[Kiwami]

Watched the first three episodes of Kamen Rider Black and I enjoyed it. It’s absolutely not a story-driven experience, after the first two episodes which explained how Kotaro became Black and that Golgom is evil and stuff we’re already hard on the MOTU-formula with episode three.

But I kinda like it. For one the effect work is simply stunning. Yes you have your crappy computer effects when the Golgom sages (I just call them that, you know who I mean) float around or when something completely crazy happens. But I’m still surprised how well they can pull some stuff off with just clever camera angles and of course really well made special effects. The monsters look really creepy and sometimes it’s more like watching a horror movie than a superhero show and I dig that.

Second, the fights are well done. It’s not high-end martial arts but it looks good. And they incorporate the monsters abilities into it rather well.

But what I probably like most is the dark and sometimes scary mood this show has. I always enjoyed the Cyborg-angle of the Kamen Riders, that they are tragic figures altered against their will, but keep pushing forward. I would like a modern show to really get into this, because with Black it’s just the first two episodes, Kotaro being unable to control his strength and breaking a glass and after that he’s completely in control and I doubt they ever revisits that setup aside from the speech at the end of every episode.

So like I was told, it’s not something where the story grabs you or you want to see the characters unfold, Kamen Rider Black is more your weekly “Meet a scary new monster and see Black beat the shit out of it”-kinda deal. I won’t be bale to watch more than one episode or two before I get bored and watch something else, but I do enjoy watching those episodes. I think watching an episode of Kamen Rider Black every other evening could be really fun. And hey: There is something to look forward to, Shadow Moon. And the other evil guy on a motorcycle, I heard he’s kinda cool as wlel.

So I definitely keep watching this time, I do want to see the whole show now.

[barnstenchfartface]

Wizard episode 49.

Nitou is a cool dude.

[Boshusan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwami

Watched the first three episodes of Kamen Rider Black and I enjoyed it. It’s absolutely not a story-driven experience, after the first two episodes which explained how Kotaro became Black and that Golgom is evil and stuff we’re already hard on the MOTU-formula with episode three.

But I kinda like it. For one the effect work is simply stunning. Yes you have your crappy computer effects when the Golgom sages (I just call them that, you know who I mean) float around or when something completely crazy happens. But I’m still surprised how well they can pull some stuff off with just clever camera angles and of course really well made special effects. The monsters look really creepy and sometimes it’s more like watching a horror movie than a superhero show and I dig that.

Second, the fights are well done. It’s not high-end martial arts but it looks good. And they incorporate the monsters abilities into it rather well.

But what I probably like most is the dark and sometimes scary mood this show has. I always enjoyed the Cyborg-angle of the Kamen Riders, that they are tragic figures altered against their will, but keep pushing forward. I would like a modern show to really get into this, because with Black it’s just the first two episodes, Kotaro being unable to control his strength and breaking a glass and after that he’s completely in control and I doubt they ever revisits that setup aside from the speech at the end of every episode.

So like I was told, it’s not something where the story grabs you or you want to see the characters unfold, Kamen Rider Black is more your weekly “Meet a scary new monster and see Black beat the shit out of it”-kinda deal. I won’t be bale to watch more than one episode or two before I get bored and watch something else, but I do enjoy watching those episodes. I think watching an episode of Kamen Rider Black every other evening could be really fun. And hey: There is something to look forward to, Shadow Moon. And the other evil guy on a motorcycle, I heard he’s kinda cool as wlel.

So I definitely keep watching this time, I do want to see the whole show now.

The dark atmosphere in the first third of Black is awesome, oudated but creepy visual effects, with nightmare fuel everywhere. Too bad the tone get lighter after that (check the color of Minami Kotaro jacket, it's kind of symbolic).

[Battlizer MK II]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwami

Watched the first three episodes of Kamen Rider Black and I enjoyed it. It’s absolutely not a story-driven experience, after the first two episodes which explained how Kotaro became Black and that Golgom is evil and stuff we’re already hard on the MOTU-formula with episode three.

But I kinda like it. For one the effect work is simply stunning. Yes you have your crappy computer effects when the Golgom sages (I just call them that, you know who I mean) float around or when something completely crazy happens. But I’m still surprised how well they can pull some stuff off with just clever camera angles and of course really well made special effects. The monsters look really creepy and sometimes it’s more like watching a horror movie than a superhero show and I dig that.

Second, the fights are well done. It’s not high-end martial arts but it looks good. And they incorporate the monsters abilities into it rather well.

But what I probably like most is the dark and sometimes scary mood this show has. I always enjoyed the Cyborg-angle of the Kamen Riders, that they are tragic figures altered against their will, but keep pushing forward. I would like a modern show to really get into this, because with Black it’s just the first two episodes, Kotaro being unable to control his strength and breaking a glass and after that he’s completely in control and I doubt they ever revisits that setup aside from the speech at the end of every episode.

So like I was told, it’s not something where the story grabs you or you want to see the characters unfold, Kamen Rider Black is more your weekly “Meet a scary new monster and see Black beat the shit out of it”-kinda deal. I won’t be bale to watch more than one episode or two before I get bored and watch something else, but I do enjoy watching those episodes. I think watching an episode of Kamen Rider Black every other evening could be really fun. And hey: There is something to look forward to, Shadow Moon. And the other evil guy on a motorcycle, I heard he’s kinda cool as wlel.

So I definitely keep watching this time, I do want to see the whole show now.

Just wait until you get to the ep with the eagle monster. Golgom's plan in that one is beautifully insnae.

[GoldenXtreme]

Kuuga episode 46:
As if getting magical transformation powerups from a defibrillator once wasn't already ridiculous, it happened AGAIN. That is just silly. Black Kuuga looks pretty awesome, it looks so sleek! I have to admit though, I loved the way they wrapped up the subplot with Enokida and her son.

[AkibaSilver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnstenchfartface

Wizard episode 49.

Nitou is a cool dude.

Yes. Yes he is

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boshusan

The dark atmosphere in the first third of Black is awesome, oudated but creepy visual effects, with nightmare fuel everywhere. Too bad the tone get lighter after that (check the color of Minami Kotaro jacket, it's kind of symbolic).

I think the monster suits still hold up really well, 20-something years later. They look better than some of the things the more recent shows have been putting out.

[barnstenchfartface]

Kamen Rider Wizard episode 51.

Man, shut your piehole, Rinko.

And that's...a wrap. There's still two episodes left, but they're those weird crossover ones so for all intents and purposes I have finished Wizard. So I may as well share my thoughts on it now. I've said a lot of this before and elsewhere, but all the same.

In short, I really enjoyed it, I liked it, and I think it's a good show. Great suits, great fights, good music and general production values...9 times out of 10 the humor worked for me, and I like a lot of the characters a lot. The Riders are great. I think it was Switchblade that compared Haruto to the Showa Riders, and I think it's an apt comparison. I also think the Showa comparison works not only for the main Rider, but really, the show as a whole. Largely episodic stories, relatively static characters, and a supporting cast of limited usefulness...while all are common complaints towards Wizard, they're also not particularly uncommon features of the Showa shows I've watched. So I really see Wizard as a fairly traditional Rider show (just with flashier fights and designs), and this I am fine with. I never expected it to be any different, and I didn't need it to be. It gets a bad rap, but I really enjoyed watching it. It was fun.

That's not to say that it was without flaws...the supporting characters generally didn't do the show a lot of favors. While they never really bothered me too much until that point, that stupid Myna Bird storyline really soured me on both Shunpei and Rinko, and by extension a fair part of the show considering they're part of the main cast. That being said, I ultimately can't find it in me to dislike Shunpei. He fulfilled an important role as a sort of PR guy to the Gates, and he occasionally did things that were truly and admirably heroic, like saving Nitou's grandma or tackling Siren to protect a Gate's hope when Haruto got his priorities fucked up. He was a goof and a sometimes annoying one, but he tried and he did good. And he's not Onari, so you know, points.

Rinko, on the other hand...got kidnapped by Phoenix that one time? Seriously, when I think about it Rinko is just about the worst. I struggle to think of a single thing she really contributed. She was basically a second Shunpei that wasn't around as much because she had a real job but when she did hang around it was a waste of her time because she couldn't really do much and maybe would have spent her time better being a cop? She was practically useless. The fact that in episode 51 she decided to shout some really unnecessary and obvious things to Haruto (truly, her greatest contribution in the entire second half) earns her no points. So yeah. Shunpei gets a lot of crap, but Rinko is like three times worse at least.

Wajima was fine. Koyomi's actress could have been a little better. I wish they'd done a little more with Mayu and the other two Mages, but eh.

I really like Haruto, I love Nitou. The Riders really carried the show for me...so yeah, I dunno. Wizard: Better than Advertised, is my tl;dr. I don't really like to rank the Rider shows I've watched, since quantifying my opinions isn't my forte, but it's...up there.

Anyway, now I gotta watch those crossover eps...also gonna have to give the Sengoku Movie War a rewatch since when I watched it for Gaim I, well, hadn't seen Wizard. Though even back then I remember thinking it a crock that the Mages show up for like three seconds and then get knocked out. Mages deserve some love, damn it.

I'm even tempted to give Kamen Rider Taisen a watch since Haruto is in it, but that movie is the worst and I do not like Wizard enough to subject myself to it again.

After that, it's Skyrider time! I don't hear a lot about Skyrider in general. It's like, only second to Super-1 as far as me-not-hearing-about-it goes. About all I know is he can fly and at one point the seven legendary Riders kick him. Wikipedia (which is probably full of shit) says it was meant to go back to the basics after the more "complex" and "unique" series like Amazon and Stronger. I liked both of those but not the original series, so you know, not super hyped, but whatevs! The difference between them all really isn't that huge. I'm hoping it's good. Though for better or for worse, only the first 34 episodes have been subbed. So whether I like it or not I'm gonna run out relatively quickly.

[Matrixbeast]

I really don't have expanded thoughts on Wizard beyond Nitou probably being what kept me interested enough to watch it as it aired. He had a nice charm to him while his quirks weren't his defining characteristics. I liked his bond with Chimera and he played off Haruto well enough.

Concerning Haruto, I 'get' him, I just don't like it. Though, considering the only Showa show I've seen is Amazon, I don't have the proper Showa knowledge to make comparisons...

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnstenchfartface

After that, it's Skyrider time! I don't hear a lot about Skyrider in general. It's like, only second to Super-1 as far as me-not-hearing-about-it goes. About all I know is he can fly and at one point the seven legendary Riders kick him. Wikipedia (which is probably full of shit) says it was meant to go back to the basics after the more "complex" and "unique" series like Amazon and Stronger. I liked both of those but not the original series, so you know, not super hyped, but whatevs! The difference between them all really isn't that huge. I'm hoping it's good. Though for better or for worse, only the first 34 episodes have been subbed. So whether I like it or not I'm gonna run out relatively quickly.

Skyrider's pretty good. It's never been one of my favorites, but it's fun as a quasi-reboot of the original series. It definitely feels more modern and polished than the early 70s shows, but not as well done as Black. It gets more enjoyable once the older Riders start showing up, but I actually like the original suit and theme song a lot more.