[Androzani84]

GoGo Sentai Boukenger VS Super Sentai

(Apologies in advance to gashatfreak for any bad memories of his own abortive watch thread for this show).

Okay, so just like last time, I’’ll start off with an explanation of the Boukenger premise and the characters who’ll appear in this movie. I’ll also mention that all the Boukengers have personalities based on a previous Sentai hero, while all the villains have a design based off a past Sentai mecha (with the only series they don’t cover being Goggle Five, since the Boukenger’s themselves are a homage.

Premise

“In every era, there are explorers that seek unknown worlds. People call them "adventurers". SGS foundation is a non-government organization that gathers lost treasures from around the world. Treasures such as relics from ancient civilizations, the treasures left behind by people, as well as animals near extinction. Among them are treasures that possess powers surpassing current technology called Precious. SGS is a secret team that finds and protects the Precious!”

Heroes

Satoru “Chief” Akashi/BoukenRed: Leader of the Boukengers. He has an unquenchable love for adventure, which covers up his own failure to save his archeology buddies from a cave-in. Has a habit of snapping his fingers and saying “Attack!”. Based off Tsuyoshi Kaijo/Akarenger

Masumi Inoue/BoukenBlack: A former “treasure hunter” (read: thief) who likes to keep to himself. The only one who doesn’t call Akashi “Chief”. In his youth, his guardians were attacked by Dark Shadow’s Yami no Yaiba, who showed all of them his true face (which by Yaiba’s own admission, is a death sentence). Masumi was the only survivor and is determined to face Yaiba in revenge to know why. Based off Gai Yuki/Black Condor.

Souta Mogami/BoukenBlue: A womaniser and former spy, who serves as the information expert. Has a habit of saying “yes yes (sou sou) Souta”. Based off Kyosuke Shida/Battle France.

Natsuki Mamiya/BoukenYellow: a younger member who is the one person Masumi gives a crap about. Is actually Lillina, Princess of the lost civilisation of Lemuria, who was placed in a suspended animation capsule as a baby that slowed down her aging so that she’d age one year for every 5000. Based off Ako Hayasakawa/Blue Swallow.

Sakura Nishihori/BoukenPink: An heiress who joined the army because she was bored of being rich and then joined the Boukengers because she was bored of shooting enemy troops. Is the most professional of the group, insisting the others “use code names when in the field”. Considered the big sister of the Boukengers, though she never lets her more feminine side slip around the others. Based off Peggy Matsuyama/Momorenger.

Eiji Takaoka/BoukenSilver: The Ashu watcher, whose family has been hunting the demons known as Ashu to eradicate them for centuries. He is also, ironically, half-Ashu, on his mother?€™s side. After the last of the Ashu, Gai and Rei, were revived as the cybernetic Questers, Eiji joined the Boukengers to help them eliminate the two. Based off Yamato Prince Burai/DragonRanger.

Allies:

Morio Makino: The tech guy, who invented the GoGo Vehicles based on Renaissance inventor Leon Giordino’s notes for the Parallel Engine, and the Bouken Suits that also draw power from the Parallel Engine, in addition to the rest of the Boukengers’ equipment.

Mr. Voice: The superior of the Boukengers. Communicates entirely through a digital avatar on a monitor and possesses knowledge that he tries to keep out of the Boukenger’s hands.

DaiKenjin (Great Sword Man) Zubaan: the sentient Golden Sword of Lemuria, tasked with protecting Princess Lillina (which caused problems the one time Natsuki got brainwashed into working with the bad guys). Incapable of speaking Japanese (though he does understand it) instead communicating entirely with a language made up of the syllables of his name (which the Boukengers can understand, but not speak).

Enemies:

High Bishop Gaja (old Indonesian for “priest”): The last survivor of the ancient civilisation of Goadom, who seeks to revive it in the modern day using a Precious, any Precious. Based off Variccune from Gorenger.

Karths: Gaja’s golem-like footsoldiers. Based off Red Puncher from Ohranger/the Red Battlezord from Zeo.

And onto the movie itself, this was originally intended as a Magiranger vs movie, before being retooled by the writer Akatsuki Yamatoya (who has never head-written a Sentai series, but has been a supporting writer on several and separately won an award) into a general anniversary movie. But, there are some relics of the original script, as you’ll see. With that said, on with the review.

We begin at night, with Gaja meeting Chronos, the Majin of Time (based off Providus from Timeranger/the Transwarp Megazord from Time Force), with whom he has made a deal to conquer the world.





As the two leave to prepare for world domination, they are observed by a shadowy figure.



At SGS, Masumi is bored of waiting for something to happen. Then Mr. Voice speaks up as to the appearance of a Negative Syndicate. The 5 main Boukengers set out, and we get a fight scene with the Karths set to the sheer awesomeness that is the Boukenger theme (which is one of the best, if not the best, Sentai themes there is)

GO GO GO! GO GO GO! READY GO!
Go forward, Boukenger!
Aim for the ends of the Earth, Boukenger!
(GO! GO!) READY GO!!

Deep within our chests, the magnet of our hearts
Tells us about the beat of awakening "dreams"
Maybe you will find it, [because] in each one of us
Lies a treasure still undiscovered

START UP! With a burning-hot life
SHIFT UP! Feel your blood running fast
We are the children that were born from miracles
Let's pursue our infinite dreams!

GO GO GO! GO GO GO! READY GO!
Go forward, Boukenger!
Across the seas, the skies, the valleys, and the deserts
No escaping! No losing! No crying!
Burning adventure!
Aim for the ends of the Earth, Boukenger!
(GO! GO!) READY GO!!

After the Karths are defeated, Chronos appears, making the Boukengers vanish with his Clockwork magic. A distressed Makino calls in Eiji, who is stopped by the same figure from before (who is voiced by Toru Furuya, better known as Tuxedo Mask in Sailor Moon) appears and introduces himself.



As Eiji is confused, AkaRed tells him about the 30 Super Sentai that have defended the world.



AkaRed explains that Chronos plans to revive a dangerous Precious and conquer the world. In order to stop him and free the other Boukengers, AkaRed loans Eiji something he’ll need.



But since AkaRed is already gone, Eiji decides he might as well check the book.



Elsewhere, the other Boukengers wake up in a strange location, seemingly made of clockwork gears. But we cut back to Earth, where Eiji barges into Tsubasa Ozu’s boxing match to ask for his help, while the narrator explains who Tsubasa Ozu is for those not in the know.





But Tsubasa is occupied at the moment and Eiji ends up escorted off the premises by security. We then cut to a meeting between gangsters, with the camera stopping on one, as the narrator begins another infodump.





It then transpired that the other gangsters are actually Alienizers (the monsters from Dekaranger). When Eiji walks in to recruit Tetsu, the latter violently beats him up, yells that he’s a member of the Gokuryuu Family and then throws him out the window. Meanwhile, Chronos leads Gaja to the Duel Bond Maradeyouna (I have no idea if I spelt that correctly) World (as seen in episode 34 of Magiranger) and recaps its significance.



He then summons up a hollow pedestal and has Gaja place a Goadom Engine in it, stating that he intends to revive three evil maidens to conquer the world. In the clockwork world, Natsuki and Souta discover that they can’t transform or summon the GoGo Vehicles respectively. As Satoru suggests increasing the range, Masumi discovers there’s someone else here, who the Narrator explains.





Hisaru explains that this dimension is like a Maredoyouna World, and that it was created by Chronos, who also trapped him and his genie Smoky (whose lamp Sakura discovers is a Precious with a Hazard Level of 285) there. But it’s due to fall apart soon, and Hikaru has to lead them to a way out. Back in reality, Eiji receives a call from the next name in the book, Abaranger’s Asuka.



Unfortunately, he’s on Dino Earth, doing other things. (The Narrator does explain who he is, but it’s nothing particularly informative, so I’ll skip over it)



Asuka explains that he has a good reason why he hasn’t shown up yet.



It’s because the dimensional door to Another Earth isn’t open yet and his connection is bad as it is. Meanwhile, after putting the next pillar in a quarry near the sea (hmmm?), Chronos takes Gaja to a ruined temple.



He tasks the High Bishop with waiting for the maiden here to revive, while he goes to greet the first one. Meanwhile, we cut to a TV station, where we meet a familiar face that is the reason we’re all here (unless you just clicked on this page by accident).





Sure enough, as the fans greet Nanami, we see that she’s the last name in the Address Book that Eiji has decided to recruit.



But unfortunately, he gets dragged off by security (seems to be a thing with him today), but not before getting out that he knows she’s HurricaneBlue. Deciding that this Address Book was a load of phooey (and tossing it in the garbage), Eiji decides to stop Chronos himself. Back at Duel Bond, Meemy (voiced by Yasuhiro Takato, best known as Artemis in Sailor Moon, and known is Tokusatsu as the Smilodon Dopant in Kamen Rider W [I’m as confused as you are] and Carantula in Mashin Sentai Kiramager) (Now are you convinced that this is a repurposed vs Magiranger?)





(Not mentioned: his habit of saying “unpleasantness”)

Meemy is then called away to join with Chronos, which he gladly does as a thank you for reviving him (why does every revived villain decide to team up with the one who revived them? You’d think they’d go off and resume their plans from before). As Eiji faces the two and ends up outmatched, he is saved from certain death by the arrival of the 4 he scouted earlier.



Tetsu apologises for beating him up earlier, as he was undercover working a case that is now complete, while Nanami warns that she has an appointment at 6 o’clock. But in the ensuing fight, the 5 prove incapable of working together and the few hits they do manage to execute against Chronos and Meemy are reflected back at them, before the fight ends. Back at the ruined temple, the second maiden revives and gets the wrong idea about the old man standing next to her, staring in awe.









As the two clear things up, in the clockwork dimension, Satoru realises that they had Zubaan on them all along (how do you forget that you’re carrying around a sword? That thing is not tiny). He uses it to call SGS headquarters, where the gathered representatives have degenerated into bickering with each other. With Akashi’s advice, Eiji turns the rabble into a strong fighting force as “Start Up Kizuna” kicks in, with AkaRed joining the team to fill the Red role.

They find Chronos’ united alliance of evil at the quarry, where the final maiden has vanished upon revival. As “Mabayuki Senkou! Bouken Silver!” kicks in,…

AkaRed pulls out the Super Sentai Ball, which he has the others use to defeat the Karths (and for some reason, Asuka and Tsubasa assume their respective super modes exclusively for this sequence).





In the clockwork dimension, Hikaru destroys the lock on the gateway by loading Zubaan into his MagiLamp Buster and firing him and Smoky together.



This causes the gateway to manifest in the main world, with Eiji’s assembled “Dream Team” tasked with destroying it to free the others. As Chronos orders his men to stop them, AkaRed holds them off, foreshadowing the next anniversary Sentai in the process.

AkaRed: Soul Advent: MagiRed! Mahou Henshin: Maagi Magi Magicka!





AkaRed: The Burning Fire Element! Magician of the Red! MagiRed!

After kicking Meemy’s ass with MagiRed’s Red Fire, he turns his attention to TsueTsue, doing another Soul Advent.

AkaRed: Soul Advent: GaoRed! Gao Access! Summon, Spirit of the Earth!





After knocking TsueTsue back with the Lion Fang: Blazing Fire, the legend team destroy the gateway, freeing the Boukengers and Hikaru, who insta-changes into MagiShine in the process. AkaRed, now back to normal, names Satoru the Chief of all Super Sentai (suck it, Marvelous), as the 12 do their roll call.

Satoru: The Fiery Adventurer, BoukenRed!

Masumi: The Fast Adventurer, BoukenBlack!

Souta: The High-up Adventurer, BoukenBlue!

Natsuki: The Strong Adventurer, BoukenYellow!

Sakura: The Deepsea Adventurer, BoukenPink!

Eiji: The Dazzling Adventurer, BoukenSilver!

Satoru: Never-ending Bouken spirits…

All: GoGo Sentai Boukenger!

Nanami: Waters dance, waves crash. Water Ninja, HurricaneBlue!

Asuka: The Invincible Ryuujin Soul, AbareBlack!

Tetsu: Facing outrageous evil! Smashing the terrifying darkness! The Daybreak Detective! DekaBreak!

Tsubasa: The Galloping Thunder Element! Magician of the Yellow, MagiYellow!

Hikaru: The Shining Sun Element! Tenkuu Hero, MagiShine!

AkaRed: The inheritor of the Red souls. AkaRed!

Satoru: We are…

All: Super Sentai!



A fight breaks out, wherein Masumi, Souta, Asuka and Tsubasa beat up Gaja (what else is new?), Natsuki, Sakura and Nanami somehow struggle with TsueTsue and Eiji, Tetsu and Hikaru pool their resources to take down Meemy.



We then cut to the main highlight of this battle: Satoru and AkaRed vs Chronos, with AkaRed wielding AbaRed’s Tyranno Rod. (So he anticipated both Gokaiger and Zenkaiger)



But Chronos soon tries to incapacitate AkaRed by wrapping him in ivy dispensed from his body. But, he’s still able to loan weapons to Satoru, granting him DekaRed’s Twin Magnum.



When that’s only able to slightly annoy Chronos, AkaRed grants Satoru HurricaneRed’s Hayatemaru, allowing him to free the former with Kage no Mai.



AkaRed then makes a declaration.



After BoukenRed beats Chronos back with his Bouken Javelin, all 12 Sentai heroes are blown back by the arrival of the final maiden, one Nanami knows all too well.





Furabijo explains that she simply went for a walk, which is why she was missing earlier. As she, TsueTsue and Meemy take delight in blowing the heroes back, Chronos laughs, as everything he needs is now in his sight, not that they understand.





He then merges the three into his ultimate weapon, the Sankenja (san=three, kenja=philosopher) Staff, which grows him giant and evolves him into his ultimate form (which looks like an evil version of Legend Magiranger, presumably a relic of the original script).



Sakura scans the Staff to determine that it’s a Precious with a Hazard Level of 666 (har har). And since everyone was reverted to normal, we get our obligatory group transformation here.

Boukengers: Boukenger, Start Up!

Eiji: GoGo Changer, Start Up!

Hikaru: Tenkuu Henshin! Goolu Golu Goldiro!

Tsubasa: Mahou Henshin! Maagi Magi Magicka!

Tetsu: Emergency, DekaBreak!

Asuka: Bakuryuu Change!

Nanami: Ninpuu, Shinobi Change!



Akashi and Eiji then summon the GoGo Vehicles, with the main 5 forming Ultimate DaiBouken and the sixth hero forming SirenBuilder.

Chronos isn’t impressed.



Sure enough, Chronos proceeds to trash the two in the ensuing fight. But the main 5 aren’t out yet, summoning GoGo Voyager and separating it, before combining into DaiVoyager. This also fails to do much against Chronos.



But then AkaRed has everyone else gather around him, having them gift him one of the values of a good Super Sentai that they represent.

Eiji: Hope

Hikaru: Love

Tsubasa: Courage

Tetsu: Justice

Asuka: Passion

Nanami: Friendship.



With these powers given to him, AkaRed bestows new combination parts on DaiVoyager.



As the Boukengers state the values of Super Sentai that lie within them, they attack Chronos with the 30 Super Sentai Soul, destroying him.





As the three maidens return to hell, Gaja swears vengeance as he takes his leave. The movie ends with the legends being seen off by the Boukengers, as the credits begin to roll. And we get Boukenger showrunner Sho Aikawa’s contribution to the anniversary, a song performed by 80s Sentai singers MoJo, Takayuki Miyauchi and Akira Kushida, with composition by original Sentai composer Chuumei Watanabe.

Oh friends whose passion burns red hot like a flame
Your wings dance in the blue sky, reaching for the sun
With a yellow spark that runs up to the distant future
Together we have to defended the earth so green

Just watch you demons, dinosaurs from another dimension
Swift ninjas, secret science
No force of evil shall defeat us

Great super sentai
We call on your name forever
Super century super sentai
Throughout the ages there you are
Super sentai!

Next time: The Gokaigers face two Action Commanders turning people into nuts. This and more in Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, episode 25: Pirate and Ninja.

Final thoughts: Okay, the plot is admittedly rather basic and not very big on character interactions. But it makes up for it with some good action and a surprising decon-recon switch of the Dream Team trope.