VFTF1

I have to credit Alto for bringing me to like Sheryl. My view of Sheryl was pretty much exactly like Alto's in the beginning - I was pissed at her for running away while people were in danger, and for basically giving off the impression of some stupid celebrity. Add to that the fact that her initial song wasn't the best in the world (IMO) and there was really nothing going for her (having a nice body/good looks meant zilcho, particularly in an anime series where just about every girl is really cute anyways). But slowly - particularly with episode 5, as Sheryl was revealed to be attracted to Alto, her helping out Ranka - basically as she was humanized - I got to like her more and more. In episode 8 - Sheryl did a "reverse Minmay" - Minmay went from being a really sweet beautiful girl that any guy would love to marry and settle down with into being a horrendous flirty cynical pop star. Bleh. In episode 8 of MF - Sheryl went from being a horrendous flirty cynical pop star into...being the cool, beautiful adventurous girl who we go to school with. Score! Also - slave puns aside; Sheryl is completely Alto's slave He's just a delicate and reluctant master who doesn't realize his power But that's what makes them such an adorable couple VFTF1

I'm about to get a crazy amount of Gundams - namely all of the HG Double 00s and a couple of MGs as well Of the MGs, I'm mostly looking forward to building the Unicorn Gundam. Of the Double OOs, I just like the idea of having the whole collection - and I like the Tieren (sorry if I got that wrong) mold But yeah -good Christ - there are A LOT of Gundams! VFTF1

I voted better. I think Bay did the best that could be expected for a general release live action TF movie and in many ways it stayed true to the spirit of G1. Also - note that the on-screen characters look FAR SUPERIOR to the poor toys Hasbro came out with. I love the movie line characters - but the toys stink. Anyways - the one thing I'm really concerned about is Hasbro giving us some proper toys this time around - and I doubt it... But the Movie 2 will definitely be enjoyable. I can't see how you can be a TF fan and not like what was done VFTF1

I personally would say that I prefer Animated to Classics. Classics redoes G1 in a Unicron Trylogy aesthetic - but I hate the Unicron trilogy aesthetic. For instance - I far prefer Animated Bumblebee to Classics Bumblebee... I think the Animated figures have more expression; there's more character to them. Anyways - can't wait for Wave 02 and beyond to finally show up in Europe!! VFTF1

In the famous words of Nigel: Yes. VFTF1

In all honesty, with Sheryl enrolling in flight school - you know it will happen: the ultimate Fire Bomber homage But of course I'm sure they'll give it some fresh twist! Like the Vajra suddenly break out in Vanilla Ice Ice Ice Baby! Lobster Time! VFTF1

My Ivanov SV-51 is in good condition. But indeed the Nora is more of a sturdy birdy VFTF1

Simple. The quote you showed of me saying that Macross 7 sucked "No Thanks" and all was written by me after seeing a few YouTubes of Macross 7. I don't even think they were from the series proper - and all it was was Bassara in his VF-19 on the right, and some Meldran in her Quid Rau on the left and rainbow colored beams shooting forth from each as they...sang at one another. The picture quality and sound quality (as is often the case on Youtube) were low. This was my first exposure to Macross 7 and I was shocked - shocked because it looked like they had taken the wonderful Macross saga and turned it into Pokemon...or something of the sort... But finally - I downloaded the entire series and watched it STRAIGHT THROUGH. Ahh...those were wonderful days... episode after episode...beer after beer... XXXL sized pepperoni pizza after pepperoni pizza... I didn't like Planet Dance - so the beginning was a bit rough on me - but having Max and Exedol there made things bearable... I can't remember exactly at what point I fell in love with Bassara - I hated him for most of the series - but I guess ultimately it was his wonderful persistance, Submarine Street, him singing to Sivil in the forrest -that did it. Yeah - actually it was then that I came unglued and fell in love with Bassara... The episode where he goes to Sivil in the forrest and sings to her - and that Protodevilin punches him, but he keeps singing... It was such a moving song and such a moving scene - and I decided there and then that Bassara was God From then on, I was avidly cheering Bassara on, opening myself more and more to his music and his way of doing things; it was refreshing and liberating. So...the forrest scene - if I had to put my finger on it - the Forrest scene with Bassara singing to Sivil and the reporter being shocked and the protodevilin Gigil being angry...just everyone being shocked and angry and flustered about what Bassara was doing juxtaposed with the beauty of the act- trying to awaken a beautiful woman with great music - that's when I decided this is the best Macross Series! VFTF1

Well as amusing as that picture is - is it actually cannonical? It's been a while, but I don't recall Bassara wearing such pants? VFTF1

I was aware of the origins and the internment camps; and naturally while the General has a right to his opinion, no where in the US Constitution does it say that citizens of one nationality have more rights than citizens of another nationality - and of course the Declaration of Independence is explicit in that it locates the foundations of the country in the equality of all Men (humans), rather than in the particular traits of one "nation" or "ethnic group." That said - I'm sure you could find a million quotes where someone is saying something positive about the Japanese, and happens to use the term "Jap." Naturally - if an individual is offended by the term; then one simply apologizes - but I would also say that one shouldn't stereotype and assume that everyone who uses the word "Jap" is racist against Japanse... I will try not to tread on controversial ground and speak in generalities, but - lots of people of certain ethnic backgrounds use certain words which - if used by their opposite - would be called "racist" but when used by the people in question are simply "part of their unique way to speaking/rapping." I think everybody just needs to chill out and not be so easily offended. And I will give an example from my own country: Polish people flip out every time ANY newspaper in the world uses the phrase "Concentration camps in Poland." Because, of course, during World War II, the NAZIs built concentration camps in Poland, so often times newspapers use a short-hand and just say "Polish concentration camps" or "concentration camps in Poland." That's when Poland mobilizes its' diplomatic corpes and sends angry letters to newspapers and what not demanding that the papers write "NAZI Concentration Camps built by the Germans who occupied Poland during WWII." Personally - I think it's silly; and a vein attempt by Poland to gain "victim status." Particularly since anti-semitism in Poland was so high in some parts of the country, that people collaborated with Germans in getting rid of the Jews; and even AFTER the War, in 1948 (unless I'm mistaken), Polish villagers slaughtered hundreds of Jews in a purge - just because they didn't like them. On the other hand, there were a lot of Polish folks who risked their lives to save and protect Jews during the war - so it goes both ways. But I personally don't really like it when contemporary people who were not alive back then try to bask in the glow of others and demand that newspapers write "German concentration camps" or that people not say the word "Jap." First off, I think you have to understand that while of course there is no excuse to justify racism; many people - like this General you quote - were justifiably angry about Peral Harbor. Soldiers who were dying in the war naturally also used the term. Now - this understanding in no way diminishes from the illegality of the Internment Camps under the US Constitution (a shameful thing), nor does it take away from the fact that in many ways Japan was provoked into the attack by the Oil Embargo and other policies of FDR. But then again, the Japanese DID attack China and were occupying great swaths of Asia. I am not trying to point fingers and appropriate blame in a total sense - I am merely trying to say that just like your Grandmother (who was alive then and feels very personally about events), so too veterens or others who were alive then have a right to feel personally about events. I think that ultimately stifling speech - even mildly rude speech - ultimately stifles all of these important issues, and makes people more ignorant - because words derive from somewhere - and to know the history of words you must first use and hear them... I hope I'm not being misunderstood as being an advocate of racial slurrs - rather I am trying to show that a) sometimes the "sluriness" of the word is relative to user/context, b) sometimes there is over-sensitivity, c) even if a word is rude and slurry, we shouldn't ban it - not only because of freedom of speech - but because paradoxically the existence of such words gives us opportunities to enlighten people about history. Anyways - my 18 cents on the question VFTF1

This is probably closer to the truth But I STILL love Bassara - my conversion to Macross 7 is solid! Heck - I even listen to Fire Bomber on my Soundwave MP3 Player every day ! And it's not that I don't like Ranka anymore - Sheryl has just made great strides of progress But anything is possible --- and you have to give a thumbs up to the writers of M:F for creating a story where the audience's preference in the love triangle changes:) Otherwise it would be boring and there would be no dramatic tension VFTF1

Ah - I think my memory is jogged... are those the pants that Bassara wears in that one poster where there is no butt cover on them? VFTF1

What is an assless chap? VFTF1

I so want to finally get my SOCs! But for now I am getting the entire HG Gundam 00 collection and a couple of MGs! And I STILL need to get the YF21!! But SOC shall soooon be mine and my SOC Getter Robo will stop feeling lonely. VFTF1

I took the plunge and am glad I did! Transformers: Animated the show is the third best TF ever to grace TV (after G1 and Beast Wars). This is pretty much what I was EXPECTING when Armada was announced and FFIINNAAALLLYYY after the abysmal Unicron Trilogy we get something decent and fun. As for the toys - got all of wave one - am delighted with them! VFTF1

Considering that Bandai still issues Gundam models from shows that have long since stopped airing, I see no reason why they couldn't do a VF-19 Kai Fire Valkyrie - and give it the Sound Force speakers and make it play all of Bassara's songs! LOAD! I would buy 20! I swear - and I'd set up an entire SOUND FORCE ARMY! And just play them! weeee! But what they really truly MUST do - Kayodo - is make Macross characters! I really want an Alto and Sheryl and Ranka figure!!! VFTF1

WOW! First Attack is winning big and it's - in my opinion - the worse episode so far (I wrote a fuller explanation of why I think so in the First Attack Episode threat) For me - I voted for Star Date! Although High School Queen is a close second! I really liked Star Date because of the lovely interaction between Alto and Sheryl - animation wise, if you're going to focus an ENTIRE episode on two characters on a date - there's a lot to do - and they really did a good job with facial mimics and interaction and all of that. I also loved the giant cows mooo! yay! And Star Date was the last time that I still loved Ranka - because of that fantastic song and the Mall! VFTF1

I voted for Sheryl! After episode 8 she has conquered my heart! What a fun loving joyful girl! Ranka has become way too serious and focused on her "big career" Sheryl has become a girl who chases her panties while not wearing underwear. HOW can I NOT vote for Sheryl?? VFTF1

I liked this episode for its' insane shenanigans Finally got around to watching it and it was adorable - really - I loved the cartoonishness I actually like the oscilation between "kids in high school" and a "serious war story" - and actually there's nothing wrong with it because in real life people are sometimes in serious situations and sometimes not. I mean - in SDF: Macross, towards the end, the entire thing became a Soap Opera with tension building over the love triangle and who Hikaru would finally pick - and then in the end, there was no real romantic resolution in the classic "love story" sense because the war came back to shatter any hopes of love being "the most important thing"... Macross Frontier is great insofar as it's not THAT serious - and I like it. I like the anime soap opera comic shenanigans I am also liking Sheryl more and more - now that we've seen her as a regular girl and not an uppity celebrity. Ironically, while Sheryl is getting more girlish - Ranka is maturing. She's no longer cute... And did she quit her job at the chinese restaurant for the carrot gig?? booo ...oh well... In any event - the whole episode was great fun! I personally don't think "Jap" is a racial slurr, although I don't use it either - generally though I doubt people who worship Japanse anime and Macross can be accused of racism Err...what else? ... Oh - now I have high hopes for the rebirth of Fire Bomber! Sheryl will be a pilot and follow in the footsteps of Nekki Bassara! Yippee! And the V-disease? Vajraitise? Wonder what that is? Anyways - not much to really analyze in this episode. Nanase is hot! Must admit that following the shower scene - and Sheryl is CRAAAAAAZZZZYYY and melts in Alto's arms The Queen and her Princess Lovely VFTF1

How can anyone NOT be a Macross 7 fan? By the by - I hope you all missed me. I took a time machine to the future and watched the last episode of Macross Frontier. It features an old man Nekki Bassara saving the Universe by singing songs to the Vajra Their shells crack open revealing their inner beauty-men, who then proceed to grill their former lobster bodies and have a feast with Bassara Oh - and there are STILL no flying cars in the future! bummer. VFTF1

The Side Covers will come with the GBP no doubt - sure it would be nifty for them to come with side covers, but that would kind of imply...imperfect transformation VFTF1

I want a theme park with a "Nekki Bassara Universal Sivil Tour" where you get to go into a bubble with Sivil and Bassara and fly through a 3-D rendition of the universe while listening to Yoshiki Fukayama blast his music at you. I like M7 and I love the fact that it's sooooo looooong I like it when things I love don't end quickly. For instance, I get really sad watching SDF M TV after about episode 27 because it just seems to be moving towards the conclusion so quickly. M7 seems to go on...and on...and on...and on ... and that's great. If anything - I would prefer them to stop making Macross Frontier right now and pick up with Macross 7 and just go from the last episode ! VFTF1

Nah I'd still vote for Ranka. I like her song VFTF1

YF-21 IS RELEASED. Be joyful. VFTF1

Well - ok - I've had a change of heart. I suppose that since so many wonderful people made it possible for the "Bassara rules" option to win out in the Bassara thread, then I should reciprocate the love. Nanase is a lovely girl. She would be a wonderful addition to fire bomber. Plus, she works in a chinese restaurant and I love chinese food. So I guess I too will worship Nanase VFTF1