[GuardianAngel87]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

What did you think about the surprise return of Mayu as Kamen Rider Mage?

I thought it was pretty cool. I just wished she had a much better Rider suit.

EDIT: Incidentally, I am now down to less than ten episodes of the series. I should be able to finish Wizard pretty soon.

[Daikaijuman54]

I finally watched Shin Kamen Rider last night! I enjoyed it very much!

One thing I absolutely adore about this movie is how much they tried to make it look like a Showa Kamen Rider Show with how some scenes are shot and choreographed, heck the overall feel and atmosphere had a lot of that at many places throughout.

The tragic hero of Takeshi Hongo is probably the biggest highlight to me with how right off the bat how violent (boy, I wasn't expecting THAT much) and grotesque he's become and how it weighs on him. I always got a sense he felt resigned to his fate and just wanted to make the best out of it in the trailers and I still got it here. Very well played.

The action and suits are amazing, mixing the goofy and sometimes grotesque monster looks and the mechanic aesthetic of the Augs, and "K's" very robotic movements, some of which are edited like stop-motion in a way giving an inhuman and Showa feel to him.

I honestly lost track of time while I watched the movie and thought the movie still had more to go after Hayato appeared (really enjoyed him). It kind of surprised me when it ended because I thought "That didn't feel like two hours!"

I may do a spoiler discussion at a later date, but for now, I enjoyed it. Although... This may be controversial of me, but I think I still like Shin Ultraman a bit better. Not saying Shin Kamen Rider did anything wrong, but for some reason, I don't know if I love it more than Shin Ultraman, despite all my praise of this one. Maybe I'll need to rewatch them a couple more times, but that's just me.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daikaijuman54

I may do a spoiler discussion at a later date, but for now, I enjoyed it. Although... This may be controversial of me, but I think I still like Shin Ultraman a bit better. Not saying Shin Kamen Rider did anything wrong, but for some reason, I don't know if I love it more than Shin Ultraman, despite all my praise of this one. Maybe I'll need to rewatch them a couple more times, but that's just me.

Since we're talking about Shin Kamen Rider and Ultraman. I recently got the idea that in both of these shows, Anno is contemplating death and the cost of avoiding it. The idea is not new and has even been implemented in a similar way before, but it seems to me that for Anno it is especially important that in order to save the hero?s life, someone else must sacrifice his own (only one capsule in Ultraman, limited helmet memory in Kamen Rider).

[Daikaijuman54]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

Since we're talking about Shin Kamen Rider and Ultraman. I recently got the idea that in both of these shows, Anno is contemplating death and the cost of avoiding it. The idea is not new and has even been implemented in a similar way before, but it seems to me that for Anno it is especially important that in order to save the hero?s life, someone else must sacrifice his own (only one capsule in Ultraman, limited helmet memory in Kamen Rider).

We could go even further if we compare Shin Godzilla's "Who will Know?" which is about struggling to survive even if it doesn't wish for it.

I always thought they complement their shows rather well. Hongo is grappling with his loss of humanity and willing to help Ruriko however he can. Shinji (in Shin Ultraman not Evangelion) was killed because of Ultraman, who felt guilt and came to the conclusion that humanity was worth saving over himself, much like how in the original. So, I feel they fit the "Heroic Sacrifice" idea in the same spirit as their predecessors.

[DreamSword]

Today I finished watching Kamen Rider Amazon!

And I gotta admit, this show surprised me in a few different ways, especially given its online reputation as simply "the gorey Showa season."

Because yeah, sure, the gore is there(even if the effects are laughable nowadays), but it's nowhere near the level that many a post talking about it had me believe. Heck, Super-1 had way more gore all over it.

But the show has alot more to offer. The story, as basic as it is, moves at a rather solid pace all throughout. The shorter run time means that the show never overstays its welcome. And in terms of overall themes, there's alot to do with friendship, communication, and the need for peaceful coexistence.

The smaller cast also lent to many of them being alot more involved than your average Showa supporting cast. The biggest highlight being Mole Beastman, who is just an absolute delight the entire time that he's in the show. Heck, one of the major gripes I have with Amazon is how dirty the show does him towards the end. Why the heck hasn't he gotten a Seihou figure yet!?

The only other downside I'd throw at the show is that I felt the villains were rather lackluster in comparison to many other Showa baddies. But again, atleast they didn't overstay their welcome like, say, General Shadow in Stronger. The last few episodes I also felt were rather weak in comparison to the rest of the show. But I still had alot of fun regardless. Double props for making the kid character of the cast actually competent and not annoying!

So, yeah. I don't think I'd call Amazon my favorite Showa season(that'd still be Super-1 currently), but I had alot of fun with it, and I'd put it high up on the list.

The next time I'm feeling a Rider show, well, with all the seasons I've seen, I think it's about time I tackle the season that to this day I still hear fans herald as the greatest the franchise will ever see, with nothing even remotely coming close to how it good it was ever since it aired.

I hear that break dancing might be involved too.

[GoldenXtreme]

I always love seeing some Mole Beastman appreciation. He's such an interesting pal for Amazon, and even though he doesn't stick around for the whole thing he's still probably given the most attention of any "enemy monster turned ally" in any Showa tokusatsu I've seen. There's also something so charming about his slightly grumpy demeanor combined with his genuine friendship with Amazon.

I do think the "violent" reputation the show has is seriously overblown, but I do find the specific style of violence in the show rather engrossing. The animalistic noises, the gushing fountains of hilariously foaming blood, the oddly satisfying decapitations. It's a bit magical.

Definitely one of the most memorable Showa Rider shows if nothing else!

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenXtreme

I always love seeing some Mole Beastman appreciation. He's such an interesting pal for Amazon, and even though he doesn't stick around for the whole thing he's still probably given the most attention of any "enemy monster turned ally" in any Showa tokusatsu I've seen. There's also something so charming about his slightly grumpy demeanor combined with his genuine friendship with Amazon.

He's my personal favorite in terms of that trope so far. Dude just had so much charisma about him. Very impressive for an obviously rubber suit!

Quote:

I do think the "violent" reputation the show has is seriously overblown, but I do find the specific style of violence in the show rather engrossing. The animalistic noises, the gushing fountains of hilariously foaming blood, the oddly satisfying decapitations. It's a bit magical.

Definitely one of the most memorable Showa Rider shows if nothing else!

Oh for sure. The show definitely had a specific style that it was aiming at and, while it didn't always deliver on it(especially in the later episodes), you can tell they were doing their best to be all in on the "Bestial" approach to things. Very cool.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Today I finished watching Kamen Rider Amazon!

But the show has alot more to offer. The story, as basic as it is, moves at a rather solid pace all throughout. The shorter run time means that the show never overstays its welcome. And in terms of overall themes, there's alot to do with friendship, communication, and the need for peaceful coexistence.

Yeah, it's the only Showa Rider show I've watched so far that has pretty much no connection to its predecessors, other than Tachibana and Garanda Empire which doesn't even show up until the second half. Of course, being my first Showa Rider show, it was still a unique experience for me and I enjoyed it for its own merits.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

The smaller cast also lent to many of them being alot more involved than your average Showa supporting cast. The biggest highlight being Mole Beastman, who is just an absolute delight the entire time that he's in the show. Heck, one of the major gripes I have with Amazon is how dirty the show does him towards the end. Why the heck hasn't he gotten a Seihou figure yet!?

I totally agree with everything said above about this guy. Mole Beastman was such a lovable sidekick and tomodachi for Amazon and the most tragic part of the show was when he performed a heroic sacrifice to gain the antidote for the poisonous fungi. I still remember Amazon crying his name in that fight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

The only other downside I'd throw at the show is that I felt the villains were rather lackluster in comparison to many other Showa baddies.

What about Jyumenki's design though? I imagine he must've scared a lot more kids than any of Great Leader's incarnations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

But again, atleast they didn't overstay their welcome like, say, General Shadow in Skyrider.

You mean either General Monster in SkyRider, or General Shadow in Stronger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

So, yeah. I don't think I'd call Amazon my favorite Showa season(that'd still be Super-1 currently), but I had alot of fun with it, and I'd put it high up on the list.

I ranked it highly as well, in third place below V3 and Stronger. Still haven't got to Super 1 yet as I'm currently prioritizing my Sentai and Metal Hero backlog.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

The next time I'm feeling a Rider show, well, with all the seasons I've seen, I think it's about time I tackle the season that to this day I still hear fans herald as the greatest the franchise will ever see, with nothing even remotely coming close to how it good it was ever since it aired.

I hear that break dancing might be involved too.

Popular and breakdancing.... Obviously you must be referring to Kamen Rider Den-O!

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

The next time I'm feeling a Rider show, well, with all the seasons I've seen, I think it's about time I tackle the season that to this day I still hear fans herald as the greatest the franchise will ever see, with nothing even remotely coming close to how it good it was ever since it aired.

I hear that break dancing might be involved too.

Black is a great show, yeah.

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

What about Jyumenki's design though? I imagine he must've scared a lot more kids than any of Great Leader's incarnations.

Oh I'd believe it. His obsession with blood in the early episodes especially probably grossed alot of kids out. He's a really cool idea, it's just a shame that the technology of time meant he was limited in how much he could actually do.

Quote:

You mean either General Monster in SkyRider, or General Shadow in Stronger.

Ah, yeah. I meant Stronger. My bad.

Quote:

Popular and breakdancing.... Obviously you must be referring to Kamen Rider Den-O!

Funny. But Den-O is probably gonna be one of the last ones I do due to just how expansive it's gotten over the years. All those bonus specials scare me, man!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Black is a great show, yeah.

Did Black have dancing in it? It has been so long that I legit don't remember.