[Powerman293]

Super Hero Taisen GP

Firstly, before I ramble on about the plot, I have to say, there are some shots in this movie in the later half, that for some reason looks... different. Like they've been filmed at a higher framerate, or just the camera is finally sitting still for a damn minute and getting close ups, and it looks like the way early Heisei Rider looked. You can especially see this when Drive and 3 are talking to each other partway through the race, and I have to say I think these few shots look fantastic. I feel like this should be the way Rider looks. I understand that these might not be the same cameras used to film the show, so something like that wouldn't be possible but damn.

I like the idea of the opening sequence, looking through an old 4:3 view with grainy visuals to show an altered timeline. But my problem is that they use old footage mixed with new footage. You can tell what's the new footage, excluding 3 being there, because the way it's filmed is completely different from the early segment with Great Leader. I feel like they should have committed to a more old school style of filming for the 3 fight, or remade that Great Leader scene.

The first part of the movie when the characters are trying to get to Rider town was alright. Kotaro Minami was fantastic in that opening scene trying to protect those kids. The Riders from the current series were alright, I like Gou more, personally, but maybe it's because he's got a deeper voice despite his boyish looks. And Takumi is in this movie, oh sweet! And they got Faiz to light up for that one underground fight that was way too short. Yuuto was fine as well, but I was surprised that Deneb was in all of two scenes.

The one returning character I was personally disappointed in what they did with or lackthereof was Tachibana. I mean, I like his fabulous hair and all but he was wasted in this movie. Considering the whole plot of this movie took place in the altered shocker timeline, I guess the writers couldn't give him any sort of subplot to develop his character a bit like with Takumi in Heisei v Showa. Maybe it's just because I'm a blade fanboy. Not to mention the Blade and Garren masks are aging about as well as a super nintendo.

The plot is nonsensical, Kamen Rider 3 is with shocker, then not, then with shocker, then with them but deep down inside he regrets doing what he did. Not to mention the whole Rider town/Shocker town thing. And then Great Leader absorbs Rider 3 to become a giant time destroying mech which pops out Riders 1 and 2, which I don't even know how that's possible, who promptly get defeated by some basic Sentai Mecha attacks. And then Gou dies but I know he's not dead because they still need him for the show.

It's okay. Rider 3's arc isn't too bad and the fights are cool. It's not better than Heisei vs Showa due to that movie having actual semi cohesive subplots.