Please Note That This Is Not The Cover Art For "Be Forever Yamato."
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Writers:
Toshio Yoshida, Keisuke Yamamoto, and Hideaki Yamamoto
Based
On A Story By: Yoshinobu Nishizaki and Reiji Matsumoto
Production
Designed And Directed By: Reiji Matsumoto
Director:
Toshio Masuda
Production
And General Direction By: Yoshinobu Nishizaki
Feature
length: 151 minutes
Extras:
Theatrical Trailer, Program Book Gallery, Art Galleries, Text On The Making Of
The Film
Languages:
Japanese Two-Channel Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
English Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Alpha Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 13
Sound:
Two-Channel Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1980/DVD Release: 2003
Home
Video Distributor: Voyager Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
This
Yamato theatrical adventure takes place in the year 2202 after the Comet
Empire War, but before “The Bolar Wars.” The foe this time is the invading
Black Star Cluster Empire, which quickly subjugates the Earth. The crew of the Yamato
gathers together and escapes to mount a counterattack and free the Earth against
all odds.
This
epic feature in the “Space Battleship Yamato/Star Blazers” series employs
several visual and audio techniques that include changing aspect ratios so that
when the Yamato goes forth into deep space after making a warp jump, the
aspect ratio changes from a full screen (1.33:1) aspect ratio to a letterboxed
(2.35:1) aspect ratio to preserve the manner in which the film was exhibited
theatrically in Japan for American DVD-Video users. It is a shame that an
anamorphic enhancement was not used for these scenes. It would have truly added
a lot the film’s theatrical style. The picture quality is a bit soft at times,
but overall it is sharper and more consistently solid than all of the “Star
Blazer” DVD volumes I have screened and reviewed. A four-channel stereo
soundtrack was used for the theatrical exhibition. However the DVD only features
a two-channel Japanese monaural soundtrack with optional English language
subtitles. The soundtrack is clear with no distortion and enormously full to a
point that even with my receiver volume lowered to five decibels less than what
I normally have it set to when watching films on DVD, it was still quite loud.
The
original theatrical trailer is presented in a (1.33:1) aspect ratio and there
are several galleries of text and art covering in detail the making of the film,
interviews with the filmmakers and the film’s promotion in Japan during the
summer of 1980. In addition one can examine images from the original program
book onscreen with text translations in English for American readers and the
ability to magnify pages to get a closer look at the images on each page. There
are also art galleries made up of one sheet, promotional posters and advertising
images as well as the covers of the soundtrack albums and record insert as well
as a 45 single. There is also a music video montage that follows the film with
images of the characters. There are 16 beautiful full color images of the Yamato
as well as galleries focused on 19 images of Earth Force characters and ships
and 29 images of Black Star Cluster Empire characters, mechas, and whatnot.
The
interactive menus feature animated transitions and full motion scene selections
and all are easy to navigate. “Be Forever Yamato” is available on DVD-Video
now at retailers on and offline from Voyager Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Please Note That This Is Not The Cover Art For
"Be Forever Yamato."
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Icon Below!