Reviews

So first thing's first. I've seen some incredible (art-wise) space-based battles in anime: the battle in the last episode of Macross Frontier, the fleet engagement near Pluto in the opening scenes of Yamato 2199, and the battle between Kshatriya and the grunt suits in the first episode of Unicorn. The Battle of Loum, something that's only been depicted once before, has always been the one Gundam battle i had always wanted to see, both for its reputed bloodiness and for being the battle that earned Char his Red Comet nickname. This depiction did not disappoint, being right up there with the rest of them. Well animated and well put together.
Story, 10: Char's background. The man's in the top 5 if not the greatest character in anime history. Understanding what makes him tick is essential to understanding the later plot of the main anime, from the original to Char's Counterattack.
Art, 8: Aside from Loum in the beginning, the rest of the art was more or less on par with what I'd expect for an OVA with its budget.
Sound, 8: Doesn't add to or take away from the story, so 8.
Character, 10: It's Char. However, they also take pains to give background to some minor characters from the original series and depict four others who have a fairly large effect on the overall proceedings in the future but have never been depicted before.
Enjoyment, 9: I think some of the slapstick humor somewhat takes away from the overall tone of the story, but it also serves to give extra depth to one character in particular, Ramba Ral. Otherwise, an enjoyable romp through the streets of the principality of Zeon, that while you know who will survive and who won't, still provides somewhat of a measure of suspense.
Final thoughts: Jimba Ral. I don't know what to make of him. Either he's clinically insane, or the writers made a bad mistake by portraying him the way he's portrayed. If it's the latter then it adds more to Char's character as he sees the man as a father figure, and thus provides insight into his own mental state.