Not an original "movie" but rather a re-edited version of the initial four-part 1994 series, Macross Plus: Movie Edition takes one of the oldest and most venerable franchises in anime history (earlier versions came to the U.S. in altered form as Robotech) and fast-forwards the timeframe from 1999 (the setting of the original 1982 series) to 2040. Set on the colonial world of Eden, the story revolves around high school pals and Top Gun-like rival space pilots Isamu Dyson and Guld Bowman, who revisit the old wounds of a broken love triangle when Myung Fan Lone, manager of virtual (i.e., artificial) singing sensation Sharon Apple, returns to Eden. ("Apple"? "Eden"? Yes, the symbolism is a wee bit heavy-handed.) When Apple goes rogue, thanks to a sentience-producing bio-chip, the three former school chums are forced into a battle for their lives. Although the film does sometimes feel patched-together, Macross Plus: Movie Edition, which contains mild sexual situations and nudity (and while not rated, would probably garner a "PG-13" rating), works overall, thanks to Keiko Nobumoto's (Cowboy Bebop) smart scripting, Shoji Kawamori's (Escaflowne) sure-handed direction, and animation that is still quite striking today. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)
Macross Plus: Movie Edition
(1995) 115 min. DVD: $29.95. Manga Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 17, Issue 4
Macross Plus: Movie Edition
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