|
Community Links |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
10-08-2020, 01:27 AM | #201 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Yeah, that was Zanki. Not even going to pretend. He's played by an actor named Kenji Matsuda, who has a pretty good track record with both action movies and tokusatsu. He'll be back after this as a regular on Kiva, too, and he had a big role in the second Garo series. He's one of my favorite tokusatsu actors; even in just two short scenes here he radiates cool.
Quote:
I totally get you on Asumu feeling shortchanged this time. It's not like he didn't have some story, but the big focus here is on the monster fight and he's just not part of that. It's also pretty obvious that the show is using his story as a way to introduce Todoyama and Zanki, which makes Asumu feel even more sidelined.
That said, I appreciate the monster plot trying to loop in Asumu's story by making the Deranged Douji's weak spot his tummy. Everyone's got insides that are nothing but trouble! There's your theme, viewers!
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
10-08-2020, 02:56 AM | #202 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,554
|
I see Switchblade has done half of my job for me. So I’ll do something else. Explain why I called attention to the name of the guy Hibiki was calling a few episodes ago.
As someone with an experience in writing fiction, I’ve come to realise that you only name a character if they’re going to be a major player. The exceptions to this rule being a( red shirts where you at least need to feel some sympathy for them and b( if your telling (or retelling) part of the story from their perspective (which is how everyone and their mother in a Star Wars film has a dedicated backstory for what amounts to background extras). Since Todoyama (I’ll explain the origins of his name soon) fits neither bill, they were obviously setting him up for a bigger role. I will say this about Matsuda. He has a hell of a singing voice. And this show didn’t use it at all. But he’s still the reason I managed to pull myself through the first half and the excuse I had for continuing to watch the second half (sadly, he’s there ‘til the end). Last edited by Androzani84; 10-08-2020 at 09:37 AM.. |
10-08-2020, 05:13 PM | #203 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,290
|
Quote:
KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 13 - “CHAOTIC AFFAIRS”
Asumu’s both the most invisible part of this episode, but also the lynchpin. He’s someone who’s trying to get up to speed in a brand-new setting, while still wanting to support Hibiki. Admitting that he needs a break, that he can’t deliver, to him it smacks of choking. He’s started to think of asking for help, or needing to slow down, as his flaw of cowardice. It’s one thing to try hard in order to help your friends, it’s another to put yourself at risk because you didn’t know your limits. Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Which brought me to the "jerks or villains shamelessly get away from their deeds, either from fandom or in-universe" part (not talking about that shopkeeper obviously, but for other cases this happen as comedic sociopathy).
__________________
The most complete non-wiki encyclopedias for Kamen Rider series (currently only found Ryuki and OOO's). |
10-08-2020, 05:16 PM | #204 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
|
Quote:
The Asumu plotline in this one, it just refuses to go anywhere very meaningful, and that's more than a bit of a bummer despite still being quite an enjoyable episode overall. The scene that closes out the episode of him in bed looking at his school uniform, it felt like something that was supposed to be more poignant than it ended up being. Admittedly, though, I can't truly say I'm opposed to the focus on winged cannibal Douji. That guy was awesome! Had a real Grongi flavor to him, right down to picking fights with his own kind as much as the heroes.
__________________
|
10-08-2020, 06:20 PM | #205 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
You know, for how much our takes on the B movie looking monsters differ, I'm often finding it hard to really say much about episodes of Hibiki specifically because I agree with you too much. I figured straight up rewatching the series would give me more to contribute than usual, but, at least at the moment, it's hard to do much beyond pointing at your posts and going "that!"
The Deranged Douji being the highlight of the episode is, like, the perfect example of how weird watching 14 felt. My favorite part was the monster? And I found the Asumu plot thin and unnecessary? No thank you, Kamen Rider Hibiki.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
10-08-2020, 06:25 PM | #206 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,481
|
I really need to catch up with this watch. I'm very behind.
__________________
|
10-08-2020, 11:23 PM | #207 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Definitely watch episode 15! It's...!!!
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
10-08-2020, 11:36 PM | #208 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI VOLUME 15 - “DWINDLING THUNDER”
“These are my favourite chords I know you like them too When I get a new guitar You can have this one And sing me a lullaby Sing me the alphabet Sing me a story I haven’t heard yet” -The Weakerthans, “My Favourite Chords” Best. Episode. Yet. I’m only a few minutes into watching it and I’m already brimming with things to talk about. Let’s run it down in real-time! 1) That new version of the theme song! What a goddamn statement of intent! It’s a rollicking, shredding version of the infinitely flexible Hibiki opening song. (We even get a muzak version later in the episode!) I like the way Hibiki’s signature instrument, the drums (hi i hope this isn’t a spoiler), end up creating a reliable base for other instruments to rotate in and out. Those powerful drums keep it sounding like The Hibiki Theme, no matter if there’re horns, guitars, vocals, or nothing else at all. But the guitars are very very cool! 2) Perfect first Asumu scene, with a lot of neat touches. (Speaking of touches, WHAT THE HELL, did they really do a gag on a Kamen Rider where AsuMum thinks she walked in on Asumu, uh, polishing his drumstick? Unbelievably funny.) It’s always cute to see Hitomi and Asumu do their adorably awkward teenage flirting. I mean, I obviously stan Akirasumu, but this is a pretty solid diversion. The body language is especially on-point, with the two of them fidgeting in excitement at hanging out later. Terrific opening scene. 3) And then we’re at the first Zanki/Todoyama fight, and, man, those guitars! I really missed them! It just makes a fight scene more hyped, more entertaining. They’re not right for every tone, but if you want to have two new dudes come off like five-star heroes, yes, guitars. The fight itself peaks early, with Zanki flinging a terrified child sixty feet into Todoyama’s waiting arms (I can’t imagine Ibuki trying that with Akira, but I’d love to see it at least once), but it’s still pretty fun for this early in the episode. Zanki in particular gets an absolutely gruesome finish on the Douji (the way the camera holds on its face before it explodes!), getting covered in Monster Goo. The Hime gets away, and the Oni try to track it down. 4) And just so we don’t completely forget what show this is, it’s Hibiki! Training! With Ibuki and Akira! And because this show loves me, we’re back to Hibiki dreaming about being some sort of Obscured Rider, with his sunglasses and his Honda bike. (Honda’s all over this episode, with Takeshi having some fleet contracts to keep every Oni in an Element.) I genuinely adore that the show is making But He Doesn’t Ride A Bike into an ongoing storyline, when it’s easy enough to write off as something that doesn’t fit the life of a camping superhero. (Although, Ibuki!) It’s nice that he’s not good (yet) at something so core to the Kamen Rider aesthetic, so we can see him earn it. Very happy with this concept! 5) Meanwhile, Ibuki and Todoyama finish off the remaining Douji Or Hime (it’s usually the Douji who survives, because of misogyny, but I thought it was the Hime this time) and the Makamou with some LIGHTNING and HURLED GUITARS and MAJESTIC SHREDDING. It is precisely as awesome visually as it is sonically. (There’s actually a neat touch for the two string Oni, where Todoyama’s motif is more bass guitar, and Zanki’s motif is shredding lead guitar. Zanki's theme is front and center, while Todoyama's provides support. It’s just like their partnership! So goddamn smart!) The monster explosion is great, even as they’re feeding in the idea that Zanki is maybe not at 100%. Which, man, are you telling me this dude could be more of a bad-ass?! 6) I enjoyed the conversation between Hibiki and Akira quite a bit. For one, it’s something we don’t really get to see a lot on this show, the two of them getting a scene together. For another, it’s really nice to see Hibiki in that Casual Mentor role, considering we’re spending a lot more time with masters and apprentices than we have before. Seems like everyone’s got someone to look out for except Hibiki! 7) Hinaka being very into Todoyama and putting him on the spot while he’s trying to call in about a defeated monster, yes. One thousand times, yes. She’s at her best when the show lets her get weird, and she is so weird here. It’s this middle ground between Aww and Yikes, and I thought it was funny as shit. That extreme close-up and red filter! She looked like a Makamou that needed to romance an Oni! And then, punchline, she’s been saying most of her aggressive date suggestions to Zanki, who has something to tell Ichiro that almost definitely isn’t related to Zanki’s struggles to finish off the Makamou or Hibiki’s discussion with Akira about replacing Ibuki someday. It’s probably just about how great the Honda Element is! 8) Asumu reads out AsuMum’s note, and they layer AsuMum’s voice over Asumu’s lip movement. Even the “ha ha”. Amazing. A+ episode for that touch alone. I almost feel like deleting everything else I wrote and leaving this post as just this paragraph. So thoroughly this show to find that shading. 9) Zanki is epically chill, the kind of unflappable protagonist that it’s easy to see Todoyama feeling inferior to. Zanki has a tough fight, one that exposed him as less than 100%, and is like Yep Done. That’s it. No heartfelt chat with his apprentice. No long walk where the weight of a thousand victories makes the next battle seem impossible to face. Dude just feels he’s done, sees the strides his apprentice has made, and quits. It’s great! It’s so goddamn cool! And it’s even cooler for Todoyama completely freaking out and running away from Zanki, while Zanki shakes his head in amusement. Just the best episode, you guys. 10) Hibiki is coming to dinner! YES! 11) Even the more straightforward exposition scenes are killer, with the camera zooming into and alongside Team Zanki?’s Element at the start of a scene, and then separating and zooming at the end. The content of Ichiro and Zanki’s conversation is largely about conveying info, but I like how when Ichiro brings up Zanki’s sudden retirement, Zanki just goes, “Yeah. Sorry.” He’s so cool! 12) THAT. HENSHIN. Gotta be in the Top 5 Henshins ever. They call down lighting and explode into superheroes. Unbelievable. This is the most jaw-dropping, metal episode of this show yet, and it’s one of the first where I’m salivating for the next one. 13) Hey, real quick because I forgot to mention it: I like the Zanki/Todoyama suits! The guitar strings work great as a series of straps, and the show even came up with an over-the-shoulders variation for Sabaki. Todoyama’s white markings on his helmet work a little better for me than Zanki’s brown stripes, but both look good. Really fun way to incorporate guitar motifs into the Hibiki aesthetic. This episode was… oh, man, I needed it to be good, and it was stellar. A+++, best episode yet of the series. Cannot wait to see more!
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! Last edited by Kamen Rider Die; 08-17-2023 at 09:24 PM.. |
10-09-2020, 01:12 AM | #209 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,427
|
I don't remember the first time I saw the Zanki/Todoyama transformation in the... abandoned mining town, maybe? It was before I saw the complete show and I tuned into part of that episode because of some reason - or maybe I saw it in a YouTube compilation, I'm honestly not sure. In any case, it's one of the single scenes in Hibiki that has stuck with me the most over the years and I always get excited watching our guys walk through the town while the Douji and Hime distantly flank them.
I unabashedly love everything about the guitar Oni. I love the suit designs, I love the transformation bracelets, and I love the hell out of the ongekigen (the guitar weapon). I always look forward to the moment when these guys arrive and complete the show's main cast. We're getting a little crowded now, for sure, but I can deal with a big, happy family. Also, loved the scene with Hinaka on the phone. The beat when she realizes that Zanki has taken over never fails to make me laugh. |
10-09-2020, 01:13 AM | #210 |
take me to space
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,406
|
I think in your second paragraph, you mixed up Midori and Hitomi's names! Also I very much remember this and the next few episodes pretty distinctively, and was shaking in excitement over it like you were, probably! I hope you come to really like Zanki and his apprentice's story. They immediately stick out in this episode for like, having a story arc to themselves as opposed to only being people for Hibiki and Asumu to bounce off (not that there's anything wrong with that!).
I'm sure Hibiki places equal value in all it's instruments, but I think we all agree that those guitar riffs and shredding is several notches up in coolness compared to anything else. |
|
TokuNation News & Rumors |
Kakuranger: 30 Years After |
ToyRise RyuKenDo |
Alternative Cut of "Day Of The Dumpster" Released |
Shodo SUPER Kyoryuger Teaser |
Figuarts/Seihou GRIDMAN |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:53 PM.
|