{"id":1254,"date":"2007-01-30T06:46:36","date_gmt":"2007-01-30T06:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/2007\/01\/30\/robotech-the-movie\/"},"modified":"2007-01-30T16:18:04","modified_gmt":"2007-01-30T16:18:04","slug":"robotech-the-movie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/?p=1254","title":{"rendered":"Robotech: THE MOVIE"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PS<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Review (SPOILER):\u00a0“The Untold Story”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"PS<\/a><\/p>\n

What you should know first is that Robotech: The Movie is an adaptation much like Robotech the TV show was.\u00a0 Most of Robotech: The Movie’s animation is lifted from the Japanese OVA Megazone 23 but the editing has been profuse so don’t expect to find much of the original’s plot in this film.\u00a0 Just in case you’re wondering, no, Megazone 23 is not related to Macross, Southern Cross, or Mospeada in any way so far as plot is concerned.\u00a0 Megazone 23 does take some of its inspiration from story elements in Macross but that’s about as far as you’re going to get if you’re trying to make method out of Macek’s madness.\u00a0 We’re not here to talk about Megazone 23 (although it is recommended viewing as a somewhat influential film), we’re here to talk about Robotech: The Movie (R:TM).\u00a0 In order to talk about R:TM though, you should probably know what happens in it and since\u00a0it never really got an\u00a0official distribution, I’m going to present a\u00a0very thorough plot summary for everyone.\u00a0\u00a0I don’t recommend spending any amount of money on this film since it hasn’t seen a\u00a0legitimate release.\u00a0 If you buy this DVD online you’re going to get a DVD-R of a grainy VHS conversion and it’s going to cost you as much as the best new Hollywood releases… that just doesn’t make any sense.\u00a0 So don’t buy it (maybe get Megazone 23 instead), heck, my copy doesn’t even work in all DVD players.\u00a0 Here’s the summary:<\/p>\n

The movie begins with the scrolling of text handled EXACTLY as it is done in Star Wars… I MEAN EXACTLY.\u00a0 Here’s how the text reads:
\n“In 1999, An alien spaceship crashed onto the Earth.\u00a0 Hidden on board were the secrets of a unique science known as ROBOTECHNOLOGY.\u00a0 Databanks found in the ship were transferred to Earth’s Robotech Computer Complex.
\nIn 2009, an alien search party arrived from hyper-space to reclaim their lost databank.\u00a0 The United Earth Government was forced into intergalactic war.\u00a0 Earth forces were able to win the first battle… but at a great cost, the planet was virtually destroyed.\u00a0 New population centers grew out of the ashes.
\nIt is now 2027, a second armada sent by the aliens is nearing Earth.\u00a0 They have come to recapture the secrets of their lost technology… and then destroy the Earth.”<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

This text is followed by the opening theme we’ve all come to know from Robotech set to images of the cosmos.\u00a0 Next we are treated to a discussion by the Robotech Masters.\u00a0 They have unfolded near Earth and the dialogue tells us that they must obtain the Memory Matrix, the universe’s greatest store of knowledge, in a way that will not risk harming it.\u00a0 The dialogue also informs us that this is the second group of Masters to visit the Earth so apparently there’s quite a bit of re-working of the existing Robotech continuity.\u00a0 In the movie, there never was a race known as the Zentraedi, there was a first assault by the Masters in 2009 that ended in a purely military failure and now the events being witnessed (you could interpret it in a manner where the Zents were the first failure I suppose).\u00a0 A plan is devised, the Masters will attack Earth, kidnap someone who has access to the Memory Matrix, create a clone of that person, and then have that clone replace the person and assist the Masters.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you’re familiar with “The Masters” portion of Robotech, you’ll recognize most of the imagery from the ensuing battle from various episodes.\u00a0 The Masters succeed in kidnapping various civilians and at least one soldier by the name of Colonel Andrews. A simulant of Andrews is created and placed back on Earth.\u00a0 What happens next is a bit of a rough transition.\u00a0 Various characters are shown watching TV and Colonel Andrews is giving a press conference saying that there was no battle that just happened; all the commotion was actually military training.\u00a0 Huh?\u00a0 The animation shows many civilians being kidnapped and a huge battle where Colonel Andrews himself was supposedly kidnapped but now he’s on TV telling people that none of that happened?\u00a0 He was just kidnapped… if he suddenly reappeared wouldn’t he be in debriefing or a medical ward or something?\u00a0 Wouldn’t people notice a neighborhood is missing?
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Enter Mark, our young hero, who receives a phone call from his buddy Todd Harris (who we know to be a soldier from dialogue in the opening battle).\u00a0 Todd’s in trouble and needs Mark to meet him.\u00a0 Mark meets him and is introduced to the Modat5, the MObile DATabase terminal (aka Garland from Megazone23).\u00a0 Todd reveals that Andrews is lying about the battle that supposedly didn’t happen and so Todd stole the Modat5 in some effort to get the truth out.\u00a0 Apparently the Andrews simulant has already developed his own secret police as they show up to take the Modat5 back.\u00a0 A skirmish ensues and Mark gets away with the M5 and Todd gets killed.\u00a0 All Mark knows is that he needs to make contact with someone named Eve.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Earth military decides to strike back against the Masters using the animation from the first battle in the Robotech episode DangerZone.\u00a0 If you’re familiar with the episode you’ll know that Emerson says the battle is a bad idea, Leonard insists it’s necessary, and the human troops get absolutely slaughtered.\u00a0 It’s kind of odd to think the military can get that bad of a beat down within the atmosphere and still keep the war a secret.\u00a0 The disastrous failure of the human military gives the simulant Andrews an opportunity to seize power by proposing himself to be put in charge of the Robotech Computer Complex under the guise of using the alien technology housed their to come up with a new battle plan.\u00a0 Emerson protests that Andrews be given charge and that alien technology be used to combat aliens but Leonard noisily rebuffs him.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Andrews replaces as many of the Robotech Computer Complex personnel with his own goons as feasible and then orders that the computer begin beaming all of the information in the memory matrix to an abandonned satellite.\u00a0 The Masters immediately begin intercepting the data but we learn it will take several days for it to all be downloaded and the information is useless unless they have every last bit.\u00a0
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mark films a movie with his quasi-girlfriend and while doing so he sees a video for pop star Eve and puts 2 and 2 together and determines that must be who Todd was talking about.\u00a0 Mark calls Eve’s TV talkshow which allows\u00a0Andrews’ goons to hunt him down.\u00a0 The goons arrange a big scene and try to steal the M5 away from Mark only to eventually just go ahead and send in some serious military equipment to try to take it by force.\u00a0 Mark evades capture and ends up at Eve’s studio where he learns she’s nothing but a computer program.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mark leaves disgusted but Eve contacts Mark through the M5 to let him know he’s in trouble.\u00a0 We learn Eve is an acronym for Enhanced Video Emulation (aka The Mother Computer utilizing the Memory Matrix) and Eve guides Mark to the complex she’s housed in.\u00a0 Mark then fights with the security personnel, probably kills a bunch of them, nearly gets killed a bunch of times, then fights with Andrews himself.\u00a0 After defeating Andrews, Mark saves Andrew’s life in exchange for some answers. \u00a0Andrews tells\u00a0Mark\u00a0a bunch of lies to confuse him.\u00a0 Mark takes the M5 totally confused and flees.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Afraid for his friends’ lives Mark warns them all to lay low.\u00a0 He uses his bike’s capabilities to spy on his girlfriend, rescuing her from a near rape.\u00a0 Meanwhile the Earth forces use EVE to develop a new attack strategy to use against the Masters.\u00a0 The Masters simply download the battle plan from the transmission being sent to the dead satellite and start annihilating the humans.\u00a0 Most of this animation is from Robotech episode The Hunters although a good chunk is also from Megazone23.\u00a0 By ignoring EVE Emerson is able to do a hyper-space fold and salvage the surival of some of the Earth forces.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mark goes on a date.\u00a0 Some of the computer techs think that Andrews might be allowing the Masters to have the data by transmitting it into space.\u00a0 They contact some government\u00a0officials and stop broadcasting the signal.\u00a0 An emergency government meeting is called to discuss Andrews’ behavior but Andrews shows up with his goons and pulls a coup killing everyone that was previously in charge.\u00a0 Somehow Andrews has just about the entire military on his side.\u00a0 They kill everyone EXCEPT the definitive expert on EVE, a man named Emery (whose daughter Stacey is another of Mark’s good friends).\u00a0 Andrews’ goons even kill Mark’s friend who\u00a0filmed the M5.\u00a0 Andrews orders the transmission of the data to the dead satellite to re-commence.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Masters lose faith in the Andrews simulant now that the data stream has been\u00a0halted\u00a0once.\u00a0 Mark sees his friend dead and decides he’s going to use the M5 to get even with Andrews and his goons.\u00a0 Andrews learns of his failure to kill the EVE expert and orders\u00a0Emery held and killed but when Mark shows up at the computer facility and starts wrecking everything Andrews heads there to stop him.\u00a0 Andrews beats Mark down and leaves him for dead heading for the airport to head off Emery before he catches a flight to the safety of a base in Alaska (that would also grant him access to the only other EVE terminal in existence).
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Eve is increasingly becoming self-aware and she awakens Mark and guides him toward a super secret prototype space fighter and helps him steal it.\u00a0 The Masters get nervous as the data\u00a0transmission becomes more erradic as it nears being completely downloaded.\u00a0 Eve starts helping the human military as much as she can and further makes the Masters nervous.\u00a0 The Masters radio Leonard to gloat and tell them that they’re going to destroy Earth.\u00a0 The battle begins in space but the Masters push it into Earth atmosphere.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, at the airfield Andrews moves in to try to kill Emery.\u00a0 Mark, in the super advanced prototype, flies to the airport in an attempt to save Emery.\u00a0
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

The battle with The Masters wages on.\u00a0 This time, with Eve’s help, the humans are succeeding.\u00a0 The animation here is almost entirely from the second battle shown in Danger Zone.\u00a0 The crashing of the Masters flagship here seems to indicate total defeat of The Masters in this movie as the rest of the fleet immediately retreats.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mark fights Andrews and his troops at the airfield and single-handedly defeats all of the goons saving Emery and Stacey in the process.\u00a0 He hugs his girlfriend (who ran to the airfield during the battle) and the credits roll.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"PS<\/a><\/p>\n

So that’s the synopsis of what happens in Robotech: The Movie.\u00a0 Honestly, it’s not very good at all.\u00a0 It contradicts Robotech the TV show frequently and uses the exact same animation from a few of the episodes which will just bother most Robotech diehards.\u00a0 Since it’s only available in horrible bootleg fashion you won’t notice the difference in quality between the Megazone23 footage and the stock Southern Cross footage like you would if this was a professionally remastered DVD since everything looks so bad.\u00a0 Those of you familiar with Macross Plus might see a few similarities between EVE and Sharon… as well you should.\u00a0 The Mark character also reminded me a bit of Macross2’s Hibiki (in spirit).\u00a0 The end of the story just gets too disjointed with the battle with the Masters happening simultaneously with the battle at the airfield.\u00a0 It really seems like Andrews should have been too busy in a military capacity to be running around trying to kill scientists.\u00a0 It’s also a bit difficult to conceive of a scenario where a random motorcycle mechanic (Mark) would take on the entire military… and win.\u00a0 I definitely do not recommend this film.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 Review (SPOILER):\u00a0“The Untold Story”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dvd"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1254"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1254\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}