[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER X KAMEN RIDER W & DECADE: MOVIE WAR 2010

Yeah, boy, this was a huge let-down for someone who wanted to understand the motivations for characters, and the answer behind the many mysteries it dangled in front of a past version of Kamen Rider Die.

Decade, in this movie, is mostly the Violent Emotion version, acting like a complete asshole for very little established reason. It’s waved off as He’s Been Through A Lot, but it’s still a huge change from where the TV series left everyone. You remember the end of the TV series, right? The two-parter that’s all about how Tsukasa will do anything to protect his friends, even if the universe is collapsing around them? Well, here’s a movie where Tsukasa dares his friends to murder him.

Well, there can be a villainous central character, and there can be unscrupulous approach to achieve one's goals, and not everything has ties to moral lesson... but I guess if, Tsukasa is OOC here, then go ahead criticizing this part, because yeah being a jerk =/= being (anti-)villainous, and I'd be also more critical on OOC depictions of a character (including when it's portrayed as joke moments too though); or anything unfaithful to the source material (except if it's on purpose to improve). Though Tsukasa's attitude here still flows well IMO on his usual, albeit of course acting differently including to his friends such as throwing away the camera with.. ehem.. violent emotion. Albeit probably it's just his great acting despite the setting here. I feel like this 'teaches' the end justifies the means mindset, with how Tsukasa kills all the Riders, but it makes the world better at the end, which'd mean you have to be completely ruthless on your mission to do the greater good, and that humane traits like emotion are just weakness. Unfortunately, though Tsukasa can be OOC here, this is what people can argue about heroes being "actually bad" (if pitted against well-intentioned extremist baddie), that they only hinder the "actual hero" (said extremist)'s plan to make the world better; end justifies the means ofc, doesn't matter what atrocities the extremist had done.

For the Wataru explanation, I never got a sense that this'd be a Build-like ending of unifying worlds though, the premise iirc is always only about keeping the world getting destroyed, and this time Earth crashing into each other only means their destruction instead of unifying like Build (logical ), I guess this is the new reveal instead of more explanation about previous stuff, as it wasn't explained about the end part of the rider battle. As usual though, there are arguments of Onodera just starting that the Ultimate form is weaker, but it's a punching bag again to Decade, albeit Violent Emotion is also considered as one of the stronger Riders (outside of that certain one). Other than that, there's a new flavor of Decade Complete's ability here where he calls out all previous Riders in their Ultimate form at once, instead of just calling one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

But, like the TV series ending, it lands some moments so hard, so well, that I can’t write it off completely.

The idea of Tsukasa being willed back into existence by his friends, given life because they all created a story about him… I love it. I love it so much that I’m honest-to-god tearing up as I type this. It’s the perfect ending to this part of Tsukasa’s story. It's a moment -- in isolation from so much about this movie that runs the gamut from Unnecessary to Aggravating -- that I will literally never forget. It’s poignant, and beautiful, and the best reward for caring about this cast in spite of a high amount of bad storytelling. It’s a moment that is buried in a stupid film. A film so stupid it barely deserves an idea this goddamn good.

I guess the explanation of how everyone comes back is similar to Tsukasa here.... as other Riders "died" just like Tsukasa.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I like how the movie finally resolves the prophecy/threat of Natsumi as the one to stop Decade. I mean, Kiva-la. I knew that was a movie debut, and I knew it was The Girl From Decade (even without context and only having seen three other series, I could recognize which one was The Girl From Decade), but it means so much more now. Seeing Natsumi not just take up arms to end Decade’s reign of terror, but be the one who understands that Tsukasa’s redemption and refuge comes from his friends? I wish this movie had just stuck to that story. The cleanliness of it! The centering of the Natsumi/Tsukasa relationship as Tsukasa’s anchor, it’s a decision that gets what the show did well. It gets the strength of the Kamen Rider Decade series.

Didn't you think that the asshole term means if someone is malicious? Otherwise true Natsumi is one of Riders, and it's probably canon if this is the continuation of the TV ending. Still wonder why Natsumi didn't henshin when she's together with Kaitou against the Shockers. Probably that way, it means that Natsumi.. still can't fight outside of the suit? Usually Riders after fighting for a while with a suit can fend off mooks just fine, and it's also seen in Kaitou. For wanting the movie to stuck on that story... I wonder what's the execution you'd want for Natsumi being the one to stop Decade.... killing Decade before he kills other Riders? Kinda totally different outcome that it means Decade didn't win, and it feels like Natsumi submits to Narutaki's propaganda instead of keep her faith on Tsukasa...