Macross Plus

Review by Matthew Anderson

Live Action

Company: DVJ Films

Running Time: 2 Hours

Region: All

Rating: R (Suspense, violence, nudity, adult themes)

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EXTERNAL EXAM

Al Dyson is a hotshot pilot with the UN Space Force.  Due to his reckless nature, he has been reassigned as a test pilot at New Edwards on his home planet of Eden.  Chief Bowman, a rival test pilot, is also assigned at New Edwards.  In front of the design team, he tells them that Dyson is a dangerous "pilot with no self control".  It seems that the two of them have some history, and it centers around a training accident from a couple of years ago.  It seems that Bowman's assessment of Dyson is correct, as he begins a dangerous relationship with his observer, Lucy.

To make matters worse, the entire Macross Plus Defense Strike Fighter program is in jeopardy of being dismantled, due to the development of a new AI project called "Ghost".  Based off the same AI chip used by "Virtual Pop Star" Sharon Apple, the "Ghost Fighter" can out maneuver, out fox, and out gun all opponents, including Dyson and Bowman.

However, it appears that the Ghost Fighter is starting to develop a personality, based upon it's original template, Sharon Apple.  The more sentient it becomes, the more it starts to meddle in the lives of Dyson, Lucy, and Bowman.

Due to the apparent success of the AI system, the UN government decides to conduct one final test, pitting their new Ghost Fighter against the skills of Dyson and Bowman.  During the battle, the Ghost Fighter uses what it has learned about the two men to manipulate them into fighting each other.

Now, the stage is set for the final battle between man and machine, that is if Dyson and Bowman don't kill each other first.

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WIDESCREEN REVIEW

STORY: Loosely based off the work by Keiko Nobumoto, this Macross Plus is more action based.  Rand Williford really worked hard to strip down the movie to the two things that everyone loved, mecha combat, and "Juicy Lucy".  While it may lack the emotional punch of the original, no one really seems to care that it's missing.

ACTING: Acting wise, all the main actors did a great job.  I could not believe that Jamie Foxx could play such a serious and dangerous character like Bowman.  Every word, every move he made, it looked as if he was going to kill someone.  I knew he had range, but not that kind of range!

I have never seen Josh Lucas before, so I was plesently surprised at how well he played the brash and cocky Dyson.  It was almost like seeing Tom Cruise in "Top Gun" again, he was so arrogant.  Still he was able to pull out the emotional stops when the scene required it.

There is no one sexier than Jessica Biel.  The way she purred, the teasing way she flaunted her beautiful body, her come hither eyes, made my heart melt.  I totaly believed that she was a wild child, ready to do some freaky things!

Tori Amos was a pleasant surprise.  As Sharon Apple, she was able to capture the ethereal beauty of this "Virtural Pop Star", while still keeping her powerful stage presence.  By putting her voice with the talents of Yoko Kanno, it's the greatest thing you will ever hear.

FAN SERVICE: Well, we do have blond hottie Lucy bare ass naked, with a nice rack for the fans.  We also have Sharon Apple nude, but she has no features.  There are tons of references to "Macross: Do you Remember Love", Macross II, and even Macross 7.

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FINAL EXAM

For those of you who do not know about the history of the Macross series, here is a brief recap. In the early 80's Robotech came to American television.  Re-tooled from the Japanese TV show "Super Dimensional Fotress Macross", "The Macross Saga" told a tale of young men and women fighting against wave after wave of aliens, sent to attack the Earth.  While Americans enjoyed the original program, a movie called "Macross: Love Do You Remember" was made, setting the stage for all other Macross series to follow.  After a lackluster reception of the sequel series "Macross II", the franchise was retired Until the early 90's, until along came the "Macross Plus" OVA's.   For four episodes, new and old Macross fans were treated to a balls to the wall, heart pounding, non stop action anime.  Considered a modern classis, it is the standard all other Macross series are judged.

Due to the continuing popularity of Macross and it's spin-offs, DVJ Films bought up the rights for a live action version. With the help of Sony Pictures providing the cast, and Manga Ent. providing everything else, Macross Plus (working title: Ghost and the Shell) was started.  With a script by Rand Williford (Initial D: The Last Stage, Bubblegum Crisis, Night Shift Nurses Xtreme), and Director Rob Cohen firmly on board, the project went ahead.

I attended a finial cut of the movie at our Studios in LA. Lots of thoughts ran through my mind; Would it be as fast paced as the original? Would the 100% CG fight sequences look really good, or be total crap? Will we see Jessica Beil naked for once?

The answers are: Faster than "Top Gun". Not only did the CG look good, the designs for the planes were better than the anime. No, but she has a mighty fine pair of breasts!

Rob Cohen has given us an excellent action film, right on par with his previous hits "XXX", the inspiring "Fast and the Furious" and "Initial D: The Last Sage".  The fight scenes are fast and furious, the plot is minimal, but who needs it.  The one problem I had with Macross Plus was that there was too much emotional back story, not enough action.

From the moment the movie started, I was glued to my seat. It was very hard for me to get up and go to the bathroom, I was so into it. The first five minutes were incredibly fast, and from then on, it didn't let up. Rob Cohen knows how to keep a movie going. Just when it seemed that things were going to slow down, something would happen that would make the whole audience go "Whoa!". When we got to the last 15 minutes of this 45 minute masterpiece, everyone was jumping out of their seats. Better than the end of "Macross Plus: The Movie" I could feel my heart racing. There were plenty of gasps and "woahs" that helped to push the intensity level way up. As people left the theater, I could here people saying; "Man, I'm going to join the Air Force!"

While it's roots are firmly planted in the original, Rand Williford's script is not the same. It is a tighter, better plotted story that sheds many of the romantic entanglements that plagued the OVA's.  One of the greatest things he did was eliminate Myung.  I never understood her appeal.  She was whinny, and it seemed like she was suffering from permanent PMS.  With her gone, Jessica Biel gets plenty of screen time, making a much more interesting love interest than Myung ever could be (even if they got Shu Qi to play the part).

 The special effects are top notch.  The are seamlessly intergrated with the live action segements, making look more real than I ever thought possible.  The mecha designs are awesome, and they will influence the next wave of CG animators.  For those of you who have been lucky enough to see some of the planes from "Stealth", you will understand what I mean.  The CG is fantastic, and of highest quality.

Any chance I get to rave about Yoko Kanno, I take it.  The first anime soundtracks I ever bought, both in Japan and the US were from Macross Plus.  Unlike her hip and trendy jazz fusion in Bebop, Ms Kanno has given us a majestic score, with a definite Russian and Militaristic feel.  She also shows her amazing abilities with the very interesting, avant guard music of Sharon Apple.  In my opinion, Information High is her best song, ever.  It's pulsing techno back beats, Tori Amos' strong vocals, and fast pace makes it the perfect mecha combat song.

There are some cool in-jokes that reference Robotech, Giant Robo, and of course the original Macross Plus. Keep an eye out for cameo's by Richard Epcar and Beau Billingslea, the voices of Bowman and Millard from the dub of "Macross Plus".

I will say that DVJ Films "Macross Plus" is right up there with "Resident Evil" as one of the best adaptations of all time. It is a powerful, intense, heart pounding thriller that will bring down the house!

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SMALL PRINT: This is all in the name of good fun, so let's not take this seriously.  It is not our intention to irritate all you Macross Plus fans, Manga Ent. fans, or lovers of Jamie Foxx or the movie "Stealth".  Please don't complain to Manga Ent. or Sony.  They have nothing to do with this, and we are not going to make any money with this feature.  It's true what they say, there are no more plots anymore!

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