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Director:
Leiji Matsumoto
Producer:
Yoshinobu Nishizaki
Feature
length: 96 minutes
Extras:
Website And Credits, Spaceship Database,
Character Database, Mecha Database, Maps And Episode Guides, Argo Mechanics,
Locales And Trailer, Deleted Scenes
Languages:
English Dubbed Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 4 per episode/16 total
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of DVD Release: 2003
Home
Video Distributor: Voyager Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Despite
the best of intentions, the Galman plan to save the Earth’s sun fails,
prompting Wildstar and the rest of the crew of the Argo to continue their
search for an Earth like planet to have humanity emigrate to. During their
journey they come across a band of marooned pilgrims seeking the mythical space
goddess, Queen Gardiana, who they think can stop the destructive conflict
between the Galman Empire and the Bolar Federation and bring everlasting peace
to the galaxy. Before leaving the Galman home world, Wildstar had encountered
some of her followers who fled for their lives when Desslok’s troopers caught
them. Wildstar communicates with Desslok and asks why he would persecute
worshipers for a god of peace? Desslok slyly replies, “I’m sure you can
understand there can only be one god here.” Since the Star Force is on a
humanitarian mission, Wildstar accepts Desslok’s answer without questioning
it, but he has the crew of the Argo assist in repairing the pilgrim ship.
Afterwards the Argo comes across a planet that is just like the Earth
they left behind. In fact it seems too perfect according to IQ9, who detects an
intelligence his microchips can’t understand because it goes against all the
known laws of logic. IQ9 attempts to sabotage the mission to prevent any
landings on the planet’s surface, but he is quickly stopped and Wildstar and
an away team land on the planet, which is like a paradise. He quickly
communicates with Desslok and thanks him for his assistance. Desslok sends a
survey ship of his own and a warning to the head of the Bolar Federation not to
interfere with the Argo’s survey of the planet. The Bolar Federation
responds by sending a fleet to blast the Argo out of space once and for
all.
When
the Galman survey ship lands and meets with the Argo away team, they are
both surprised to learn that the planet they have landed on appears to create an
illusion based on the memories of whoever is there. So the Galmans see a planet
that looks just like their own home world and Wildstar is shocked to discover
the statue of his former mentor and Captain of the Argo on the planet. It
is quickly realized that nothing on this phantom world is what it seems and that
the planet appears to be trying to communicate with them by pulling images from
the memories of those who visit it. When the Galman science team attempts to
drill into the crust of the planet to gain a better understanding of the
geologic nature of the world, the phantom planet retaliates, forcing an
emergency evacuation of the surface and causing both ships to move to a farther
and safer orbit away from the planet. When Desslok learns what has happened, he
takes the reaction as an act of defiance and sends a ship to obliterate the
planet. With no home for humanity to emigrate to and 95 days left before the sun
goes supernova and engulfs the Earth, Wildstar and the crew of the Argo have
themselves caught between the sentient world they have reached, the approaching
Bolar Fleet, and the might of the Galman Empire coming to destroy the phantom
planet.
By
then end of the final episode on disc four, I have to admit the mystery of Queen
Gardiana and her possible relation to the phantom planet left me wondering how
this and the subsequent clash between the Bolar Federation and Galman Empire
will resolve itself, lest I forget how the Star Force will save humanity this
time? Like the previous volumes, season three was taken from newly discovered
masters and are presented on each volume for the first time exactly as the
series was meant to be seen during the original 1985 American television
broadcast. So these episodes look better than any previous home video release
and television and in fact they even look better than the first two series on
DVD too. There is a bit of noise and even one scene that looked shaky early in
this installment, but the picture quickly improves and for the most part looks
quite good considering the age of the series and the nature of the restoration
process performed exclusively for this DVD release. The English Two-Channel
Monaural Soundtrack is quite full in nature and free of any analogue background
hissing.
Like
the previous releases, various schematics are listed under the headings of
Science, Guidance, Gunnery, Engineering, and Analysis and include detailed
diagrams and notes detailing a space chart showing the progress of the Argo
on her journey at this point in the series as well as episode synopses for all
the installments included on this volume. In addition, users can examine various
mechas, the Galman Magnetic Green Ship, which dwarfs the Argo, when
compared in scale, an Earth Force Cruiser, the Pilgrim Vessel, the pulsar
cannons of the Argo, and character information among others. Press the
right arrow on your remote control and users can access deleted scenes from
episodes 18 and 20 presented in their (1.33:1) aspect ratio with their original
Japanese Soundtrack. A web link and a teaser for the 6th and final
installment in “The Bolar Wars” that will bring the entire American version
of the three season TV series to an end wraps up the extra features included in
this set.
“Star
Blazers: The Bolar Wars: Series 3 - The Lost Episodes: Part V” will
debut on DVD-Video at retailers on and offline now and can also be ordered directly by visiting www.starblazers.com
courtesy of Voyager Entertainment. The series finale will follow in November.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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