[Mesnick]

Watched Gatchaman 2013. Well, I liked and impressed the film. The special effects may not be perfect, but they are very high quality and beautiful (the flying effect is especially good), the fights are exciting and well staged, the number of gadgets and their use confirms the name "scientist ninja team". Costumes are a separate delight. They are very cool and boldly updated so that they remain recognizable, but at the same time look fresh and modern. The idea to make the Black Swan separately is worth mentioning. I also have an idea that the 2017 Power Rangers remake, if they didn't see this movie, they were thinking in a similar way to its creators, because there are common design elements.
The plot doesn't disappoint either. Good fantasy action movie. Very appropriate humor, which found the golden mean between the absence and shadow of a smile and the transformation of characters into stand-up comedians. Perhaps the drama from the past was a little tense, but not because it was bad, but because it left most of the team out of work. There is also a sense that since Jetman was obviously inspired by the original Gatchaman anime, the writers felt they had the right to borrow elements from the most dramatic Sentai. No plagiarism, rather just ideas that then receive a different development.
The characters may not be super developed, but they are given enough not to look like cardboard types. Yes, and good actors help to revive their characters.
Gatchaman is a great thrilling movie that I recommend to anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

[GoldenXtreme]

I ended up sitting down and binging 10 episodes of Tomica Hero Rescue Force and I might be a little obsessed. It wasn't quite what I expected! It feels like a show aimed at a particularly young audience even among tokusatsu, is very episodic, and definitely has a low budget feel. But... but! It's also just been incredibly unique so far! I remember back when I watched GoGoFive I found it rather frustrating and disappointing how it didn't really stick to its search and rescue premise very well later on, but this show has been incredibly dedicated to the same concept and it's very refreshing. The writing is... incredibly cheesy but so earnest it's hard not to enjoy. The hotbloodedness might already be angling to be the highest I've ever seen in a tokusatsu show. Yeah man, you rocket boost your drill mech across a lava field into an evil volcano while screaming, I frickin' love it. Hoping it can keep up the "explosively" high fun factor.

[GuardianAngel87]

I am now down to the final four episodes of Space Sheriff Gavan. I should be able to finish the series in a week or two since I am juggling through other Toku shows at the same time. I am planning to start watching MegaBeast Investigator Juspion very soon since I got a hold of the series on Blu-Ray not too long ago. I might also start watching either Sharivan or Shaider very soon as well once I'm finished with Gavan.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuardianAngel87

I might also start watching either Sharivan or Shaider very soon as well once I'm finished with Gavan.

It's worth going in order here because Sharivan appears in Shayder and the show assumes that the viewer is already familiar with this character. Also the history of Gavan continues in both series of his heirs.

[GuardianAngel87]

As of yesterday, I managed to finish watching Space Sheriff Gavan. A very entertaining series all things considered. I wish they did more with the show's main story though and the villains aren't really anything special, sadly. Thankfully, Kenji Ohba's own performance and natural charisma as Retsu Ichijoji/Gavan and the show's own supporting cast really makes this show complete with an awesome opening theme song. I even just started watching Space Sheriff Sharivan.

[TokuKnight89]

Been intermittently watching Andro Melos, and it's pretty straightforward and budget-conscious. The story is unusually serialized for its time, but that's symptomatic of the fact that the series is one of short episodes and the battles themselves tend to be continued from one episode to the next. There aren't any human characters due to the space setting (and I imagine the lack of on-screen, in-person actors is also due to the obviously limited budget).

We have the title character who's aided by Wolf, Mars, and Floru. Their opponents are the Gua Army, who do the standard trope of blowing-up planets for universal conquest. Juda, Mold, and Gina are the main generals and they have various underlings like a trio of Alien Magma and "Fighting BEM".

The Gua Army has reappeared in recent years, with Juda appearing in Ultra Fight Victory, while Mold and (in-person actor) Gina in X during the team-up with Ginga and Victory. They had something of a cameo in The Absolute Conspiracy, and were pretty integral in The Destined Crossroads. Gina Spectre appeared in Crossroads in a visage more akin to the Melos series.

Melos himself has also reappeared in Conspiracy and Crossroads, but Wolf and Mars and Floru have yet to reappear in recent years. To that end, while I like the overall designs of the Andro Space Force members, I also feel like Floru is rather dated in both design and characterization. Floru is the only female member and she's given little to do, is dismissed and/or belittled by Melos and Mars and even the narrator, and is constantly acting in a stereotypical cross between petulant child and whiney ditz. That's not to say she isn't liked or respected as a member of the team, but it doesn't change the fact that Floru is definitely a "product" of her time. On a side note, her head design reminds me of B-Fighter Ageha (Ladyborg in Metallix and Machine General Tezzla in "Forever Red").

It's also interesting to have a spin-off Ultra Series that doesn't necessarily feature a conventional Ultra. I would like to find others like it, but I doubt there are many. Zero's team is based on a collection of old Tsuburaya shows, but I doubt any of them are canonical in any capacity with all things Ultra.

The odds of getting an official release of the Melos series are not promising. According to official statements, the Masters couldn't be located.

I still recommend it if you want something simple and short and just a little different (but not really).

[Mesnick]

Watched Zebraman 2004. I'll start with the cons: the video quality is terrible and the budget computer graphics of the early 2000s are very amateurish. Still, the characters are interesting, the villains are menacing, and the film is filled with love for both tokusatsu and western superheroes. The combination of humor and violent scenes is quite harmonious, albeit sometimes with too much. Zebraman is called a parody, but, as for me, this is more of a deconstruction of the genre. In some places it is also referred to as an art house, but don't let that scare you away. Now I'm getting ready to watch the second part, because, even from the annotation, it's clear that this is the best sequel that you can think of for such a film.

[Sh Ranger]

I just finished watching Kidou Keiji Jiban. It's the fifth Metal Heroes installment I've watched so far and surprisingly, it has surpassed Spielvan as my favorite! The cast are very likable and intriguing, the drama can get real heavy and the story is nicely paced, varied and full of unexpected plot twists. Would strongly recommend for sure.

Janperson finally got fully subbed a few months ago, so I've decided that'll be next on my MH watchlist. Probably after I watch Goranger.

[GuardianAngel87]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I just finished watching Kidou Keiji Jiban. It's the fifth Metal Heroes installment I've watched so far and surprisingly, it has surpassed Spielvan as my favorite! The cast are very likable and intriguing, the drama can get real heavy and the story is nicely paced, varied and full of unexpected plot twists. Would strongly recommend for sure.

Janperson finally got fully subbed a few months ago, so I've decided that'll be next on my MH watchlist. Probably after I watch Goranger.

What are the other three Metal Heroes shows did you watch?

Much to my surprise, I’m really enjoying what I’m seeing with Sharivan so far. Jiban is definitely among the Toku shows I really want to watch at some point.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuardianAngel87

What are the other three Metal Heroes shows did you watch?

Much to my surprise, I?m really enjoying what I?m seeing with Sharivan so far. Jiban is definitely among the Toku shows I really want to watch at some point.

Sekai Ninja Sen and Winspector. The other one was the movie Onna Battle Cop.