DICK STEEL
I grew up watching Ultraman on television, so much so that back then I can sing the theme song, in Japanese (of course not knowing exactly what it meant)! With so many variations on the Ultra heroes, it's actually quite easy for a kid to follow, with each episode having a different ugly monster wreck havoc on Earth (ok, make that Japan), and each time Ultra- whoever will transform himself, do battle through his kung-fu moves, until that red light on his chest blinks as an indication to stop monkeying around, and then he finishes the monster with his signature moves.Ah, nostalgia! But what I did like about Ultraman, was indeed the intricate modelling done on the landscapes of Japan, and how they get so painfully destroyed by the monster imitating Gojira, or when our hero is on the receiving end of a smackdown to the ground. And the special effects, though so dated today, were really captivating to a kid those days. I have many fond memories of my collection of Ultraman figurines, which somehow mysteriously disappeared after cousins came visiting one afternoon many years back. Over the years, especially after television stopped airing updated episodes, Ultraman faded, but always had a special place inside my heart.There were the new versions of late, what with Ultraman Tiga, Dyna and what have yous. I found their design to be un-Ultraman like, especially with their shades of blue. Watching some episodes didn't trigger my interest, so I did not pick up from where I left off. However, in celebration of 40 years since the creation of the very first Ultraman, a new movie (only released in disc format here) was spotted on the shelves, that of a certain Ultraman Mebius. While I thought his colour scheme was right, and the new kid on the block very nicely designed and pleasing to the eye, what caught my interest was the words "Ultraman Brothers", and in the same cover, you see the heroes of old, including Ultraman, Ultraman Jack, Ultraseven, and Ultraman Ace, together with Ultraman Taro and Ultraman Zoffy. Wow! But the barebones DVD coupled with its unattractive price put me off for a bit, until I saw a preview of it being shown on the television of an electronics shop.And I was sold!I bought the DVD, and rarely do I pop it into the player immediately (I still have stacks of DVDs unwatched), but I did for this one. And I loved it tremendously, nevermind the kiddish plot and central theme of "the power of confidence can give you courage" kinda fortune cookie sayings.For the uninitiated (as if I was an expert), Yi Lai is in the GUYS formation, one of those world wide policemen with snazzy equipment and vehicles to combat monsters that invade earth, but almost without a doubt never using such firepower given the presence of Ultraman. Yi Lai is Ultraman Mebius, and when called upon, he has this transformation device attached to his wrist to being him up to size. Mebius is quite athletic, and has a range of powers which this movie will introduce you to, coupled with a streak of green in his level of experience. After all, Mebius had selected to come to earth because he wanted to find out whatever happened to his brothers Ultraman, Jack, Ace and Seven.The quartet had been living a life of seclusion of sorts in their human form, sacrificing their ability to transform in order to imprison a vicious monster. And you know what the best part is? The filmmakers got the ORIGINAL human actors to portray their aged counterparts, and fused some montage shots from their resp ective series of yesteryears! You just cannot get any more cooler or more authentic than that! Pure nostalgia flowing I tell you! And this lends some weight when the quartet had to counsel Yi Lai and dispense some tips and tricks to our new rookie protector of earth - we've been there, and done that!Not to spoil the story (which isn't much anyway), the action sequences are to die for. Fans will recognize our respective heroes' signature killer moves, and after 40 years, CGI has crept into the movie in the depiction of our heroes' battles against the monsters, but that is not to say it's forgetting its man-in-a-rubber-suit heritage. You get the best of both worlds combined, with close-ups and more physical stunts done by stuntmen, and the more fantastical, in flight action rendered through computer graphics. It's pure eye-candy, and one which you're definite to watch on repeat!This is a recommended must watch for all Ultraman fans out there, and I'm already eyeing the original series boxset which is currently still priced beyond my reach. Tears will flow when I watch those episodes I tell you! And Mebius does seem interesting enough for me to want to follow his exploits. So if anyone out there wanna get my a gift for whatever occasion, you probably know what to get me now, don't you? :P
jmaruyama
Konaka Kazuya's fan-boy film "Ultraman Mebius and Ultrabrothers" reminds me a lot of the Star Trek movies of the 80's, especially "Wrath of Khan" and "Voyage Home". It's a nostalgic, fun movie that is primarily made for the benefit of fans of Tsuburaya Production's landmark Ultraman series of the late 60s as well as its subsequent sequels (Ultra Seven, Return of Ultraman, Ultraman Ace and Ultraman Taro). Unlike the recent "Ultraman: The Next" and "Kamen Rider: The First" which both attempted to reinterpret and reinvent classic heroes of the 70s for a newer generation, unfamiliar with the original series, "Ultraman Mebius and Ultraman Brothers" embraces the past and makes these original heroes "cool" again.The story is simple and straightforward enough. A cadre of past Ultraman foes have joined forces to resurrect one of their own -- the evil Alien Yapool, who had taken control of the monstrous U-Killer (Ultra Killer) Zarus. U-Killer Zarus (an original movie creation) was one of the last super kaijyu's (monsters) the Ultra Brothers defeated many years prior. In fact the Ultra Brothers (Ultraman, Seven, Ace and Jack) sacrificed part of their cosmic powers to defeat the abomination (sealing it in the waters off of Kobe, Japan).As a result, the Ultra Brothers have happily and quietly retired into normal human society. Flash forward to the present where current Ultra Hero, Mirai Hibino (AKA Ultraman Mebius – whose series is currently airing on Japanese TV) travels to Kobe to investigate an "evil presence" that has surrounded the area. During the course of his investigation, he is confronted by the alien invaders. Hibino is overwhelmed by their combined forces. The Ultra Brothers band together one last time to save Ultraman Mebius and defeat the resurrected Yapool and U-Killer Zarus who have since been powered up considerably.The alien "gundan" (army) assembled to battle the Ultra Brothers seems like a "dream team" of classic intergalactic foes including Alien Temporer (foe of Ultra Taro), Alien Guts (foe of Ultra Seven), Alien Zarab (foe of Ultraman) and Alien Nackle (foe of Ultraman Jack). While I wished that perennial Ultraman foe Baltan and some of the more exotic alien foes of the past like Mefilas, King Joe or Metron were included, the foes that did appear were quite good as villains.The appearance of Zoffy and Ultraman Taro seemed a bit like a "deus ex machina" contrivance in order to make an excuse for saving and powering up the Ultra Brothers. Fans of Ultraman Leo who may have felt disappointed by his exclusion in the movie can take some comfort in the fact that he figures prominently in the Ultraman Mebius TV series.While some of the CGI effects seemed almost like the CGI animation you would see in Banpresto video games like the recent "Ultraman Fighting Evolution", they were none-the-less exciting to watch and really helped to make the action sequences standout. It was kind of refreshing to see the Ultrman heroes actually "flying" in realistic CGI rather than what has been portrayed in the past (miniture figures seemingly dragged along by invisible wires). The final battle in particular was amazing and really impressive.While the target audience is clearly kids, the movie is surprisingly entertaining enough for adults, especially those who have grown up with these heroes."Ultraman Mebius and Ultra Brothers" is not a perfect movie but is engaging, enjoyable entertainment best enjoyed by fans of the original series. As a 40th Anniversary film, the film is a worthy tribute to these wonderful Tokusatsu (live action) Sci-Fi heroes of my youth.
