1. Scream loudly
2. Swear for at least two minutes at medium volumn
3. Try VCR/Computer/Whatever again. If it continues to
malfunction -
4. Repeat scream.
5. Swear for at least *three* minutes at high volumn
6. Kick appliance, furniture, house pet
7. Try to correct problem one more time, if fails -
8. Scream hysterically, at least three screams
9. Foam at mouth
10. Swear at machine, cybertechnology, the industrial
revolution, and life in general at maximum volumn until
breath gives out.
11. Throw things and smash bric-a-brac
12. Sob
Princess On Her Subbed Gatch
I am one happy Gatchafan. What am I happy about? Thanks to a benefactor
who, I believe, prefers to remain anonymous I am now the proud possessor
of a number of subbed Gatchaman I and Gatchaman Fighter episodes, not to
mention the '78 movie.
The first few seconds of tape one provided a bit of a shock. Dare Da
is the BotP theme!
The GML: Of course it is, Margo, didn't you know that?
No, I did not! How could I when I'd only seen one Gatch episode many
years ago? Anyway, not only does it have the BotP theme, (which I've
always liked) but the rest of the sound track; the dramatic musical
sting used over the eps. title and that really syrupy theme they use at
emotional moments, etc. This was a very pleasant suprise even if it did
have me calling the characters Mark, Princess, the Chief, etc. when I
talked to the TV, (yes I talk to television shows, doesn't everybody?).
I think Dare Da improves when you *don't* understand the words, those
are pretty corny lyrics aren't they?
Ayako's 'Narrator from Hell' didn't bother me a bit, probably because
I was too busy reading the subbing for his voice to really register.
Re. episode 31: Nambu is a very brave man. Not only does he let
Condor Joe drive him, he is even capable of napping while he does so.
It is interesting that Doctor has no contribution to make while the
Team discusses how to best protect him. Personally I think he's mentally
shuddering at the vision of being accompanied day and night for an
indefinite period by his foster children, (would *you* want to spend 24
hours a day with *your* teenagers?).
As I see it, to avoid this unendurable altenative he decides to force
the issue by deliberately walking into what he knows as well as Ken is a
trap. He goes by train rather than letting them take him in the
God-Phoenix because he wants to arrive looking as unprotected and
vulnerable as possible.
He does *not* expect the train to be attacked. Why should Spectra
(oops) I mean Galactor do that when they'll have such a sterling
oppotunity at the Sea Farms? Because Katse-sama likes to do things the
hard way, that's why. I think s/he was showing off by deliberately
formulating a complicated, risky plan. That ego of hirs.
This episode is also distinguished by the subtle emphasis placed on
the rapport between Ken and Joe.
*And* we get a brief look at Jun being boss. With Ken and Joe both
off somewhere G3 is in charge!
Re. episodes 39 and 40: I just loved it when Ken remarked at the
briefing, after Jun'd been attacked, 'We forgot Jun is a woman.' Why is
this guy still alive, Swan?
Doctor needs to work on his communications skills, apparently he
doesn't realize the guys think Jun's been killed by the fire. Why does
he think Joe knocked Ken down when they were discussing it? On second
thought since when does Joe need a reason to knock Ken down? Nambu just
assumes the Team understands that the membrane will protect her. After
all they were right there when he told them about it. They're kids,
Doctor, kids don't listen you should know that by now. Nambu's not
normally that clueless, I guess he's just so absorbed in trying to find
something that'll kill the flowers that he's less observant than ususal.
Of course when they finally do rescue Jun, Ken slaps her. But not
very hard, I'll bet it barely stung, (except emotionally). I really
can't blame him, she's scared the hell out of him and he's got to be at
least as furious as he is relieved.
As Jinpei correctly observes, hitting is not what he really wants to
do to Jun. Unfortunately slinging her over his shoulder and carrying her
off to his shack is out of the question, (at least in his mind).
Re. episode 102: I really enjoyed watching Paris burn. Okay, they
called it R city but that was the Eiffel tower wasn't it? (I also
thought I caught a glimpse of the Empire State Building but am willing
to overlook that). I'm a bit of a Franco-phobe mostly because of their
disgusting, cowardly behavior during WWII.
Dr. Nambu's country house looks a little like pictures I've seen of
Japanese castles.
Isn't it a remarkable coincidence that Joe just happens to go to the
doctor who's acting as a front for Galactor? (Hey this is Anime!
coincidence is the name of the game.)
Katse means to use Doctor as a hostage against the SNT but they
arrive to rescue him before they even realize he's gone.
I just love Ryu's resigned, here-we-go-again attitude when Joe goes
missing. I think the rest of the team is getting a little tired of the
Eagle and the Condor's grandstanding.
Re. episode 105: Can somebody please explain to me why scores of
Galactor troops are hunting the very dangerous SNT *unarmed*?
Re. Gatchaman Fighter: Like the new t-shirts. *Hate* the new ISO
building, who designed that thing anyway? Rube Goldberg?
Why did Pandora become a man? (probably because the writers didn't do
their homework). Ken is dense enough to compliment a woman by calling
her a 'good man' but Joe certainly isn't! Maybe they were really talking
about Dr. Rafael, which would make more sense since he's the one who
turned Joe into a cyborg in the first place. Unfortunately he didn't
think to throw in an owners manual.
I am heretical enough to think the New God-Phoenix isn't really
*that* bad looking, at least in comparison to the Gatcha-spartan, Ugh!
For some reason I kept thinking 'Go Voltron Force!' throughout the
vehicle launch and Gatcha-spartan assembly scenes.
As for the hybersuit! On Star Trek they 'canna break the laws of
physics', just bend them a bit, but Newtonian physics apparently don't
exist at all in the Gatcha-universe.
If all that's really needed is Ken and the hypersuit why drag the
rest of the team along? (a question that has doubtless occured to many
viewers).
G-F episode 1 did have at least one good moment, the confrontation
between Nambu and Ken. Doctor is right, of course, the SNT wouldn't be a
lot of use in the kind of war Egoblosser's been fighting up til now, (as
several posters on the list have pointed out). Of course this changes
when Sosai Z makes the scene.
You were doing pretty good on your own, Count Egoblosser, trust me,
you don't need Z and his dumb monstermechs.
I notice the writers feel no compuctions about wrecking Europe.
Princess On Doctor Nambu's Self Sacrifice
Towards the end of 'Gatchaman Fighter' Dr. Nambu, now ISO Director,
deliberately surrenders himself to the
enemy hoping that Egoblosser will break off his attack
on Gatchaman Base once he's gained such a prize. The
ploy works and the Doctor manages to obtain valuable
information about 'poison apple' which he is able to
pass on the the Team before dying.
Not meaning to denigrate the Doctor's heroic final
effort (or its dramatic impact) but wasn't this just a
little irresponsible of him? It is impossible to
overstate Nambu's importance to Earth's defense, worse,
he knows *everything* about the Gatchaman Team. their
weaponry, birdstyles, etc. Wasn't he risking all this by allowing
himself to fall into enemy hands?
I can think of three possible explanations for his
action.
(1) It was a purely emotional decision driven by
desperation to save the base and the Team no matter what the personal
cost. Possible but frankly I just can't see the Doctor loosing his head
to that extent no matter how bad the situation.
(2) The military situation was already so bad that
nothing he told Egoblosser could make it much worse. Also possible, he
may have reasoned that the gains (e.g. information about Poison Apple)
were worth the risk.
(3) He knew he could resist Egoblosser's interrogation techniques so
there was no risk at all to planetary security, but I wonder how could
he be so sure?
Interestingly he apparently tried a similar ploy
once before. According to Alara's translation of 'The
Biggest Wave In History' Nambu offers Gel Sadra not only himself but an
ISO gadget potentially capable of
stopping her 'Sun Shift' plan in return for the release
of his Headquarters staff, (who violently oppose the
idea). Dr. Pandora and the tidal wave prevent Gel Sadra from accepting
his offer, leaving me wondering exactly
what Nambu was trying to do. Could he have hoped Gel Sadra would take
him to the equipment implementing the Solar Shift plan so he could
sabotage it? Or at the very least pass its location to the Team?
