Product Details

• Actors: Tôru Furuya, Hirotaka Suzuoki, Shôzô Îzuka, Toshio Furukawa, Kiyonobu Suzuki
• Directors: Ryôji Fujiwara, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, Yoshiyuki Tomino
• Writers: Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hajime Yatate, Hiroyuki Hoshiyama, Kenichi Matsuzaki, Yoshihisa Araki
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Studio: Pioneer Video
• VHS Release Date: December 7, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00002NDM4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,467 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good intro into Gundam, June 5, 2004

By 

Katie (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mobile Suit Gundam - The Movie Trilogy (DVD)

I had to review when I saw that this has gotten some negative reviews. For shame, people, for shame.

Anyway, this is the original Mobile Suit Gundam; well, condensed into a 7 hour movie trilogy anyway. I'm going to be honest and say that sitting down and watching this for 7 hours does get pretty long, even for a diehard Gundam fan like myself. However, the animation is crisp and the voice actors are the original Japanese, as opposed to the cheap TV series and its even cheaper dub. So, whenever I want to watch MSG, not just a specific episode or moment from it, I choose the movies over the TV series.

Anyway, this anime has it all: war, politics, battles, romance, drama, even comedy. I am a teenage girl who by all rights should love Wing, but instead loves MSG. The characters are incredible; well-developed and totally realistic. And may I say that MSG's romances tend to be subtle, but they are simply awesome.

This was my first taste of the original Gundam, and after watching it I could not understand why people would say that it's good, but only a small taste of it. And after watching the TV series, I realized how right they were. Honestly, I enjoyed the TV series so much, and it covers a lot more than the movie does. So, if you want to be "hardcore" UC Gundam, I recommend watching the TV series. Try and stomach the dub.

But if you just want a nice amount of background information or even just a glimpse of what UC Gundam has to offer, this is an excellent source to tap. The animation may be from the 70's, but the story is a masterpiece.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gundam Wars: Special Edition, January 20, 2003

By 

Strategos "The Guardian of Time" (In Space above Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mobile Suit Gundam - The Movie Trilogy (DVD)

A New Mobile Suit

When Cartoon Network announced that they would be airing the original Mobile Suit Gundam TV series, I was excited. The show that started it all, the great giant robot epic, the STAR WARS OF JAPAN. And then I watched it. I couldn't believe it. I was actually BORED. The animation was mediocre, the plot, slow, the characters, largely annoying. And don't get me started on the English voice-acting.

So you can imagine with what reluctance I purchased the Gundam Movie Trilogy on DVD. And what a surprise it was. Pretty much every complaint I had with the TV show was completely obliterated. The animation, even in the first Gundam movie, looked MUCH nicer. Maybe it was the DVD format, maybe the picture was cleaned up and restored...I don't know. All I know is, the animation looked WAY better. And remember all those redundant scenes (like the Gundam parts switching in mid-air) that were beginning to drive you mad? Gone. Remember those spread-out action scenes that happened just barely often enough to keep you watching? Now they're all part of the same battle, the action escalating and escalating until you're practically hyperventilating. And glory be, the characters seem more fully fleshed out too. And the plot improvements? A bit like replacing "What are midichloreans?" (hope I spelled that right) with "The force is what gives a Jedi his power." The sound effects, speech, and music were redone for the dvds as well. No words can describe the difference. What was cheesy or fake now sounds awesome. I kid you not.

Zeon Strikes Back

These DVDs do have one or two downsides. First, they're not exactly cheap. Secondly, there's almost no extras at all. No trailers, no making of documentary, no commentary. Nothing. And third, there's no English version of the speech. Now I can deal with that, but I really wish they had gone through the trouble to record a good English version of these movies. It really would have been the icing on the cake.

Then of course there is a bit of a boring lag in between the first and third Gundam movies. I know, I know, we get more insight into the characters and their motivations in the second movie. But compared to the gripping drama of the first and third movies (not to mention the awesome rivalry between Char and Amuro) the second movie is a bit slow-moving. For the movie with Char and Amuro on the cover, you'd think there would be more of the cool Amuro vs. Char action. Oh, well.

Return of the Newtype

Let's face it, great animation doesn't hurt. Great music and sound effects enhance everything. Good voice-acting helps a lot too. But what really makes for an engaging Mecha Saga is plot, action, and characterization. It's awful hard to get hooked when you don't care about the characters, the plot is boring and the action is comatose. Foretunately, the third Gundam movie delivers in these all-important ways, and features the best animation of the three movies as well.

In the third Gundam movie, everything comes to a head. Sayla confronts Char. Char and Amuro have a showdown. Mirai tries to decide who she loves. Complications of war and emotional turmoil tears at everyone. And every time you think the last battle is over, the action gets even more intense. It quite literally blew me away. In short, the Gundam movies succeed in every way.

If you loved the show, buy the movies. If you hated the show, buy the movies. If you love anything Gundam, buy the movies. These movies have a priviledged place on my shelf, ahead of Gundam Wing, Martian Successor Nadesico, and even the awesome Macross Saga. I can give no higher recommendation.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not bad If You Can't Afford The Series, April 16, 2002

By 

"haven2319" (McLeansville, nc United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mobile Suit Gundam - The Movie Trilogy (DVD)

Okay I've tried to write this review before but the computer goofed up... So here goes.

First off This is the best Gundam out there, do your self a favor and give yourself time to get past the dated animatio, because once things get going believe me you'll think it's the way things are susposed to look. These movies cover most of the events of the series with some new footage in the second and third movies. Oh and they're long, but that's a good thing. Her's a brief summary of the events in the movies.

The first movie is a litttle slow as it's all about setting things up, but don't worry there's still plenty of fighting. The year is uc 0079. Side threee the duchy of Zeon is at a stalemate in a six month war with the EArth federation, despite it's Zaku II mobile suits. Side 7 is host to the federations Mobile Suit devlopment project. During a Zeon surviellance mission gone bad side 7 is attacked. The gundam engineers and pilots are lost and Amuro Ray finds himself the fateful pilot of the mobile suit GUndam. Despite his inexperienc the Zeon Zaku's pose him little trouble and are easily dispatched. The first mobile suit verses mobile suit battle goes well for the federation. With Amuro piloting the gundam and civilians in charge of white base the fed mecha carrier. Cha aznable Zeon ace pilot forces them down into Zeon controlled territory.
This movie focuses on the hopless situation of white base as they fight for thier lives on the way to Jaburo the fedration H.Q in south America. It also focuses on the growing rivalry between char and amuro, Amuro's interest in Lt. Matilda ( who at times seems to be the only one in the federation who cares about white base.) As for action let's say by the end of the movie White base has a bounty on it , and the legendary Zeon Commando ramba ral on thier tails. Oh and th federation isn't the only one with new mobile suits. 4 stars

The second movie is the sad one as several beloved main characters friend and foe bite the dust. Despite being pursued by a Zeon Combat unit headed by Ramba Ral, White base is commanded to participate in operation Odessa, since the federation suspects them of being new types(Super soldiers with advanced powers of perception.) Seyla tries to find out if Char is her brother commandeers the gundam onmly to nearly get herself killed and tossed in the brig. Amuro deserts with the gundam , some of his fits are painful to watch, but his brig time and encounter with Ramba RAl finally force him to grow up.
In addition to great story telling this movie has several memorable battles. Ramba Rals hand to hand combat invasion of white base, the confrontation with the Black Tri-Stars, and the Zeon invasion of Jaburo. The latter of which has the best combat musical scor in the series. 4 stars.

The third movie is all about resloution the fall of zeon and all the butt kickin on the way. It's starts with white base being pursued by Char aznable pursuing white base and Gundam dispatching his advanced fleet. Afer a shor stop by side 6 where the new type girl lala is introduced it's on to the Zeon base of solomon and a major decisive battle, ending with the awesome firing of the solar ray, the most enrgy efficient weapon of mass distruction ever. The big Zam is... well you'll just have to see it. this movie wraps up the loose ends and the war and to be honest too much happens to reveiw it alll in the space provided, but you won't be disapointed. 5 stars.

If you can't afford the 60+ episode series the movies are the best way to go, I have no info on the DVD extras but past gundam dvd's have excelled in this area. 3 3 hour movies 54.99 can't argue. See you after the show.