[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TokuKnight89

Still keeping with Spielvan, but it gets somewhat repetitive. It has a tendency to pad the episode times by repeating the same facts and backstory that the audience should already be aware of. Granted, it was the '80s and syndication wasn't like we understand it now, but it's still grating and compounded by the clearly recycled footage of Gaios and Gran Nazca blowing up ships and jets and tanks.

Another note worthy detail is how they replaced the original ending theme with the "Kesshou Da" insert theme around Ep. 11, but still used the former as an insert theme.

I really liked the clearing of the base with which the show began and it?s a shame that similar tactics were not repeated in the future, replaced by more standard action for this franchise.

[GoldenXtreme]

I watched Gridman the Hyper Agent, a show that handily surpasses its own shortcomings!

This isn't a show with a very high budget and the acting can be a bit awkward (and let's not even get started on the subtitle quality). In many ways it is a show that felt like Tsuburaya's attempt to get back on their feet pre-Tiga. It does a lot with a little however, and was generally a show I watched with a big smile on my face! The small amount of suits and sets are nonetheless used well. The cheesy acting quickly won me over with just how genuine it was. Not only that, but the general energy of the show was just addictive. The plots get more and more ridiculous as the show goes along, but it always maintains a serious passion about what it is doing, preventing it from feeling like some mean-spirited parody. Like yes, three episodes from the end Takeshi is caught peeing in public, which causes him to rewrite the Japanese constitution in retaliation, causing driving the speed limit to be a crime punishable by immediate execution via electric chair. But this is also a show that uses the same episode to explore Naoto's heroism even in the face of not getting credit. I've seen a lot of tokusatsu at this point, but Gridman was both unique and an excellent tribute to why we love tokusatsu heroes. B+, I was really pleased with it!

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenXtreme

I watched Gridman the Hyper Agent, a show that handily surpasses its own shortcomings!

Milestone show for Tsuburaya at the time as it was created to commemorate the studio's 30th anniversary.

[GuardianAngel87]

I’m really glad you really liked Gridman, GoldenXtreme. Gridman is honestly one of my personal favorite Toku Series of all time despite the unfortunate poor quality of its English subtitles. Just out of curiosity, what would you say are your favorite episode(s) of the series in your opinion?

[Kiwami]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuardianAngel87

Gridman is honestly one of my personal favorite Toku Series of all time despite the unfortunate poor quality of its English subtitles.

In some ways that just adds extra charm for me. Like on one hand, it feels "retro", as in this was all they could muster back in the 90's, they only had Gary to translate who did it as a side-job and was just in it for the money.

Or I sometimes want to believe the characters are actually speaking like that and it's rather funny. Like the bad kid slowly starts to badmouth Khan by pronouncing his name wrong in multiple ways: "Yes, Lord Can Digifur!". Or some scenes are so silly that the actors are phoning it in and saying wrong stuff on purpose.

And at the end of the day, the brain adjusts and filters the trash into sentences I understand. It helps that Gridman is generally so much fun that I didn't mind the terrible subtitles much.

[GoldenXtreme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuardianAngel87

I?m really glad you really liked Gridman, GoldenXtreme. Gridman is honestly one of my personal favorite Toku Series of all time despite the unfortunate poor quality of its English subtitles. Just out of curiosity, what would you say are your favorite episode(s) of the series in your opinion?

Well, I definitely liked that one episode I mentioned with the constitution getting rewritten. The episode with the hair dryer that turns you into a punk was great too. Then there was the episode where the villains hijacked the Greenwich Observatory to magically change all the clocks in the world. And the one with the smartpillows that get hijacked and trap everyone in a dream with evil clowns and Gridman getting crucified. The two parter where a factory gets hijacked and starts releasing extreme pollution (also a nice episode for Yuka and Naoto's relationship). Oh and the episode where dogs are exploding? And the episode with the fortune telling machine that makes everyone act however Kahn Digifer wants. AND THE EPISODE WITH THE VACUUM CLEANER THAT GOES ROGUE AND SUCKS UP PEOPLE! THE EPISODE WHERE JAPANESE HISTORICAL FIGURE BENKEI GETS SUMMONED TO THE PRESENT AND EATS AT MCDONALDS?!

Have I mentioned that I really enjoyed this show?

[GuardianAngel87]

This honestly kind of makes me want to watch Gridman again but that won't be for a very long while since I have many Toku series I wanted and/or needed to watch, or in some cases rewatch, as is.

Anyway, I now only have 16 episodes of Jiban left.

[GuardianAngel87]

I am now down to the final four episodes of Jiban and I should be able to finish this series by the end of this week.

[Mesnick]

I watched Daigoro vs Goliath - a film dedicated to Tsuburaya's tenth anniversary. A funny comedy children's film about kaiju. The problem itself is quite interesting: what to do with a kind baby monster, which is becoming more and more expensive to feed every day, but it is played out in a comedic manner. However, this problem is considered partly more seriously in the North Korean Pulgasari. As for this film, it has everything you would expect from a Showa kaiju film in general and Tsuburaya in particular. Daigoro is also a good-looking guy, and the opponent with the piglet is also too cartoonish to frighten or anger.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuardianAngel87

I am now down to the final four episodes of Jiban and I should be able to finish this series by the end of this week.

What did you think of the Queen Cosmo plot twist?