Looking to delve into a Japanese superhero that’s not Ultraman?
Allow us to give you a few suggestions.
Yes, both shows involve a lot of sparks and explosions.
Yes, they tend to cross over a lot more than they used to.
TheKamen Riderfranchise deals with infinitely more complex themes than its sister show could ever handle.
(In fact, some of the darkest television episodes Ive ever watched were fromKamen Riderprograms.)
Above all, what you really need to know is that Kamen Rider is a hero from the future.
I still recommend giving them a watch, but know that theyre a different experience entirely.
Okay, all that boring intro stuff you probably skimmed through is out of the way.
Ready to jump in now?
Good, me too.
Why any truly great show is good: the characters.
Doubleis not just a smartly written tokusatsu program its a brilliantly structured television show.
At its core though, the characters are what drive this series and make it such an addictive watch.
Kamen Rider Fourze(2012)
Space.
And random ninjas that come out of nowhere and kick you in the face.
There are times whenPower Rangerslikens itself toThe Breakfast Club, usually when it revisits its original high school setting.
Other than that, the comparison always felt out of line for me.
Its obvious everyone behind and in front of the camera enjoy what theyre doing.
Kamen Rider Blade(2005)
This one is kind of…complicated.
This is what gave the human race dominion over earth.
They didnt hire Kamen Rider Chalice though.
Who is that guy, anyway?
If you cant already tell from reading that synopsis,Bladeis an unusual show.
Not only does it have a complex premise, it sounds downright spooky too.
The mythology behindBladeis immense and Lovecraftian, supplying enough dread and menace thats felt long after the final episode.
And yet, like any goodKamen Riderseries,Bladedoesnt collapse under the weight of its suffocating universe.
But what do I know?
I dont want to sell toys.
But really, theres so much toOOOsbackstory I dont know where to begin.
Did any of that make sense to you?
OOOisnt aKamen Riderseries, its a great piece of Japanese cinema.
Each and every episode should be studed in film courses across the world.
What more can you ask for?
There were so many movie sequels made that they eventually spun-off into their own sub-brand.
Yeah, it was that big of a deal.
Their mission: to stop the Imagin, ghostly beings from the future that work to change the past.
He changes forms and powers by being possessed by a different Imagin.
So hes basically like being saved by Linda Blair in cybernetic body armor.
But now, after having sat through more bombastic shows,Den-Os ambition shines through the most.
Its take on time travel isnt the most lucid, but when has The Doctors ever been?
But once you look past all that, its a wild trip.
Kamen Rider ZO(1993)
Whats it about?
There are over fortyKamen Ridermovies floating around out there.
Yes, thats a lot.
Not evenBatmanhas that many.
I mean, you could if you really wanted to, but it wouldnt make any of sense.
Not that theyre going to make much sense even after youve seen the shows anyway, but yknow.
ButKamen Rider ZOis different.
Its a standalone feature released in 1994, another golden year for tokusatsu, and looks freaking gorgeous.
A young man named Masaru reawakens from a two-year coma deep in the mountains.
Masaru transorms into Kamen Rider ZO to protect the child from Doras and other monsters.
The cinematography, the practical special effects, and the costume design are all top notch.
Everything about this film is larger than life, dark, and dancing on the edge of reality.
you’re free to think ofZOlikeTerminator 2with insects instead of robots.
In fact, Im pretty sure that was the original pitch for this movie.
