Ultraman: The Complete Series

It's Like Being 8-Years-Old All Over Again
First things first...I've seen some of the audio comments (English dubbing intercut with Japanese subtitles) made for this release and the one back in 2006. Think of your favorite syndicated show. You know having watched the original that some scenes get cut in syndication. Now, think of Ultraman in that same vein, only it was already in "syndication" when it reached our shores way back. So, when the complete, original episodes are released on DVD, they include original, Japanese-only scenes which WERE NEVER DUBBED IN ENGLISH. However, to be a complete episode, they are still inlcuded.

Now, on with the review. After occasionally catching a Power Ranger show a few years back, I knew that I would need to steer my young son clear of this influence (the kids are always fighting and sarcastic with each other.) Anyway, my comment in seeing the "power" rangers would be, "Ultraman could defeat these guys." My boy became curious as to who I was talking about, and when the...

Worthwhile Buy for Any Ultraman Fan, Whether This Full Set, or the Older Two-Part Set
It is true that if you already have the previous, two box sets, (Volumes 1 and 2), then this full collection is not needed, BUT, if you are an Ultraman fan from way back, then this new collection is well worth having if you don't already own the previous, two volume collections.

I think it is amazing that this set is even available. This is quite enjoyable for me, having seen these episodes on broadcast TV, way back in the 1970s.

This collection is a bit of a labor of love, perhaps more so than it being a major commercial studio release. So, at times it may seem rough around some edges, yet, I say again, it is a wonder that these episodes are even available, and even more complete than they appeared on 1970s TV in the USA, nearly four decades ago.

A lot of creative talent overlaps the Godzilla films of the 1960s and 1970s, so if you like those Godzilla films, then this TV series is pretty similar. It leans to the more kid-friendly aspects of the...

Great price but the sacrifice is the DVD packaging.
This review is for the Complete Series 4 DVD set released in 2009, not the 6 DVD set released in 2008. Since this is my first Ultraman DVD set, I am not sure if the quality suffers be squeezing all episodes from 6 DVDs to 4 DVDs.

The DVD case is a double-wide DVD case, but there are no spindles/holders. The 4 DVDs are each put in a black paper sleeve and are stacked on top of each other. The sleeves don't move around because they are "held" in place by a square shaped molding on the inside of the DVD case.

I was very surprised by this packaging because I have dozens of DVD television sets and have never seen a set packaged like this. For the price (I paid $10.99 free shipping), I am okay with it, but just be prepared that is a bare-bones budget set.

5 stars for the show, 3 stars for the packaging.

Click to Editorial Reviews