I find it very, very hard to morally purchase these sets from Wasim on a number of levels.

First, the fact that what he sells is *his own edit*, and not 100% the shows promised;

Second, $100 for 26 episodes on a DVD-R is incredibly out of whack, no matter how much time he's put into it;

Third, Grendizer.net seems to have a giant ego problem, constantly complaining that others are stealing his work, and claiming that any version of Force Five sold on the internet is his (not true) - however, he doesn't own these shows in the least, and his claims of theft by others is the sour grapes of bootlegging.

First, Wasim edits the shows to suit his religious beliefs, however, he markets the series as a "remastered" version of the original show, and leaves this important detail to his "FAQ" section. This in my mind is unacceptable. If there is something disagreeable to your own personal beliefs in these cartoons, then maybe you should not be a bootleg video editor of this material... however he sees a serious profit ($$$) from re-editing a middle east friendly Grendizer (the series was huge there, meaning a proper Conservative Muslim version, 100% safe for the kids, can be and IS a huge money maker), while not owning the rights to the show, preventing a profitable legitimate Toei release of these shows in the US and Middle East. To his credit, these edits are mentioned at the top of his FAQ page, but he does not offer a list of what was taken out, and will not- Anyone in my opinion can worship whatever they want, but I feel anyone who is working on a advertised-as-re-release of a TV show or film should just re-release it as is, and not edit it to suit their own opinions, and use ambiguity and sneakyness to make it seem like it is something it is truely not (it's not *really* force five, it's Wasim's Five, and it's taken 9+ years for him to finally admit this.) Most people in the video editing world accept the fact that their work may compromise their personal beliefs at some point, and *just do it* and move on. Thus, unless they're working on religious-faith-based productions (no matter how much you may love Grendizer, the show is not Muslim or Christian, or any faith- it just *is*) it's not a great idea for folks with such feelings to be involved in non-religious productions, just as it is probably not a good idea for a Conservative Muslim to work at a pit pork BBQ restaurant- you wouldn't think that was a good idea. And I also think many fans don't realize these are even edited in the first place.

Secondly, it's time to change those prices. $99 for 6 DVD-Rs in cases is pretty ridiculous. Maybe that price was acceptable in 2000 or 2001, when DVD recorders were expensive. But now both recorders and media are very cheap and $99 is about $60 out of whack for this set. I know that he's done a lot of work and it looks nice, nice cases, but really... there are others who offer the straight show in the NYC area for $30 a series, original, unedited, from TV broadcast source tapes, with a nice cover. A trip to a certain large comic shop in Manhattan will net you a choice between Wasim's set and the cheaper, original show set. $30 is a fair price for this set, with $100 being in line for the complete series at this quality.

Don't forget, he's been selling the same set for years at $100, watermarks and all. What he's doing is a slightly more sophisticated version of what fan-sub folks are currently offering fans for free with other shows.

Wasim does not have a single piece of legitimate professional video editing equipment. The equipment listed can not possibly make it as good as his claims. Just because it's clear without artifacts does not make it high quality. The "milestones of quality" he speaks of in this new 2009 release are the bare bones rookie basics of video production - matching frame rate. It's like the difference between a cassette recording, and a high-def recording: you can't do HD with a cassette recorder, and with this equipment, I just don't see how the quality would be THAT much better than what was offered by him before. The software he uses alone is killing the picture (compression) - not his method of importing video/audio.

The best way to explain the quality issues without going all a/v club is: Let's say you have an amazing sandwich, it's big, full of great stuff, it looks and tastes great. You need to put it in a brown paper bag to take it with you. Instead of finding the right size paper bag, to keep the sandwich in its proper shape, you grab a tiny, teeny Ziploc bag, and cram it all in there, bursting at the seams. Then, you slam the plastic baggie into a tiny paper bag. Then you sit on that bag. THAT is the quality difference between what this guy's offering, and what the actual DVD is. So he could be using an old VHS for the source, and bit by bit, it only makes the most minor of difference.

Third, and most important, Wasim is very quick to take action and speak bad of others who offer the show for sale. His ridiculous claims - that all Force Five on the internet comes from him - is 100% not true. His work is the one most commonly found, and it is copied on YouTube and eBay, this is true - but I know of at least three others who have offered completely different source versions of this show. There is a version currently available in NYC at a few shops from a Long Island group, which originates from original broadcast tapes from a local TV station. There is also a version which originates from an excellent VHS copy of the series. Wasim's version looks great, there is no doubt, but this is not because he has access to original source to the English versions of the shows- he's just copied Japanese DVDs, a trick fan-subbers have been using for 10 years now. The audio comes from VHS.

Wasim has been trying to claim ownership of Force Five since the late 1990's, when he decided that he was a legal copyright holder, and that others offering the public-domain shows were violating the law. Not only is this not true in the slightest, but it's prevented others through intimidation.

For some time, there was also a nice big arrogant page about how he "100% owed the Jim Terry copyrights to Force Five" which when examined turns out to be complete lies. Glad to see it's been removed now. This claim and page was used when in 2006, Wasim or others from Grendizer.net decided to "enforce" the copyright against others selling Force Five DVDs. These actions have prevented another bootlegger group from Long Island who have actual well-kept TV broadcast tapes from releasing a set of their own, fearing legal action or reprisals from grendizer.net, as well as a small independent DVD company from doing a professionally released, remastered, internationally distributed F5 set in 2005.

I think that it is important for fans to know the *reality* of who they spend their money with, and what they're getting for their money. In Super Robot fandom, we tend to take what is given to us, and shut our mouths for fear of the item or product not being available again. You need to know the full story behind these sets, and that many of the claims are false. You need to know you're not buying Force Five, or a dubbed Grendizer; you're buying a fan edit with VHS sound which is edited for content. You have options with this show. There is at least three other versions of the show, one of which has amazing picture quality, the others VHS level. I'm sure these new sets are great, but I feel, personally, that it is wrong to support this person, as he not only edits the show for religious content (no matter what the religion, this should be listed clearly, and not hidden on a FAQ page), but charges high professional prices for a production made on sub-par equipment.

You may not care, or disagree, but now at least you know "both sides" of the story.

I am glad to see that FINALLY the watermarks are removed, but that in no way justifies a $99 price. While I am glad to see these shows available, it'd be great for a legitimate company to put these out, even in dollar-store format, instead of getting a personal fan edit with an agenda.

Interesting write up Big R... I've been trying to find some classic English Super-Robot stuff to watch for a while now, but the prices alone on these seemed pretty outrageous for something he is still at the end of the day bootlegging... adding in questionable editing, quality, and personal character, and I'll gladly wait for someone else to bring us a superior product in a more reasonable matter.

To be honest I was shocked when CDX wrote a review about this. I am sure that guys like Wasim put a lot of effort in doing these DVDs but they are still not his work. He definitely doesn't have the rights over these Japanese TV series and TOEI have every right to seize these DVDs and destroy them because it is outright copyright infringement. Some months ago Wasim contacted me to help him with regards to these DVDs. I simply refused out of the immense respect I have for Nagai Go-kami-sama. Looking back, I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever that I took that decision. For Super Robot fans like me who were brought up watching anime on Italian TV, in Italian we have a very interesting option and namely:

1. To download the torrents of the whole TV series for free - either Tvrip, or Satrip or even DVDrip (from the original Japanese version)+ perfectly synchronized audio track in Italian - for FREE
2. To download same but from anime fora - for FREE or via Megaupload - $9.99 for a whole month.
3. To buy the original and official Italian version (if and when available).

I simply boycott all those who make money illegally!

Fascinating discussion, gentlemen. It's good to hear both sides of the coin.

The way I look at it, though, is pretty simple. Let's be honest here, guys: we're talking about 30-year-old cartoons about giant robots fending off alien invasions. These shows are pretty unwatchable! Yes, I grew up watching Force Five, and there'll always be a warm spot in my heart for these shows, but to sit down and attempt to take these shows seriously is an exercise in futility. Half the time, I watch these alone and promptly fall asleep...the other half, I'm watching with friends and we're laughing our asses clean off (and that's without the mind-altering drugs!).

Honestly, I just find it hard to take the "editing" argument very seriously. Whether or not these shows feature a cartoon boobie or a closeup of a crucifix doesn't make them any more or less watchable! I'm not an otaku. I'm just a dude who likes 60's kaiju, 70's Kung Fu, and 80's ephemera.

Now, I've been a customer of Wasim's from back in the VHS days. That's how much I love these shows (unwatchable or not!). When he started putting them out on DVD, I was sold. Why? Because you CAN e-mail him. You CAN ask him stuff. He WILL get back to you. He treated me right, so I'm gonna return the favor with my business. I doubt you get that sort of service from a comic book store on Long Island.

But, hey, at the same time, if this comic store in NY is my only shot at a good (i.e., better-than-VHS quality) set of Spaceketeers, then I might just hit 'em up for one. [Just be warned, CDX readers: Spaceketeers was horrendous! All religious predilections aside, this show will cause more damage to your brain than methamphetamines. Seriously, the show made the other Force Five entries look like high Shakespearean art!]

The ego arguments are irrelevant to me, too. Again, Wasim has treated me fairly, so why should I care about what he's saying about others or others are saying about him? I most definitely saw plenty of eBayers and other folks selling copies of his DVDs. But these are bootlegs of obscure cartoons from the 80's. So some people are bootlegging the bootlegs? Well, what can ya do? Folks need to lighten up.

Now, regarding the issue of price, okay, yeah: it's a tough economy and if you feel inclined to pay 1/3 of what Wasim's charging at a comic book store, then I'm not gonna blame you. But to complain that Wasim's prices are unfair or not for "true" fans is a bit hollow--I mean, it's pretty clear to me that Wasim isn't making a living off of selling these discs! If he really were a cold-hearted dude, I think he could come up with a better hustle than selling obscure cartoon bootlegs to a handful of nerds! ;)

All I know is this: I picked up Wasim's original Gaiking DVD set when it came out a few years back. I didn't get around to watching them until a year or two later...and I eventually discovered a bum disc. I e-mailed Wasim about it and he *immediately* send me a replacement--no questions asked. Again, am I gonna get that service from a comic book store...a year after the fact??

Sure, you pay a premium with Wasim, and that's not trivial in this economy, but at the end of the day, I want two things and I'm willing to pay a reasonable amount for them. I've had VHS copies of Force Five since I was in high school (before Wasim's) and I gotta tell ya, I've had it with umpteenth-generation bootleg vhs quality! My eyes can't take the flipping screens or the static-y, watery, or grainy pictures! So the first thing I want is a set of Force Five cartoons with "perfect" picture quality. Second, I want solid support from someone who'll stand behind his product. I HATE that feeling like I may be getting ripped off if there's a bum disc and I have to travel to some obscure shop to fight for a replacement or my money back.

This is a damn expensive hobby, fellas, and all I know is that Wasim provides both of these requirements for a price I'm willing to pay. If the video quality in his discs aren't equal to what was aired originally in Japan I'll be damned! Trust me, folks, you WON'T be able to tell...and I have 20/10 vision! :P Oh, and I sure like not having to worry about scrutinizing every disc for flaws as soon as I get them. If I run into one, I know Wasim will hook me up. Last thing I need in my life is something else to worry about...

Now, pass me a Golion DVD... ;)

--
Sanjeev

Regardless of the quality level, I'm just not interested in a DVD that has been censored by a fan.

-Jeremy

I'll simply stick to my double harkens.

Sanjeev, with all due respect Nagai Go-sensei is NOT just a comic book writer!

Here in Europe he is considered a God among men as are Matsumoto Leiji-sensei and Tomino Yoshiyuki-sensei.

Unfortunately, one who was brought up watching bastardized Force Five, bastardized Star Blazers, bastardized Robotech, bastardized Voltron, bastardized Battle of the Planets and brainwashed to believe they were American cartoons can NEVER understand the greatness of anime and their creators!!

*Whew*

Okay, I've missed a lot over the weekend! Well, I think that this thread has run its course. We've heard a metric ton on both sides of the bootleg industry (as well as some interesting views on the divinity of comic book writers!), and I think it's time to wrap this up. I'm locking this thread because I think more than enough pertinent information is here for folks to make an informed decision about how they'd like to spend their money if they're looking for Force Five boots.

It's already gotten a little personal here and there and any more discussion is bound to get into more outright flaming...and that's no fun for any of us.

For the record, I did post this News item without Wasim's knowledge. I still stand by his work because 1) I honestly don't care about the politics of bootlegging, 2) the micro-edits in an already heavily-edited (and nigh-unwatchable cartoon) don't bother me in the slightest, 3) Wasim's service and support is outstanding, and ultimately, 4) because I can afford it.

Keep in mind that this is NOT to offend those who refuse to buy from Wasim because they're taking a principled stand against his supposedly unfair practices as a bootlegger or as someone who edits the shows. And I'd be the *last* person to knock someone for being driven away by the price.

At the end of the day, these are cartoons from our childhood. That's it.

As for grendizer1975's comments...eh...well, I'm not going to lose much sleep over them. I'm totally cool with disagreeing over the alleged godhood of these comic writers. I'm sure there are some folks out there who consider Shakespear divine. I'm sure there are some folks out there who consider Britney Spears divine. What do I really care?

And regarding Americans being unable to comprehend the celestial nature of Nagai and the others, c'mon dude. That's just stoopid, with two o's. I'll be the first to raise dialog about how oppressive US foreign policy and American culture is, but to say that we're all brainwashed and are unable to understand how great these shows are is ludicrous. I shouldn't even have to go into why...but I think the number of comments in this thread, alone, should be proof enough that there are plenty of us who do care about these shows. Offer me a complete DVD set of UFO Robo Grendizer with good English subs, and I'll buy it in a heartbeat.

And lastly, it was my understanding that the weapon's name was just an Engrishization/onomatopoeia for "Double Hurricane". :)

--
Sanjeev