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Kamen Rider 1 movie

Wow. This was a good movie. It's what I want out of a crossover, a small cast of characters interacting with a straight forward plot that develops each of them.

Rider 1 was fantastic in this movie. I love the new beefcake Rider 1 form in this movie, despite there being no explanation as to why only now he looks different. It's awesome to see the suit in action though, and for some simple Rider punches and kicks to be executed by this powerhouse. I also love the sort of responsibility vs heroism dilemma Rider 1 has to deal with. He's been out saving the world and beating up Heisei Riders, in the mean time leaving this girl he promised to be a father figure to alone. And then him spending time with her cuts into his ability to save the world from Nova shocker. He wants to be her hero by spending time with her and developing a relationship while at the same time, needing to be a hero for everyone else by stopping the bad guys.

I haven't seen Ghost, but the Takeru and the other guy were good in this movie too. Representing a new, younger generation that is different (Takeru being a ghost, both of the Riders using transformation gimmicks) yet the same, that needs help from the older generation to help guide them. He didn't really feel out of place in this movie, not just slotted in because he's the current Rider.

I also appreciate that in this movie that they didn't decide to shove toys down our throats. Sure, there's the Alexander the Great Eyecon, but they didn't show Ghost getting it, showing it off, and the hood that Ghost gets from it. Asides from the Legend Riders towards the end, there hardly any form changes in this movie, which is surprising.

I felt like Nova shocker was kind of lame. Their introduction and the scene of them proclaiming they'll control the world's economy were great but after that, just eh. They're not different from all the different prefixed shockers I've seen before.

The one thing that made me question why was how Hongo recovered from his heart having problems once he absorbed all that fire from the funeral pyre. I guess the belt/is new form does that? He can keep on going, huh?


I hope that all the spring Rider movies are stuff more like this and the Rider 4 special rather than the tangled messes the Taisen movies are. I feel like the Taisen movies get too lost in overall scope by feeling obligated to include ALL the riders and the current Sentai. I hope the Ex-aid spring Taisen movie does something smaller like Rider 1.

I'd love to see a movie focused on just Rider 2, since I'd like to see him get some focus. It seems like a lot of the myth behind the original Kamen Rider show always seems to revolve around just Rider 1 or both Rider 1 and Rider 2, but never specifically Rider 2. I would be fascinated to see what Rider 2 standing on his own would be like, and maybe with his own beefcake suit. And now I want to see the new Rider 1 and a theoretical new Rider 2 go up against Rider 3 for at least one fight.