Kidô senshi Gandamu III: Meguriai sorahen

The war between the Principality of Zeon and the Earth Federation continues as the crew of the White Base and newtype Gundam pilot Amuro Ray return to space for a final confrontation with Zeon as the infighting among the Zabi family continues and Char Aznable intends to finish off Amuro and the Gundam once and for all.

The final film in the compilation film trilogy of Mobile Suit Gundam's first series, Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space is noted for containing the most new footage of the three films added by Yoshiyuki Tomino. The movie is the best of the of three Mobile Suit Gundam compilation films because it has the most "complete feeling" to it with adequately established stakes and a sense of finality that leaves it a satisfactory conclusion to the trilogy.

Pretty much every point established is paid off here from Amuro's conflict with Char, to Sayla Mass and her relationship with Char as her long lost brother, and Char's conflict with the Zabi family. All the primary and secondary characters feel like they've come full circle at this point with harrowing action sequences and striking moments of emotional resonance that kept me engaged throughout the 2 and ½ hour runtime. A solid inclusion to this movie is definitely in regards to the Zabi family who's backstabbing and conniving makes them really strong characters who feel like they could've been the basis of a series unto themselves, but we're just given tidbits as to what goes on with them unfortunately. Amuro and Char's conflict is also given more weight with the inclusion of another newtype named Lalah who like the Zabi family feels like she could've been further developed and established.

Encounters in Space does a mostly successful job of closing the book on the theatrical retelling of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. There's a sense of desperation in the stakes as well as a sense of finality that makes this entry the most fully realized film of the trilogy and hits all the key points of Gundam and its foundations. While it does rely on you seeing the first two movies, it's a mostly successful payoff to two films worth of build-up.