For geeks of a certain age, the animated series Star Blazers is a powerful touchstone. Adapted from the Japanese series Space Cruiser Yamato, Star Blazers was marketed to kids but always felt a bit out of step with other kids fare, even fellow Japanese import/adaptation Battle of the Planets.
Doubtless, some of this stems from a premise (Earth is dying as a result of radioactive bombing and can only be saved through great risk and sacrifice) that reflects the history and tradition of its home country. Of course, as the original incarnation of Battlestar Galactica showed, a heavy duty premise is no guarantee of substantive programming. What made Star Blazers stand out, even with numerous edits to pass muster with American censors, was a willingness to embrace the moral ambiguities of war, even a war waged in the name of survival.
Even the good guys were pushed to the ethical edge, and even the bad guys were capable of moving beyond their obsessions to realize that "war does not allow us to be our better selves." This, along with the cool ships of course, is why Star Blazers is a treasured memory three decades later while so many other programs are enjoyed ironically if at all.
Against this backdrop, the news of a live-action Star Blazers/Yamato movie opening today/tomorrow in Japan (depending on where you are relative the international dateline) was cause for genuine excitement. That's not to take anything away from the animated show, it's just that the emotional core of the story always felt like something you wanted to see portrayed by flesh and blood actors. The results could, of course, be disastrous, but the early indications such as the trailers on YouTube and some early screenings (http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/SearchAudience/News1/Space_Battleship_Yamato_Live_Action_Review_3908.aspx) suggest they got it right. Time and perhaps an imported DVD will tell.
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