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Power of the Lens -by Nick Liang A minor note for anyone who reads this review/summation of Lensman - Power of the Lens, I writing this from the perspective of somebody who's first introduction to "Lensman" was through the 30's & 40's Sci Fi Novels written by the now sadly deceased Edward E. "Doc" Smith, who is commonly recognized as the "father" of "space opera", which essentially means that the concepts and ideologies of almost any successful sci fi movie or Tv show stem in someway from his creations. One need not look any further than star wars to find an example of this. His Lensman novels, alla "The history of civilization" still remain in many readers opinions to be the definitive science fiction ever to have been written, despite their increasing age. Chronicling the war between two diametrically opposed super races (essentially almost godlike in intellect) and the influence they exhort apon the development of life throughout the galaxies. Thus it is from this perspective that I will disseminate Harmony Gold adaptation of the Lensman TV serries into the first movie of a 2 movie production. Apon viewing the opening credits, anyone familiar with 80's translated anime would recognize this one name that springs into view, Carl Macek. Hero or devil, who's to say what this man is, after Robotek many have felt divided over this. To myself though it's definitely the former, I will remain forever grateful for many of the translations he has furnish the western world with. In Power of the lens he has compressed elements of eps 1,2,3,7 to formulate an entire movie. In doing so Power of the lens has actually become within the constraints of the existing animation and character design more faithful to the original novelization than the TV series in it's unedited form was, due to the quality of the novels this can only be a good thing. Please note I'm not passing judgement on the tv series in it's existing format, it's just that it is a very "liberal" translation of the concepts and idea's portrayed with the original novels. Power of the lens begins with a full fledged space battle between "The Galactic Patrol" (representing law and order) and the "Boskone", otherwise known as pirates. Onboard one of the galactic patrol craft we first encounter a large 3 members off the main cast throughout the movie. Kim Kinnason a patrol pilot and operative at the present, later to become a lensman. Buskirk a dutch valerian space axe wielding warrior of elephantine proportions. Finally we have Sol, a talking almost stereotypical robot/droid based around the design of R2D2, except he has actually has extendable/retractable appendages (arms). I feel a little bit of background knowledge from the novels would help a potential viewer here enjoy this move much more. Kim and Buskirk are characters taken from the novels, while Sol is a new creation of the Tv designers imagination. The reason for Buskirk's penchant for the Space axe, is that defensive amour screens have developed to such an extent that they can easily resist the output of offensive ray/laser based hand weapons, thus an archaic weapon such as an axe has been resurrected as a viable to overcome this hurdle. Buskirk is perfectly suited to this weapon because his human ancestors migrated to a planet having 3 time the gravity of earth and thus it accounts for his massive strength and physical structure. Anyway back to the story in hand, apon the failure of many of the patrols automotive defensive manoeuvres Kim disengages Sol from combat control of the ships, to the initial objections of his captain, but he is eventual persuaded. Kim immediately begins to have a measure of some success, thus demonstrating his superiority and add plausibility in the viewers eyes for what happens slightly later on. The captain disagreeing with one of Kim's flight plan's orders him to use an alternative manoeuvre, causing the ship to be critically damaged. Moments before the inevitable explosion Kim, Sol and Buskirk jettison themselves into space in Life pods. |
Drifting is space it is here Kim has an encounter that defines the
series, believing he is hallucinating as first sol goes dead (He shares
his life pod with Sol), followed
by his life pod beginning to disappear around him, he encounters the
super mentality the is "Mentor of Arisia" (My online handle on ebay,
so
watch out bidding
against me ^_~). Bequeathing Kim with the instrumentality and
responsibility that is the Lens of Arisia, Mentor demonstrates it's
power by showing kim a vision
of Buskirk existing his life pod and attempting to break into a boskone
battle cruiser, with his space axe no less ;) Fearing for the life of
his friend Kim desperately
ask mentor how to aid buskirk, only to be told trust in the power of
the lens and that he must find the answer for himself. Kim then
materializes back within the
life pod, glancing at Sol and believing him to still be inactive he
wishes he could talk to sol about it only to find sol answers, thus
the
fact that the lens posses
telepathic powers is revealed to kim. *Note how telepathy can interface
between an organic and a non organic being is beyond my comprehension*
Within the Boskone Battle cruiser Buskirk is engaged in heavy combat with the boskonian pirates. Heavily pinned down eventually, he crouches behind a defensive structure awaiting a chance to attack, Kim then blasts in with him life pod laying down a covering fire enabling Buskirk to advance and the boskone to withdraw for the moment. The two friends are joyfully reunited, Buskirk immediately noticing the bejewelled ornament clasped to Kim's hand. Kim briefly describes the lens to Buskirk before the Boskone mount a counter attacking pinning them and Sol down. Looking deep within the lens, Kim utilizes it's untapped power to disable the Boskonian ship and disorientate the pirates, quickly enabling him and Buskirk to take-over the vessel. During the inevitable celebration off their success a dying boskonian, staring in abject horror at the lens attached to Kim's arm, gasps that a human lensman lensman is not accounted for in the great plan and that the Eddorains (The galactic race that opposes the Arisian's) must be notified. Again this emphasizes Kim's uniqueness to the viewer. Piloting the Vessel back towards Primebase, our hero's elicit a hostile response from Haynes with the entire patrol fleet scrambling to attack them, believing an incursion had finally been mounted against prime base. Transmitting to Haynes about the lens his experience, while ordering Sol to transmit an identity code so they don't get wiped out by their own fleet ;) Kim happily lands the Boskonian behemoth at prime base. With the final lines part 1 of the tv series combined into the movie ends. Buskirk : Your only so happy because your going to see that pretty nurse of yours. Kim : Buz, Buzz off. |
Meanwhile back at Primebase the headquarters of the Galactic patrol,
Admiral Haynes, chief of the Galactic Patrol is giving a press
conference on the state of the
war to awaiting, harshly critical reporters. Mid conference a vision
suddenly appears to all present detailing Mentor bestowing the Lens of
Arisia apon Kim.
Startlement and scepticism abounds within the conference, reporters
demand to know the meaning behind it. Wondering himself if the vision
was reality or a
delusional mass hypnosis, though believing within his heart it to be
the
truth Haynes decree's to all present that they had all been witness to
the birth of a new stage
of development within the war. It is here that the viewer also has
their first encounter with Doc Lacy and Clarrisa Mcdougel, both
essential characters later on in
the movie (though the Doc's is to a much lesser extent).
Haynes,Clarrisa and Doc are also characters taken from the novel.
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