MovieChat Forums > Space Battleship Yamato (1979) Discussion > just finished watching the Comet Empire ...

just finished watching the Comet Empire saga

posted 16 years ago by adamwarlock
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Hadn't seen it since I was a kid. 2 observations:

1. continuing the whole "this is Japan refighting WW2 in space" theme, I noticed that the Comet Empire asks for "unconditional surrender" same way the US did to Japan. The Comet Empire lands in the water & awaits the ship carrying the Earth representatives to sign the surrender papers just like the USS Missouri pulling into Tokyo Bay in 45. Only the Japanese didn't have a surprise attack waiting then.

2. Knox obviously dies blowing up the Comet Empire's energy source. The dialogue claims that he gets away but from the facial expressions of Wildstar & seeing Knox hit the detonator after placing the last bomb makes you realize he sacrificed himself. Also, one can almost see that Conway dies getting Wildstar & Sandor back to the Argo. He is grimacing in pain as he takes off & after they land, Wildstar slaps him on the back & the scene cuts. Like in the film version, Conway slumps forward having lived just long enough to land back on the Argo.

[–] Dark_Sithlord 16 years ago

I watch the Comet Empire series every now and again, and I always roll my eyes whenever they downplay someone's death. Knox's sacrifice was very noble. He asked Wildstar for that honour. When Dash says Knox got out, I think that diminishes Knox's character to a large degree. You spend the whole series sort of hating the guy because he's so obnoxious (hence, the name?). When he pays the ultimate price to help save the Earth, a glorious sacrificial death was his redemption. Too bad it was sugarcoated.