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SYNOPSIS:
Ultraman's origin is updated in this theatrical feature. Fighter pilot Maki (Bessho) is thought killed in a mysterious midair collision but is later found alive and well. At the same time a mysterious monster that can absorb animals into itself is on the loose. Can Maki discover the power in himself that will stop the monster?
REVIEW:
"The destruction of the miniature cityscapes is quite well done, but the CGI work when Ultraman and his monstrous opponent take flight leaves a little to be desired: the shots look too much like a videogame. Still, even these scenes have some redeeming aspects, including an oddly poetic moment when, mid-battle, our hero recalls that he wanted to become a pilot after seeing a jet streaking across the sky like a silver meteor — and now, in the form of Ultraman, he has become an almost literal embodiment of that childhood image.
The new Ultraman costume is a big improvement over previous versions. The old one-piece suit (which always buckled and bent, giving away its rubber origins) has been replaced with a multi-piece costume that looks more metallic and robotic, built up almost like body armor, with more flexible, darker sections about the movable joints.
The story is handled reasonably well, although there are some weaknesses here. The pacing is uneven, and exposition about Ultraman’s strengths and weaknesses is in short supply. The child’s illness is never resolved. The marital tension between his parents is muddled: apparently, mom is upset that her husband, having quit the air force to spend time with his son, is instead spending his time in the hunt for the monster - but we never get a feel for how much time he is spending away from home. Even when they finally reconcile before the final battle, the director blows the scene, having them part without so much as a kiss (no doubt a vestige of the old kiddie show mentality, which avoided romance at all costs).
The live-action production values are good but not outstanding - probably the result of a modest budget. The photography works at about the level of an above-average TV movie. The sets and location work are nice but not overly impressive. And considering what a major operation the search for the monster must be, it seems a bit understaffed: most of the scenes consist of the pilot and a lady scientist talking to each other, with a handful of guys in fatigues showing up once in a while.
Fortunately, the film delivers as a good-natured, reasonably serious monster-movie — not too grim and scary for kids, but not so light-hearted and silly as the TV series could be. The family drama is not developed very deeply, but it does help imbue the story with some real pathos, turning this into a decent piece of family film entertainment. It’s no match for GAMERA, GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE or GODZILLA: FINAL WARS, but Ultraman fans should love it, and even open-minded fantasy-filmgoers will find themselves having a good time."
RATING: 7.5/10
PREVIEW:
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SUB:
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MIRROR LINKS: THANKS TO STENZEL
RS:
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Subtitle:
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