Robotech:The Shadow Chronicles-Opinions

[JediKnightButler]

I have been thinking about buying the new Robotech:Shadow Chronicles movie and wanted to know what people whom have already watched it thought of the movie. I've been a big Robotech fan for awhile now although there are portions of the series I have yet to actually see. I've seen the entire Macross Saga and most of the New Generation storyline but completely missed out on the Masters. Oh, and I saw the Sentinels "pilot" (it's a shame that series never got off the ground!), read most of the Sentinels EU including "The End of the Circle". Now, they've released "Shadow Chronicles". What I understand of it so far is that it is set right after the end of the New Generation storyline and the Invid departure from Earth. Without spoiling too much, I was wondering if it was worth buying or just a rental and whether or not I should finish the New Generation storyline before watching it? Also, I was kind of wondering whether or not it significantly contradicts/parallels "The End of the Circle"? Does anybody know why they decided to do a post-New Generation storyline and not go back and try to (re-)do the Sentinels instead? IMHO THAT would've been a better idea-if they had the support. Any thoughts, opinions, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

 

[hyzmarca]

It sucks horribly. Rent, don't buy.

To be more descriptive, it has a needlessly overcomplicated storyline that is difficult for someone who is familiar with the series to follow, and I pray for those who aren't familiar wit the supplementary material, novels, and ect. New characters are unnecessarily introduced, and a new more powerful even worse enemy is pulled out of someone's butt.

It's sad, since they've already got plenty of material to work with.


As a fan, I say watch it and make up your own mind, but don't spend too much money.

I also recommend trying out the Macross sequels, Macross Plus, Macross 7, and Macross Frontier. They're substantially better than Shadow Chronciles. Macross Plus has been available on North American DVD for some time; 7 and Frontier aren't licensed for NA release due to rights issues but there fansubs available of both.

 

[Darth_Pinche]

I didn't think it was that bad,but agree it is rental material. I saw it on the big screen (movie theater) and on video, video will be fine. If I remember correctly, as long as you know how the New Generation series (Mospeada) end, you'll be fine. And I think it is in continuity with the Sentinels book by Jack Mckinney. Check it out, it has its moments.

 

[stonester1]

When I heard the familiar theme music pick up, I got excited. Then...reality set in.

Visually pretty, but not much to the characters. And the main villains are yet another badass alien race full of attitude but not much in the way of motivation.

No depth to make me care about the characters and combat.

Pass...

 

[Leroy]

I'd rent it if you really want to watch it. I was very disappointed in the movie as it was about the New Generation/MOSPEADA characters instead of the adventures of the rebuilt SDF-3 (you'd think it was based on the prelude comics). The animation quality is pretty bad they made a lot of errors most hobbyists avoid. I normally don't rip on animation quality since a lot of things near and dear to me are decades old but this movie came out in 2007 and took years to make, no excuse "OVA quality" yeah right. Robotech sucks anyway it's a hacked up butchered version of a classic with mediocre sequels at best. Watch the original Macross and its sequels instead.

 

[Jono]

I didn't made the animation when we just had the characters and internal spaces but the exterior 3d stuff is poor in comparison to Macross Zero and Frontier. I didn't mind the story too much, familiar characters and after watching it I did want to see more (storywise). I'd like them to do more movies but I hope they improve the animation.

The one bad thing I have to say about Frontier is that the characters were pretty much universally irritating and at various points I wanting them to be killed off, all except Ranka's older brother.

 

[Mr Light]

I rented it, knowing absolutely nothing about the show. I didn't understand a damn thing going on but the fight scenes were pretty

 

[SeerSGB]

Good but not great. Would made for a great pilot episode, but as a movie mean to restart the brand, not so much. Pretty boring in a couple of parts, and if you're a 'tech fan it basically rebooted everything from the last episode forward that's been considered the "story" for years.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I have been thinking about buying the new Robotech:Shadow Chronicles movie and wanted to know what people whom have already watched it thought of the movie. I've been a big Robotech fan for awhile now although there are portions of the series I have yet to actually see. I've seen the entire Macross Saga and most of the New Generation storyline but completely missed out on the Masters. Oh, and I saw the Sentinels "pilot" (it's a shame that series never got off the ground!), read most of the Sentinels EU including "The End of the Circle". Now, they've released "Shadow Chronicles". What I understand of it so far is that it is set right after the end of the New Generation storyline and the Invid departure from Earth. Without spoiling too much, I was wondering if it was worth buying or just a rental and whether or not I should finish the New Generation storyline before watching it?

If you're really a fan of Robotech, I would go ahead and buy it because it's both a continuation of the original series and the start of something new.

The movie really picks up exactly where the New Generation saga ended, so if you're not familiar with the ending of the original series, yes, it doesn't make much sense otherwise.

Also, I was kind of wondering whether or not it significantly contradicts/parallels "The End of the Circle"?

While there's plenty of debate about the canonicity of all the books by Jack McKinney, the general consensus is that they exist in a separate continuity from both the original series and the Shadow Chronicles. So, yes, TSC contradicts TEotC big time.

Does anybody know why they decided to do a post-New Generation storyline and not go back and try to (re-)do the Sentinels instead? IMHO THAT would've been a better idea-if they had the support.

Simply put, there was a lot of baggage (both onscreen and behind the scenes) connected with the ill-fated Sentinels project and it was simply a better idea for the new production team behind TSC to start with a new story and a new slate.

Tommy Yune--the guy who sort of took over the reigns of Robotech from Carl Macek--actually wrote the story to a five-part comic book series called Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles that briefly showed Rick Hunter and his crew saying their farewells to the Sentinels in the first issue. Lisa Hunter stayed behind to serve as Earth's representative to the Sentinel council after the conclusion of their war with the Invid.

Personally, I loved The Shadow Chronicles and the only thing I disliked was that it was only a movie and not a TV series. The best analogy I could come up with is that if Star Trek had transforming starfighters, it would be TSC. There's no way that any movie can live up to 20 years of expectations, but I approached TSC as episode 86 of the original Robotech series and I wasn't disappointed at all.

Harmony Gold and its partners are currently working on a sequel, Shadow Rising, but don't even think about asking when that movie is coming out...

 

[marillion]

I'm with you, C.E... I'm an old school Robotech fan (I caught it on its first run on US TV WAY back when)... I was really excited for the new movie and wasn't disappointed.

Well, I was at first, but then when I heard more was in the works, I figured that the storyline would be fleshed out and we'd see Hunter return to a more prominant role (at least hopefully).

My only disappointment is that it's NOT a series.. I'm dying for some more consistant material..

Definete buy!

 

[zakkrusz]

The story was good enough to be entertaining, and the action wasn't bad. Of course it can't compare to the awesomeness in animation quality of Macross Zero and Macross Frontier but you can't win them all. Besides, Robotech: Shadow Chronicles was just an introduction and there's more coming.

 

[DWF]

I didn't think it was that bad either, but boy did Rick Hunter get old and it was nice seeing the characters from the various generations working together. The music was rather bland though but all in all some of the magic from original series was there.

 

[FalTorPan]

I loved Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles.

 

[bullethead]

It's been a while since I've seen it, but the one thing that bugged me (IIRC) was the big issue the Haydonites had with everyone using Protoculture. I mean really, if you're going to put up a big fuss and a war over people using a plant to power their stuff, why don't you just give them something that's just as good that doesn't depend on the plant? It doesn't make sense unless we're missing a piece of the protoculture puzzle and I hope to God that it doesn't have to do the McKinley nonsense of "shapings" and other supernatural nonsense. Other than that, it was ok. It would've been nice if the character designers didn't fall in line with Japan's current way of designing female characters, there had been a better story or more time to fully explore it, and the battles had better choreography, but the production crew did the best with what they had. Hopefully they can get a better writer and a bigger CGI budget for the next one.

 

[FalTorPan]

We know almost nothing about the Haydonites and their motives. I have a theory about why they are so hostile toward "Protoculture addicts."

 

[shanejayell]

It wasn't bad, but I was very disapointed that it wasn't a complete story. Not to mention no idea when part two is coming....

 

[StarTrek1701]

I was disappointed with the fact that they took 7 years to make that crap?

 

[FalTorPan]

I wish R:TSC were a series as well, but I liked the cliffhanger ending. It left me wanting more, which is a good thing.

If Harmony Gold is committed to releasing animated features rather than a continuing television series, then I hope at least some of the plot threads from R:TSC are resolved in the next story. The fact that the REF's Protoculture supplies will last roughly a year suggests that the writers might want to extend the Rick Hunter search thread for at least a couple more movies.

 

[JediKnightButler]

I wish R:TSC were a series as well, but I liked the cliffhanger ending. It left me wanting more, which is a good thing.

If Harmony Gold is committed to releasing animated features rather than a continuing television series, then I hope at least some of the plot threads from R:TSC are resolved in the next story. The fact that the REF's Protoculture supplies will last roughly a year suggests that the writers might want to extend the Rick Hunter search thread for at least a couple more movies.

I hear you mention Rick Hunter but what about Lisa? Aren't they still together (with a kid)?

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

I wish R:TSC were a series as well, but I liked the cliffhanger ending. It left me wanting more, which is a good thing.

If Harmony Gold is committed to releasing animated features rather than a continuing television series, then I hope at least some of the plot threads from R:TSC are resolved in the next story. The fact that the REF's Protoculture supplies will last roughly a year suggests that the writers might want to extend the Rick Hunter search thread for at least a couple more movies.

I hear you mention Rick Hunter but what about Lisa? Aren't they still together (with a kid)?

The prequel comic to R:TSC covers these questions. Here is the wiki entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotech:_Prelude_to_the_Shadow_Chronicles