Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1Dance Away behind-the-scenes video – Way back in 1994, I saw the Japanese anime feature film Project A-ko (1986) on Laserdisc format (dubbed in Japanese with English subtitles). As I viewed it, I noticed there were three English language songs that played in the background and the one I enjoyed most was the song Dance Away which was performed by Annie Livingstone (with supporting vocals by Samantha Newark and the late Valerie Stevenson). Project A-ko’s behind-the-scenes information revealed the three singers working together on Dance Away which you can watch in the video below. These singers have beautiful voices and were really talented to watch.
#2 AI and automation are taking over grocery stores and drive-thru lanes – In America, inflation spiked so much under the Biden administration which contributed a lot to higher prices of food and the suffering of consumers who need food. That being said, the food industry has invested a lot on artificial intelligence (AI) and automation so that they can lower labors costs and somehow improve sales to keep the businesses alive. In fact, technology is becoming much more integrated in places where people buy food and that also means making orders not in front of a human worker but in front of a computer (example: a touch-screen monitor where you choose what to order). Watch and learn from the video below.
#3 Assorted videos about The Last Starfighter – Released way back in 1984, The Last Starfighter was a memorable movie that carefully blended science fiction concepts, adventure, fine performances and video game elements together. It was also one of the early movies Hollywood made that extensively used computer-generated imagery (CGI) which defied the era’s standard of using practical and optical effects. Now available on 4K Blu-ray format, The Last Starfighter is a popular subject of varied YouTube videos and I selected some for your enjoyment below. However, if you have not seen The Last Starfighter yet, I urge you watch it first before seeing any of the movie reaction videos featuring it. You make the decision.
#4 HolyLandSite’s Capernaum to Bethsaida walking tour video – I love Israel and I will always stand with it. For the newcomers reading this, Israel is where the Holy Land is and it has always been the land that the Lord God designated to the Jewish people. Recently HolyLandSite released another video showcasing a walking tour in the Galilee region specifically from Capernaum to Bethsaida. If you have not read the Holy Bible extensively, Lord Jesus spent a great deal of his ministry in Galilee. I myself had been to the Galilee region and many times during the pilgrimage tour there and in other parts of Israel, I witnessed the Holy Bible come to life on-location. Watch the video below.
#5 More people in Iran coming to Lord Jesus– It is not a fantasy to say that the current regime of Iran (in power since 1979) made their nation a terrorist state. Iran is truly sponsoring terrorist groups in the Middle East and they have Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorists doing their work to destroy Israel. While the Iranian regime is clearly evil and murderous (note: their leaders declared in their own language death towards America, Israel and England), there are many Iranians who do not follow their government. In fact, there are Iranians who even left Islam behind to come to Jesus whom they accepted as their Lord and savior. Be aware that the Iranian government had harmed their fellow Iranians many times and this includes human rights violations. That being said, the people in Iran who desired Lord Jesus and freedom from their oppressive government need our prayers of support. Watch and learn from the video below.
#6 Rocky II (1978) reaction/review videos – If you have been watching movies for decades and if you have been following the career of Sylvester Stallone, then you would be already aware of the significance of the 1976 film Rocky. Considering its success, Rocky spawned several sequels and a few spin-off movies through the decades. Going back to the late 1970s, Sylvester Stallone came up with the effort to make the sequel Rocky II (1979) which itself became featured in several movie reaction/review videos and retrospectives. Watch the videos I selected for you all below.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1970s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1974 to examine a highly significant tale from Marvel Comics’ shared universe – the first appearance of the Punisher and his first-ever encounter with Spider-Man.
To put things in perspective, Punisher’s literary debut was told within the Amazing Spider-Man comic book series and it happened not too long after the legendary tragedy of Gwen Stacey. During the 1970s, Hollywood made and released several action movies and crime thrillers that were violent, gritty and highlighted vigilantes and assassins. Some of that influence somehow made it into Marvel’s shared universe which was symbolized creatively through the Punisher who debuted as an assassin.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #129, published in 1974 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Ross Andru (the same creative duo behind Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man crossover).
The cover.
Early story
The story begins inside a private facility an assassin wearing black with a huge skull on his upper body heavily damages a solid statue of Spider-Man using a powerful rifle. This impresses the hideous villain called the Jackal who tells him that if he does well with the real Spider-Man, he would have performed a great service for the world. Knowing he impressed the Jackal, the Punisher states that he will only kill those who deserve killing and he expresses his belief that the webslinger deserves to die.
Elsewhere, Spider-Man swings into action and successfully stops an armed robbery from happening. Along the way he managed to capture photographs, changes into his civilian clothes and enters the Daily Bugle’s office ready to submit the roll of film as Peter Parker. Unfortunately, his superior J. Jonah Jameson disregards Parker’s submission and points out that the Punisher made waves with New York’s readers via the Bugle’s competitor The New York Star. For Jameson, the Punisher is only the most newsworthy thing to happen to New York and tells Parker he wants photos of the assassin…
Quality
This is a scene from the first of two encounters between Spider-Man and the Punisher who was introduced as an assassin.
To make things very clear about storytelling without spoiling plot details, this is a tale about intrigue and the darker side of society that involves vigilantes and murdering. The Punisher here did not debut as a crime-busting vigilante but rather an assassin who accepts assignments from clients as long as the jobs fall in line with his personal philosophy that focuses on taking the lives of those who deserved to be killed. That being said, it is clear that Hollywood’s vigilante flicks of the 1970s influenced the presentation and I can say that whenever the story focuses on the Punisher, there definitely is a grim tone which contradicts the tone of Spider-Man’s scenes.
Spider-Man here continues to struggle somewhat with his personal life having recently lost Gwen Stacey while remaining disturbed about the identity of the Green Goblin. The webslinger also has to live with the heavy situation in which a lot of people in New York were convinced that he killed Norman Osborne which was the result of his own boss’ handling of the Daily Bugle. These elements along with his civilian involvement with his newspaper creatively added to the build-up of Spider-Man’s eventual encounters with the Punisher. The build-up was structured nicely and the pay-off was worth it.
There was also the introduction of Jackal. While he has a hideous appearance, his participation was more about scheming than action which contrasted him with the Punisher. For the newcomers reading this, Jackal is actually Miles Warren in a more monstrous form. From this comic book, it was clear that Jackal was created to be a recurring for of Spider-Man and this was strongly executed in the controversial Clone Saga of the 1990s.
Going back to the Punisher, he symbolically uses guns with designs that were more grounded in reality (inspired by real-life guns in looks) instead of taking influence from science fiction. As an assassin living with a strong code, the Punisher is truly determined to eliminate Spider-Man whom he even referred to as a murderer. The perception of Spider-Man as a criminal on the part of the Punisher clearly reflected the defamation caused by the Daily Bugle on the webslinger. Gerry Conway established the assassin to be a strong believer in fighting evil by using violence and killing.
The build-up of the Punisher is very solid and the pay-off in the form of battles with Spider-Man is tremendous and very satisfying to read. There is a lot of action to enjoy here and most notably Gerry Conway maintained a strong narrative throughout.
Conclusion
Have you ever worked in a newspaper before?
I can say out loud that Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974) is truly a great read and a true illustrated literary classic of Marvel Comics. This tale alone added a touch of darkness and grit (in the form of vigilante and assassins cultures) into the Spider-Man legacy. Apart from its status as a comic book classic, this one paved the way for the rise of the Punisher in terms of more comic book appearances and the publishing of new comic book series featuring him. While the Punisher’s legacy as a killer is obviously not something worth believing in, Marvel Comics took the risk of having him as one of their primary characters in the decades that followed. This particular story is so significant, Marvel Comics revisited it with What If #58 (1994). Check out my other Punisher-related retro reviews by clicking here, here, here, here and here.
Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974) is highly recommended!
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1970s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1977 when Marvel Comics had the license to publish comic books about Japan’s iconic monster Godzilla (Gojira in Japanese) and even integrated him into their shared comic books universe.
The mid-1970s saw a decline of Godzilla’s popularity in Japan as reflected in the commercial disappointment of the movie Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). The company Toho decided to put on-hold the production of its monster movies without permanently ending the Godzilla film franchise. The next Godzilla movie released was The Return of Godzilla (1984) which proved to be a solid rebound of the Japanese film franchise.
Sometime between the mentioned movies, there was interaction between Toho officials and Marvel Comics – including the late Stan Lee – when the Japanese company screened the movie Godzilla vs. Gigan (titled in America as Monster Island) to the comic guys in relation to the film’s American theatrical release. It turns out Stan Lee enjoyed the movie a lot and seated next to him was writer Doug Moench (the eventual writer for the Godzilla comic book series).
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Godzilla: King of the Monsters #1, published in 1977 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Doug Moench and drawn by Herb Trimpe.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in Alaska when a huge iceberg suddenly deteriorates unleashing a gigantic monster with sharp teeth, dorsal fins and immense strength – Godzilla. After instantly crushing a supply ship, the monster moves onto the land destroying structures and disrupting the lives of every person nearby.
In response to Godzilla’s rampage in Alaska, S.H.I.E.L.D. dispatches its agents to the site of destruction to take on the monster. Meanwhile, S.H.I.E.L.D. director Col. Nick Fury is transporting with him three Japanese individuals deemed important (with clearances from the Pentagon and the White House)…
Quality
Dum Dum Dugan, Col. Nick Fury and the Japanese characters.
To get straight to the point, this comic book not only marked the literary debut of Japan’s iconic monster under Marvel Comics’ banner but also his integration into the shared universe of the time. That being said, the story written by Doug Mench was pretty much a functional build-up of Godzilla’s presence within the realm of Marvel which includes a strategic choice of having S.H.I.E.L.D. and its characters encountering the monster. In short, the creative team decided not to literally pull out Marvel’s biggest guns (the more popular superheroes and teams) as such a move would have lessened the impact of Godzilla’s debut.
For the most part, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan had lively portrayals and the way they reacted to the rampage of Godzilla was believable. The introductions of the Japanese characters (who could provide breakthroughs on dealing with the giant monster) were clearly inspired by the Japanese scientists who were crucial in the plot of the original 1954 movie Gojira.
Going further, Doug Mench went on to efficiently establish Godzilla’s origin which creatively is a sensible reinterpretation of what was established in the 1954 movie. The giant monster’s rise as a result of humanity’s testing of powerful weapons on Earth is definitely here.
As expected, Godzilla is the unrestrained force of destruction but as this comic book was released in the 1970s, the destruction scenes lacked impact as they were creatively sanitized with deliberate moves of showing no casualties no matter what happened. This limitation on the part of Marvel Comics showed they were not willing to emulate the approach on destruction and death that was clearly emphasized in the first Godzilla movie of 1954.
As for Godzilla himself, Herb Trimpe’s visual approach is not really good. While Trimpe implemented the guy-in-a-suit shape on the giant monster’s form, he made Godzilla his own (took no inspiration from Godzilla’s cinematic designs) which resulted in making the icon look unrecognizable. There were inconsistencies on Godzilla’s head as well. In certain shots, Godzilla looked terrifying but in other shots, he looked weird or cartoony. The use of the color green did not make Godzilla look reptilian but rather comical.
Conclusion
I can only imagine the SJWs and the climate change extremists enjoying these images of an unrecognizable Godzilla wreaking havoc to the oil supply. Are there lots of people in your local community who were brainwashed to hate oil and gas?
Godzilla: King of the Monsters #1 (1977) is a serviceable approach on debuting the iconic monster within the fantasy realm of Marvel Comics and sparking a new wave of crossovers. There were uneven levels of quality here and there, and Herb Trimpe’s visual approach on Godzilla was alienating to say the least. Honestly, I did not really see Godzilla in this comic book but rather a green-colored dinosaur-like creature that was mislabeled as Godzilla. What works here is the writing by Doug Mench which proved to be entertaining enough.
Overall, Godzilla: King of the Monsters #1 (1977) is satisfactory.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from watching the movie and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, readers! For only the 2nd time since the COVID-19 pandemic affected the world, I managed to watch a movie inside the local cinema at SM Southmall in Las Piñas City. What is intriguing is that the movie I saw is actually a carefully edited compilation of footage sourced from an upcoming live-action series that is an ambitious Philippine adaptation of a certain giant robot anime from Japan. The movie I saw was Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience. Behind it all, the movie is part of GMA Network’s strategy of building up awareness for the Voltes V: Legacy TV series set to launch on May 8, 2023.
For the newcomers reading this, the original Voltes V anime series (Japanese title: Chôdenji mashin Borutesu Faibu) was launched in Japan in 1977. Shortly after, it made its English language debut here in the Philippines (note: Japanese characters’ names were Westernized) and ultimately it became very popular and it made an impact on millions of Filipinos who saw it and replayed it in the many years that followed. I noticed that many Filipinos of my generation think of Voltes V first when anime comes to mind. While I myself never became a fan, I saw lots of Voltes V anime episodes on TV at a time when Internet access, video streaming and social media were not yet realized here in the Philippines. I even saw GMA’s edited Voltes V anime movie (containing footage of the final five episodes of the anime series) in the cinema in 1999.
In recent years, GMA Network and its local talents joined forces with Toei Company of Japan to create a live-action TV series adaptation of the anime and there will be eighty episodes (double the anime TV series’ episode count) for broadcasting nationwide. This is Voltes V: Legacy and already the local production team went through lots of hard work making the episodes, the sets, the props, the costumes and the computer-generated images (CGI) to bring the classic series into life in coordination with Toei which reviewed and supervised the production. A lot of money has been spent into Voltes V: Legacy which was felt in GMA’s increased production costs.
As for Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience, the so-called movie contains varied footage allegedly from the first three weeks’ worth of TV episodes and it was exclusively screened in SM Cinema sites around the country for a limited time.
The story begins in the planet of Boazan where people with horns live in prosperity and privilege while those without horns have no choice but to live a hard, lower life. A gifted young Boazanian man named Hrothgar – who was born into royalty without horns and lived with his personal secret long enough into adulthood – was exposed by Zambojil’s group to be hornless and unworthy of Boazan’s throne. Sometime later, Hrothgar leads several fellow slaves and prisoners in an uprising against Emperor Zambojil’s authority. Before getting overwhelmed by the imperial forces, Hrothgar escapes into space with an Boazanian spacecraft and crashes into the sea on Earth.
He is discovered by Mary Ann and he gets introduced to Dr. Smith and Commander Robinson. Hrothgar informs them of his Boazanian origin and he expressed to them that Earth’s defenses are too weak to protect its people from alien invaders. As he adjusts with Earth life, Hrothgar changes his name into Ned Armstrong, marries Mary Ann and have children together. After several years on Earth, Ned Armstrong worked closely with Dr. Smith to prepare the people for future invasions…
Quality
The iconic Voltes V looks bulkier and more mechanical in CGI form and the good news is that the overall quality is great and there is a lot of fun seeing the giant robot in action. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
To begin with, the creative team of GMA managed to establish a cohesive narrative for the cinematic experience which is not an easy thing to do considering all the content from many selected episodes that had to be edited and arranged properly. This involves the presentation of the story details, the live-action elements, the CGI-heavy shots and the human performances to create a narrative that was easy enough to follow and absorb in my experience. I noticed that the so-called movie moved at a medium-to-fast pace which is not surprising because the goal of GMA was to entertain moviegoers and convince them to anticipate the live action TV series. Considering the speed of the pacing, there were some moments when I felt that some scenes were missing which only reminded me that the slower and more dramatic moments were being saved for the TV series.
When it comes to adapting the classic anime’s elements into live action, the creative team did a pretty good job most of the time. The costumes of the five pilots were made with a more practical physical design (note: they are not body tight) while retaining the classic colors and the V logo. The interior set of the Camp Big Falcon operations room looked more futuristic complete with having many people simultaneously operating. The interior set showing Prince Zardoz and his trusted companions closely resembles that of the anime. There was one particular physical set that did not look convincing – the outdoor street market in Boazan early in the movie had that indoor feel which not even the lighting could hide and the CGI shot showing the rest of the outdoor area and the far distance did not match with the place.
More on the artistic side of the presentation, I enjoyed the way the production people emulated the classic anime designs of not only the characters but also the key structures (places) and the giant robots (Voltes V and the two beast fighters) into live action. The cinematic Prince Zardoz looks so much like his anime counterpart and the same can be said about Dr. Smith and Mrs. Armstrong. The two beast fighters here were rendered to look much like their anime versions but were animated in a way to emphasize mass and scale.
The strategic posing in this notable shot is a fun and honorable throwback to a key moment in the very first episode of the original Voltes V anime TV series. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
There were some notable artistic discrepancies and flaws however. The cinematic Princess Zandra, Draco and Commander Robinson clearly did not quite match their anime counterparts. For some reason, Princess Zandra appeared with a very different costume displaying subtle sexiness instead of royalty. Could it be possible the creative team took inspiration from the Fatima Blush character (played by Barbara Carrera) in the 1983 James Bond movie Never Say Never Again while modernizing Princess Zandra? As for Draco, he does not look as intimidating as his anime version and he even looks more like a cosplayer! Commander Robinson here does not display the maturity of the anime version due to the questionable quality of the costume provided and the actor’s appearance. In my experience watching the anime series, Commander Robinson looked and felt like a military man in his early fifties which the live action version never captured.
Now I want to talk about Voltes V itself. The highlight of the CGI combined with really good art direction is the iconic giant robot, including the five vehicles that compose it. To begin with, the use of CGI emphasizing multiple moving mechanical parts to emphasize Voltes V is a very smart move done by special effects team. While each vehicle has a new visual aesthetic to match the live action approach, they still remained recognizable to me. The biggest visual highlight in the movie is the volt-in sequence when each vehicle combined to form Voltes V in robotic form. As each vehicle connected to each other, the classic sequence from the anime was replicated excellently. Given the artistic direction and the CGI’s emphasis of multiple moving parts, the volt-in sequence here is much more detailed than the anime version! I should state that it is very likely that the visual effects team worked overtime to achieve the high-level of detail, the vibrant colors and the impressive animation on Voltes V.
Watch this. Share to others. Thanks!
With the approach on multiple moving parts, Voltes V itself looks bulkier in a mechanical fashion which I really admire. It should be stated that showcasing the iconic giant robot in action – complete with CGI presentation of the many Voltes weapons – is a visual feast complete with very vibrant colors! Each time Voltes V hits a beast fighter by punching or using a weapon, there is strong impact felt with each blow! The sound effects team really did good work adding weight and power to the action.
The work done by the special effects crew in this external shot of Jamie Robinson’s cockpit is very impressive and detailed! Ysabel Ortega acted convincingly to what happened. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
Considering the high detail and strong animation on Voltes V, the two beast fighters shown in this movie had very similar visual qualities. There was no major discrepancy on visual quality between the iconic robot and the enemy during battles.
More on the CGI, I can declare that the locally produced visual effects (by GMA Video and Riot, Inc.) looked very good for the most part! Apart from the battles between the giant figures, the sequences of animating the Voltes V vehicles, the Boazanian flying saucers (with fast moving sharp edges that make them resemble motorized wood-cutting blades), the fighter planes and physical damage of places were nice to see. There were, however, several explosions that were badly rendered (note: even looking flat and out of place) in key scenes and there were moments when military vehicles looked more like they belong in video games from a few console generations ago. The formation of the blade of Voltes V’s laser sword clearly needs more work as it looks unpolished. In the post-credits scene, CGI for Octo 1 was badly done!
Apart from action scenes, the giant robots and their weapons, CGI was also used on established places or structures. Camp Big Falcon really looks magnificent while the floating mechanical Boazanian skull appeared very creepy. In shots showing the far distance, Camp Big Falcon in the background still looks good even though the visual quality falls short of capturing true photo-realism.
Considering the way GMA edited the footage and selected visual effects shots for this so-called movie, the overall quality of the CGI literally landed some notches short of photo-realistic levels. That’s not criticism at all but a confirmation that Filipino-produced CGI showcased here is the best I have seen yet! All in all, an impressive ton of work by the special effects teams using computers.
As for the human performances, I can say that the cast collectively did a good job bringing the characters to life and this includes paying special attention to details from anime while adding certain elements that reflect modernization. Zardoz was portrayed to be sadistic and obsessed on conquering planet Earth which reflects his imperial task and the pressure that comes with it. Sometimes, Zardoz looked and acted even psychotic. Mary Ann Armstrong is the definitive mother figure here and the producers emphasized her more with scenes showing her as a very focused authority during crisis as well as a tender and loving woman during her time with the family. In some ways, Mary Ann Armstrong is almost like the protagonist of this so-called movie and the live action version looks deeper than the anime version. While the live action Commander Robinson needs a lot of improving, Dr. Smith here really looks and feels like he was instantly ripped off the anime resulting in a very straightforward version fans will recognize. The live action Ned Armstrong here has some elements that deviate from what was portrayed in the anime (note: a very skilled fighter whose moves were so obviously choreographed during an action scene) while retaining key elements that still made him recognizable.
The actors who played the five pilots of Voltes V performed nicely. Even with all the layered Tagalog expressions (including gestures that we Filipinos are familiar with), Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark and Jamie are all very recognizable not in terms of looks but through the dialogue, character details and acting. The production team really worked hard to not only balance their respective shares of the spotlight, but also get good enough performances from the actors. Take note that apart from the on-set dramatization, the actors of the Voltes V team had to perform accordingly in their respective cockpit scenes (note: the special effects teams painstakingly provided all the CGI to specifically reflect what had been happening with the pilots and with their machines) and this includes internal communications between the members. What we have right now are the best actors available portraying Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark and Jamie and making them recognizable in terms of characterization.
With regards to the music, I can say that this one clearly needs improvement. There is orchestrated music in this cinematic experience that played new tunes while also redoing/recycling classic tunes from the anime TV series. When the anime tunes were played by the orchestra with a modern approach, they were recognizable to my ears but the power and essence of the original tunes were not replicated successfully. Sometimes, I just wished that the anime tunes were played more while the orchestra focused more on providing new music.
As for the famous Voltes V theme song, the new version performed by Julie Anne San Jose is a letdown! I’m not saying San Jose is a bad singer but her version – which even used the Japanese lyrics – lacked impact compared to the original version. While the volt-in sequence proved to be a grand visual feast for the fans and viewers who love great looking CGI sequences, its cinematic impact was brought down a bit by San Jose’s version of the theme song. How I wish that the movie producers just used the classic song from the 1970s anime series!
This original theme song should have been used in Voltes V: Legacy instead of the new version.
Conclusion
As expected, Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience has a mix of strong points and flaws. The good news is that the good outweighed the bad and I pretty much enjoyed this cinematic version of the live action adaptation done by GMA, its strategic partners and the local talents. As this so-called movie was a mix of content from several episodes edited to form a suitable narrative, it succeeded in entertaining and engaging me. Yes, there were flaws and there were some parts showing weaknesses but those things did not damage the viewing experience too much. There is a good amount of fun with this so-called movie.
Obviously this cinematic version is part of GMA Network’s strategy to build up anticipation for the upcoming TV series (which has a declared 80 episodes for broadcasting). While some people will perceive Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience as a blatant form of marketing or even as corporate gimmick, I personally see it as a worthy showcase in the local cinema (note: cinemas here in the Philippines are still recovering from the massive damage of COVID-19) and it just might not be repeated. Let me remind you readers that this newest Voltes V adaptation highlights the peak of Filipino-produced CGI visuals and the Filipinos’ collective efforts to really make a worthy live action adaptation of a foreign entertainment property. This so-called movie is clearly not perfect (note: it is not deserving of perfect 10/10 scores that others gave it) but it is pretty good to watch in the cinema.
Voltes V looks better than ever and made a big entertaining impact in the cinema. How will Voltes V: Legacy turn out on TV given the fact that there are so many episodes set for broadcasting?(photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
As mentioned earlier, I’m not a fan of the Voltes V anime and I’m not exactly anticipating the Voltes V: Legacy TV series. I do confirm that the long-lasting legacy Voltes V is clearly thriving here in the Philippines and the new TV series could potentially make a deep impact on Filipinos who love entertainment and possibly replicate what happened in the 1970s and 1980s when the classic anime TV aired on TV nationwide. How the new TV series will turn out is clearly GMA’s own problem.
Overall, Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience is recommended.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt and key details from the 4K Blu-ray announcement at Blu-ray.com. Some parts in boldface…
Piranha features a stellar group of talent in front of as well as behind the camera. The top-notch cast of cult stars includes Kevin McCarthy (Invasion Of The Body Snatchers), Barbara Steele (Black Sunday), Belinda Balaski (The Howling), Dick Miller (A Bucket Of Blood), Paul Bartel (Eating Raoul), and Richard Deacon (The Dick Van Dyke Show).
Special Features and Technical Specs:
DISC ONE – 4K BLU-RAY
NEW 4K RESTORATION OF OF THE FILM FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE (2022)
DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
Audio Commentary With Executive Producer Roger Corman
Audio Commentary With Director Joe Dante And Producer Jon Davison
DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track
Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
DISC TWO – BLU-RAY
NEW 4K RESTORATION OF OF THE FILM FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE (2022)
NEW Interview with director Joe Dante
Audio Commentary With Roger Corman
Audio Commentary With Joe Dante And Jon Davison
“The Making Of Piranha – Interviews With Roger Corman, Joe Dante And Actors Dick Miller, Belinda Balaski And More …
Behind-The-Scenes Footage
Bloopers And Outtakes
Still Galleries
Behind-The-Scenes Photo Gallery Featuring Photos From Creature Designer/Animator Phil Tippett’s Archives
Additional Scenes From The TV Version
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spot
Radio Spots
DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track
Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
Posted below are the specs of Piranha (1978) 4K Blu-ray…
Video Codec: HEVC / H.265 Resolution: Native 4K (2160p) HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10 Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Discs – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray Disc, Two-disc set (1 BD-66, 1 BD-50)
Packaging – Slipcover in original pressing
Playback – 4K Blu-ray: Region free, 2K Blu-ray: Region A (B, C untested)
Movie poster of Piranha (1978)
In my experience, I saw Piranha (1978) a number of times since the 1980s. I never saw it in the cinema as I was too young back then but I first saw it on home video followed by showings on cable TV. Strangely enough, the 1978 movie not only spawned a sequel in 1982, it also had remakes in 1995 and 2010.
More on the 1978 movie itself, it was made just a few years after Steven Spielberg’s Jaws made tremendous impact commercially and socially. To its credit, Piranha (1978) was produced by low-budget movie king Roger Corman and it had Joe Dante as director and Kevin McCarthy as a supporting cast member. For the newcomers reading this, Dante is best known for directing Gremlins while McCarthy is best remembered for Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956).
A foreign movie poster.
Ultimately, the main feature of Piranha (1978) is its emphasis on water-related fear, particularly the idea that a person in water can be eaten alive by multiple piranhas. It’s like an extension of Jaws’ influence which people afraid of the sea because they could be eaten by a shark.
Already it has been confirmed that Piranha (1978) 4K Blu-ray will come with native 4K visuals. To the best of my memory, the movie was not a very visually appealing movie. Still, the idea of it getting remastered into 4K is interesting.
Watch out for Piranha (1978) 4K Blu-ray on November 1, 2022.
In closing this Better than Streaming piece, posted below is the Piranha (1978) video.
Author Carlo Carrasco 