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01-19-2020, 12:38 AM | #51 |
I have a problematic type
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01-19-2020, 12:40 AM | #52 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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Oh no!
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01-19-2020, 09:41 PM | #53 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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MASKED RIDER AGITO EPISODES 11 - 12
I realized, watching this episode, that I don't spend much time at all talking about the superhero action on this sci-fi superhero action show. Not cool, Kamen Rider Die! Some of it's that there's not a ton of it to talk about. The Phase 2 Heisei shows, it seems like (in my memory) the action was all over the place, every other scene was a henshin and a monster fight. With Kuuga, and now Agito, it's entirely at the ends of episodes. A few seconds as an episode starts, a few minutes as an episode ends, that's all you get. I know it's down to different storytelling objectives (serialized drama VS to sell toys), but it means that there's a lot of non-action for me to talk about and think about, but not much action to touch on. But, uh, I mostly entirely didn't care about the story in this one, save for a couple minor things. First, there's a neat moment where Ryou and Shouichi have the nowadays-standard Rider debate of optimism versus pragmatism, aka "the world is beautiful and so is everyone in it" versus "uh, my life has been a neverending shitshow, so, agree to disagree". It's baked into the multiple-Rider formula now, but here it feels very fresh and welcome. It's doesn't feel reductive or didactic, it feels like two people with very specific views and life experiences looking at the same thing completely different. It's a debate that spins around how Shouichi views his amnesia as a freedom from pain and sadness (that thing from a couple episodes ago where he wishes he could have new amnesia every day, super unhealthy but very sweet), while Ryou views adversity as something to overcome, not ignore. It's an exchange that only lasts a minute, if that, but it was super strong. Second, obviously, all of the stuff where Houjou throws absolutely everyone under the bus to make himself feel like he isn't a coward and a failure. That stuff is gold-plated brilliance. (I also love the low-key burn of Nijou making Houjou the getaway driver when the Zebra Unknown attacks. If there's one thing Houjou's good at, it's running away! Oh, and he screws that up, too.) Other than those two things, a big shrug of a story for me. The Unknown attacks feel totally disengaged from whatever is happening with the heroes, a distraction from the episode's plot rather than an integral part. Most of the victims have no story, and no sense of stakes. It's a monster, the heroes eventually stop it, okay. And the other main element from this story, with someone who knows more than she lets on about Shouichi's past and Agito and the mysterious boating accident of six months prior but oh whoops she dies before she can reveal anything, lame. Very lame! It's not clever, it's just frustrating. I'm not at the edge of my seat, I'm flipping off my monitor. So, the action. The camerawork is pretty uneven this time out. Some well-designed shots (that fight on top of the cop car was amazing) just a few minutes after nausea-inducing bouncing shots (the first scene where Shouichi runs to the lake to save Saeko, I honestly had to look away to keep from getting sick). The thing I like best, the thing I think is working the best for Agito's action, is how stoic Agito is. The very calm walk into and out of fights, the smoothness and simplicity of his attacks, it's a kind-of minimalist, sure, but it contrasts really well with Gills' viciousness (so much Amazons) and G3's, uh, ineptitude. Agito comes in, punches hard, kicks fast, Rider Kick, explosion, hero pose. It's a strong contrast, not just with the other Riders, but with Shouichi's normal self. Does anyone watch New Japan Pro-Wrestling? One of my favorite wrestlers is Kota Ibushi. His moveset is fantastic, his athleticism is off the charts, and he comes across as a very fun, upbeat performer. Recently, they've been doing a thing where, as matches go on and he can't put his opponent away, he enters this, like, fugue state. In that state, he gets this blank look and starts brutalizing his opponents: punches are way stiffer, kicks are continuous and gruesome, it's all in service of hurting someone, not defeating them. It's unnerving, since it's cruelty dispensed by a sweet person. (Honestly, it's like he's using Hazard Trigger, but let's assume it's got a couple different Kamen Rider comparisons in it.) Agito has that feel to me, where I can't see what Agito does as what Shouichi does, because I can't see that violence in him. It's confident physical dominance from a wacky, sweet housekeeper. I think that juxtaposition is clever and intriguing. The action on this series is so specific and solid, the ways it's built around characters, and it's something I'm really interested in the show exploring further.
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01-20-2020, 06:17 AM | #54 |
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Yeah, agito and black hazard have the two fighting styles we need to see more of in kamen rider main series. We have plenty of frothing bezerkers, upbeat happy go lucky guys and smug arseholes; but we really need more "jesus christ this is not a fight this is a goddamn execution" characters. Agito's fighting style is less brutal than Hazards, but its still....otherworldly and serene. Like hes done it so many times its autopilot over any actual thought, like shouichi is just serving as a vessel for some unfathomable power.
The plot WILL make sense eventually, it just takes a bit, and after agito; I reccomend W if you haven't watched it, Ryuki is also really good. Blade starts slow but gets extremely good. |
01-20-2020, 12:15 PM | #55 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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Quote:
Yeah, agito and black hazard have the two fighting styles we need to see more of in kamen rider main series. We have plenty of frothing bezerkers, upbeat happy go lucky guys and smug arseholes; but we really need more "jesus christ this is not a fight this is a goddamn execution" characters. Agito's fighting style is less brutal than Hazards, but its still....otherworldly and serene. Like hes done it so many times its autopilot over any actual thought, like shouichi is just serving as a vessel for some unfathomable power.
The plot WILL make sense eventually, it just takes a bit, and after agito; I reccomend W if you haven't watched it, Ryuki is also really good. Blade starts slow but gets extremely good. And, yes, W! It's great. I really loved it. (The ending, once Foundation X starts to take over the story, way less love for that part.) I'm doing the Phase 1 Heisei shows in order (I already did all of the Phase 2 shows except for Zi-O), so Ryuki's next, and then Blade a little down the line.
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01-20-2020, 06:23 PM | #56 |
The Immortal King Tasty
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Hey, wait a second...
Huh. I guess TV-N got fed up with seeing "equipper" about the same time you did. Shame they didn't think to use "gooey parts", but what are you gonna do? Definitely. I actually think Hazard Form is sort of a bad comparison for this very reason. Serenity is the throughline for Shouichi and Agito. Whether he's transformed or not, he's kind of "at one" with the world around him in a way Hikawa and Ryou aren't. Hikawa's uncertainty is reflected in his often rather poor showings as G3, and obviously Ryou channels a lot of anger into his fighting style. For Agito, it's less that he's actively displaying dominance, and more how that's a natural result of the grace and purpose inherent in how he moves. Again, very organic. Very well thought out. Also, probably as good a time as any to mention that Agito was the start of Seiji Takaiwa's enduring tenure as the suit actor for Rider leads, and even in 2001, it was obvious how talented he was. His more active roles are great, too, but he's also fantastic at putting weight into subtle movements in a way I don't think many other people could.
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01-20-2020, 06:38 PM | #57 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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Quote:
"User", you know, it's fine. It feels very dry and functional, which is what I'd expect from a serious institution. I don't (angrily) notice it, at least, so it's a huge step up. Quote:
Also, probably as good a time as any to mention that Agito was the start of Seiji Takaiwa's enduring tenure as the suit actor for Rider leads, and even in 2001, it was obvious how talented he was. His more active roles are great, too, but he's also fantastic at putting weight into subtle movements in a way I don't think many other people could.
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01-20-2020, 07:02 PM | #58 |
Ex-Weather Three leader
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Most people myself included probably think Centipede Orphenoch when they think Jun Yamasaki the actor who plays Hojo. Its only times like this where someone reviews Agito we remember the great G3 Early Retirement of one Tohru Hojo.
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Last edited by Sunred; 01-20-2020 at 07:04 PM.. |
01-20-2020, 07:09 PM | #59 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
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Putting those six pictures together is maybe the thing I'm most proud of in my life, and I co-own a comics shop that's won international awards.
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01-20-2020, 08:06 PM | #60 |
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Honestly, Agito is one of the most interesting riders; especially when you get farther into the lore. Its a shame we never see him just snap necks though. The shows lore is really deep but a lot of it is only avaliable through the wayback machine or the wiki. I personally wish Hojo decided that he would prove he should pilot G3 by attempting to take on gills, by himself. Just to see the absolute beatdown that would occur
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