Five Star Stories (DVD) - Anime Reviews


	Running Time Approximately 70 Minutes Language Options Japanese with English Subtitles Released by ADV Films Extras - Special Digi-pack Packaging - Insert Booklet with Character Profiles, FSS Timeline, FSS Terminology, and Producer’s Notes - Original Japanese Promo Video - Japanese Staff Profiles
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Five Star Stories (DVD)

Across the galaxy’s four solar systems, countless kingdoms vie for ascendancy with Mortar Headds, war machines with godlike capacities. Only select pilots known as headdliners can exercise control over these titans and then only with the aid of a Fatima, beautiful female androids created to serve.

But in the secretive confines of his lab, the crafty Duke Ballanche works to subvert the oppressive system under which Fatimas are pressed into service. His latest creations possess two volatile new features: emotion and free will. And a powerful memory will draw his latest Fatima to a union with a man which will alter the course of history forever – which power-hungry lords will move heaven and Earth to stop.

Dive into a turbulent sea of intricate intrigue and treacherous twists at every turn! Don’t miss a mesmerizing minute in the epic saga of The Five Star Stories!

Science Fiction is a medium that can develop stories and emotions without being restrained by the physics and existence of the modern world. With such freedom, good story tellers can weave a thoughtful tale that excites and entertains, and bad ones can be draining at worst or just lose their audience. For Five Star Stories, the amount of back information that is required to understand is a weight on the movie watcher before play is even pressed. The most powerful objects in this universe are Mortar Headds, which are giant robots capable of… breaking stuff spectacularly. But they can’t be piloted without the aid of a Fatima (a female android that handles most of the controls while someone else pilots) and they themselves are rare commodities.

Effeminate Ladios Sopp has crash-landed on planet Addler and is on his way to a Fatima debut (an event where a Fatima chooses her master – thus granting that person the chance to become a headdliner), making friends with Voards Viewlard he catches a ride to the event. The Fatima in question is one of the last creations by Chrome Ballanche and unlike other Fatimas, she has not been mentally restrained and is able to think for herself. The debut is being hosted by Grand Duke Juba, who wants one of these last Fatimas to increase his powers, but he must obey procedures regarding the Fatimas. This debut is of extreme importance, because the Emperor and a series of political and financial leaders are in attendance. Now consider that every character has their own agenda and mix or may not even be who they claim to be… - this is one convoluted movie. At about 70 minutes in length, it tells a complete story arc but does so without any lead-in and sort of just dives

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into the world – it’s a lot like reading one of the Dune books in the middle, a lot of impressive things maneuvering is going on but you and have no idea why and who these people are (or what their importance is).

The art style is going for opulence – all the buildings are impressive, with wealth never being hidden or forgotten. All characters that have admirable traits (or are supposed to be liked) all have physiques and beauty that Greek Gods

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would be envious of and all villainous characters are outwardly ugly to smatch their motives. Originally coming out in 1989, the animation remains beautiful and hasn’t suffered the ageing that most anime from that time period has. Even the movie core is over the top; all of the songs remind me of 60’s Disney movies where the songs are a production in themselves.

All in all, Five Star Stories is an impressive looking movie that will appeal to those familiar with the manga that it is based on, otherwise, non-fans and those unfamiliar with the story will be best to overlook this movie.

- Tazman

(April 28, 2005)

"It's just like it's said in the bible, "Screw That!""

- Homer (Simpsons)


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