‘Macross II: Lovers Again’ (NR)

What is there to say about a Japanese animated movie that's . . . just another Japanese animated movie? In the case of "Macross II: Lovers Again," it's business as usual.

Actually, "Macross" is less than business as usual. The Japanese industry has made infinitely more creative works in this one-of-a-kind genre. Other than diehard fans of Japanimation who want to view this for arcane cataloguing reasons, there's little to recommend.

I didn't catch the original television series, "Superdimensional Fortress Macross," or the original movie, "Macross: Do You Remember Love?" But "Macross II" -- released here in a dubbed English-language version -- takes up the narrative thread 80 years later.

Earth, which is run by a militaristic, censorship-heavy military complex, has an uneasy peace with the Zentradi (a sort of warlike, Klingon-like race). It turns out secret renegade Zentradi intend to upset the alliance and invade the Earth, using their martial "Minmay" song, which reduces the strength of their opponents.

Young TV reporter Hibiki Kanzaki gets stuck in all this when he tries to save Zentradi princess Ishtar from the renegades -- who want to destroy her newfound peace-loving tendencies. Also figuring in the story is Jibiki's friend and rival -- a pilot called Silvie Gena, who helps the reporter in his mission to save Ishtar and help defend the Earth.

The story is overloaded with plot details that (presumably) only aficionados will understand. It's also full of pretty laughable dialogue. As for the animation, it's rather disappointing. It looks low-budget and unimaginative -- the stuff of Saturday morning television. Maybe the TV look is appropriate, since everyone -- man, woman or Zentradi -- looks exactly like Speed Racer.