At 01:58 PM 2/20/99 +0900, Karirin wrote: SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER >I agree the opinion that the anime is more representative than the manga >in general. >But I think there is a great difference between the anime and the original >only for that episode. >In the anime, when Oberstein gave the information about the atrocious >plan for nuclear boumb attack, Reinhardt refused Oberstein’s proposal >(and Oberstein proceeded in secret under pretence of his mistake). But >in the original novel, Reingardt refused the cruel proposal once, however, >he ORDERD to let the attack pass at last. I can not understand why >the staff made such radical change in the anime. The argument >between Reinhardt and Kircheis does not mean anything if Reinhardt >does not have any guilty conscience about that he leave the attack ON >PURPOSE. And it is natural for Kircheis to get angry(but his expression >in the manga is overemphasis). >I rather suppose the manga represents the original as to that episode. >It is true that Ms. Michihara sometimes changes or modifies the stories, >but it does not mean that she does not understand the characters and >why the things happened, I think. I have not read vol. 10 of the manga since the Chinese edition is not out yet. But if your statement and Z107M's accurately represent MICHIHARA's rendition of that scene, I'm afraid you have just afforded an example of how poorly she understand two of the chief characters and the situation. It is wrong to suppose Reinhardt did not feel sorry for the for the part he played in the Westland Massacre. If the the translation in the Chinese edition is correct, the author actually said (Chapter 8 of Book 2 of Japanese edition or vol. 4 of Chinese edition) Reinhardt could not think of the victims without feeling a deep sense of guilty and remorse. Even if MICHIHARA missed this part, she should be able to sense how bad Reinhardt felt when he saw the stunning footage of the massacre when she read chapter 6 of the same volume. As for making that decision, I think Reinhardt also regretted it very much. Otherwise, he would have lectured Kircheis on the merits and sagacity of the strategy, since he always wanted Kircheis to agree with him, and added as a parting shoot that such sacrifice was inevitable. At that stage of the civil war, he should even be able to quote some statistics of how many more lives had been saved as a result of his strategy in order to justify his claims. But he did nothing of that kind. He made no apology for his decision. Instead, he tried everything to stop Kircheis talking about it, a good indication of how much he(R) regarded it a shame. It must be due to this sense of unworthiness that Reinhardt could not bear the man he loved perhaps more than his own life to notice his big mistake and point it out in his face. Should Kircheis notice it, he(R) hoped Kircheis would understand how much he regret this decision without being told first. It was Reinhardt, not Kircheis, who became very much enraged by the end of the reception because Kircheis insisted on Reinhardt's admitting the decision was wrong and unworthy of him(R). To portray Kircheis as very angry and having a fierce look is also wrong. Kircheis brought up the discussion because he loved and trusted Reinhardt, and believed in Reinhardt's capability to repent and reform. Reinhardt's conduct unfortunately gave him no assurance. Kircheis was disappointed (because Reinhardt admitted giving those orders), frustrated (Reinhardt did not seem to listen to him), confused (he could not make out what Reinhardt was thinking about the massacre) and sad (to avoid the subject, Reinhardt went to the length to deny they were very specail friends). I would not be surprised if Kircheis should be even a bit angry feeling so much disappointment, frustration and confusion, but it is the feeling of disappointment, frustration and confustion that should be emphasised. The anger is trivial. One factor that determine how angry should Kircheis feel is whether he had lost his faith in Reinhardt. If at that reception Kircheis found Reinhardt had become cruel, tyranical, stubbornly refused to repent the crime he(R) committed, he should indeed be very angry. But it was not the case. Kircheis still believed in Reinhardt's goodness and relied on his(R) ultimate repentance. That's why he would tell Reinhardt to "grasp the Universe" but not "please be a good ruler" nor "do not make the same mistake again" just before his(K) death. It is due to this faith in Reinhardt that Reinhardt's conduct at the reception gave him(K) so much confusion. As Kircheis was not such a bull that would be readily enraged before he found out what he was dealing with, it is unthinkable that Kircheis should be very angry. Of course Kircheis could feel very angry for the victims of the massacre, but this was not on his mind when he had that dispute with Reinhardt. All that time he was pushing his argument on Reinhardt he had Reinhardt alone on his mind. Everything he said focused on Reinhardt. No reference was ever made to the suffering of the victims. If Kircheis should become very angry during the reception, it is indeed a mystery as with whom/what he was feeling very angry. I really hope either I have over-reacted to your statement or you are not accurate about MICHIHARA's rendition of that scene. If the magna really gives an impression that Reinhardt had no shame about his part in the massacre and Kircheis got very angry, MICHIHARA's lack of understanding of two of the leading characters and her failure to read the novel more carefully as a work to be adapted deserves cannot be more clearly demonstrated. I do notice that MICHIHARA sometime change and modify the story. But her changes and modifications never improve the story. In fact, I should think by her manga MICHIHARA is guilty of turning a masterpiece into a commonplace shonen manga with a slightly-better-than-average plot. _____________________________________________________________________________ Xerxes J. <xerxes@hkstar.com>