Product Description

Studio: Bci Eclipse Comp Llc Release Date: 11/07/2006

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17297 in DVD
• Brand: BCI ECLIPSE LLC
• Released on: 2006-11-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: Japanese, English
• Subtitled in: English
• Dubbed in: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 430 minutes

Amazon.com
For those Japanese sci-fi fans whose appetites were whetted by the previous DVD set of Ultraman's adventures, Series One, Volume 2 presents the remaining episodes of the '60s space giant's battles against a horde of villainous (and improbable-looking) monsters. The brainchild of special effects legend Eiji Tsuburaya (who created the monsters for many of Japan's movie creatures, including Godzilla), Ultraman was a popular children's series on both sides of the Pacific (and around the world) and spawned numerous sequels and imitators in its country of origin. The plot of each episode revolved around the Science Patrol, a small group of dedicated scientist/soldiers who fought a ceaseless parade of giant monsters that threatened Japan. Thanks to a chance encounter with an alien, one of the Patrol's members had the ability to transform into the colossal silver-and-red-suited Ultraman and aid the Patrol in dispatching the troublesome beasts. Volume 2 essentially follows this structure in all 19 episodes presented on its three discs, with several of the series' most popular monsters (dinosaur Gomora, the bizarre humanoid Dada, birdlike Dorako, and the excitable and well-liked Pigmon) making their first or return appearances in these episodes. The action is frantic and fun, and should please younger first time viewers as much as the older Ultra-fans.

The previous Ultraman disc set (Series One, Volume One) received flak in fan circles due to audio and video problems, and while the image quality in this set seems improved over the previous entry, the audio problems do persist to a degree (specifically, the English language tracks "drop out" during certain scenes and are replaced by a subtitled Japanese track). The impact of this issue will undoubtedly vary from buyer to buyer, but there's no denying that at their core, the shows remain enjoyable, no matter the state of the audio tracks. A multi-page insert booklet is included in the set, which presents interviews with several of the original Japanese cast members, while a pair of trading cards with action scenes from the show and a monster gallery featurette are all welcome and fun extras. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews

The problems with Volume 1 dvd's...
If you watch these dvd's you will notice that while watching the English version, ocasionally it will automatically change to Japanese...I was like what the heck is this about. I thought I had defective dvd's. I wrote the company that released them and this is what they told me. The versions that were sent to them were in bad shape and much shorter than what is actually on each disc the way they are now. When they switch from English to Japanese, this is becuase these were added scenes that were originally not there when they were received. Since these shows are from the 60's, and obviously these are not in production any more, there's no way they can loop the new scenes.

So you pretty much just have to take them as is and enjoy them. These scenes were not contained in the original US release apparently.

I'd reather have them longer with Japanese than shorter, chopped up versions.

So just enjoy them everyone.

Gabe de Kelaita
gabe@star-wars.net
http://www.myspace.com/ilmer1

PS Volume 2 is set to be released November 7th 2006. We need to remember that this series is 40 years old this year. Not everyone can afford or maybe some studios are just too cheap to spend 10 to 20 million dollars on restoration of prints al la George Lucas with Star Wars.

We have to take it for what it is.

Just enjoy them. We're lucky that we have something decent on dvd. I know the audio problems are bad, but trust me, if the original makers were around, then maybe they could work their magic and fix the issue. But I'm sure Ultraman has several owners now and are not filthy rich to restore these things. Or are they?

What a joy!
It's great to be able to watch these shows again! I lived in Japan in the mid-to late 60's and obviously watched Ultraman then along with all the other great Japanese TV shows of the time. I never thought I would be able to see Ultraman again-but even at 45+ I still enjoy watching them. Yes I suppose I'm going through a second childhood--but who care I'm going to enjoy every minute of this boxed set!! Highly recommended to kids today-even with all their high tech distractions kids really seem to like this show.

Watch It In Japanese
I originally watched series 1 in dubbed English, because its the way I remembered it as a kid. And like many, I though my DVD player was broken because it reverts to Japanese periodically. Well, the novelty wore off and I started watching the episodes in the same manner that I watch foreign films, in the original language with subtitles.

And I'm glad I did. The sound quality, particularly on volume 2, is far better than the dubbed English track. You even get a fairly good simulated surround sound if you have a home theatre. Most importantly, the acting and dialogue comes off as much more serious and not nearly as cheesy or condescending. The show is much more enjoyable.