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Post by legios on Jul 17, 2011 19:03:19 GMT
Megatron's plot in BOT really is incredible isn't it. It is one of those plans. The kind of plan that makes one wonder whether the heroes even need to bother stopping them. It is made even worse by the fact that his laser beam is clearly incapable of destroying an Autobot let alone destroying the space-ship Autobot Headquarters so when it comes to moving the moon...... Because he is evil, and has to do evil things whether they actually get him anywhere or not? It is a requirement of the Cartoon Villians Association membership I believe. |
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Post by legios on Jul 24, 2011 19:22:36 GMT
So, Only Human.....
My recollection of Season 3 was that I didn't really like what I had seen of it, so I was rather bracing myself for Only Human. Perhaps it is just that it looks better in comparison to B.O.T, but I didn't find it quite as tough-going as I was expecting. It doesn't have a terribly inspiring plot in all honesty, and it feels like most of its running time is spent fiddle-faddling around to disguise that there isn't twenty-five minutes of story here. But it is at least coherent and doesn't lurch about from one place to another without warning. It isn't something I would watch again but it didn't cause anywhere near the brain strain it might have. Does anyone know though, whether the Gi Joe contract had gone to DiC by this point? I only ask because it is the only reason I can think of to explain why they were so coy about Old Snake's identity, after dropping the Oktober Guard appearance very firmly into the previous production block.
That only left one episode to watch, a terrible Burden.... Indeed, one that people might even say was Hardest to Bear.... One of the things I did like about Season Three was those occasions where they decided to develop Rodimus' character. Ok, so he got exactly the same development each time but still...... This episode almost feels like an attempt to do the definite version of "Rodimus grows into his responsibilities"... just in time to be replaced in the next story..... So they decide to take us to Japanland (where Katana can cut through robots and Kendo instructors can leap further than humanly possible. There is something almost endearing about the orientalism that rears its head in this episode) so that Rodimus can learn about giri. I'm quite impressed that they actually show some superficial understanding of the actual concept - it is indeed closer to obligation (of the lead to the leader, and the leader to the led) than the more usual translation of duty. When he is reasonably written I actually quite like Rodimus/Hot Rod, and the second half of this episode does quite well by him I thought.
A lot of the rest of it doesn't make much sense - the Matrix falling out when Rodimus falls over (get zip pockets or something Roddy), Galvatron puts the Matrix in a handy compartment in his gun and gets a holographic display of dead Autobots doing the worst attempt at intimidation I have ever seen whilst Scourge puts it in a handy spare compartment in his torso and gets robot-rash and superpowers..... The Japanese Prime Minister apparently thinks that a random spot outside where the Emperor lives is a sensible place for a private chat with the Autobot Leader (it almost smacks of "The Emperor is the Japanese Head of State so he is basically President and his house must be like the White House" being the logic behind it). No, in retrospect it doesn't make a great deal of sense at all does it?
I feel sorry for Scourge though - he didn't actually plan to go bonkers and steal Decepticon leadership but he gets a solid kicking from Galvatron as if it had been his intention all along. He probably envies the treatment that Starscream used to get from Megatron at this point.
I was, though, amused to see that in 2010 apparently Japanland is the sort of place that kendo students wander the streets randomly in their kendo clothes and the traditional kimono is still commonplace in busy cities. It makes one wonder whether the big-collared jumpsuits, the Space Cowboy clobber and Flash Gordon-esque dresses we've seen for the rest of the season are actually part of some quirky Future-Retro fad in American fashion, and not typical of the rest of the world....
But with Rodimus accepting his obligation as Autobot leader (and Scourge getting his undeserved lumps) my voyage through the Sunbow cartoon has come to an end. I have now witnessed all of the episodes at least once and I feel qualified to render my definitive view. I haven't really shifted my position very much. Taken as a whole I don't think it is very good. A lot of the animation is tooth-grindingly poor - very much on the very cheap end of cheap and nasty looking. A lot of the writing bears all the hallmarks of something being thrown together swiftly in a constant race against deadline. Occasionally some of the episodes poke their heads above the parapet and point out that they are actually reasonably good - the original mini-series is remains quite good fun - or are enjoyable despite themselves - Megatron's Master Plan for example
(
And?
Yes, WST Grimlock, anytime the Dinobots are allowed out of the cupboard to do stuff it is highly entertaining.)
- but overall it is a fairly mediocre affair I feel. Suffice it to say that only a few few episodes of it will I ever watch more than once.
But then, what would I know? My favourite Transformers animated series are Masterforce and Beast Machines. Either of which is probably enough to have me declared a heretic in many quarters anyway. :-)
Karl
Karl
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 24, 2011 20:00:08 GMT
IIRC Sunbow were still producing GI Joe at the time.
-Ralph
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Post by jameso on Jul 24, 2011 22:13:33 GMT
I didn't see Burden Hardest to Bear until fairly recently when the DVDs came out (can't remember if I watched it as soon as I got the DVD or got around to it years later), and as a big Rodimus fan was looking forward to it. Can remember being a bit disappionted and finding it a bit overwrought, but might have to give it a rewatch as can't place any of the plot.
I always thought Return of Optimus Prime pretty much covered Rodimus doesn't really like being the leader that much well enough anyway, those episodes pretty much said it all and were a good send off. Also, Dark Awakening handled similar themes quite well.
Don't know if in Only Human the coyness around Old Snake was a legal issue, a not wanting to promote a rival issue or a deliberate attempt at subtlety from the writer. I've always assumed the latter really.
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Post by legios on Jul 25, 2011 19:34:07 GMT
IIRC Sunbow were still producing GI Joe at the time. Oh well, there goes that theory then. I always thought Return of Optimus Prime pretty much covered Rodimus doesn't really like being the leader that much well enough anyway, those episodes pretty much said it all and were a good send off. Also, Dark Awakening handled similar themes quite well. Indeed, Rodimus' character development was something they did various takes on over the course of the season. Dark Awakening is probably my favourite version of it, because he visibly steps up to the plate and grows into the role. Burden Hardest to Bear is a somewhat flatter, talkier run at the same general idea. I wouldn't dig it out specially - it isn't that great an episode, it just looks better when you are coming to it straight from the back half of Season Two I think. Return of Optimus Prime I always thought focused more on the "Rodimus wants to stop being leader" than the "grows into his responsibilities" take. I prefer the latter to the former, but that is very much a matter of personal taste really. Karl |
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