10 Disk set is DEFECTIVE!
Thomas Bauer | Canada | 01/05/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Twice I've received this, ordered as a gift for my son. In both cases the set was defective. Disk one had the identical problem. Episode 3 appeared to be mis-recorded and repeated segments, and episodes 4 & 5 were unwatchable. This 10 disk set is definitely defective! The identical defects appeared in both sets. Thanks, I hope someone takes care of this."
What a bummer!
Loren M. Riccitelli | Phoenix, AZ | 04/04/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"The package it came in was in good condition. When dealing with dvd items it's the disc itself that counts most. I previewed the dvds as soon as possible so I knew every disc worked properly. I discover that several of the dvd's inside were not able to show all the episodes."
"It's a Gundam!!!"
Laszlo Matyas | 01/27/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Gundam Wing is an intricately conceived, beautifully scripted, and deftly executed tale of war, peace, fate, and self realization. It's a masterpiece of plot and characterization, a complex morality play with an epic scope and a taut story line. It's a dense narrative told from multiple viewpoints, as a rich array of stories intertwine and coalesce in an ever-shifting pattern, creating a veritable labyrinth of events and ideas, philosophies and emotions, hopes and fears. All that, and there's fighting robots!
The premise behind the show- five young soldiers are sent to Earth from various space colonies in an attempt do away with the tyrannical Earth Sphere Alliance- is a deceptively simple one. Within the first first five episodes, we are shown that this is not a simple black-and-white struggle. By episode ten, the very nature of the game has changed. As the plot unfolds, the series' ever-expanding cast finds itself questioning its own ideals. Notions of good and evil are put to every test imaginable, while the very meanings of war and peace become both enigmatic and all-consuming.
The characters themselves are almost all brilliantly conceived. Since Gundam Wing is very short on traditional "heroes" and "villains," it's easy (and pretty much impossible not to) respect, admire, and sympathize with people on every side of the show's central conflicts. It is to the show's immense credit that Treize Khushrenada, the seemingly megalomaniacal mastermind behind much of the conflict in the story, is also one of the most complex and sympathetic members of the cast. His cool charisma and ruthless cunning are matched by his philosophical depth and commitment to honor. The same is true of Zechs Merquise, whose abilities as a soldier belie a deeply conflicted personality. His consistent introspection reveals a man searching for a reason to exist. The show's five young protagonists are actually among the most static characters, and are often the least compelling. (I don't even like Chang Wufei. Of course, nobody else likes him, either. Just kidding.) Still, they're fantastic characters, each one driven by his own complex set of values and ideals.
And let's not forget that this show is simply fun to watch. I mean ,even when the plot threatens to become a bit to convoluted for its own good (wait, I thought they were the bad guys!), the whole story is engrossing and addictive- the show builds tension and atmosphere, with a relentless sense of flow and immediacy, hitting several miniature climaxes in the process before ultimately building to a breathtaking finale. Plus, there are some comically bad translations here and there."