MovieChat Forums > Gandahar (1989) Discussion > Don't watch Light Years - Watch Gandahar

Don't watch Light Years - Watch Gandahar

posted 17 years ago by Werewolfy
8 replies | jump to latest

Here is a movie I've loved since I was like... 2 years old or something when I first saw it. I had a VHS recording of the french version. A great, entertaining, touching and very imaginative movie. So I was just surfing about and searched for Gandahar on youtube and the english dubbed version came up, so I skipped through bits and pieces. The voices are weak, the soundtrack is changed here and there to some stupid synth music, the sound effects differ for the worse. For example in a scene where metal men are climbing out of the sea and start to walk you hear footsteps on rock and nothing else. In the french version you heard a buzzing robotic sound as well as their heavy breaths and their powerfull footsteps.
Also apparently Sylvain is the son of the winghead woman in the english version which he is not in the french version. The beginning titles looks like the intro to some old 80's amiga game.
Watch Gandahar, it is much more enjoyable. Even if you don't like subtitles, give it a chance.

[–] Blueghost 17 years ago

I really wish I could get a copy of the French DVD. I have my old VHS version, but I always figured I was missing out on something from the original film.

[–] Werewolfy 17 years ago

Yeah. You do miss some stuff if you watch the english version.
I remember I grew up watching the french version that we had recorded on a poor VHS tape, also there was some problem with it so about 3 minutes were missing from the tape. Now last week I got to watch those 3 minutes for the first time. :)

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] paultagonist 17 years ago

Thanks for the links - it's appreciated

The real trick to life is not to be in the know, but to be in the mystery. -Fred Alan Wolf

[–] Takeshi666 14 years ago

You can always snatch a copy of the UK DVD - French audio w/ English subtitles.

[–] theinfinity7s 15 years ago

I am very eager now to see the french version. Although, I do still like the "Lightyears" version just because Isaac Asimov did the script and english treatment, plus it's synth soundtrack isn't bad, I really like it as a kid. It's just a matter of preference. THough, I'm sure the french version is much more superior.

[–] mrpinbert 9 years ago

I haven't seen Gandahar/Light Years. I got both versions recently but I really wish the American version gets a DVD release since I watched a couple of minutes and both versions seem to have a good soundtrack of their own but the American version I have has TERRIBLE video quality.

If you save the world, We can do it in the *beep*

[–] ychild 9 years ago

Sylvain is definitely the son of the wingheaded woman (Ambisextra) in the french version, too. You probably missed it, although i don't blame you. It is pretty much subtly implied when the Counsel of women announces that they have picked Sylvain for the job, and Ambisextra replies with a worried face/voice: "Syl!? But he's not experienced enough!"", which is a total opposite of the stone-cold attitude she had until she heard the name.
...Also, when Syl wakes up from being turned to stone, while he is still in a semi-conscious state, he speaks to Ambisextra about how he saw the metal men. Ambisextra being the first name on his mind is another clue that there is a strong connection between him and that woman.
Anyway, besides these 2 clues, i don't think the movie bothered with their mother-son relation even one bit.