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81 of 83 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's Like Being 8-Years-Old All Over Again, October 5, 2009
First things first...I've seen some of the audio comments (English dubbing intercut with Japanese subtitles) made for this release and the one back in 2006. Think of your favorite syndicated show. You know having watched the original that some scenes get cut in syndication. Now, think of Ultraman in that same vein, only it was already in "syndication" when it reached our shores way back. So, when the complete, original episodes are released on DVD, they include original, Japanese-only scenes which WERE NEVER DUBBED IN ENGLISH. However, to be a complete episode, they are still inlcuded.
Now, on with the review. After occasionally catching a Power Ranger show a few years back, I knew that I would need to steer my young son clear of this influence (the kids are always fighting and sarcastic with each other.) Anyway, my comment in seeing the "power" rangers would be, "Ultraman could defeat these guys." My boy became curious as to who I was talking about, and when the Ultraman DVDs were released back in 2006, I was able to show him.
Talk about the memories that this show rekindles. The first time the show's theme song began to play, I got chills. I was immediately taken back to my grandmother's house in rural Pennsylvania (we didn't get Ultraman in Texas in the '70s.) I watched a few episodes with my son and I could still recall some of the details in the story line that I hadn't seen for thirty years. Over time, I have managed to find Ultraman action figures that my son loves, and even a beta capsule that makes the familiar sound.
I bought this latest release because over the three years, nephews have managed to scratch the older DVDs. Now, each one will have their own set for Christmas (hard to beat at this price.)
If you remember Ultraman as he was, your memory will probably be stirred by this set. If you are new to the original Ultraman, you'll have to dial back your current expectation level of special effects and sound quality, but hopefully you will still be able to appreciate the presentation of how things were in the almost forty years ago.
I used this series to springboard my son's exposure to the Godzilla movies of the '60s and '70s. Enjoy.
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58 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great price but the sacrifice is the DVD packaging., October 7, 2009
This review is for the Complete Series 4 DVD set released in 2009, not the 6 DVD set released in 2008. Since this is my first Ultraman DVD set, I am not sure if the quality suffers be squeezing all episodes from 6 DVDs to 4 DVDs.
The DVD case is a double-wide DVD case, but there are no spindles/holders. The 4 DVDs are each put in a black paper sleeve and are stacked on top of each other. The sleeves don't move around because they are "held" in place by a square shaped molding on the inside of the DVD case.
I was very surprised by this packaging because I have dozens of DVD television sets and have never seen a set packaged like this. For the price (I paid $10.99 free shipping), I am okay with it, but just be prepared that is a bare-bones budget set.
5 stars for the show, 3 stars for the packaging.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worthwhile Buy for Any Ultraman Fan, Whether This Full Set, or the Older Two-Part Set, October 31, 2008
This review is from: Ultraman: The Complete Series (DVD)
It is true that if you already have the previous, two box sets, (Volumes 1 and 2), then this full collection is not needed, BUT, if you are an Ultraman fan from way back, then this new collection is well worth having if you don't already own the previous, two volume collections.
I think it is amazing that this set is even available. This is quite enjoyable for me, having seen these episodes on broadcast TV, way back in the 1970s.
This collection is a bit of a labor of love, perhaps more so than it being a major commercial studio release. So, at times it may seem rough around some edges, yet, I say again, it is a wonder that these episodes are even available, and even more complete than they appeared on 1970s TV in the USA, nearly four decades ago.
A lot of creative talent overlaps the Godzilla films of the 1960s and 1970s, so if you like those Godzilla films, then this TV series is pretty similar. It leans to the more kid-friendly aspects of the Godzilla films.
The only thing you should be warned about is to not be confused by the added footage that never appeared on TV in the USA. Imagine if the DVD makers of this set were able to round up all the deleted scenes that were cut from each episode, well, they have! But, instead of putting them on the DVD as a Bonus Feature, separate from each episode, they have done it better by restoring these cut scenes and footage right back into their natural continuity of each episode. Here's the catch: this restored footage was never dubbed into English for TV in the USA, so there is no English dialog recorded. The DVD makers had to just use the original Japanese language audio with English sub-titles for these extra scenes.
I don't mind. It is easy to get used to it, once you understand the situation.
I can highly recommend this DVD set to anybody who fondly remembers these old Ultraman episodes from way back, or for any fans of the Godzilla films. You will not be disappointed, and the more of a serious fan you are, the more you will enjoy this DVD collection!
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