This post contains some spoilery discussion about Cucuruz Doan’s Island. I’m hiding it behind the page break so you have to click into it to see it all.
But seriously, fair warning …
One of the most remarkable things about this film is how well it fits into the timeline of the original story.
At this point in both versions of the story (TV and The Origin), Amuro is not a Newtype ace pilot, but rather is still just a kid who can barely operate the Gundam. He has not quite discovered a sense of loyalty to his comrades, and has not met anyone from Zeon with any sense of honor or decency (His encounter with Ramba Ral, for instance, hasn’t happened yet).
This makes the events of the film all the more important. Cucuruz Doan is the first person Amuro meets who teaches him the importance of fighting for a cause that’s greater than oneself, and that good people can come from either side of the conflict. And while this doesn’t lead to immediate change in Amuro’s character or beliefs, it does get the ball rolling.
I’m using my words carefully here. Doan is from Zeon, but is no longer with them. Which means that Amuro still hasn’t met an active duty member of the Zeon military that’s not a mustache twirling villain or a psychopath (both of which describe the nature of the villains in the film).
This is in stark contrast to a lot of modern Gundam media, in which Zeon is increasingly the recipient of whitewashing and apologia. I’m not quite sure if this was an intentional attempt at course correction, or simply an attempt to fit with the way Zeon was depicted early on in the show, but it is certainly noteworthy.
(on a similar note, I saw someone on Reddit argue that this fact is also important to Amuro’s character growth. Basically, if there’s no place in Zeon for decent people like Doan, then it gives him justification to continue fighting and win the war, because anyone who remains in Zeon must be a threat to such good people). It’s an interesting way of looking at things, especially considering the scene where Amuro literally squashes a Zeon pilot under the foot of the Gundam) It’s also obvious that all the children on the island motivate Amuro in a similar fashion. True, there are kids of similar age on White Base, but the children of the island are much more … realistic in their behavior? … and their situation is arguably as (if not more) dangerous. They clearly convince him that he needs to help finish off the war so that they have a chance to live.
I’m a little frustrated that they portrayed the Zakus to be far more capable than they were shown to be in the original show, while GM’s are still portrayed as pure and utter cannon fodder. It’s gotten absurd, to the point where I find it hard to believe that the Federation could have possibly won the war. Just once I’d like to see GM’s kicking ass!
I’m also a little miffed at some scenes where it was hard to suspend my disbelief. For example, I don’t believe that Doan’s Zaku could move so silently that he’s able to sneak up on the Gundam and put it in hold (also, what reason beyond plot armor would he have for trying to put it in a hold instead of slashing at it with his Heat Hawk?) They’re not dealbreakers, but they still bugged me.