Voltron: Green Lion Box Set

[B E C K]

Merla got this in yesterday.  The art for the box has Princess Romelle and her annoying kid brother in the skirt-- Bandor or somethin'.  I really haven't seen most of the episodes yet.  There is no alternate language nor is there closed captioning or subtitles so the deaf and hearing-impaired are boned once again.

The extras, as expected, are more or less sucktacular.  There's an "interview" with Murphy Lee as if I should know who da fuks that is.  It's not even an interview, it looks more like some fanboy's YouTube rant as the dude rattles on in language that would make any English teacher weep.  I don't see what the fricken point was.  There were also some "fan videos" that really sucked crusty balls.  We also saw some television spots with a live-action Allura (who looked kinda old), a Keith, and what appeared to be a girl-Pidge (as if that dude didn't have enough problems).  There's some extras about the music, but we didn't watch those yet.

These later eps mark the return of Sven (in actuality the dead guy's brother) and his accent appears to have gotten even worse from his stay at the hospital planet.  At one point he even says "Fish me luck."

[Rama]

Oh it's out. I've been waiting for this ever since I picked up the Blue and Yellow lion sets.

I hear they are suppose to release a subbed version of Go Lion later this year after they wrap up the Voltron release.  

[B E C K]

I heard about the Go Lion, but there's no way they're wrapping up the series this year.  Red Lion won't be out until October and that's if they don't push it back, which is what happened with Green Lion's original March release.

[Rama]

Must have been the orginal plan then. I could see them putting out Black  Lion at Christmas and then pushing GoLion in the first quater of 08.  

[B E C K]

I think Red was always meant for the Fall with Black Lion in the Spring.  I have a feeling Red will also be pushed back, as much as Merla hates me saying that.  All of the others have been.

[Merla]

The Sven accent is horrible and just when I thought it couldn't get any worse.  They must have had a crappy budget, using Micheal Bell to do bad voice work of extras and various women.

It pisses me off that there are no captions or subs on this DVD in this day and age.  That has to be against some sort of ADA compliance or something.  

[Rodent of Unusual Size]

I typically watch television with captions or subs running.  I have some weird thing where occasionally I'll hear a word or two wrong and have trouble understanding what is being talked about later because I'm trying to figure out what the hell they're talking about.  So skimming the words as I hear them prevents an inordinate amount of backing up and rewatching.

That said, I simply can't watch Voltron anymore, for the same reason that I can't watch most eighties anime dubs these days.  If I ever found some old Tranzor-Z (dubbed Mazinger) stuff again (haven't seen it since...1984 or '85), one of my favorites back in the day, I'd probably shove wax in my ears and squeal for a day or two.

[IDE]

what the poop?!

You're young damn it!

your hearing is fine!

If I'm 23 that makes you 20 or something!

[Rodent of Unusual Size]

22.

And I can hear just fine...in fact, I have exceptional hearing.  But for whatever reason, I'll occasionally get crossed up on a word, either hearing or reading it.  

Here's an example from the movie PCU.  You might tell me something like, "can you show me where the campus is?", and I might hear it as, "can you blow me where the Pampers is?"  I know that's not what you meant, but I have to either say what or try to figure it out based on what you say next.  So assuming you don't pull your pants down and stick your dick in my face but point towards a school....

[B E C K]

The audio on certain DVDs just sounds inferior.  I don't know if it's because it was made for a better audio system for if they just didn't do a good job with the audio mix or what.  There are some where I'll have the TV past 50% volume and I can still barely hear it.  And then there are those where the voices are just so meek and soft or mumbly that I can't hear particular people/characters speak or they just can't enuciate.  Sometimes I think my hearing is getting bad but then I'm able to watch some shows and movies on the lowest audio setting and I hear it all fine.  But should I go deaf, I should still be able to enjoy my DVDs.  Not having captions or subtitles in this day and age is bullshit.  Merla and I watch almost everything with some kind of lettering on the bottom.  Not all the time, but usually the first time around we will.

[Rodent of Unusual Size]

Check to make sure the audio's set for stereo and not 5.1 Dolby or DTS.  There's a difference, thought it's not always noticeable.

[B E C K]

Yeah, I don't really know which is which or anything.  When there's multiple audio streams, I just play with it until I find something I like.  I don't get many DVDs that have multiple English streams though.  Rock & Rule's the last one I remember where the changing the audio setting sounded better than the default setting.  Again, another disc with no captions or subs of any kind.

[B E C K]

I don't get what this is exactly:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QBYD5Q

...but I get a kick out of the listed actors being "Voltron".

[B E C K]

Red Lion info.  Voice actor interviews?  Could there possibly be an interesting extra on this next release, or will it be the message from BJ Ward's answering machine?