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01-03-2020, 01:40 AM | #8241 |
Stronger Than You
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: nyet
Posts: 25,326
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Don't worry. Kakuranger eventually clicks. Like Switch said, the Narrator is dropped halfway in, but even before so, the series just starts making more sense as you realize that this is just going to be a weird series
It's not a bad thing, though! Between the 90's attitude, the modern takes on classic yokai, and the entire idea of ninja in the modern area, I think they knew they were going to have a weird series on their hands, so they just reveled in it. However, it's a really enjoyable ride! The way the characters interact with each other is just wonderful, and because they're ninja, they get some very creative attacks (I'll always love red's cloning).
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01-03-2020, 05:09 AM | #8242 |
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Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 462
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I didn't actually know the narrator was dropped! I am working my way through Megaranger at the moment in an attempt to finally finish a 90s sentai. I'm liking it so far, I don't think I like it more than In Space but they're both very close.
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01-03-2020, 06:20 AM | #8243 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,270
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I'm about 2 eps away from finishing Abaranger, and I wasn't a big fan of it, yet I want to finish just for completion sake.
I know a lot of people might not like what I'm going to say, but I really don't like this whole "power of friendship" it has going on. Yeah, I know it's geared towards kids but lines like "There's a monster in every human's heart, but they will conquer it in the end"...When its sister show Kamen Rider Faiz at the time has some of the scummiest people in it. But hey, they just have to conquer it and they'll be good. Plus, I don't the heroes as all goody two shoes and no flaws, I like my characters with a bit more nuance. Last edited by IndigoArms; 01-03-2020 at 06:28 AM.. |
01-03-2020, 06:24 AM | #8244 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,270
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Oh yeah, Space is better cause it has a better narrative and it's the finale to the Zordon Era. But, Megaranger is still top notch, since it has the heroes as high schoolers, so they aren't as hardened as the adult heroes of the past. Plus, I don't to give things away, but it has IMO, one of the most emotional endgames there is.
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01-03-2020, 08:05 PM | #8245 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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Kakuran-Hey wait a second did I forget to mention the theme song in my last post? If anything was going to slip my mind, you would think one of the catchiest openings in Sentai history wouldn't be it, but here we are. So yeah, the Kakuranger theme. Good stuff. You can tell it's not messing around because even the usual excited shouting of the title at the start is replaced with more catchy singing. Anyway...
Kakuranger 4-5: Sure enough, now that the status quo is established, things get a lot easier to digest. The fourth episode keeps things very straightforward, and mostly serves to give an overall feel for how the team are going to bounce off of one another now that they're all together. Spoiler alert: They aren't exactly a well-oiled machine. Which only makes things more entertaining, mind you. This episode had all the fun of the first three, but with the bonus of not making my brain hurt, which made it that much easier to enjoy the absurdity of stuff like the crazy shapeshifting showdown with the monster that ends with him turning into a baseball (for reasons?) and getting smacked around by the Kakurangers. It's a great sequence, and the first moment in the show where the style and tone it was going for really clicked with me. The only point of criticism I have is the weirdly underplayed debut of Muteki Shogun. Granted, it kind of got a cameo in the first two episodes, but this is the first time we see everyone combine, and it's not treated like much of an occasion. The only one trying to build any hype for it is the dang narrator, and you can imagine how much that (doesn't) help. Episode 5 further settles the show into a nice groove by being the first usual spotlight style episode. I still don't feel like I can actually tell you anything about Saizou's personality, or how it differs compared to his teammates, but hey, once again, the episode is fun, so it's not a huge deal. Nor, apparently, are giant monsters, because for some reason everyone just sits back and lets Ninja Blue try to take care of it all by himself. I guess they're just trying to respect that it's his episode, but geez, guys. You could help him a little. If Muteki Shogun had been there, you might've even actually beat the monster. I joke, but of course, I actually love when the individual mecha in Sentai exist to do something beyond combining, and the obvious advantage the Jusho (or Beast Generals or whatever) have in this department on account of all being dudes in suits makes them huge winners for me. As for more general observations, first of all, as much I'm ragging on him, the quick rundowns the narrator provides on the Youkai when they show up genuinely are pretty helpful, and would especially be so for anyone who has zero knowledge whatsoever of this kind of thing. It's probably the only useful thing he does? Honestly, if they had they had just went all the way and replaced the parts where he's talking about the show with more assorted trivia, he'd probably be a way more endearing character. Speaking of endearing characters though, I can't help but like Jiraiya. The fact that he doesn't speak Japanese well means a lot of his dialogue so far consists of just shouting his teammates' names in a concerned manner when they're in danger, which has lead to me quickly having the impression he's the only one on the team who's actually glad to be there. All these other guys are always bickering while he stands off to the side, only making the occasional quip, like he's just really happy to be hanging out with everyone and going on adventures. What a guy. Oh, and that ending theme is also pretty catchy. Quote:
The bit about the narrator is pretty interesting though. We'll see how I feel when I get there, but right now, I'm seriously appreciating how amazing Gekiranger was to have a character like this who was literally a gross fly, and have him be way more charming and likable.
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01-04-2020, 09:16 PM | #8246 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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Kakuranger 6-7:
Episode 6 is another one that really pushes the out-there atmosphere of Kakuranger in a good way, taking a completely absurd plot about a Youkai trying to marry Tsuruhime, and just rolling with it as far as it can go. Even in a show going for wacky comedy, having her and the Youkai arguing about the subject would probably be considered enough, but Kakuranger goes the extra mile by having them end up in Youkai court for a bit to go through divorce proceedings. I can't hate that kind of commitment to being wacky. Although despite the episode being about Tsuruhime, once again, Jiraiya is the guy drawing all my attention. Between being the only one to say hi to the team food truck in the morning (oh, uh, their food truck is also a cat, if you didn't know), being the only one to notice when Tsuruhime mysteriously disappears, and being the only one not to laugh at her dreams here, my assessment that he's the nicest person on the team is quickly proving more and more correct. Sure, he does get in on some mild teasing at the very end, but that's probably just because he didn't want to look like a stick in the mud. 7 is Naruhisa Arakawa's first crack at writing the show, and he immediately reminds me why I like him by having the very first thing that happens be the narrator nearly getting killed by some stray shuriken, which I can't help but interpret as an subtle act of rebellion against the format on his part. It's genuinely a really inspired way to open the story, too, making the narration bit feel less disconnected and getting right to showing the Kakurangers training to do ninja stuff, which, in of itself, is also new and very nice to see. I like the implication these people actually are putting some work in, rather than just randomly gaining all these skills out of nowhere. The plot itself deals with Seikai being unable to control his appetite thanks to a gluttonous Youkai, and again, Kakuranger dares to go places with these concepts other shows wouldn't. Having some cheap gags where a character chows down on so much food there are stacks of empty plates all over the table and they get fat? Yeah, whatever, that's cool. Having that character also become a giant, and having the resolution involve Tsuruhime turning herself into an equally huge burger to lure the Youkai out of Seikai's stomach? That's something I haven't seen before. And coming from the writer who later went on to make eating tomatoes seem epic in Gingaman, you'd better believe the episode has some of the show's most solid character drama so far in-between all the laughs. Plus, Jiraiya's sole line in the episode is to express sympathy for Seikai's plight, so that's one more shining moment of camaraderie from him. He even said it in Japanese so everyone would get it! Also, Muteki Shogun is freakin' brutal, man. The mecha fights in both these episodes last like under 30 seconds, and most of that is just the windup to the Youkai getting chopped in half by a flaming sword. They don't stand a chance.
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01-05-2020, 01:32 AM | #8247 |
Stronger Than You
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: nyet
Posts: 25,326
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Jiraiya was easily my favorite of the series up until Sasuke really strikes the perfect balance between comedic and serious.
The fact that Jiraiya doesn't speak Japanese really helps sell him as a character. He doesn't know what anyone is saying, and no one knows what he's saying in return. Entire conversations are had with him right there, and he probably picks up a fourth of what was said, if that, so he has to just...Go along with things. Just makes him so amusing to watch
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01-05-2020, 05:39 AM | #8248 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 462
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Yeah, judging by what little I know about Kakuranger I think Jiraiya's gonna be my favourite as well!
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01-05-2020, 05:48 PM | #8249 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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Kakuranger 8-9:
Episode 8 is a pretty bog-standard Sentai episode that I can't work up the energy to say much about. Which is a bit weird, when the plot is about a Youkai abducting children to eat them, but that just goes to show what a high bar this show has set for weirdness already. It's a satisfying enough romp, but it's paper thin, accomplishing nothing in terms of developing the cast, despite some extra attention for Nekomaru, and it isn't outrageous enough to compete with the other episodes so far for comedy. Thankfully the next episode does a lot to make up for this by cutting to the chase and finally giving Jiraiya his day in the limelight. Apparently it turns out he's a massive dork who becomes easily obsessed with watching his favorite Japanese TV shows about awesome heroes to the point he starts imitating their mannerisms and dialogue. 熱いな、それ!Talk about relatable! So, yeah, this is a pretty stellar episode with a great escalation, that isn't afraid to make Jiraiya look completely insane if it means we get to see him get into a shirtless swordfight with the Youkai of the week, a rival TV nerd whose heart has been corrupted by a desire for fame, whereas your boy Jiraiya knows how to keep things humble, helping out a kid for no other reason than he's just that compassionate. Seriously, the Kakurangers don't know how lucky they are to have this guy around.
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01-06-2020, 10:02 AM | #8250 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 462
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I just watched this Megaranger episode where the monster is trying to turn everyone into sea coral and I found it very disturbing, I hope I don't have nightmares about it tonight!
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