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08-29-2020, 11:52 AM | #1741 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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It's going to be a real Absolute Conspiracy when we got promised this exciting mini-series featuring all these obscure Ultramen in action and then it turns out the whole thing is just mundane scenes of Belial Early Style being kind of obnoxious in social situations.
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08-29-2020, 11:55 AM | #1742 |
Dai Shogun
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 7,524
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Quote:
It's going to be a real Absolute Conspiracy when we got promised this exciting mini-series featuring all these obscure Ultramen in action and then it turns out the whole thing is just mundane scenes of Belial Early Style being kind of obnoxious in social situations.
... No wait, that's exactly the kind of content I’m looking for in 2020. |
08-29-2020, 11:57 AM | #1743 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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The best part to me is that all those other Ultras didn't care at all when Belial was zapping the guys in front, but immediately stood up to wreck his life once he started chatting on the phone. This says a lot about our society
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08-29-2020, 12:01 PM | #1744 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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Man, the themes in this random 30 second PSA are deeper than the ones in the movie it was advertising!
Which is Mega Monster Whatevertheheck where Belial and Zero debuted, in case that wasn't clear.
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08-29-2020, 12:04 PM | #1745 |
Dai Shogun
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 7,524
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I really want to keep this conversation about Belial's social incompetence going but YouTube isn’t slowing down today. What is this and why is it so perfect?
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08-29-2020, 12:31 PM | #1746 |
take me to space
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,406
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I've never seen that before, that's awesome... I love Neos now?
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08-29-2020, 12:48 PM | #1747 |
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
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I remember that one. I felt sad for Neos looking all dejected sitting there.
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08-29-2020, 06:54 PM | #1748 |
Ex-Weather Three leader
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,501
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Neos' design is for its time a really nice balance of the old and new I think. Ultraseven 21 is cool too.
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Last edited by Sunred; 08-29-2020 at 06:57 PM.. |
08-30-2020, 10:53 AM | #1749 |
Dai Shogun
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 7,524
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"Who could it be - hiding behind this devastated building?"
... "It's the guy who said he wouldn't watch any old Ultraman shows mere three weeks ago!" Today was a rather strange day. I woke up relaxed and happy, as on most other Sundays. I went on a long walk with my dog, as on most other Sundays. I ironed my shirts, as on most other Sundays. I quietly ate a delicious breakfast, as on most other Sundays. But then I thought to myself "I should watch Ultraman Mebius"... very much unlike most other Sundays. You see, there are a few factors that play into this thought. The first is that Kurona was right. Adoring Ultraman but not watching the vast library available is a rather confusing mindset for me to have. Second, Ultraman Mebius is one of these characters that are often used as fusion material in the "New Generation" shows. So I thought to myself: "There has to be a reason for that". And lastly - I never heard anyone talk about this show. Never ever. Which is great, because that means: No expectations, no reasons to hesitate. And here I am now, as my journey into the 4:3-realm of Ultraman begins: Ultraman Mebius - Episode 1: A Fateful Encounter To put it into three words: This episode ruled. I couldn't possibly have asked for a better episode to start this new chapter of my "Ultralife" with. Life, with an "f", not related to Ultraman Ginga. So, to properly explain why I liked this episode so much, I have to admit where I previously failed in the dimension of Ultra: Ultraman Max. I hear a lot of praise about this show. In fact, there exist people who call it one of the best Ultraman shows ever made. Since Switchblade is the spearhead of this movement, it's probably true. But - I couldn't get into it. Of course I will try again, maybe once I as a human being have grown enough to properly grasps its excellence, but for now I shall abuse my limited knowledge of it to showcase what Ultraman Mebius, in my opinion anyways, did better. - I very much dislike completely formed "Earth Defense"-teams that the protagonist awkwardly stumbles into. I rather have a complete team that the protagonist already belongs to or having him be part of its creation. - I prefer Ultraman who either assume human form themselves or are in strong contact with their hosts. Unlike Max who just exists as a tool to enable transformation. - I like to see at least a small legacy - a few ties to existing Ultraman fiction. Fresh starts can be fun but I like how vast the Ultraman universe is and how each show adds to it. So, how does Ultraman Mebius manage to tick these boxes for me? Well: The episode starts with Mebius being send to Earth. Father of Ultra appoints him to this position, and he follows the lineage of the Showa Ultra. Very nice, I like that. Also, interesting to note: "Ultraman" was apparently a term humans gave the residents of the Land of Light back in the day. In recent shows it's their own designation for themselves, although of course one could argue they adapted it when dealing with humans of the multiverse. Doesn’t explain them using the term among each other now but hey. Mebius arrives in human guise to find a world that has absolutely no need for him. "Ultraman" is a thing of the past. Earth protects itself, and monsters rarely appear anyways. I like how this is basically just a sequel to OG Ultraman, even though Father of Ultra showcased all Showa Ultra as predecessors of Mebius. And I like it for two reasons: First, it keeps it simple. No need to count up 6 Ultraman who were already here. Second, it leaves interpretation open to the viewer, which "Ultraman" was addressed. If you were a kid during the Showa run that liked Ultraman Taro for example, and now watch Mebius with your own child, you can proudly say "He means Taro!". But, peace doesn't last long. An evil saurian monster from space is on collision course with Earth - it is Gigan! No, wait... its "Dinozaur". Rookie mistake, they seem to share the same voice actor. The man who proudly told Mebius (or as he is now known, Mirai Hibino) that Earth is doing fine without Ultraman, rushes away as he is a member of "GUYS", our current Earth Defense-force which always gives 1000% to protect us all. Before Mirai can react he is assaulted by a knockoff Ra-Baruba-De, a mysterious woman with a long tongue and other strange powers. By the way, I had to google Rose Gurongi's name because I obviously forgot it, but in doing so I typed "Ultraman Kuuga" and was very irritated about the search results. Do not overdue it with Toku cross-references on strange days such as this one I guess. Meanwhile we're introduced to a colorful set of characters - a kindergarten teacher, a professional motorcyclist, a top-league soccer player and a student doctor on his way to greatness. In a flash of revelation as they slowly realize the law of Toku may dictate them to play an important role to the plot they start their heroic career by trying to save the most valuable citizens of all: Bunny rabbits. Because the kindergarten teacher decides to run back into the monster mayhem zone to rescue them since their students cried about leaving them behind. I like the teacher already, she's got her priorities set straight. Pension is overrated! Anyhow, the BOYS successfully hold their ground against the monster just kidding they are getting freakin’ annihilated. Destroyed. Torn apart. And they all die. Except for our Ultraman-critic, Ryu Aihara, he gets saved by his captain because the captain intelligently realizes we need Ryu's skepticism about giant beings made entirely out of solid light later. After all this happens and Mirai's little skirmish with "Rose", as I call her now, is over Mirai gets together with the rabbit rescue party before the monster now targets them specifically (filthy rabbit-hating fiend!). Mirai only then decides it's time to save what’s left of Japan and maybe fight the monster. Again, priorities, if you threaten innocent animals you deserve what's coming for you. Mebius appears in glorious teasing fashion, semi-immediately filling the souls of the people with hope and joy after they nearly all suffered collective heart attacks because following the giant flash of light nothing happened for about half a minute. But then he drops in, our glorious hero in red and silver. The suit looks cool, I really like it. Mebius takes care of the monster without remorse, defeating it in supreme fashion. Before Ryu rightfully points out that Mebius fought like an absolute idiot by dodging for like 2 minutes and thus enabling the monster to destroy the whole city. I'm not kidding here, he literally chews out the new Ultraman for this. I love it. So the episode ends with Ryu at the MENS headquarters sulking about the events of the day before new recruit Mirai surprises him with his presence, and the promise of new action with a new CG vehicle! It's time to form a new group! Thank goodness we have a long list of capable candidates to go through. If the rabbits aren't mentioned again I riot. Yes, this was entertaining as hell. Super cool action, awesome miniature work (the destruction caused by Dinozaur was insane!), fantastic effects, and an interesting premise with an immediate array of likable characters. That's how an Ultraman show needs to start, no scratch that, every show ever! I very much like the idea of a new team needing to be formed following the destruction of the old one, especially with characters that all have dreams of their own to fulfill but may need to sideline them to serve a greater good. As I have a week off now I shall further engulf in this show happily. But please don't expect any further posts of this magnitude, I really have no idea what came over me. It must've been linked to the mirror dimension, as I now have a strong craving for a good fish sandwich. |
08-30-2020, 11:53 AM | #1750 |
take me to space
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,406
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Mebius was actually the very third Ultraman show I watched after Dyna and Max (with bits of Tiga and Gaia way back as a child), and I don't know if I even knew it was meant to be a celebration of Ultraman as a whole at the time, but I can vouch for it's wonderfulness. The Tsubaraya youtube channel recently uploading some of my favourite episodes of it made me think about how nice it is again, so it's nice to see that it (or at least it's first episode!) has touched one more person! It honestly might still be favourite Ultraman series to this day, or at the very least the one I find the most emotional connection to (nostalgia for the 90s series notwithstanding).
By the way, Kiwami, about your thought of the term 'Ultraman' among the Ultraman themselves, most of the time I just sorta headcanon that when they say that word among themselves, that's just for the audience's convenience and they are really saying whatever their species name is in their own language. |
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