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REVIEW: GaoGaiGar: King of Braves DVD 1




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JoshuaStChristopher



Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 351
PostPosted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:11 am Reply with quote
Yes! Great review. Despite this show being one of my all-time favourites, roughly the first half is definitely predictable and not all that great. While I would've probably given it a B average simply based on fandom, I'll admit your review was fair.

As I mentioned, the show doesn't really start to get super interesting until about episode 28 or so. Still, I thought it marginally improved over the course of the next twenty or so episodes. Not to mention the last two episodes make up one of the best endings I've ever seen in anime, so keep watching.

I hope we'll see more GaoGaiGar reviews, and hopefully the OVA will get licensed.
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Wyvern



Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 1559
PostPosted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:30 am Reply with quote
Gaogaigar may not be the most revolutionary or thought-provoking show out there, but it's one of the most downright FUN shows I've ever watched. And what it does, it does with serious style-and considering that this show hit early in the post-Eva era, it was basically the only show of its kind in an anime landscape full of mecha shows that were trying to figure out the meaning of life. I think it deserves props for bucking that trend and bring some fun back to the genre, if nothing else.

That, and the Golden Hammer. Oh, man, wait 'till you see the Golden Hammer.
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Thundercloud



Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:03 am Reply with quote
I'd say it gets better round episode 13, where the first major story arc starts off, plus Guy's first truly kickass fight Very Happy

One thing that does irk me about the dub is their needless extension of phrases. It's easy for a VA to just shout "FUSION!", but for some reason they felt the need to change the script to say "INITIATING FUSION!", which sort of ruins it.

Then again I am a complete fanboy so slightly biased Smile
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Beatdigga



Joined: 26 Oct 2003
Posts: 4372
Location: New York
PostPosted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:48 am Reply with quote
Thundercloud wrote:
I'd say it gets better round episode 13, where the first major story arc starts off, plus Guy's first truly kickass fight Very Happy


Yeah, that's something that you can't really tell from the first five episodes. The show is going to start veering in a far more epic and somewhat less cliched direction than what these opening setup episodes imply.
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v1cious



Joined: 31 Dec 2002
Posts: 6203
Location: Houston, TX
PostPosted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:27 pm Reply with quote
series is fun as hell. granted you can skip the first 25 eps, but i really liked it.
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TranceLimit174



Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 958
PostPosted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:31 pm Reply with quote
This review was extremely fair. In fact when I first started on GaoGaiGar I got put off by the fact that every episode essentially had the same plot, and it wasn't until a few months later I picked it back up. Little did I know it would grow to become one of my favorites. You really have to accept the first half of the series for the fluff that it is, and then when the story actually kicks in it's just great all around.

Quote:
ust to make sure that the message gets through, the head of the GGG emphasizes it in every episode: Guts! Bravery! Courage! Anything else you can look up in a thesaurus!


I thought that was a great line.

Quote:
All those silly battle cries, overly elaborate transformations, and plot contrivances should be buried by now


Although that was a little harsh.

The first 22 episodes of GaoGaiGar is nothing but one shot episodes and character introductions. For me the appearance of Mic Sounders the 13th is when the series really picks up. But given it's episodic nature I've been thinking about showing GaoGaiGar to a little kid I babysit (it'll be awesome if he likes it). I think the VAs did a great job, as classic as the Japanese voices are the US counterparts do a fine job keeping the spirit of this series (it's really surprising since up until this release I've hated just about every other Media Blasters dub). This series probably won't change the minds of those who don't like mecha series, but GaoGaiGar is the embodiment of what the genre is and I love it for that. I really hope this series does well, does anyone know how I'd be able to find out? If it does well then maybe we'll get to see the rest of the Braves make their way overseas (the two I'm interested in personally are Exkaiser and Dagwon).
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Vicserr



Joined: 26 Apr 2004
Posts: 480
Location: Carolina, Puerto Rico USA
PostPosted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 11:08 pm Reply with quote
This series is a love letter to the traditional Giant Robot genre show, all other need not apply. but you're welcomed to stay Wink

Quote:
An outrageous, futuristic-fantasy show that truly puts the "super" into the Super Robot genre. Although these first five episodes quickly descend into traditional monster-of-the-week format, they provide a retro flavor that nostalgists of the 70's and 80's will crave. A little mid-90's polish doesn't hurt, either—bright colors, slick transformations and heavyweight fights make this a decent action-adventure offering.


And being a child of the Golden Age of the giant robot show, I'm happy as a puppy with 2 tails Very Happy

Quote:
Such themes may seem like creative suicide for a series in the post-Evangelion era, but that's where it gets its appeal—providing an alternative to the dark, overly serious moods of modern mecha anime.


I'm one that never accepted Anno's turning upside down the genre's archetypes Rolling Eyes , that's why most modern mecha shows are in some ways returning to the roots of the genre, dumping all that existensialist mumbo-jumbo and returning to making them an all out fun romp.

Quote:
The spirit of classic mecha shines through most vividly in the visuals, from the imposing robot designs to the hard-hitting action scenes. Even the transformations, which of course are recycled each episode, are an old-school fan's dream with all the interlocking parts and moving mechanisms.


What a Giant Robot show without stock footage Razz , Mecha fanservice at it's finest, Shocked you know this are going into hyperdrive when the you hear the call for "Final Fusion"Razz

Quote:
All those silly battle cries, overly elaborate transformations, and plot contrivances should be buried by now


Never my friend, as long as people love the trappings, the archetypes, the over the top action, the sense of adventure, the primordial battle between good and evil. As long as bravery, courage, guts and a Big F'ing Giant Robot can save the day the Giant Robot show wil thrive Cool , to the chagrin of those that don't appreciate the genre, we will survive. and probably outlive us all.
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Ktimene's Lover



Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 2242
Location: Glendale, AZ (Proudly living in the desert)
PostPosted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:35 pm Reply with quote
Wonder how Veronica handles roles after her axing as Ash? Though I'm aware 4Kids is know for their bad dubs, when I did watch Pokemon, I thought she did it very well. I saw Sarah Natochenny's MySpace weeks ago and remember seeing a clip of her as Ash. My memory of it is vague, however, I felt she did a CRAPPY job. I honestly wish people would write to PokemonUSA to get the original voices back.
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