Customer Reviews

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing - Shooting Stars (Vol. 1, Uncut Version) [VHS]

5 star:		(100)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The Gundam timeline covers over 400 episodes in 14 series: 4 covering the One Year War, 5 covering the Universal Century, and 5 covering alternate universes. The portion we are receiving here in the US is the 49-episode Gundam Wing series, one of the alternate universes, aired in Japan from November 1996 through early 1998.

The story is set in the year A.C. (After Colony) 195. Five colonies have been set up in deep space at the Lagrange Points. Something about gravitational flux holding them in position above Earth. Anyways, they had lived in peace until a secret organization in the United Earth Sphere Alliance named Oz started infiltrating the ranks of the Alliance military. They proceeded to take the colonies by force, so five scientists (each from a different colony) sent special mobile suits, each piloted by a teenaged boy, down to Earth to destroy Oz. The suits are called Gundams because they are made of gundanium, a special alloy that can only be refined in microgravity.

The pilots are Heero Yuy (Japanese), Duo Maxwell (American), Trowa Barton (Unknown, European?), Quartre Reberba Winner (Arabic), and Chang Wufei (Called Wufei Chang in the US dub, but he's Chinese, so family name comes first). Each has his own Gundam, his own cover, and his own adventure, though they often cross paths as the mission gradually changes from revenge on Oz to defending the planet and the colonies from total chaos.

Gundam Wing is the best of the entire Gundam saga, but don't take my word for it. You're gonna have to see for yourself.

The Gundam Saga began in 1979 with 3 movies entitled Shin Kidousenki Gundam (Mobile Siut Gundam) each movie was 2 1/2 hours long. This started a saga that now contains over 56 series, unrelated other than that they all contain the large Mechas (Robots) called Gundams. Gundam Wing premeired in 1995 in Japan and now (2000) is running with a English dub in the US on Cartoon Network. It is the story of 5 teenage Gundam Pilots and their adventures trying to save both the Earth and the space Colonies that sent them to fight. Each caricter has a rather disturbing past and there seems to be a lot of Yaoi hinting going on throughout the seriese between Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy and between Quatre Raberba Winner and Trowa Barton (Triton Bloom). The seriese is 49 episodes long and contains a lot of violence. (Charicteristic of Mecha Animes). Contrary to what the Amizon review says the DVD is actually rated 13 and Up for language and violence and Quatre is spelled with an E at the end of it, not an A. The DVD also comes with a holographic image of Heero and Gundam Wing-01 and has the first 5 episodes dubbed and subtitled. This seriese has become my favorite over the last few months. It has truely great animation, the music is great and the vocal artists from both counrties are phenominal! If you enjoy GW then there is also a 3 part OVA seriese about these charicters that was released in 1998 (in Japan) called "Shin Kidousenki Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz" that Cartoon Network will be running soon in America. Shortly after it premeirs on TV it will be available to buy. It is actaully already available at Cartoon/Anime/Manga/Comic conventions in the US. It has been sighted at "Comic-com" in both subbed and dubbed formats.

Gundam wing is one of the greatest anime's ever. It is definitely a must buy. It starts out with 5 Mobile Suits, made out of Gundanium alloy, hence the name Gundam. These 5 suits have pilots, their names are Heero, Duo, Katra, Troa, and Wufei. This video is somewhat violent, so I suggest this to older viewers (12 and over). This is a great break from some other animes. For example i watch Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Tekkamen Blade, Fushigi Yugi, etc... This is most different in a good way, so please, if you are an anime fan, purchase this video. By the way, wanna chat or talk about anime? E-mail me at mike_ferrin@hotmail.com

Gundam Wing: Operation 1 is a great start to an excellent anime series. If you are an anime fan, this is a MUST SEE. Humans from earth want to live peaceful lives, so they build colonies in outer space. The ruler, a kind man who works for peace, was assasinated by OZ, a group of people who think a ruler who works for peace is dangerous. The government soon takes over the colonies over one by one. Five young men and there Mobile Suits called Gundams are sent to earth desguised as shooting stars. Four make it to the earth safely, but the government cathes on, and delays one of them, the piolet Heero. The plot is smart, and the show is exciting and keeps you watching and that definitely deserves five stars!

The Shooting Stars DVD/VHS contains the first four episodes of the series, all of wich have been aired on Cartoon network's Toonami. Each episode is the unedited version. Shooting Stars also includes the opening credits that include the song "Just Communication" preformed by "Two Mix". The episodes also include a special ending theme featuring Relena Peacecraft (of the series). The previews before the feature presentation are of later Gundam series like Gundam 0083 and 0079. You could end up buying it for 14.98 in comic book stores, but its a steal here. This is the first release better get it now!

All of the Gundam series are awesome, but GW is quite possibly the best. It has a very good plot, awesome animation and characters with different personalities. This is the only tape(so far) that contains 4 episodes. These may not be the best episodes in the series, but they do a great job of getting the basic ideas of the show out in the open. I would definately recommend this to any one who is either a long time Gundam fan, or some one who is just getting in to Gundam(like myself). This video is UNCUT. So for those of you who think this is what Toonami plays at 5:30, your wrong. This is what they show during the Midnight Run. There is some bad language and also some blood.

Coming off of DBZ in search for another anime adrenaline rush, I happened upon Gundum Wing. Immediately, I was intrigued by the beautiful animation, detail, and extremely deep characters.

While many epic sagas pit an overwhelming evil force against an underdog good force, Gundum actually gives the most powerful weapons to the "good guys". Simple? If only that were so.

A trademark of this unique series is that the destruction always comes from within. Not only do the colonies abandon the Gundum Pilots, but the creation of Zero System threatens to destroy its pilot's sanity.

While winning wars comes to them easily, dealing with their emotions does not, and gives rise to countless internal struggles often ending with anger.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect, however, is the complexity of the story. While DBZ makes it childlishly clear whats going on, Gundum Wing actually requires quite a bit of attention and consideration. Many paths are taken, many doors unlocked, and numerous mysterious unravel slowly and skillfully to allow for true universal chaos.

You will not find mindless action here, nor will you find multi-alien races warring as DBZ dwells on. What is guaranteed is simply the very definition of epic and a most bewildering character study told in a complex environment that is as realistic as anything in this world.

Perhaps thats Gundum's edge on other anime. Its believable (assuming we had the same technology). I can easily picture a future of this nature.

The entire GW series is great, but I wanted to specifically mention the first video. It does a good job of setting up the series, introducing all the main characters and the basic plot. I definitely recommend this to any fan of anime, sci-fi, or just plain cool videos. For anyone wishing to get into GW, this is the best starting point, but be sure to pick up the other videos as well; there'll be 16 in all, or 10 DVDs. I prefer the uncut versions myself, but parents buying for kids should be advised that blood and swearing are present; if you don't want your kids hearing the word "damn" 100 times or seeing a pilot choke up blood, then go for the edited stuff. Just note that any time Heero refers to "destroying" Relena, he means "kill." Not that he'd ever really go through with it, of course. ;)

This is one of the coolest videos:) It has action, comedy, and not really that romantic. But it depends the way you take it between Relena and Heero. Watch this and you cant stop! And the fun thing is that they all have different personalities:) Determined, funny, quiet, polite, and a bit justicy:) Oh, and if you like piccilo from DBZ. Duo and him play the same voice! (just thought I'd point that out) This is the coolest video! I take with me wherever theres a TV!

I knew that a friend of mine really loves this show, so I picked up a copy of volume 1 when I had some extra cash, expecting some decent entertainment, but nothing too special. I was totally blown away by this show. From minute one, as the narrator comes on and introduces the backstory, I was totally absorbed by it. I've never been a "Gundamaniac" or a fan or the giant robot genre of anime in general, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed watching the first five episodes.

The characters at first seem somewhat two-dimensional, but as the show progresses, they each reveal hidden depths. Heero, despite his cold, no-nonsense attitude, is instantly likeable as the show's hero, and Zechs, the masked mystery-man, has got to be one of the most compelling not-quite villains I've ever seen.

Don't let the all-too brief description on the box or any trailers you may have seen fool you; this isn't just another mindless shoot-em-up. Gundam Wing mixes compelling characters, a detailed backstory, political intrigue, a hint of romance, and really cool action sequences. Every time you think you've got this show figured out, another plot twist gets thrown in your face. All that isn't apparent immediately, of course; Gundam Wing is one of those shows you have to watch for a while to really get into. The plot of each episode runs into the next, so you really should start with volume one, or you won't have a clue what's going on.

I've only seen about half the show, so I don't know how it all ends, but I'm working on collecting it along with all the other Gundam series that have been released in the States. All in all, I would defenately recomend this to just about anyone.