|
Community Links |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
12-03-2020, 05:09 PM | #21 |
Ex-Weather Three leader
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,508
|
Speaking of tofu, random tangent, everyone know or heard of inari sushi? That one sushi that is not fish? That is actually fried tofu pocketing rice in case you were wondering what the heck it was last time you went to a sushi joint.
|
12-03-2020, 05:23 PM | #22 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,411
|
Okay, here we go.
Kabuto is a show I've been looking forward to because, as I've probably said before, this is one that didn't really stick in my long-term memory. I remember liking it, but a lot of the fine details have bled out over the years (including several character names, which it's nice to see confirmed again). I'm probably going to save my thoughts on the premise and characters until we get to episode two, so let's focus on some production trivia instead! Kabuto's head writer is Shoji Yonemura. This is the only show he served in that role on for its entire run (we'll come back to that in a few threads), but he'd go on to serve a major role as the go-to writer for the spring crossover movies between the current Rider and Sentai shows. His reputation is... not great. In particular, his films are pretty bad about reusing the same plot (heroes pretend to fight to trick villains) a lot. As far as Kabuto goes... at the risk of saying too much, Yonemura seemed to be a writer who focused more on the current arc than on the long term picture. That's kind of hard to assess fairly, though, given some behind the scenes stuff that we'll have to talk about later. Tendou is played by Hiro Mizushima, who would go on to be one of the bigger name actors to graduate from Kamen Rider. He was actually educated in Switzerland and is completely fluent in English (see below). Fans of HBO's Girls will recognize him as the co-worker that one of the main characters (no clue, never watched it) dated while working in Japan, making him one of the very few Rider alumni to crossover to the American market (the only other one I know of is Blade's Mika Hijii/Orchid Undead, who was in a cheap direct-to-dvd ninja movie). Quote:
(No real spoilers here; it's from a series of promos for the movie and half the actors in it are from that) |
12-03-2020, 05:36 PM | #23 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Quote:
Okay, here we go.
Kabuto is a show I've been looking forward to because, as I've probably said before, this is one that didn't really stick in my long-term memory. I remember liking it, but a lot of the fine details have bled out over the years (including several character names, which it's nice to see confirmed again). I'm probably going to save my thoughts on the premise and characters until we get to episode two, so let's focus on some production trivia instead! Kabuto's head writer is Shoji Yonemura. This is the only show he served in that role on for its entire run (we'll come back to that in a few threads), but he'd go on to serve a major role as the go-to writer for the spring crossover movies between the current Rider and Sentai shows. His reputation is... not great. In particular, his films are pretty bad about reusing the same plot (heroes pretend to fight to trick villains) a lot. As far as Kabuto goes... at the risk of saying too much, Yonemura seemed to be a writer who focused more on the current arc than on the long term picture. That's kind of hard to assess fairly, though, given some behind the scenes stuff that we'll have to talk about later. Tendou is played by Hiro Mizushima, who would go on to be one of the bigger name actors to graduate from Kamen Rider. He was actually educated in Switzerland and is completely fluent in English (see below). Fans of HBO's Girls will recognize him as the co-worker that one of the main characters (no clue, never watched it) dated while working in Japan, making him one of the very few Rider alumni to crossover to the American market (the only other one I know of is Blade's Mika Hijii/Orchid Undead, who was in a cheap direct-to-dvd ninja movie).
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
12-03-2020, 05:44 PM | #24 |
Ex-Weather Three leader
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,508
|
Generally it is a bland tasting food by itself, but mixed with the right ingredients it is alright. For instance, Sichuan mapo tofu.
|
12-03-2020, 05:58 PM | #25 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,411
|
Quote:
Thanks for the trivia! I knew Yonemura did a couple Hibiki episodes that I absolutely hated, but I didn't realize he was responsible for some Rider/Sentai movies that I thought were Possibly Decent, if memory serves. That plot you described... I did not love that All Rider Vs All Sentai Or Whatever movie, the one where it's Decade vs Captain Marvelous. Fun to see all of those costumes, but an idiotic plot.
|
12-03-2020, 06:24 PM | #26 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 318
|
Ah, kabuto. That's gonna be fun.
It was a really fresh breath of air after Hibiki ended up pretty damn meh for me. Looking forward to this. |
12-03-2020, 07:17 PM | #27 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Quote:
Yeah, Hibiki... complicated feelings on that one! Not my favorite show by a long shot, but that kid! Really loved that kid's story. Hoping there'll be someone in this show I'll root for as much as I rooted for Asumu.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
12-03-2020, 07:32 PM | #28 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
|
Quote:
You know, it's hard to deny my contrarian streak when I feel the need to argue against myself the second I commit an idea to writing. I'm still not entirely sure I'll have the time to keep this up, which was the reason I wasn't already taking this thread as a sign the time is right. But, if the show keeps my interest, and I can balance my free time well enough, Fish Sandwich Also Watches Kabuto might just become a recurring feature in this thread. Again, we'll see. For now though, this premiere reminds me a lot of everything I remember feeling about Kabuto. Which is somewhat unfortunately largely down to overall bits of the setting and production rather than anything in the story. I was going to have to say this at some point anyway, but, first of all, oh my gosh do I ever love Kabuto's opening. Next Level is quite the jam and I love it too, but I mean, you could mute it and the visuals would still be some of the coolest and flashiest in the franchise. There's not a shot in there I don't adore, even the ones that don't signify all that much. Ryuuta Tasaki is credited with タイトルバック, which I think means he's responsible for all that silky smooth imagery, but Rider credits aren't totally consistent with the way openings are handled. Hibiki used "OP・演出", for example. Whoever I have to thank for that glorious montage of melodrama, they did a great job. I've also always loved ZECTroopers as a concept; they're pretty much the perfect heroic grunts to get slaughtered by the boatload, with designs that almost look like Riders, but without any of the flashy colors and with a weapon that's way too unwieldy looking to inspire much confidence. I have a similar appreciation for the pupa Worms. Kabuto's monsters have the same designer as the Undead from Blade, and it's these bulky little guys in particular where I feel that same creepy weirdness shines through the most, with the faces covered up by tiny secondary arms as part of the disturbing, vaguely human skeleton shaped design on their torsos. I might go so far as to call them one of the best Rider monsters ever? And I say all this stuff so passionately, but then when it comes to the episode proper, I still feel sort of detached from it? The word that comes to mind for the whole thing is "heavy". There's a sense they were trying to add a huge sense of weight to everything from the action, to the dialogue, to the music, with Kabuto's percussive motif. On an analytical level, I think it's all executed great, but I didn't vibe with any of it all that much. The best example to give is Tendou's introductory scene, which is one of the best any Rider hero has ever gotten. It's so memorable! It's so strange! The contrast it sets up with Kagami is so amazing! ...but again, it doesn't really make me smile or laugh or anything particularly visceral, then or now. Oh, and, while I'm on the topic, since the lack of a TV-Nihon translation note might obscure this: the whole point of Tendou's speech is that "Tendou Souji" literally means "path of heaven, ruler of all". You can uh, kinda tell he was raised to think highly of himself, can't ya? It's something about his character I really love as a concept; the tagline for the show was even "I am justice", which has always been one of my favorites for how blunt it is, sounding straightforward at a glance but actually deeply reflecting what makes Kabuto different than his predecessors. And again, I love all that as a concept. It's an odd feeling trying to say nice things about Kabuto and ending up talking around it instead. Hopefully if I keep up watching along I'll be able to get to the bottom of my strange relationship with this show. For the record, I had a good time with the episode! Usually when I say that it's redundant, but here it might genuinely be hard to tell! I called Kabuto my least favorite "by default" because I've yet to come across a Rider show I don't enjoy to some extent.
__________________
|
12-03-2020, 07:40 PM | #29 |
Kamen Ride Or Die
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,159
|
Quote:
Talking about Tendou for a minute... I think what I enjoyed most about him is this mix of uncertainty and certainty. He doesn't know what he's meant for, but he knows he's meant for something. The idea of dedicating your life to prepare for a day that you can't predict, to do something you can't define... I think that's fascinating, as a motivation? It's so unique, compared to the various well-trained and dedicated Riders we've been watching recently.
__________________
Currently working on: Go-Busters is next! Archive of previous shows on KamenRiderDie.com! |
12-03-2020, 08:05 PM | #30 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
|
Quote:
Quote:
Talking about Tendou for a minute... I think what I enjoyed most about him is this mix of uncertainty and certainty.
__________________
|
|
TokuNation News & Rumors |
Figuarts/Seihou GRIDMAN |
SH Figuarts BoonBoomger Red |
Hasbro Licenses Power Rangers Toys to Playmates Toys |
Discotek Media Licenses Mobile Cop Jiban |
What's going on with CSM? |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:42 PM.
|