[ZeroWolf]

That's the annoying thing...it isn't even in the manga! It's a baffling decision really as nothing I can think of really explains it satisfactory manner.

[DreamSword]

Data 11: Masaki Murakami: Transforming Beastmaster

While noting spectacular, this episode was a step up.

It's one long talking scene followed by an action sequence, but for the most part it worked thanks to a solid grasp of atmosphere.

The animation took a surprising upturn too, being probably the best animated episode in the entire second OVA. The fight between Guyver III and the three Enzyme IIs was actually pretty solid.

In terms of story content though, it's pretty basic. The backstory we're fed on the Zoanoids is almost nothing new that we hadn't already heard in the first OVA, and the twist of Murakami(the writer) being a Zoalord/alien was kinda obvious from the second he appeared, you know?

This does make me wonder though just how in the heck this is all supposed to end next episode, though. It feels like we've taken almost no major steps towards any sort of climax. But, that aside, this episode wasn't bad, and is probably the best one in the whole of OVA-2. So incase anyone was thinking I wasn't giving any credit where it was due, there ya go.

[ZeroWolf]

Yeah....OVA 2 ending...a bit to talk about there. You won't like it.

As for this episode, you can see where some of the other episodes animation budget went, I'm guessing the director was fan of Murakami, but the changes do little for me. Regarding the origin of the Zoanoids scene, I've noticed a few times that they'll reuse the sequence without adding much to it. I mean here only new thing was Murakami's status as a proto-zoalord, standing in for Gyo. I know the OVA series is loved by some of the Guyver community, but I do feel nostalgia is a heavy factor

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeroWolf

I know the OVA series is loved by some of the Guyver community, but I do feel nostalgia is a heavy factor

I wouldn't be surprised if this were someone first exposure to "edgier" anime or even anime in general, given the time it was dubbed. And in those respects I can kinda see the appeal, but as someone who's seen many other shows of its ilk, can't say I share the sentiment.

[DreamSword]

Data 12: Aptom's Attack! Reactivate Guyver!

I half expected this.

With the way things were going, I fully expected this to be the sort of finale wherein the story doesn't end, but rather just stops.

What I didn't expect the episode to have the balls to do, however, is reveal that the big bad of the first OVA was still alive and that everything our heroes did up to now was essentially pointless.

Needless to say I was not pleased. It's bad enough that I found the characterization of everyone in the cast incredibly lacking, that the plot made little sense, and that the animation was, for the most part, garbage. Oh no, had to kneecap it all by saying that my chain has been getting yanked this entire time.

Oh right, for those that might care, Aptom AKA Another Guyver is our final boss, and I haven't really mentioned it up to now, but I definitely will here. I find it so funny that the bad guys have legit better camaraderie and chemistry with one another than anyone on the hero side does. And that goes for both Parts 1 and 2 of the OVA. It almost made me wanna side with Chronos a few times.

But, whatever. I don't see myself ever returning the Guyver OVA in my lifetime, and frankly, good riddance. If nothing else I'm glad it's finally over with.

[ZeroWolf]

I did say you probably wouldn't like it I'm surprised at this point they didn't try an OVA only ending as I think they knew there wasn't going to be more. The production committee that is as I believe that no other staff were kept on between the two stages of the OVA.

I forgot though that Gyo's survival was kept a secret till this point as the 2005 anime doesn't, which gives rise to a unintentionally funny scene, which I won't spoil here but makes you question certain characters intelligence.

On to better things!

Well, things I consider better at any rate.

[DreamSword]

The Guyver 2: Dark Hero

The first live-action Guyver movie had its issues.

But you know what it wasn't? It wasn't boring. As dumb as some of the jokes could be and as jarring as some of the gore was, it was never boring.

This movie though? This movie is almost impressively boring. The pacing is sluggish, the movie is full of padding, and almost every scene drags on for way too long. The film could have easily been a half hour shorter.

I had read claims that this movie was more faithful to the anime than what the first movie was, and let me just say, that claim is utterly false. Outside of some very loose references, Guyver 2 has almost nothing to do with the other story beats of the Guyver franchise. Heck, it barely has anything to do with the first movie. And frankly, I feel like that's where it fails most.

Because here's the thing. This movie is, first and foremost, meant to be a sequel to The Guyver from 1991. And instead, Dark Hero does its best to utterly distance itself from said film. Sure, the tone is more consistent, but alot of the stuff that I enjoyed from the first movie is now gone.

The biggest thing being that this sequel has basically no likable characters. Mizki is thrown out of the film, Sean lost alot of the characteristics that made him likable, and all of the new characters introduced are very one note and very boring. Sean's' new love interest in Cori is someone of whom he has basically no chemistry with. And the new cop character? Let's just say that he's no Mark Hamill, alright?

But hey, maybe the plot is solid? It's not. The most infuriating thing being that the entire story relies on almost every character having absolutely zero depth perception and also being deaf. There were so many times that characters just utterly fail to check their surroundings, let alone notice anyone else in the area.

Case in point: There's a scene where Sean is trying to communicate with an alien ship upon discovery that it's alive, and one of the researchers has been tailing him. We hear the audience hear that their shoes clank against the floor as they walk. The room Sean enters before he begins talking has only one entrance. Yet somehow, someway, science chick manages to sneak in undetected, and make it underneath the floor of said room. Did she teleport?

If there's one thing I can give the movie credit for, it's that most of its stunts were directed by a young Koichi Sakamoto. While it's very clear that he's still finding his style, and thus doesn't give us anything remotely close to the greatness he'd later bestow onto Power Rangers, some of the stunt work is still quite solid. With the final battle in particular being actually pretty good.

I just couldn't get into this movie at all. And it makes me think that maybe the Guyver franchise just isn't for me. Gonna take a week long break before going into the 2005 anime to detox a bit. See you then.

[Mesnick]

Again, I completely agree with your opinion. I heard a lot of praise for the second film, but after watching it, it disappointed me both in comparison with the first film and in itself. The battles may not be bad, but you have to wait too long for them. So it would be better if they made a short film.

[ZeroWolf]

I'm going to be the dissenting voice here but I felt that this movie was head and shoulders above the first film. Unlike watching the first film where I found it going too comedic, this one nailed the manga tone and gave us something the manga probably never will, a guyver-zoanoid (I hope some makes a 3d print of that design soon to go with the others). I will agree on editing though that it could have gone through another pass, maybe restoring some footage that would have helped fill the gaps like the scene where Sean breaks up with Mizuki. Though given the budget was only 30% of the first film (apparently), they may not have had the money for that.

I will admit though, I may have some bias as it was the first proper Guyver thing I watched following a advert on the Sci Fi Channel in the UK.

Regarding your break for the 2005 anime, I fear it won't be long enough, but appreciate that you're still going to give it that try.

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

Again, I completely agree with your opinion. I heard a lot of praise for the second film, but after watching it, it disappointed me both in comparison with the first film and in itself. The battles may not be bad, but you have to wait too long for them. So it would be better if they made a short film.

Yeah, the action sequences being so few and far between only serve to highlight just how much dead air is all throughout the movie.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeroWolf

I'm going to be the dissenting voice here but I felt that this movie was head and shoulders above the first film. Unlike watching the first film where I found it going too comedic, this one nailed the manga tone

Hey, more power to ya. I agree that toning down the comedy probably would've done the first movie alot of good. But on the flipside, the utter lack of any and all comedy makes the sequel feel incredibly dry.