《機動戰士鋼彈》電影版第一部是鋼彈系列中最具代表性的經典科幻作品，也是將電視版內容重新濃縮與剪輯後的版本，主要涵蓋電視動畫第1話「鋼彈屹立大地！！」到第13話「再見，母親...」的劇情。在這部電影中，對部分故事情節進行修改，部分畫面運用當時的技術重新繪製，使得不論是老一輩的觀眾還是新生代鋼彈迷，都能以更新鮮的視覺感受重新體驗初代鋼彈的魅力。

故事背景設定於宇宙世紀0079年，最遙遠的地球宇宙殖民地SIDE-3，以吉翁公國之名向地球聯邦發起獨立戰爭。此時，居住在SIDE-7的少年阿姆羅‧雷在一次吉翁軍偵察行動中，意外啟動由聯邦研發的MS「RX-78-2 鋼彈」，並在首次交戰中擊毀兩台吉翁軍的MS「MS-06F 薩克」。這場偶然的啟動事件，使阿姆羅被迫捲入戰爭的漩渦中，從此踏上他作為新一代駕駛員的命運之路。

隨後，阿姆羅與難民們登上聯邦軍的新型宇宙戰艦「白色基地」，在持續躲避吉翁軍追擊的同時，也開始長期的艦隊行動與戰鬥訓練。在這段旅程中，他面臨著紅色彗星——夏亞‧阿茲納布爾的威脅，戰爭殘酷地奪去許多無辜大人的生命。電影中生動描寫阿姆羅從一名普通少年成長為能駕駛鋼彈與敵軍抗衡的戰士的過程，突顯出在殘酷戰爭中，每一次戰鬥不僅是為了生存，更是為了保護同伴和維護正義。

這部電影在劇情張力與視覺表現上都保留電視版的經典元素，例如白色基地與吉翁軍的艦隊戰、阿姆羅駕駛鋼彈與薩克的初次對決，以及紅色彗星的登場，為觀眾呈現出初代鋼彈充滿策略與機械美學的戰鬥世界。同時，電影也強調角色的心理刻畫，阿姆羅面對戰爭的恐懼、責任感以及保護同伴的決心，讓觀眾更能感受到戰爭的殘酷與少年成長的艱辛。

整體而言，《機動戰士鋼彈》電影版第一部不只是重現經典電視劇的精華，更透過重新繪製和濃縮剪輯的方式，將初代鋼彈的戰爭、友情、成長與宿命感展現得更加緊湊而震撼，是鋼彈系列中不可或缺的重要篇章。

The first Mobile Suit Gundam movie is one of the most iconic and representative works in the Gundam series, a classic of science fiction, and serves as a condensed and re-edited version of the original TV series. It primarily covers the story from Episode 1, "Gundam Stands on the Ground!!," to Episode 13, "Farewell, Mother…". In this movie, certain story elements were modified, and parts of the animation were redrawn using the technology of the early 1980s, giving both longtime fans and new viewers a refreshed visual experience of the original Gundam’s charm.

The story is set in Universal Century 0079, when the outermost space colony, SIDE-3, declares independence from the Earth Federation under the banner of the Principality of Zeon. During a reconnaissance mission by Zeon forces, a young boy living on SIDE-7, Amuro Ray, accidentally activates the Federation’s prototype mobile suit, the RX-78-2 Gundam, and destroys two Zeon MS-06F Zaku units in his first engagement. This accidental activation pulls Amuro into the vortex of war, setting him on the path to becoming a new-generation pilot.

Amuro and a group of refugees subsequently board the Federation’s newly developed warship, the White Base. While continuously evading Zeon attacks, they also begin long-term fleet operations and combat training. Throughout this journey, Amuro faces the threat of the “Red Comet,” Char Aznable, and witnesses the war’s brutality, which claims the lives of many innocent adults. The film vividly depicts Amuro’s growth from an ordinary boy into a warrior capable of piloting the Gundam against enemy forces, highlighting that in the harsh realities of war, every battle is not only for survival but also to protect comrades and uphold justice.

The movie preserves the classic elements of the TV series in both narrative tension and visual presentation, such as the fleet battles between White Base and the Zeon forces, Amuro’s first duel between the Gundam and Zaku units, and the dramatic appearance of Char Aznable. At the same time, it emphasizes character development, portraying Amuro’s fears, sense of responsibility, and determination to protect his friends, allowing viewers to deeply feel the cruelty of war and the challenges of growing up in such a world.

Overall, the first Mobile Suit Gundam movie not only recaptures the essence of the original TV series but, through redrawn animation and condensed editing, presents the war, friendship, growth, and fate of the original Gundam in a more compact and impactful way. It is an indispensable chapter in the Gundam franchise, combining intense action, emotional depth, and thematic resonance.