing parts etc - pretty much the first thing thats done with all re-built Spitfires is to replace the original fasteners, which were originally made from a metal that would start eating into the airframe over time!).
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There is indeed - Stephen Fry, the screenwriter, has commented to the effect that its an "unwinnable" battle; whatever they decide to do about it will annoy someone, though I have a suspicion at least some of those arguing in favour of strict historical accuracy are not in fact interested in strict historical accuracy but have some other agenda...
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Put another shilling on the tab for that, old chap. We do at least have the Peter Jackson produced/Stephen Fry written "Dambusters" remake coming up.
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You could try asking the experts at Alen Yens Toybox DX. Rumour is that they know their stuff. http://www.toyboxdx.com/
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Gundam Show Thread - MSG thru GQuuuuuuX
F-ZeroOne replied to Black Valkyrie's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Just a weird thought having just watched 2.22 - what if they Rebuild of Gundam? -
Gundam Show Thread - MSG thru GQuuuuuuX
F-ZeroOne replied to Black Valkyrie's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Gundam: Origin: I guess this way everyone gets to be happy, as long as they don't screw it up. Its nice that they're taking a shot at what I guess is essentially a remake of the original (who will they find to play Bright, I wonder?) but it will be interesting to see if the other announced shows are going to break a lot of new ground - Bandai is making the yen whatever, but will we see anything that pushes the Gundam boundaries as much as Turn-A anytime soon, I wonder? -
I'm willing to hold judgement until I've actually played it, but what does worry me a little bit is that Ace Combat is going to lose just a little bit of its soul. The storylines have never made a great deal of sense (before anyone starts, I never got the chance to play Electrosphere!), but we already have enough games where serious people give briefings to other serious people in grim Russian accents. If - as one of the games producers has said - the change is because the market doesn't seem to want games that aren't set in the "real" world, then the market can go dance with the angels!
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The current series has just taken its mid-season break with something of a blockbuster of an episode. According to text at the end, the next episode has the best Doctor Who episode title, ever (following title reasonably large spoiler):
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You beat me to it! Considering the obvious limitations, I enjoyed it immensely. There were some interesting ideas in there and it does highlight the advantages of animation over live action. You can watch Jon Pertwee kick ar - posterior, for example...
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Yep, "Time Crash", written by The Grand Moffat for the BBCs "Comic Relief" charity event.
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"The Doctors Wife" was written by that Neil Gaiman, which helps explain some of the fan response to it. It does have such a simple idea at the core of the story I'm frankly astonished no-one else has thought of it before. Its does have just a hint of very high-class fan-fiction about it, which perhaps helps explain some of the negative response. Ah, its all so different from the days when the BBC employed hacks like Douglas Adams to write scri - oh. David Tennant certainly does know what its like, because he married Peter Davisons daughter - who played "The Doctors Daughter" in the episode of the same name. I think that probably makes David Tennant the ultimate promoted fanboy. Theres been some comment recently that Doctor Who is too scary (and not for the first time). My basic reaction to this is that, if the kids aren't wetting themselves behind the sofa, then its not Doctor Who... [1] This weekends episode looks like another one for the damp carpet brigade... [1] I'm not a parent, and I can understand where they're coming from a bit, but on the other hand - merciless machine-clad space aliens who want to kill every other thing in the Universe? What did you think you were watching, Teletubbies?!
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Theres a rumour that Libya has forced a little bit of a re-think and a few Harriers (the number I've seen mooted is about twenty) might be kept around "just in case". However, as far as I'm aware, so far its just press speculation. A WAH-64 Apache flew over where I work today. Its always slightly un-nerving seeing one of those banking overhead, they really do look like giant alien predatory dragonflies.
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This isn't in any particular order (except perhaps for the number two and one positions). And, er, yes, I do like the classics. Aura Battler Dunbine. Attack attack attack! Cats Eye. Magic play is dancing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBElu22oQuM&feature=related Gundam Wing; never did like the series overly much but I can't fault the music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsoqf_5k4TQ Kimagure Orange Road, "Night of Summerside". AYAKAWA...! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZaW9FcG7-g Mazinkaiser. Only the finest violence! Read or Die OAV. The Paper... Kodomo no Omocha/Childs Toy. Texas! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE1nGCtDlww Gundam 0083. The winner is Kou Uraki, unless it involves carrots! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKkzsxymAbs And now we wheel out anime musics big gun in a straw boater. First, Turn-A, Turn-A Turn, TURN-A! And finally - trilingual BONUS! Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex: Extra Plus content unlocked! Believe in a sign of Zeta? So does this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03pcfgX5Dwg
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Gundam Show Thread - MSG thru GQuuuuuuX
F-ZeroOne replied to Black Valkyrie's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Turn-As standing in Gundam continuity is a bit of an odd fish. It is a standalone series, and I feel its quite possible to watch it as a standalone SF series without knowing about the original Gundam series. However, "Turn-A" is derived from a mathematical symbol which, IIRC, means something like "includes all". It was also created by the original series creator, Yoshiyuki Tomino [1], which makes it about as official as anything in Gundam gets, and it includes a lot of nods to the Universal Century Gundams, with some stuff grabbed from the other continuities as well. Its also set so far in the future as to make the previous Gundam continuities "ancient" history. So. Er. Yes. And no. And maybe. [1] It also transformed Tomino into "Happy, balanced Tomino", replacing the "Depressed, kill everything! Tomino" of Gundam Z or the "Happy, what-the-hell-is-he-taking!" Tomino of Gundam ZZ.