Customer Reviews

Ultraman Tiga - Special Collector's Edition Starter Box

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This isn't really a reveiw, but to let people know what this DVD is and share my exictement about this set. This is the first of a four volume set of the original Japanese version of Ultraman Tiga(with subtitles). This is NOT the 4Kids Ent. FOX BOX version shown last year. This is what Ultraman fans in the U.S. have been waiting for! The "Starter Set" will have the first 13 episodes in a collecters box and a T-shirt! The "prophesy" set will be just the episodes. I hope Ultraman Tiga will set the stage for other Ultraman incarnations, like Ultraman Dyna, Ultraman Gaia, or even the older ones would be welcome! I can't wait...Shoo watt!!

We have waited FOREVER for this to come out in the U.S. As others have said, this is NOT the same version that aired on FoxBox last fall. This is the actual series in Japanese ( with subtitles ) as it was meant to be seen. Even the closing credits of each episode is in Japanese with the ORIGINAL soundtrack.

If you were a fan of the original Ultraman ( and he DOES make an appearance in an episode probably on the last Volume ) - then this is a MUST HAVE.

There is no way this DVD could have been any better. The only nit-picky thing would be to have included a bit more info on the monsters in the episodes but that's nothing compared to what's already here. This is without a doubt the BEST purchase I have ever made for this genre.

Believe it or not there are at least 3 other Ultra-series that aired after this one did in 1996. If sales are good, we could see these in the not too distant future as well on DVD.

My advice? TRASH any dubbed, copied or any other illegitimate old versions you may have of the show and BUY THIS DVD. It is worth EVERY PENNY and it will help ensure that more of this great stuff is released.

Monsters - A
Comments: All pretty neat, more polished costumes than original series.

Special Effects B
- Terrible CGI
- minitures more detailed
- You can still see the wires sometimes(!)
(which is actually kinda cool)
- mecha-minitures more detailed
- more composite shots, most well-done
-> I wish they would blow up the monsters, rather than use
the VERY poorly done CGI explosions when the monsters are off'd by Tiga <-

Stories B+
- Must be tough to incorporate a giant monster
into the script every week

Sets A
- BIG improvement, sets look believable
as do the costumes

Cinematography C
- nice composition and subdued lighting but
this looks like it was shot on DV, and has a
"video-y" quality

Direction C
- pedestrian live action sequences in most episodes

Music D
- terrible. Japanese pop-synth uggh! Remember the great
march themes of the original?

Overall a worthwhile entry into the Ultra Series. Improvements intechnology have resulted in broader scope of episodes. Effects have improved but are uneven - but are always bountiful, vivid, and entertaining more than realistic. If there's one area Tsburaya should improve in future series entries, it's the music. Stories are good. Looking forward to the rest of the Tiga series and beyond. (Rena - is played by Hiatta's daughter from the original series, is quite easy on the eyes : )

Overall B

Just got this starter set in the mail, and I'm totally happy! Ultraman is totally awesome. The quality of the DVDs are simply fantastic, and you even get a large Ultraman shirt. This starter set is garunteed to make a fan happy!

Now I can stop trying to explain to my kids who Ultraman is!

Overall I am quite pleased with this one and my five year old son is enthralled. I do have to complain (mildly) about the lack of an english dub so I would'nt have to read all the dialog for him. However if the other option is to get the silly chopped up Power Rangers style version they did for Fox then I prefer this one by far(I do hope they do a better job with the extras on the other three sets).

Ultraman was part of my childhood so it is great to see DVD quality material here in the US. Hopefully it will keep coming!

THis is without a doubt a must get, even for the someone who, casaually likes the show. I mean the japanese version is soooo much better than that dubb stuff you saw on Foxbox. The shirt diffently is a collects item too.

The dvd sound and picture clarity is frightfully good. Almost too good to be true actually. Overall, this is the prize of my dvd collect, and that is saying a heck of a lot since i own over 300 dvds. Cant wait for the next 3 vols to finish it up. Maybe if the dvd says do good. They might do Dyna next. A Ultra series, that in my opionen is better than Tiga.

As an Ultraman fan for more than 30 years, it is no doubt that this DVD is a most wonderful gift for us. Thanks for 4-kids to bring this original Japanese vision to USA. I have seen all Ultraman Tiga, Dyna, Gaia and new Cosmos series (most in Asian VCD format) and own Ultraman Tiga original soundtrack, but I still bought this set as part of collection because DVD has best quality in picture and sound. I think the original theme, end song and soundtrack are much better. I do not give 5 stars for minor reasons, my suggestions to the furture Ultraman Tiga volumes are - 1. Do not add any other trailers at the beginning. 2. Install more Asian subtitles with English, I know Ultraman series are very popular in Asian Countries,such as Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan, it will be perfect if all those subtitles are available in DVD. Therefore I can buy lots of set for my friends. 3. It is good to have English vision theme song as bonus features, but it will be better to add original Ultraman theme song MTV in DVD.

Episodes and rating for the firsst four episodes:

1. Inheritance of Light: A time capsule is found by the earth protecting team GUTS. It seems to forsee the future off chaos. It tells of the ground breaking Golza and sky hurling Melba that will attack the world. They can only be stopped by the ancient titan Tiga. As GUTS follows the two monsters to the ancient pyramid of titans. While GUTS try to battle Golza and Melba, the ace pilot of GUTS Daigo is killed by Melbo. Before he is burned up, Daigo is zapped into the Tiga statue that is attacked by Golza. Tiga and Daigo fuse together to reawake the titan.

My opinion: This is possibly the best episode on volume one. The monsters are great to look at, Tiga is well shown, the special effects are fairly well done for 1996, and the characters are memorable(for an Ultraman series). Critically it gets a B, in fun it gets an A+.


2. The Legend of the Stone: The time capsule strangely only talks to Daigo about that he is chosen to be one with Tiga and that more monsters will appear. During that time, a strange underground monster named Gakuma turns construction workers into stone. The GUTS fight the monster and wins. But, an even bigger and stronger and Gakuma destroys the entire construction site. Then, Daigo turns into Tiga and finishes the beast off once and for all, ending the Gakuma race.

My opinion: Very well done. Gakuma 2 is incredible, unlike the silly looking Gakuma 1. Tiga shows much power. This episode also helps explain the things left unsolved by the first episode. Critically it gets a B+, in fun it gets an A.


2. Prophecy of Evil: The leader of GUTS is used to prophisize on TV that the Kilaliens will take back the surface world and destroy Tiga. A Kilalien in diguise attacks the a building and the GUTS leader. Tiga then battles the largest of them all: the Killeroid.

My opinion: Not bad. It's somewhat impressive. The Kilaliens are ruthless and powerful. The Killeroid is majorly tough. The GUTS leader is interesting in this episode. Critically B, in fun A-.


4. Sayonarra Planet Earth: A beast that thinks that friends are food attacks and eats a space crew. Now Tiga must stop the beast from space.

My opinion: Cool. Gazoto(the monster) looks great. Tiga kicks some but in this episode as well. You can actually feel the people's terror. Critically B-, in fun A-.

Great for dedicated Ultra-Fans wanting to see the episodes in their original language, very good video and audio quality, excellent and accurate subtitles.

One minor nitpick: While the opening titles and theme music are same as the original japanese version, the episode title cards are strangely edited out. No big deal.

One major annoyance: during the Ultraman vs. monster fight scenes, the music is drowned out in favor of the sound effects. The original japanese episodes had the music and sound effects better balanced. This re-mixing by Funimation may have been in response to a criticism of the U.S. version, where the music drowned out the sound effects. I'd prefer a better balance of the two; neither should drown the other out.

For those who love the original series there is enough of the old heritage to make them happy. But for those who want an edgier hero Ultraman Tiga delivers. This opening of the Tiga series allows the viewers to gain much insight into who Tiga is, why he fights, and interestingly enough - how he fights. While it's the Japanese version of the show (well sub-titled) there are some extra goodies from the short time it was on FoxBox in the US and they help remind one again of a time when there was more than just copy-cat anime on TV.

This series is a romp, still full of goofy monsters, iffy special effects (mostly involving how aircraft actually manuver in flight, something that has always been a problem with japanese SFX), screwy writing, and one dimenstional characters (but the girl is adorable), the fights are well staged, Tiga follows his own rules well (you'll see), and they fight inside towns more. This means building-smashing and that is what real kaiju fans live for!

This was a reasonably priced introduction into an Ultraman for the "future". I'd recommend it as a must have for Ultraman ans Kaiju fans.