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Battle Of The Planets - Vol. 1 - Attack Of The Space Terrapin [DVD] [1978]
![Battle Of The Planets - Vol. 1 - Attack Of The Space Terrapin [DVD] [1978]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512995ERG7L._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £17.99
Glorious nostalgia but not upto DVD standard..!
Review date: 2001-06-23 Rating: 8 out of 10
As a TV programme, Battle of the Planets stands head-and-shoulders above most of it's 'Saturday Morning Animation' rivals. Though often trite and naïve, there are plenty of wonderful touches which really put the stories and characters in a class of their own. Featuring only 4 episodes of the series, however, the disc does not represent good value for money. If the remaining discs contain the same number, the entire series will be spread over 22 DVDs! The extras are OK, the history of the show was very welcome, but some video clips of Gatchaman would help to tell the story. The title sequences are cool, but - like the character introductions - are simply lifted from the 4 featured episodes. For the remaining volumes, the extra capacity and interactivity of DVD needs to be utilised to bring the additional elements in line with the quality of the shows themselves.
Reviews
Only marginally better than the VHS tape
Review date: 2001-05-04 Rating: 6 out of 10
It's Battle of the Planets. Either you remember the series from your childhood (so you'll love it), or you won't see what all the fuss is about. :)
Battle of the Planets is an adaption of an early Japanese anime cartoon made in the 70s, and its age shows. The plots are often illogical, the enemies laughable, and the cut scenes are often irritating. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed watching BoTP again after about 20 years.
It has many shortcomings, but on the positive side the music is excellent (stirs up the memories more than the story does), it has an element of characterization missing from most modern cartoons, and (once you get past the pilot episode on this DVD) actually gets quite exciting at times.
The DVD, however, is little better than the VHS version. The "special features" give very little new material- a few pieces of artwork, a little textual description of the characters, and sections cut from the episodes describing the team, the HQ etc. I was hoping for a remastered soundtrack, and (in my wildest dreams) a cleaned up video, but this DVD has neither. As far as I can tell, with the exception of the Menu (which DOES have improved music), it's exactly the same as the VHS version.
If you saw this as a kid, and don't have the video it's a must buy. Otherwise- don't bother.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
G-Force
Creators:
G-Force (Primary Contributor)
Recording label: Mollin Video
Manufacturer: Mollin Video
EAN: 5036403005514
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Animated, PAL,
Release date: 2001-04-23
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 94 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1978
Language: English (Original Language)