[US DVD] Gundam Seed Destiny Part 1 (Anime Legends Edition)

[brycec1701]

http://cdn-www.mania.com/content_pics/000004/46/46/936ee20b77c83a00_thumb.jpgReview by Bryce Coulter (http://www.mania.com/gundam-seed-destiny-part-1-anime-legends-edition_article_111146.html)

Mania Grade: A
* Audio Rating: A
* Video Rating: A
* Packaging Rating: A-
* Menus Rating: A
* Extras Rating: A-
* Age Rating: 13 and Up
* Region: 1 - North America
* Released By: Bandai Entertainment
* MSRP: 49.98
* Running time: 650
* Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
* Disc Resolution: 480i/p
* Disc Encoding: MPEG-2
* Series: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny

Summary
Gundam Seed Destiny picks up where the previous series left off and begins anew the rapid paced action that we have come to expect. The political leaders and cast include new faces, but the desires in their hearts remain the same: love, peace, vengeance, greed and power. The lines quickly blur once again about who really is in the seat of righteousness as right and wrong become rather grey. Be ready to remember why you enjoyed this series once again as you meet old friends and a new set of faces in familiar roles. Love, war and politics…the Gundam way.

[karen0586]

Dang it... that's a very nice review. (I'm wincing here). I have the first series and I have seen it, but I've been putting this sequel off for awhile. I probably will wait a long time to buy and see it, but this review wants me to change my mind. :sd:

[brycec1701]

I am looking forward to the next collection as the first one renewed my love for the characters of Gundam Seed. It is just as much fun as Gundam Seed, if not better.

[Hayate Kurogane]

I am looking forward to the next collection as the first one renewed my love for the characters of Gundam Seed. It is just as much fun as Gundam Seed, if not better.

It's a damn shame that the series derails in the second half. I mean, YMMV, as is evidenced by the numerous Gundam Seed fans out there, but it was and still is depressing to me that Gundam Seed Destiny could actually start out rather strongly and lose it as it progresses (versus Gundam Seed which I feel starts out badly and gets better in the final third). It's also unfortunate that Final Plus is not included in the second collection, as there's no reason why anyone should ever have to watch the original TV version of episode 50 when a much better one exists (along with the fourth opening sequence and song that should have been used instead of the one that is).

[Doom85]

Honestly, I disliked most of Gundam Seed Destiny. For one thing, the original characters either were underused (or for a few, not even present) and some even suffered from http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CharacterDerailment (and that includes a few Destiny-exclusive characters as well), and let's not even mention the wall-banging decision to ruin Mu's moving sacrifice in Seed. Shinn felt like a poor replacement for Kira. Whereas Seed began with Kira weak and uncertain, Destiny felt like we would root for a protagonist who made dumb decisions every other episode. If Kira had to step down as main character once the writers decided to make a sequel, the focus should have moved to Athrun, or even Cagalli (actually, Cagalli staying a tough-fighter type, instead of being pushed to the sidelines often, and being the main focus probably would have made the show way more awesome. Of course, since she's my second favorite Seed character, I am somewhat biased :sdsmiley:).

Then, as poorly executed as the show's http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HostileShowTakeover was, I realized I'd rather watch Kira blow past any obstacle with complete ease than watch Shinn continue to act like a moron. Add to the fact the show was plagued with even more clip-show episodes than Seed, the fact that we now know the writing staff was divided on who we were even supposed to side with (grey-vs.-grey morality works, but not when it's because the writers are bickering over "no, THIS person is right!"), and the animation was not really impressive, and this is the worst Gundam series I've seen so far. I respect anyone disagreeing, but I try to pretend this isn't even canon and Seed's ending was the definite ending. I might pick up the two AL boxsets for Destiny if they ever hit the Bargain Bin (and the pretty picture for this review makes me lament the excellent cover art for Set 1 that was not used, since they decided to go with a more standard-looking cover :().

[Otakufan]

I have to agree with the last two posters.

I love the original Gundam Seed. It's in my own personal top ten of all time.

But this sequel Destiny,I found was just another been there, done that copy of the original.

It does have it's moments and definitely does have the same high quality production values, mech battles, sound and video as the original. So perhaps had the original not existed, perhaps Destiny would rank higher in my eyes, but as such it just remains a pale imitation for me.

And it's last half pales in comparison with Seed which has the best four episode ending of any anime that I've ever seen! Period.

Even so, I might pick it up some day, but only if it's discounted in the bargin bin.

But if you haven't seen the original, you'll probably rate it much higher.

J. A.

[Leon_Belmont]

I have to agree with the last two posters.

I love the original Gundam Seed. It's in my own personal top ten of all time.

But this sequel Destiny,I found was just another been there, done that copy of the original.



I take it one further. Gundam Seed WAS in my top 10, but Destiny wore the formula out so much it really exposed the problems with the original and took my taste for SEED down with it. It's still probably my favorite Gundam though, UC included. Slight edge over my oher favorites 08th, 00, and 0083. My taste is kind of all over the place.

I'll be interersted in seeing the review for the second half of this.

[Vicserr]

Well, Gundam Seed Destiny was well built until the final reel, there it falls apart, as the final episodes seemed more like "lets try to make sense of all the dangling plots we were doing" instead of your classic all out stampede of awesome, Final Plus (sold separely) manages to tighten the ending a bit for the better. and the recurring reuse of flashbacks, action sequences and money shots drives one batty, Man, 70's Super Robot shows have less stock footage than Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny.:rolleyes:

[Damius]

Nice review....now I really need to catch up with Gundam.