[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

KAMEN RIDER X KAMEN RIDER DRIVE & GAIM: MOVIE WAR FULL THROTTLE

I got real complicated feelings about Gaim (that I'm not sure I've ever mentioned in these threads?), and they were probably never more complicated than somewhere after the midpoint in Drive's run on TV when I would've first watched this thing. The only time I've watched this one, I think? I know I kind of forgot to get around to it when I was rewatching Gaim, and that was already like five years ago at this point, so...

Anyway, without getting into the details (especially since I'm long over most of this now), a lot of Gaim's plotting decisions toward the end left me feeling burned, and in part because of that, I greeted Drive with immense enthusiasm right out of the gate. The typical line I always always see about that show is "it got really good halfway through", and while I understand the added appeal and intrigue of Chase's arc hitting its turning point, the way Gou really settled into a nice groove, a more personal storyline for Shinnosuke, greater development for Heart and the other Roidmude bosses...

Uh, what I was trying to say again? Oh, right! As good as *all that* stuff obviously is, the vibrant, energetic simplicity of that first quarter or so, it basically totally rekindled my love of this whole franchise after basically the only thing that's ever even slightly dampened it happened, and for that alone, I would always be fond of Drive. Everything else I love about it, including how strong that later material is, it's almost like a bonus. It's nearly up there with the level of fun I had following Fourze week after week, and just like Fourze, I'm a little upset with myself that I don't actively consider it a top tier favorite, even though it's so special to me. (Instead, like Fourze, I inexplicably fell even more in love with the boring show after it that everyone hates.)

I realize I'm not really talking about the movie itself here, but since I don't remember nearly enough about it to offer any real critique, I'll just say, at the time, I remember figuring the Gaim part would have the usual Gaim movie weirdness but be palatable enough, and was crazy excited for the idea of Drive's showdown with some kind of epic phantom thief rival character. It pretty much lived up to those expectations, with the bonus of the team-up part being WAY more fun than I would've guessed.

I'll always especially remember how cute it is when Drive introduces himself as a humble civil servant in response to Gaim's claim that he's a space god, because man did that ever demonstrate why I was so ready to cling to Shinnosuke after where Kouta's character ended up in his show.

While a lot of series have challenged Drive for my undivided affection, to this day, I'd readily offer Shinnosuke as one of my favorite Rider protagonists ever. You're right on about him having a notably committed and charismatic actor. Ryouma Takeuchi's performance is absurdly strong, and unlike a lot of Rider leads, it didn't even take him a bit to get there. There are two moments in particular that I always find myself thinking back to with him. One is the "take a good look at my face" speech from episode 4, and it's like, that was only the fourth episode! The other is a single line from Surprise Future that I'll have to remember to bring up when you rewatch it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRaizin

Noteworthy that it's got one of my favorite movie themes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I mean, it's from the guy who brought you the best-ever opening theme, so I'd expect nothing less!

Basically every song Mitsuru Matsuoka has done for Rider is a huge winner? The couple we got out of Double were already fantastic, so Drive multiplying that number the way it did is just one more reason Drive is awesome in my book.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkibaSilver

(Your monthly reminder that Wizard is, in fact, good!)

If people aren't being reminded of this *at least* weekly, then I apologize for not doing my job properly.