Macross: Clash of the Bionoids Anime Review
Superdimensional Fortress Macross: Clash of the Bionoids
/ Theatrical Movie / Action / 7-up/13-up
Bottom Line
Decent film, horrible dubbing.
It’s Like...
...The G-rated Cliff's Notes version of the original Macross.
Vital Stats
Original Title
超時空要塞マクロス 愛・おぼえていますか
Romanized Title
Choujiku Yousai Makurosu: Ai Oboetemasuka
Literal Translation
Superdimensional Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love
Animation Studio
Tatsunoko
US Release By
Genre
Transforming Mecha Action-Romance
Series Type
Theatrical Movie
Length
Approx. 90 minutes (originally 115 minutes)
Production Date
1984-07-07
What's In It
Categories
Look For
- Giant Robots
- Spacewar
- Giant Aliens
- Music
- Idol Singers
- Romance
Objectionable Content
- Violence: 2 (moderate)
- Nudity: 2 (moderate)
- Sex: 1 (mild)
- Language: 1 (mild)
Plot Synopsis
Two Bionoid armies attack earth, and earth fights back with the giant Macross fortress. Things go quite badly until the Earthlings discover a strange property human rock music has when applied to Bionoids.
Quick Review
Switch to Full ReviewNow Macross: Clash of the Bionoids (a.k.a Macross '84: Do You Remember Love, the name of the subtitled version) delivers interesting plot and some great robot-smashing aerial sequences with varying degrees of success. The plot was engaging enough I suppose, although nothing really special, with the usual struggle to swallow the idea that a song could stop a war. The action sequences were, surprisingly, extremely good, although they couldn't stand up to Macross Plus, but that's to be expected. The mecha designs were nice and varied, and it was a lot of fun watching the Meltrandi beat the living hell out of the surprised Zentraedi. The love triangle was left a bit undeveloped, but there wasn't much to say about it anyway. Unfortunately, this Macross movie was let down appallingly on one rather major factor--although the music was alright, the dubbing was DREADFUL!
The movie is okay, but the voices really stuffed it up bad. It is enjoyable otherwise, and I'd recommend it for the Macross/Robotech fan, warn Macross/Robotech haters to stay away, and suggest "just give it a go if you feel like it" to people who are indecisive about the whole Macross thing.
Full Review
Switch to Quick ReviewI had been looking forward for a chance to see this movie for quite some time; I haven't seen much mecha-based anime before--just incompletely seeing some of the two other Macross series (II and Plus) and a bit of Voltron so long ago that I don't really remember it, and it probably doesn't count anyway. I wasn't expecting too much visually because I knew it was a pretty old movie, but I was expecting an interesting plot and some great robot-smashing aerial sequences (or deep space dogfighting, which is basically the same thing).
Now Macross: Clash of the Bionoids (a.k.a Macross '84: Do You Remember Love, the name of the subtitled version) delivers these with varying degrees of success. The plot was engaging enough I suppose, although nothing really special, with the usual struggle to swallow the idea that a song could stop a war. The action sequences were, surprisingly, extremely good, although they couldn't stand up to Macross Plus, but that's to be expected. The mecha designs were nice and varied, and it was a lot of fun watching the Meltrandi beat the living hell out of the surprised Zentraedi. The love triangle was left a bit undeveloped, but there wasn't much to say about it anyway, and it simply provided a bit of extra drama.
Unfortunately, this Macross movie was let down appallingly on one rather major factor--the audio mix. Although the music was alright (Minmay's songs were fine, especially 'Do You Remember Love,' the song she sang during the climax), the dubbing was DREADFUL! I would have to say that this movie is absolutely the worst dub I've ever seen, but it is more likely the worst dub ever! My kid brother could voice Hikaru better than whoever they pulled in to do it, Minmay spoke (but fortunately didn't sing) with the most god-awful accent (which made her sound like her first language was Swedish) and the Zentraedi were almost painful, droning on about "Pro-to-cul-ture." This completely ruined their credibility as enemies of humanity, and their rep wasn't helped by the fact that the Meltrandi were whupping their giant green butts. Fortunately, the Meltrandi made a much better opponent; unfortunately, I don't think the fifty-foot women got a fair go.
I would desperately like to see the subtitled version, but it's rather rare in the video shops over here (all subtitled anime is, except Plastic Little), and I'm damned if I'm going to buy a movie which I've already seen just to experience a better voice cast. However, the point I'm making is that if you are given a choice, you should definitely go for the subtitled.
I think this movie is okay, but the voices really stuffed it up bad. However it was nice and enjoyable otherwise, and I'd give it a 2.5. I recommend it for the Macross/Robotech fan, warn Macross/Robotech haters to stay away, and suggest "just give it a go if you feel like it" to people who are indecisive about the whole Macross thing.
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Related Recommendations
Obviously has plenty in common with all of the other Macross incarnations, most significantly the original TV series.
Notes and Trivia
This movie lies somewhere to the side of the Macross continuity; it is a rough re-telling of the events of the original Macross TV series in movie form, and so doesn't exactly fit anywhere chronologically.
It's important to note that the 1991 US video release was edited significantly from the original film. The dub was, apparently, originally produced for the Japanese market (the entire film was dubbed, and the full version was apparently available in some areas), which may explain the poor quality. Reader "Gail Chan" sent us some comments comparing the "Clash of the Bionoids" version with the uncut original:
"Well, I know Macross: Clash Of The Bionoids was a bit tattered. The original movie was actually 115 minutes long, and there were many scenes "edited" out of the movie for time, and it was a kid movie company that distributed it. The original version was WWWAAYYYY better... and there was more character development than the [edited] version. Perhaps [they] just wanted to get to the action scenes. But a lot of scenes were edited. Cmdr. Fokker's death was edited... but very dramatic. A slight shower scene of Minmay in zero-g was edited too. Milia 1809's surprise attack had scene's edited (believe me she did more that beat the hell out of them). There was some violence (some parts are a wee bit graphic) and some mature themes. A makeout scene with Roy and Claudia, and Roy, Max, and Kanzaki springing up on Hikaru about his "time" with Minmay."
US DVD Review
None exists as of this writing.
Parental Guide
The full version is probably in the 13-up range; the edited one is appropriate for most ages if you find the space violence acceptable.
Violence: 2 - Surprisingly violent for Macross. Watch the Meltrandi massacre the Zentraedi!
Nudity: 2 - One brief topless shot of Minmay in a zero-G shower.
Sex/Mature Themes: 1 - Romance, but not really mature at all.
Language: 1 - Nothing of note.
Availability
Was available on dubbed (and edited) VHS in the US way back in the early '90s, but has been out of print for a very long time. The original film has not been released in the US as of this writing.
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