[Kamen Rider Die]

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Originally Posted by Androzani84

Just thought I’d point out that like Ryuki’s movie, a lot of stuff about the lore in this movie was later changed when introduced in the show (no doubt, due to the changeover in staff) So don’t expect them to mention humanity winning the previous battle fight.

I’ll also point out that Elements was originally written for use in this movie, but when the turnover happened, the new regime wanted a new theme song and rather than write a new one, they poached an existing one (which isn’t strange. Only Hibiki had a new OP written especially to go along with it’s retool).

I thought they'd already mentioned humanity winning the earlier Battle Fight on the show? Karasuma, I think, mentions it as the reason why humanity is the dominant lifeform, and that leads to Kotaro getting very excited theorizing what other animals could've won.

Neat to know that Elements was almost a one-and-done! And thanks for the card info!

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

To be fair, I think I actively prodded you into that line of thinking. Actually, you know what, let me just give everyone a quick recap of Die's complex relationship with Inoue. I mean, while we're on the subject anyway, right?

I knew I could count on you for the flashback. Thanks for the exhaustive detail! When I see it laid out like that... I feel like he and I are going on a journey, you know? It's really something magical.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Missing Ace is a good movie. I've never considered it a great one, or one of my favorites though, so it was really cool to see you getting so much out of the story here. I don't have much to add other than the regularly scheduled reminder that this Kamen Rider thing you liked visually was directed by Ishida, and, although I can't squeeze a whole post out of it, just know that Leangle gets an unending amount of s*** from the meme crowd for using that Float card at the end when Blade and Garren are soaring into the sky on their majestic sets of golden bird wings.

I'm a big fan of structuring the movie around the emotional clarity of Hajime and Amane's story. His absence through the film gives a ton of weight to the climax, and creates a strong sense of finality to the ending. Just a super smart choice, I think. However...

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Originally Posted by AkibaSilver

Here ae my barely coherant thoughts on Missing Ace from 3 months ago. And I [mostly] stand by them!

...it's so in keeping with the flaws of Blade The TV Show to have Blade The Movie not really have Kenzaki looped into the emotional stakes of the film. He's a hero, and he wants to do heroic stuff, he's still a very sweet boy, but this isn't really a story for him. It's totally fair to wonder if maybe the title Rider should've been the focus.

I guess I could argue that Kenzaki is the star of the movie, even as it's about Hajime and Amane, and maybe that's a good substitute, but I feel like I'm making excuses for it. Definitely not a flawless film!

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Originally Posted by Deepsea

So like this hit really close to home right now, and just how it can feel like the crisis never ends (which for some people it doesn't).

Since I haven't super been following this thread, I just want to wish you all well. Sometimes the hardest thing to do can be to take care of yourself.

There's a great moment at the end of this movie where, regardless of what they've all just gone through, everyone gets together to celebrate Amane's birthday. They've all fought and suffered, and she's not even aware of what the stakes were for a battle she never knew about, but the story gets to end on this one girl feeling like it's okay for her to be happy.

It's not a celebration of victory over violent monsters, or a remembrance of the cost of that victory. It's someone, by herself, overcoming years of emotional turmoil, while her friends and family are there to celebrate her.

Just, man, yes. The value of empathy in a world of violence. That's my favorite Kamen Rider theme, and I think it's important even in a world that doesn't have monsters from eternity. I hope everyone is keeping things together, and that we're all on the other side of this someday soon, ready to be happy.