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45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Transformers DVD Sets Near Their Conclusion!, September 12, 2003
This 'score' of 5 stars is, of course, based on the episodes contained in the first half of season three. Although many fans won't be quite as familiar with this, the last season, of the Transformers series, it provided a good continuation and development of the new characters introduced in Transformers: The Movie. Gone are Optimus Prime and Megatron; now, Rodimus Prime and Galvatron take the reins as the Transformers' war reaches new heights (although Optimus Prime does indeed return to lead the Autobots again near the end of the series...). The show took on a more sci-fi feeling with this season, as we see a great deal more of the galaxy with the Transformers frequently leaving Earth (and Cybertron) for places new and unknown. Many new characters continue to be introduced, such as favorites Metroplex and Trypticon (the biggest Transformers yet, excluding Unicron), the Technobots and Terrorcons, Sky Lynx, and the awesome Predaking. Many popular staples of the show remain, though, such as the Dinobots, including the ever-popular Grimlock, the Aeirialbots, a guest spot by Omega Supreme, as well as the duplicitous Starscream... or rather, his ghost! The show matured a great deal this season, both in creativity and characterization, and although Season 3's animation was a mixed bag, the series' absolute watermark high-points in animation, 'The Call of the Primitives' and 'The Rebirth' trilogy, look good even today next to modern anime. This first half of Season 3 should include about 16 or 17 of the show's remaining 33 episodes. I sincerely hope that Rhino (are you listening, Rhino?) includes the Rebirth Trilogy on the end of the Season Three, Part 2 Boxed Set. Although Rebirth was technically the opening storyline for what was to be a fourth season (the plug was pulled before any more were aired), it is arguably the finest Transformers story ever done, and certainly among the finest animation television cartoons have ever seen, and unequivocally deserves to be a part of the Transformers DVD Boxed Set Collections. I'm a little surprised to see that this set will be only three DVDs, as the estimated number of episodes - 16 or 17 - is the same as the First Season DVD Boxed set, which contained 4 discs. I hope this is not a sign that Rhino is cheapening the quality of their Transformers DVDs! It appears that Rhino has simply realized, after the fat 7 episodes-per-disc treatment in the Season Two boxed sets, that they simply didn't need as many discs as they used in Season One, which averaged only 5 episodes per disc. The box will probably look a little slimmer than the other sets, though, as it contains one less disc, so from a strictly aesthetic standpoint, that's a bit of a bummer. Still, it's a tiny issue if the Transformers can be finished in DVD sets!! I, like many others, have been rather non-plussed by the extras in these sets, but I suppose Rhino realizes that the extras won't make or break their purchase for most of us, so the extras are really just that - extra. The meat of all of these sets is obviously the shows themselves, and they look pretty darn good for their age - we thank you, Rhino, for taking the time to master these to their best possible video quality. Likewise, the fact that Rhino remastered them in (albeit rather subdued) Dolby Digital 5.1 surround is simply an added (and huge!) bonus. With superb video & audio quality, the most important - indeed, critical - bases are covered. Interviews with such luminaries as Peter Cullen and Frank Welker (Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively) would be huge additions to the final set, should you choose to pursue it, Rhino. And we'd still all *LOVE* to see an animorphic widescreen DVD release of the movie, as well, perhaps as a crown after Season Three, Part 2 to end the Original Transformers Saga on DVD! As a side note, how many fans think it would be utterly awesome to see a new Transformers movie - using the same dialog and voices is the classic, simply dubbed over brand-spanking new animation?! How cool would THAT be?! :) Almost there, Transfans! One more season to go! Thanks, Rhino, and keep it up! Transform, and roll out!
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DVD ~ Michael Bell
DVD ~ Wally Burr
DVD ~ Michael Bell
DVD ~ Frank Welker
DVD ~ Frank Welker
