[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

There's probably a very, very easy argument to be made that Fourze nails the idea of the Rider summer movie as a culmination of the series more than most.

It also -- and I totally get that this is maybe way more of an American thing than a Japanese thing, but that's maybe fitting for this show's obsession with American high school tropes -- really feels like a summer camp movie. I made that joke about Sakamoto Space Camp, but the first half has the cast in an educational setting that's not the normal AGHS setting, with this sweaty, excited compilation of physical activities, random crafts projects, and even a nighttime hangout to stare at the stars. I love that vibe!

[Kamen Rider Die]

KAMEN RIDER CLUB MEETING – QUIZ: KAMEN RIDER URBAN LEGENDS!! EPISODE 11



Befitting a two-part Final Exam, we have some brand-new teams! And a returning giant ham of a host!

Shun’s not my favorite host – Kengo started unbelievably strong, and Tomoko was pretty charming if memory serves – but he’s arguably the best host for the quizzes, because he’s such a clown. (Canonically!) Shun, more than any other actor, loves goofing around, and he’s also exceptionally dorky, which is the exact right energy for a series of DVD extras that this crew is banging out in bulk. No one really wants to be there – Ryuusei, as always, looks like he’s about to fire his agent as soon as the cameras stop rolling – so you need someone who can get laughed at by the participants, which makes them more willing to have fun as a panelist. Shun more than ably fills the role of an absolutely overconfident buffoon, opening the door for a reasonably engaged set of contestants.

And the configuration for those contestants was largely if not completely unique! Yuuki and Miu: New! JK and Tomoko: Now with added Meteor! Gentarou and Kengo: I don’t know if this one was totally new, but at the very least it’s a rare team; Gen usually teams with Yuuki or Miu as a duo, and Kengo (I think) only as a trio. The chemistry mostly works in fun ways, with the typical exception of Ryuusei being a drag on the proceedings. Kengo immediately digs his team into a hole by utterly misunderstanding the setup for a question, and the way it wrecks both him and Gen is delightfully real, and that energy of Kengo trying not to let his friend down for the rest of the quizzes is heartwarming. Meanwhile, Yuuki’s gutsy guessing and Miu’s logical analysis inexplicably cancel each other out, leaving their team a point back from what feels like dumber, less attentive teams. (Not Tomoko, obviously. You know who I mean!) It’s a really charming set of competitors, and I am excited to see who manages to win the Blu-rays!

(why in the world was the prize not a Fourze doll)

[Androzani84]

Yeah, I’m not gonna do this big quiz for my segment, so I’ll just give the answers to last time as ?B, A, C? and move on to a quiz about our one-in-two Rider from the late 80s: Kamen Rider Black (RX).

But for the standard pre-quiz explanation, I’m going to have to do it myself.

Name: Minami Kotaro

Transformation belt: King Stone (Black), Sunriser (Black RX)

Bike: Battle Hopper (Black), Acrobatter (Black RX)

Finishers: Rider Punch, Rider Kick, King Stone Flash (Black), Revol Thrust, Hard Shot, Spark Cutter (Black RX)

Enemy: Gorgom (Black), Crisis Empire (Black RX)

First opponent: Kumo Kaijin (Black), Kaima Demon Skull Master (Black RX)

And now, on with the questions

What significant factor about Kotaro’s birthday led to him being selected as a Century King?
A) It was blind luck
B) There was an eclipse on the day.
C) A major historical event occurred.

Black RX can transform into Robo Rider by feeling great sorrow. But what emotion triggers his transformation into Bio Rider?
A) Anger
B) Happiness
C) Fear

In a later episode, villainess Maribaron sends a monster to infiltrate a meeting of the 10 Legendary Riders. What gives the monster away?
A) The fake’s voice is off
B) The other Riders can’t meld their powers with him.
C) There are two Kamen Rider Ichigous.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

You know, that's actually a really apt comparison! Right down to the extra focus coming in a format that's usually used for broad comedy and everything! Guess it's kinda hypocritical of me to complain, then, because yeah, I was honestly pretty into all that late-run Saionji material.

I appreciate how it also added to the lore by revealing Ryu's criteria for choosing the 15 Heroic Eyecons, despite some of them being controversial and less impactful than Da Vinci. Not sure how much Sonoda's focus contributes to Fourze as a whole though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

The writer didn't have any direct input in how the character was portrayed. This is an issue with the actress and/or director.

Other than literally putting words in the characters' mouths and determining their actions? True that the director would have some influence though, in terms of how those behaviors are expressed. I think a character's portrayal is ultimately a collaborative sum of the writer, actor (suit/voice) and director, which can make it difficult to assign blame. When a character becomes vivid enough in their minds, they also become an imaginary factor, with the idea of "what would Gentarou do?" having the potential to turn the script in a direction the staff hadn't originally intended.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

That's Blitzwing from Transformers Animated.

Hmm, I see. I suppose he does look kind of goofy now that you mention it, but at least he has a cool name!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE THE MOVIE: EVERYONE! LET?S FEEL THE UNIVERSE!

And, hell, so does every Switch! There?s a fight where it looks like Fourze cycles through all 40 Switches, which is nuts. I expect some form changes in a movie, but to use literally every suit and power-up? Between both of the show?s Riders? In one extended fight scene? Crazy. Completely over-the-top!

Even the Hand Switch finally gets a chance to be useful! Since I already mentioned how Fourze has probably my favorite gimmick, this fight scene is therefore probably one of my favorites for managing to show off all the Switches in such clever ways! It's even thematically relevant with Gentarou verifying with Kengo that Switches, his 40+ little friends, are machines and that means XVII can become his friend as well. There's also the friendship between Inga Blink and Black Knight. The theme of "machines are friends!" is strongly emphasized in various ways through the movie for sure!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

? Hey, let?s talk about Meteor Fusion States as a suit! I kind of never do that? I honestly love it, for sure more than Cosmic States. I think the purple is deep and dark enough to feel both regal and stellar; I think the gold of the shoulderpads works way better with the purple and white of Fourze than it did with the blue of Meteor; and the white helmet and boots pop off of the rest of the color scheme. It?s a snazzy suit!

I agree that the Meteor Storm shoulders work better for Fourze, as his silhouette is already more symmetrical than Meteor's and the theme of Fusion makes sense for having two of something. The purple totally gives that mystical space feeling, which I guess would explain why this suit later got dismantled to make Ginga.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Yeah, I?m not gonna do this big quiz for my segment, so I?ll just give the answers to last time as ?B, A, C? and move on to a quiz about our one-in-two Rider from the late 80s: Kamen Rider Black (RX).

I don't know anything about these two shows either, so time for more guessing!

What significant factor about Kotaro?s birthday led to him being selected as a Century King?
A) It was blind luck
B) There was an eclipse on the day.
C) A major historical event occurred.

Black RX can transform into Robo Rider by feeling great sorrow. But what emotion triggers his transformation into Bio Rider?
A) Anger
B) Happiness
C) Fear

In a later episode, villainess Maribaron sends a monster to infiltrate a meeting of the 10 Legendary Riders. What gives the monster away?
A) The fake?s voice is off
B) The other Riders can?t meld their powers with him.
C) There are two Kamen Rider Ichigous.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

And now, on with the questions

What significant factor about Kotaro?s birthday led to him being selected as a Century King?
A) It was blind luck
B) There was an eclipse on the day.
C) A major historical event occurred.

Black RX can transform into Robo Rider by feeling great sorrow. But what emotion triggers his transformation into Bio Rider?
A) Anger
B) Happiness
C) Fear

In a later episode, villainess Maribaron sends a monster to infiltrate a meeting of the 10 Legendary Riders. What gives the monster away?
A) The fake?s voice is off
B) The other Riders can?t meld their powers with him.
C) There are two Kamen Rider Ichigous.

A Black/Black RX quiz? This must be a Gorgom plot!

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

What significant factor about Kotaro?s birthday led to him being selected as a Century King?
A) It was blind luck
B) There was an eclipse on the day.
C) A major historical event occurred.

Black RX can transform into Robo Rider by feeling great sorrow. But what emotion triggers his transformation into Bio Rider?
A) Anger
B) Happiness
C) Fear

In a later episode, villainess Maribaron sends a monster to infiltrate a meeting of the 10 Legendary Riders. What gives the monster away?
A) The fake?s voice is off
B) The other Riders can?t meld their powers with him.
C) There are two Kamen Rider Ichigous.
D) They are clearly Ferbus in a trenchcoat.

Thanks for the quiz!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

The theme of "machines are friends!" is strongly emphasized in various ways through the movie for sure!

We're only missing a post-credits scene where Gentarou makes things right with his bud in the computer lab, that he critically injured earlier in the film. (Although it was a Windows PC, which means it clearly wanted to die, so maybe Gentarou was just honoring its wish in a manly-but-tearful way?)

[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

it clearly wanted to die, so maybe Gentarou was just honoring its wish in a manly-but-tearful way?

by taking it to france???

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

Groundyne and Skydyne

Kickass redesigns, but sucked that they were villains.

[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

by taking it to france???

I mean, yeah, obviously. What, you think a heroic Kamen Rider would murder a good friend who was suffering emotionally? That's an idea that stands at the top of ridiculousness.

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE THE MOVIE: EVERYONE! LET’S FEEL THE UNIVERSE!

But I will be goddamned if I don’t think of this movie’s ending – the formation of the Fusion Switch – more often than I think of the TV show’s ending. It’s so perfect. It’s Gentarou (and the planet) being saved by everything he ever did, every person he ever helped. Every tiny act of kindness, every friend Gentarou ever made, they come together to empower him. He doesn’t have to make some impassioned speech or anything. He needs help, and no one even needs an explanation: they just help him. It’s those shots of the Kamen Rider Club pressing Switches into the hands of old friends, recent rivals, teachers, students… like, the show’s main villain even pitches in to help out Gentarou. It’s a beautiful ending.

While this is less obvious than Gamou pitching in (though he's an affably evil type of villain, but he hasn't become friends yet with Gentaro as for now), something that happened there is, Makise of all people was among one of the people who pressed the 40 Switches. And there's also more moments that aren't only about others agreeing, like Utsugi warming up to Yuki or Haru and Ran acknowledging their inclusion to KRC. Though with the movie not being that long, maybe more could be added in personal thoughts about those individuals, as what Yuki told them to, as it'd be not a rejection to helping Gentaro but showing how he helped them like Gentaro standing up for Nitta against JK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Which, it’s got ‘em! Skydain and Groundain are paper-thin villains, robots who hate humanity for no specific reason. Inga Blink (from the hit anime/manga Gantz, apparently) is a bad-ass secret agent who a) probably could’ve just told the Kamen Rider Club what was happening instead of trying to murder them a bunch of times and then weirdly telling them that she can’t murder people; b) exists to give Ryuusei something to do, since he’s basically irrelevant to the whole Gentarou And The Power Of Friendship thing; c) like, Ryuusei doesn’t even really contribute anything to Meteor Fusion States! He just stands there!; and d) pales in comparison to Tomoko, so this potential love triangle just irritates me. Black Knight's an unstoppable weapon until he just gets randomly exploded two-thirds of the way through. Wizard’s debut is pretty stylish, but it both stops the story dead, and feels to some degree out-of-character. The amount of action is maybe too much?

Sounds like Faiz where the villains feel they're superior species to humans and that they want to rule over humanity (which they successfully did in Paradise Lost), miscommunication stuff in Inga not telling about what's going on that led them to fight, militarized main cast (Paradise Lost only), and also bringing up love triangle (based on Ryusei and Inga attending the same martial arts dojo). Well I guess, Fourze was also about 4 (behind 555) and have drill as finishing move. I feel that about Inga claiming she'd destroy her enemies and being unable to shoot humans, it feels like Ren from Ryuki who isn't a cold-blooded murderer he thinks he is as Tezuka said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

Other than that, though, it’s a pretty stellar (sorry) summer movie for Fourze. It includes the entire team, for starters. Everyone contributes to the action, which isn’t a given! Miu and JK, who are usually relegated to reaction shots, actually get some pretty heavy combat sequences. (Tomoko and Yuuki get a fairly sweet one, as well.) Fittingly for a story about how Fourze’s power comes from all of Gentarou’s friends, every single member of the KRC gets to pitch in.

Guess this was the reason why Miu and JK were the ones who the story/writer gave a Power Dizer to, outside of Kengo. Shun was the King, Miu was the Queen, and JK is pronounced "Jake", so they're making a play of the face cards of Jack, King, and Queen among the Power Dizers. I guess it's continued from Megamax (another movie involving Fourze) of everyone having heavy combat sequences, but I felt it's only in those movies Fourze has good fighting scenes. Always felt that Kengo never performed that bad physically despite being established as sickly thus he can't be Fourze.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

– Except for the bit where I’m like Ryuusei Just Stood There; like, whole climax is about how Ryuusei found his true self via friendship! And how sometimes the hardest thing you can do is share the burden with the people who care about you! Which is exactly what Ryuusei does by taking some of Gentarou’s beating from Kyodain! It’s pretty blatant! So, yeah, in retrospect, I think Meteor does contribute to Meteor Fusion States through his nearly last stand with Gentarou.

Also, it's what Ryusei convinces Inga too, to share her burdens with the others. I'd also disagree with what you said before on how Meteor took some beating from Kyodain as his contribution, which was similar to his atonement after murdering Fourze that he took beating from the Dustards. And obviously, Ryusei contributes for the most important thing in Fusion States.... to provide the Meteor Switch itself as a Fusion! .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

– That said, I kind of don’t love how Meteor Fusion States just ganks Meteor’s powers and Switch? I don’t remember Ryuusei volunteering his fighting prowess and/or ability to Henshin, you know? My headcanon is that, while everyone at AGHS was powering up the Fusion Switch by thinking “Gentarou…”, every single one of them was also thinking “...is just so much better than that Ryuusei dink.” Therefore, the Fusion Switch is all about making Gentarou more powerful and prominent than Ryuusei. Maybe Ryuusei should’ve made a friend or two outside the KRC at AGHS! (I’d definitely assume that Yukina was pouring all of her animosity for Ryuusei into her Switch.)

– Hey, let’s talk about Meteor Fusion States as a suit! I kind of never do that? I honestly love it, for sure more than Cosmic States. I think the purple is deep and dark enough to feel both regal and stellar; I think the gold of the shoulderpads works way better with the purple and white of Fourze than it did with the blue of Meteor; and the white helmet and boots pop off of the rest of the color scheme. It’s a snazzy suit!

It seems to be just Fourze, as Cosmic States was already about combination of all Switches, thus Meteor Fusion States is still about combination of all powers, which include Meteor's Jeet Kune Do as well as the mini-planets, which also compensates for how Meteor Fusion States can't use the hand Switches. I still wonder if Meteor Fusion States can use Switch combinations too for the legs part. I rather felt that Meteor Fusion States' finisher should have him stay planting the Drill on the ground to use the spinning to deliver the follow-up kick (and it'd also subtly resemble Meteor Storm Punisher, but a big/live-person one).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Good development moment for Kengo though, showing he's now attuned enough to his friends that he can identify the imposter before Tomoko can detect the Cosmic Energy imbalance.

Though I felt that Yuki was the one Kengo views (or at least treats, no hostility) as a friend from the start of the series when Kengo was still dismissive of Gentaro's approaches.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

And, hell, so does every Switch! There’s a fight where it looks like Fourze cycles through all 40 Switches, which is nuts. I expect some form changes in a movie, but to use literally every suit and power-up? Between both of the show’s Riders? In one extended fight scene? Crazy. Completely over-the-top!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Even the Hand Switch finally gets a chance to be useful! Since I already mentioned how Fourze has probably my favorite gimmick, this fight scene is therefore probably one of my favorites for managing to show off all the Switches in such clever ways! It's even thematically relevant with Gentarou verifying with Kengo that Switches, his 40+ little friends, are machines and that means XVII can become his friend as well. There's also the friendship between Inga Blink and Black Knight. The theme of "machines are friends!" is strongly emphasized in various ways through the movie for sure!

Though yeah the switch usage is good and clever, still a missed chance to have this be given to Cosmic States (for me, as its power is extending said 'favorite gimmick' to even far more possibilities) for more Switch combinations, as the usage of all the Switch in Fourze's base form and previous upgrades are a repeat for what he did in Megamax (albeit there's new one like Camera and Hand). Though there's a good showing of Cosmic States pushing the giant XVII with his finisher to teleport him to the moon.