[ZeoRangerV]

So like I said, next up on my Kikaider viewing adventure was Mechanical Violator Hakaider. Directed by Keita Amemiya of Garo fame.

Basically you could fit the entire plot of this film on a post-it note. Hakaider wakes up in a dystopian future, travels to place named Jesus Town where the people live under a fascist ruler. Meets some rebels, falls in love with a rebel, watches them all get killed so in turn goes out and kills everyone. To be honest, it's just easier to call the film "Hakaider Smash".

If you aren't a fan of shoehorned religious imagery in your toku though, best give this one a miss. The whole thing is just one big spin on good vs evil with as many Christian themes it can throw into it. I guess "Jesus Town" should have been a pretty good giveaway.

Absolutely none of the other characters in the film are remotely memorable (Michael has a pretty neat design though, I could go for a Figuart of that), so it's basically just Hakaider carrying the film. Hakaider and his ridiculously overpowered shotgun of death. The fight scenes aren't particularly impressive, but its just so fun to watch bullets ricochet off of him as he tears down anything and everything in front of him. And then of course, there's that gloriously twisted Kikaider "cameo".

Hakaider's received a 90s tastic new look for the film, but I have to say its probably my least favourite iteration of the character in terms of looks. I freely admit that the muppet-esque grin of the original is an acquired taste, but the Ninja Turtles toy grimace of this version doesn't feel like an improvement. I also think the design loses a lot by lacking an exposed brain, something I'd consider a staple of his design.

Critically its not a particularly great movie, but it is just good gritty fun.