Lots of questions.... Let's start with the characters: Kenjiro Ota (aka Christopher Eager in STAR BLAZERS) has been changed into a female character (played by singer/actress Maiko). But, he's not the only one. In the original series, there were more female crew members, but they suddenly disappeared after about the 10th episode, because they wanted to focus on the love triangle between Yuki Mori (Nova Forrester), Susumu Kodai (Derek Wildstar), and Daisuke Shima (Mark Venture). Of course, when the producers got the word that the series was being cut from 39 to 26 episodes that subplot was dropped, and the other female crewmembers never returned. So, it makes sense not only to put more women on the Yamato, but also to put them on the bridge and in important roles. Another male to female change was Dr. Sakezo Sado (aka Dr. Sane), the ship's doctor, sake drinker and cat lover. They also changed Yuki from a damsel-in-distress type to a hardened, ace Black Tiger pilot. Good moves, I thought. All of the actors in the new film are veteran's and many of them are multi-award winners, including the actor who plays Shiro Sanada (aka Sandor), Toshiro Yanagiba. 

I agree about Hiroshi Abe being able to pull off a Dessler, but I can't say anything about Dessler (Desslok) or Stasha (Starsha) in the live-action film without spoilers — so, I won't. For now — I'm polishing a detailed review of the film that I hope to have up soon. 

The film is currently in sales mode; and since it's is a big picture, American distributors are aware of it, and the Japanese distributors, TBS Films & Sedic International, know this, and are not going to let this go on the cheap. It's also a good film, which needs to be treated right. When I saw the film at the American Film Market screening last month, I did hear that Takuya Kimura's agency, Johnny's, will probably be reluctant to let YAMATO be released direct-to-video in the US, as it will denigrate his star. They want a theatrical release of some kind. So, if the majors pass on it (Universal or Sony, who have given some Japanese films limited theatrical runs and DVD releases), it could be picked up by VIZ Pictures/VIZ Media. VIZ would give the film theatrical distribution, and follow the screenings with a DVD release (through 20th Century Fox Home Video) as with all of their US releases so far — KAMIKAZE GIRLS, DEATH NOTE, TRAIN MAN, DETROIT METAL CITY, and many others (seven released to cinemas in 2007, alone). So, my choice would be VIZ Pictures/VIZ Media. As for a Japanese DVD/BD release, ike many of Yamazaki's movies, including ALWAYS: SUNSET ON THIRD STREET, YAMATO will be issued by TBS Video — not Toho Video — and with English subtitles. 

(BTW, Wildstar/Kodai never had a mullet — long hair isn't a "mullet" (he had a "Leif Garrett") — you want mullet? Look no further than Kenny Powers in EASTBOUND AND DOWN on HBO.)

Last Edited By: Hachigatsu Dec 2 10 7:29 AM. Edited 1 times.