[Black Fang]

I'm apparently among the few who liked this movie. I get the criticism that it's not really that necessary, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. It basically continued on the themes from seasons 1 and 2; I don't really get all the complaints about either season beyond what I suspect is people having gotten used to Phase 2 Heisei's current style. The movie really drives home the point by the end that Haruka is alone and will be alone despite his many victories, and makes you pity all the Amazons. It's the bittersweetness that makes Kamen Rider what it is. On that point I especially loved the final scene with Haruka riding off "into the sunset" figuratively. It felt reminiscent of Showa Rider.

The only thing I didn't like was that there was no resolution for the villains. Will Tachibana be murdered? Is he going to jail? Nothing happened to Tenjo: I thought he would either die or be arrested. I get that it follows Shotaro Ishinomori's theme of evil always coming back, but it doesn't leave this series much closure in that regard. What's stopping Nozama/4C from catching the surviving Amazons and doing the same thing they tried with Jin, or just killing them off? I'd have liked a real ending for them.