[Androzani84]

Yeah, I thought Birth of Chimera was a fairly alright special, considering that it was written by newbie writer Shunito Nishi. The main issue is that the cast is overstuffed and, based on his other works, he’s not so good at darker tones.

As for the movie, I have a laundry list of things I liked and things I didn’t.

I’ll start by discussing what I did like about the movie:
* Azuma. The guy is basically Akaishi if he was actually threatening and competent, rather than a fairly weak character who only won because the heroes acted like morons. Though his motivations seem somewhat vague, and his eventual redemption somewhat half-baked, overall he was a notable presence.

* Daiji. Unlike the show, they actually seemed to be making an effort with him here, given that he’s the last of the three siblings to go down in the first fight and is the one who defeats the Big Bad, even if he does need help.

* The Chimera Driver. What can I say? I’m a sucker for that belt.

And now, onto the bad.
* Most of the show characters. Other than Ikki and Daiji (and arguably, Yukimi), none of them have much to do in this. Sakura spends most of the final battle beating up mooks, until the other heroes (and Olteca) show up to help.
* Olteca. He’s basically shoehorned into the movie and him wearing a Chimera Driver, something that the advertising played up, amounts to nothing in the long run.
* Apparently, Yukimi can just create a giant Bakugan Attribute/Faction emblem that can undo brainwashing and change Thunder Gale into a different Vistamp.
* The other villains. Chic basically exists purely as part of a retcon, and the movie doesnt really expand on him beyond that, beyond a generic evil plan to create an immortal army. The henchmen aren’t much better, since they exist purely to turn into generic demons and get killed off, before the first half of the movie is over.
* Kamen Rider Igarashi. It suffers from the same problem as the Legend War from Gokaiger and Ultimate Revice’s debut [namely, it gets wasted on the same generic mooks the heroes regularly take down with their base forms, or untransformed], and even more damningly, its gone after the one fight scene early on.
* Chimera. Despite how they made a whole special about him, which gets vaguely alluded to, he contributes nothing to the action one of the regulars couldn’t do and his whole arc gets dropped halfway through, leaving him doing nothing for the majority of the movie.
* The pregnant woman. She’s a bland character who’s painfully shoehorned into a movie she doesn’t offer much to. Also, all the stuff she gets put through should’ve killed that baby, long before it popped out without any obvious midwife on the bus.



So, would I recommend you watch this? If you want to watch it for the action, then yes. But if you’re here for the story of the characters, then hell no. There’s a reason I expected more enjoyment out of the Donbrothers movie, and watching this reminded me of it.

Anyway, between these opinions, the lengthy casting trivia the fact I have two skits to present. (Was really banking on you watching these separately), I’m going to present the first of the skits and end on a cliffhanger until next time.

George: Hey, hey, hey! Yo, George Karizaki here. With Ikki driving his parents to the airport, Daiji and the Karate Girl having been put on my blacklist and Hiromi trying to apply for government backing, I’ve called in some special guests for this edition of the Stamp Navi. First up, is the Trump Hero and the founder of the Ondulish language himself, Kamen Rider Blade Kazuma Kenzaki!

(Enter Kenzaki!)

Kenzaki: You’d better have a good reason for dragging me back to Japan. I left for a very good reason.

George: Relax. I just need you to discuss your super exciting battles for the audience at home, while I discuss the Vistamp I modelled on your wonderful Rider suit.

(Kenzaki slams George against the wall)

Kenzaki: Listen here! Being a Kamen Rider has been nothing but a curse. Nothing about it was “wonderful” or “super exciting”. (He lets him go) My Undead instincts are kicking in. Let’s get this over with before Hajime shows up. He’s already sensed my presence.

George: Alright, we’ll start with this Vistamp.

King Crab!

Latest! Near Soon! Sparking! King Crab! Category King’s Club Mark!

George: This King Crab Vistamp has access to incredible cutting power, that can pierce through anything. Now then, Kenzaki-san, it’s your turn.

Kenzaki: Ok then, I suppose this shouldn’t be too hard.

Desire Driver: Blade!

Kenzaki: Henshin!

Turn Up!

KenzakiVO) I was selected as Kamen Rider Blade at the end of 2003, to test BOARD’s Rider-System-02, utilising the Category Spade Rouze Cards to seal away the Undead. However, the last Undead we hadn’t sealed would have their species take over the Earth. And that last one was the Joker Undead, embodiment of death. In order to stop him, I deliberately overloaded my own fusion rate so that I could become a second Joker and lock the Battle Fight in a stalemate. But then, I had to leave the country, fighting my Undead instincts and avoiding my friends. As you can probably tell, it’s eroded my patience and goodwill.

Karizaki: Thank you very much. This next guest was one we spared no expense in acquiring for this segment. Straight from the dissolved Special Crimes Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, the creator of the Drive System, Krim Steinbelt!

(Two workers emerge with a wooden box, which George pries open to reveal Mr. Belt)

Mr. Belt: What the-? How did I get here? The last thing I remember was someone infiltrating the Drive Pit…

George: Explanations later. For now, let’s get down to talking about this.

Octopus!

Touched from the Back! Depart without Delays! Octopus! Let Me Take You Out For a Tangle!

George: The Octopus Vistamp gives the user tentacles to attack with, allowing them to attack from great distances. Now then, onto this Legend.

Desire Driver: Drive!

Mr. Belt: Ok, start your engine!

Shinnosuke: Henshin!

Mr. Belt: Drive! Type: Speed!

Mr. Belt: (VO) Kamen Rider Drive is Shinnosuke Tomari, an officer of the Metropolitan Police who’d lost his drive following the Global Freeze six months prior. However, with my guidance, he fought and defeated the Roidmudes, unlocking his true potential and regaining his glory. (Realises) Oh no. You tricked me into talking, didn’t you?

Shinnosuke: Let me take you out for a ride.

Now then, it s time for our first living guest, Kamen Rider KickHopper, ZECT’s former captain Sou Yaguruma!

(Enter Yaguruma)

Yaguruma: Have you… laughed at me?

George: No, no, no! I have my own loser to laugh at. In fact, I’m celebrating you by giving you a chance to talk about your rival, after I’ve talked about this.

Oomukade!

In the Soil! Got it! My Jaw Has Evolved! Giant Centipede! 100! Rider Kick!

George: Oomukade gives the user enhanced jumping and attacking powers with the skillset of a centipede. Now then Yaguruma, if you’d please.

Desire Driver: Kabuto!

Tendou: Cast Off!

Cast Off! Change: Beetle!

Yaguruma: That bastard… he showed up out of nowhere with his own Rider belt, and took possession of the Kabuto Zecter. I tried to neutralise him as TheBee, but I ended up losing it in my obsession. And when I tried to start again, my soldiers abandoned me and threw me into prison. From there, I embarked on the path of hell, trying to find new ways to suffer.

1, 2, 3, Rider Kick!

George: How… colourful. Not particularly relevant, but let’s move on. And finally, our last guest straight from the Ganma World is… Yurusen!

(A cat is escorted in on a leash)

Yurusen: Meow.

(Suddenly, the Toucon Boost Eyecon flies in, manifesting into Ryu Tenkuji)

Ryu: I think I’d be a better choice to talk about this last Legend. Don’t you think, Mr. Karizaki?

George: Yeah, whatever. Let’s do this.

Kurosai!

Pulverised with Horns! Long Live the World! Black Rhino! Batchiri Tsukina! (Perfect Stab)

George: Kurosai gives the user a powerful punch that can pierce through any defence. I was inspired by this Legend with this one.

Desire Driver: Ghost!

Takeru: Henshin!

Kaigan: Ore! Let’s Go, Kakugo, Go Go Go Ghost!

Ryu: My son, Takeru Tenkuji. After his unexpected death at the hands of the Ganma, he became Kamen Rider Ghost to gather the luminaries’ Eyecons and come back to life. Ironically, it was in death that Takeru was able to shine his brightest as he saved the worlds of both Humans and Ganma.

Bacchiri Miina (Watch Out)

(Cut back to the present. All except for Yaguruma are wearing harnesses)

Kenzaki: Death. If only I could experience that. No matter how many times I try, the Undead’s influence keeps me alive.

Mr. Belt: And I only persist in this state due to my own fear of my possible dem- (he has a realisation) What are these harnesses?

(The three are then electrocuted, as energy flows through wires connected to the harnesses into a machine with a bright yellow Vistamp held within.)

George: Sorry, everyone. I only brought all of you here so that I could harvest the fusion factor that all of you generate. Blade’s Jack and King forms, Drive’s Type Tridoron, Ghost’s Toucon Boost: All of these give off the energy. And with it, I can create my masterpiece.

Yaguruma: And what about me? Why did you bring me here?

George: Oh, I just needed a fourth guest to do Kabuto. (He bursts out laughing)

Yaguruma: (enraged) Oh the audacity!

(As a scuffle breaks out, the stamp begins to gain the images of familiar animals, all over its main chassis)

Rex! Megalodon! Eagle! Mammoth! Ptera! Lion! Jackal! Kong! Kamakiri! Brachio!

To be continued…

And now, we’ll end off here with Daimon’s transformation and finishers.