Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3 (2015)

Kamen Rider Fanservice: The Movie

Many years ago the evil mega-conglomerate "SHOCKER" created powerful cyborgs called Kamen Riders in their bid for world domination. Despite being created for nefarious deeds, Kamen Rider 1 (Takeshi Hongo) and Kamen Rider 2 (Hayoto Ichimonji) would become champions of justice and unite their powers to destroy their evil creators. Having saved the world, the two rivals rode off into the sunset. Or at least they were supposed to. After Shocker's demise a fearsome contingency plan was set in motion.

 

Shocker's Ultimate Rider?

Kamen Rider 3 (Kyoichiro Kuroi) emerged from the ashes of Shocker and set his sights on Kamen Rider 1 and Kamen Rider 2. Even the combined might of two Kamen Riders were no match for this new foe and thus the greatest heroes of all-time were mercilessly killed. Flash forward decades later and during a typical day detective Shinnosuke Tomari AKA Kamen Rider Drive and his partner Kiriko Shijima are working a case when the entire world changes around them. City streets filled with happy families taking care of their day-to-day affairs are replaced by monsters and armies of combatmen. What were clear blue skies are now consumed by Shocker's armada of blimps and fighter planes. The Shocker flag adorns every house and place of business and nothing is as it should be. Something has gone horrifyingly wrong with the timeline and it's up to Kamen Rider Drive to kick into high-gear and set things right.

 

Buckle up Shocker because Drive is going to take you for a ride.

Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3 is the 2015 entry in the Super Hero Taisen film series. For those who may not know, Super Hero Taisen is a special crossover film that Toei has made each year since 2012. These crossover films typically combine the casts of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai by pitting them against foes that threaten the peace of their shared multiverse. In this case, this foe is Kamen Rider 3. Having murdered Kamen Riders 1 and 2, there was no one to stop Shocker from taking over the planet. In this future Shocker reigns supreme and any rider not on the payroll is hunted down. The odds are stacked against our hero Kamen Rider Drive because he's fighting against a world where the bad guys have already won.

 

The bad guys don't win. They've won.

Because of Kamen Rider 3's meddling, Shocker has taken over the world in this timeline and so many of the characters we've come to know and love are morally ambiguous, some are villains, and others are literal monsters who work for Shocker. In this timeline Shinnosuke Tomari isn't a Kamen Rider, rather he's a Shock Rider - one of the guys on the take. Early on he even goes so far as to attack Kamen Rider Black.

 

The Legend

Shocker has a bad habit of picking the wrong people to turn into Kamen Riders, because often times in trying to pick someone who they think can be easily manipulated, they awaken the spirit of justice in their would-be victims and these Kamen Riders take the powers granted by Shocker and turn it against them. Even brainwashed, many Kamen Riders eventually break free because there's something intrinsically good about them. This has always been an intriguing concept throughout the franchise and it has endured for more than 30 years. The Kamen Riders may make mistakes, but they'll always rise to fight against evil because they represent the potential to be a force of good that exists in all human beings. This is why it's always fascinating when you have a heroic rider versus a villainous one because it creates a contradiction in both the ideological and existential nature of what a Kamen Rider is supposed to be.

 

Kamen Rider 3 vs Kamen Rider Drive

Singer, musician, and songwriter Mitsuhiro Oikawa plays Kyoichiro Kuroi/Kamen Rider 3. Every good hero needs a good villain and Oikawa did a great job portraying Kuroi as a character who is at odds with himself. As a Kamen Rider he did the unspeakable and that was slay his own brethren. Brainwashed or not he can never wash the blood of hope from his hands and he constantly struggles with his decisions and how they've affected his ability to move forward. Winston Churchill wrote "If you're going through hell keep going", but it's doubtful if this is the best move for Kamen Rider 3 as each step he takes is paved with the bones of his enemies. How do you change if you're a killer? Can you change? And how do you live if every action you take goes against your nature? These questions define Kamen Rider 3. He and Drive find themselves at an impasse not only because their way of life is so different from one another's, but because of their gulf in age and experiences as well. I felt that casting Oikawa who was 45 at the time was a good choice because in-universe Kamen Rider 3 has been doing this longer than Kamen Rider Drive and he's been witness to and often the cause of tragedies that Drive can't even imagine.

 

Tetsuo Kurata returns as Kamen Rider Black. Awww yeah!

This film has a massive cast of characters and Tetsuo Kurata (Kamen Rider Black, Kamen Rider Black RX), Yuichi Nakamura (Kamen Rider Den-O), Kousei Amano, Takayuki Tsubaki, Ryoji Morimoto and Takahiro Hojo (Kamen Rider Blade), and Kento Handa (Kamen Rider 555) all reprise their roles in the film. Kamen Riders from Showa and Heisei eras engaged in mortal combat throughout the film and it was great seeing my faves on-screen again. In typical Super Hero Taisen fashion there is a giant free-for-all at the end of the film and this is probably where I lost touch with the film albeit briefly.

 

Dial it back. Just a bit.

It pulls a Batman v Superman in that there is way too much going on in the final minutes of the film. While I'm a huge fan of Kamen Rider and somewhat of a fan of Super Sentai the combination of the two in the final act was too much. A minor-spoiler, the riders are in trouble and it looks like it might be the end for Kamen Rider Drive and literally out of nowhere the cast of Shuriken Sentai Ninninger walks onscreen. The rational for Shuriken Sentai showing up is literally "Hey Drive. You're cool. We're cool. Let's fight together" and I could not fire off enough Jackie Chan memes to express my "what even" at this part of the movie. Is the team-up cool? Absolutely. But it took an already long action sequence and just made it chaotic. There's also an event that happens which has implications for Kamen Rider Drive and sets up the sequel Kamen Rider 4. Again, way too much was going on in the final act and I feel if the movie just cut the last action sequence it would have had a more memorable ending.

"Who's That Guy?"

As you can see the film has its flaws, but those are mostly in the last few minutes and up until that point what's here is a very well-choreographed, well-acted, well-written tokusatsu. I enjoyed seeing Kamen Riders gathered together to do battle against their foes (and each other) and there were several twists that kept me guessing. Mitsuhiro Oikawa did a great job as Kyoichiro Kuroi/Kamen Rider 3 and the character really left an impression on me which is no mean feat for a character making his debut in a film filled with recognizable Kamen Riders. Oikawa also performed "Who's That Guy" - the main theme of the film. Newcomers will be understandably lost, but may still latch onto all the intense Kamen Rider action while long-time fans will find a flawed, but enjoyable experience.

Kamen Rider Amazons (2016)

This is how you do a reboot.

The Japanese are privy to numerous benefits thanks to Nozama Pharmacy's many advancements in medical technology. However, their most recent breakthrough created something which even they weren't ready for - Amazon Cells. When injected into a living host, Amazon Cells increase the subject's strength, speed, and durability exponentially. Test subjects have even displayed the ability to shape-shift and assimilate the memories of other people. The company has essentially created evolution in a syringe and these new lifeforms are referred to as Amazons. Of course being the highest rung on the evolutionary ladder comes with a small caveat. Amazons have developed an acquired taste - people. Before the company could correct this issue the Amazons escaped. Elsewhere, a meek young man named Haruka lives with his foster mother Reika Mizusawa and her daughter Mizuki. Unbeknownst to Haruka, he himself is infected with Amazon Cells and it's not long until a strange (or calculated) series of events turns him into Kamen Rider Amazon Omega. Using this power, Haruka must fight to protect his family from the ever-growing threat of the Amazons while struggling to hold onto his humanity which slips through his fingers by the day. It is eat or be eaten in this world where the rules of nature reign supreme.

Kamen Rider Amazon Omega

Kamen Rider Amazons is a 2016 web series which celebrates the 45th anniversary of the Kamen Rider series. Created in partnership with Amazon Prime, Kamen Rider Amazons is a reboot of the highly controversial 1974 Kamen Rider Amazon. Kamen Rider Amazon shocked Japanese viewers with its graphic violence. Whereas most Kamen Rider series average about 50 episodes, Kamen Rider Amazon was cancelled after 24 because it was too extreme. While people are desensitized to that kind of thing today, having blood, decapitations and the like in a 1970s-era show was a good way to get pulled from the airwaves, even more so in Japan. Kamen Rider Amazons gets around censorship issues by being streamed online rather than aired on television. Still, much like its predecessor, Amazons has its own share of controversy. It's not due to the violence, but producer Shinichiro Shirakura.

Love him or hate him Shirakura equals ratings.

A big name in tokusatsu, Shinichiro Shirakura is infamous for his harsh criticisms of Super Sentai, recent entries in the Kamen Rider series, and tokusatsu in general. Shirakura drew major heat for regarding modern tokusatsu as lackluster, juvenile, and too quick to rely on tropes rather than complex characters. With more than 20 years in the business, Shirakura produced many of the early (and arguably most popular) Heisei Era Kamen Rider series including Agito, Ryuki, Faiz, Kabuto, and the hugely successful Decade along with a few others. Of course he was also responsible for the legendary flop that was Hibiki. With numerous films under his belt, Shirakura's Kamen Rider series are known for being very character driven, more dramatic and more mature than many of the later Kamen Rider series. His rationale for the reboot is best summed up by Shirakura himself, "Do you think the recent Kamen Riders are interesting? I don't think so! I hope with Amazons the toothless Kamen Rider can get his fangs back." A bold statement to be sure, but this series definitely has some bite.

He's no pup anymore.

Kamen Rider Amazons is a more mature entry in the Kamen Rider series. Not every episode ends on a cheery note and in fact there are quite a few episodes that end with characters being only slightly better off than where they started. There's a substantial body count throughout because the stakes are incredibly high and the hero doesn't always save the day. Haruka doesn't always rider kick his way to victory because every battle is a struggle not just against the Amazons, but his own nature which is changing after every encounter. It isn't long until his mere existence endangers his loved ones. This forces him to distance himself from the very people he's fighting to protect. Tom Fujita does a great job portraying the struggle of this young character. You can see the uncertainty and fear that lay behind Haruka's smile. He puts on a brave front because for all intents and purposes he's very much a kid in a world of adults and monsters and his innocence is torn from him with each new revelation.

Jin Takayama AKA Kamen Rider BADASS

Any good Kamen Rider series has a dichotomy among its heroes; enter Jin Takayama - Kamen Rider Amazon Alpha. Played by Masashi Taniguchi, Jin has a complicated relationship with Haruka. Sometimes Jin will be an aloof ally, other times he'll serve as a sinister mentor, and at the the worst times he's a dangerous foil to our main character. Charismatic, smart, and totally badass Jin almost seems to move on a whim, but his true motives are a mystery. No one really knows what he's after or what he's capable of, but he's a rider you cross at your own peril.

Family

Actress/model Rena Takeda plays Mizuki Mizusawa and I have to give her a few extra points for being one of the few likable female leads in a Kamen Rider series. She's a lonely girl who doesn't appear to have many friends at school and she's often neglected by her workaholic mother. Prior to Haruka's adoption, it's clear that Mizuki didn't have any friends and so she's developed a strong attachment to Haruka. As Haruka changes, his refusal to open up to Mizuki brings back her feelings of isolation and neglect. It's clear that Amazons has a lot of great characters not the least of which being the Nozama Peston Service which is a team of mercenaries hired by Nozama Pharmacy to hunt down the Amazons. The mercs all have different personalities and their interactions are some of the best acted scenes in the show. The actors feel very natural and the characters feel less like mercs and more like a family that has been through it all together. The series does a great job with its human characters, but the action is well done too.

Kamen Rider Amazon Alpha

The battles in Kamen Rider Amazons are more similar to the battles in early Heisei Era titles. These are knockdown, drag out, smash mouth fights. The riders don't just get a power-up and wipe out the enemy in a flash (looking at you Kamen Rider Gaim) rather there is an ongoing, brutal fight and it's during these battles we see even more differences between our heroes. As the good folks at Rider Club Radio pointed out, the battles in Amazons is less stylish and is more of a fight between monsters. In many ways Amazon Omega is a berserker and as Omega Haruka's approach to combat is a wild, frenzied offense. His attacks aren't technically sound so it does take him awhile to wear down his foes, but he's absolutely relentless in doing so. Jin on the other hand is in complete control as Amazon Alpha. Even transformed he maintains his super cool swagger and he lays waste to the Amazons with a combination of bestial savagery and surgical precision. It's not all perfect though. The mercs are completely useless when the more powerful Amazons show up and they're relegated to just being distractions. Also, the digital blood spatter is used too much in some of the episodes which can detract from the presentation of the fight scenes.

Never get on Alpha's bad side.

The writing, the acting, and the tone are all top notch and this is some of the best cinematography I've seen in a tokusatsu in awhile. While the show isn't perfect, each episode leaves you wanting more and this is a fantastic reboot because unlike most it's a quality series and not just a cash-in on a franchise name. It's also a great jumping on point for those looking to get into Kamen Rider, but may have been turned off by the "shonen-esque" presentation of recent entries. (Once again looking at you Kamen Rider Gaim.) Kamen Rider Amazons is gritty and as long as you're not afraid to get dirty you're going to have a good time.

Kamen Rider Wizard (2012 - 2013)

It's showtime!

Created in 2012 by Toei, Kamen Rider Wizard is a tokusatsu (live-action series) that continues the Kamen Rider franchise started by series creator Shotaro Ishinomori in 1971. The fourteenth series in the Heisei era of Kamen Rider and the twenty-third series overall, Kamen Rider Wizard takes place in a world where magical creatures called Phantoms threaten the survival of the human race. Six months prior to the start of the series, dozens of people were kidnapped and sacrificed in a ritual called the Sabbath. Referred to as Gates, the magical potential in these sacrificial pawns and their despair called forth creatures called Phantoms that now terrorize Japan in search of more humans to use as Gates to call forth their dark brethren. The only survivors of this ritual are Kyomi, a young girl who lost her memories and Soma Haruto. Taken under the wing of a mysterious wizard dressed in white, Soma Haruto learns the ways of magic and martial arts. Taking up the mantle Kamen Rider Wizard, Soma Haruto must protect the human race and Kyomi's past may be the key to doing so. Along the way he'll contend with fierce rivals, sadistic enemies, and the evils in the human heart.

Just another day for a Kamen Rider.

From the very first episode Kamen Rider Wizard sucked me in with its cast of characters, excellent choreography, epic score, and explosive action. Haruto's introduction as Kamen Rider Wizard is absolutely badass. He's cocky for sure, but not arrogant and he lays waste to the Phantoms in an efficient, business-like manner. Wizard's fighting style is truly unique among Kamen Riders as it emphasizes Wudang Sword which is a form of Chinese swordsmanship. Wizard's fighting style is more focused on acrobatics and he blends martial arts and magic in dispatching his foes which leads to some very creative action sequences. At first Wizard can only control one element, but he becomes more powerful and more competent as the series goes on and it's impressive to see him use magic in different ways and combine different elements to dispatch his foes.

 

I'll be your hope.

Shunya Shiraishi plays Soma Haruto who's a very easy-going character. You wouldn't know it, but Haruto hides a lot of pain and tragedy behind his smile. In a series where a lot of characters are dealing with personal trauma, Haruto has seen more than his fair share, but he keeps going and he turns pain into hope. Haruto believes that no matter what a person has gone through they can still find happiness. Even if you have nothing left, there's still hope and if you don't have that Haruto will be your hope. As a wizard he believes that he can do the impossible and as a Kamen Rider he does. He inspires a lot of people around him in such a way that even when he hits rock-bottom there are so many people around him who he's saved and many more people who need him which keeps him going. He's not invincible and he's not perfect. He has his strengths, short-comings, fears, and so forth. He's a very human character despite his ever-growing power.

Most of the gang.

Haruto is supported by his student Shunpei, his police contact Rinko, his friend/love interest Kyomi, his father figure Shigeru, and Nito his fellow Kamen Rider. There is a believable and very well-written family dynamic that defines the group and we see the characters bond, fight, and challenge one another, but they always stay strong and stand together. It's a great and necessary contrast in a plot that focuses heavily on despair, loss, and loneliness. Every good hero needs a good villain and Kamen Rider Wizard has one of the best.

They don't get much badder than this.

The Phantoms are led by the enigmatic Wiseman who was responsible for the Sabbath. The most powerful Phantoms have the honor of working under Wiseman and they include the trickster Gremlin, the sadistic Medusa, and the immortal Phoenix who is easily the best villain in the series. Played by Atsumi Kanno, Yugo AKA Phoenix is Kamen Rider Wizard's fiercest foe. Hotblooded, violent, and merciless, Phoenix is the polar opposite of Wizard. Phoenix gets a lot of character development and the show does a great job exploring the relationship between Phoenix and Wizard which started as a rivalry defined by strength and quickly erupted into a war fueled by hatred. In Phoenix, Wizard sees a life-threatening foe and the same is true for Phoenix in that Wizard is perhaps the only being truly capable of beating him. These fight scenes are brutal, the score is epic, and every encounter feels like it could be the last and the two force each other to grow stronger. Phoenix is never defeated the same way twice and this forces Wizard to evolve and adapt or perish.

The enigmatic White Wizard.

Kamen Rider Wizard is not without its problems. The second half of the show isn't as strong as the first. While the plot advances the battles don't always feel as though they carry the same seriousness as earlier conflicts. Kyomi and other characters get a lot of development which is great, but it comes at the cost of Haruto's agency. In the latter half of the series Haruto feels more like a peripheral character in his own show. The show even introduces three more wizards, two of which don't really add much to the plot. There's a big plot twist involving several characters, but if you've seen enough tokusatsu you probably called it fifteen or so episodes before it actually happens. So the show can be fairly predictable late in the series for those viewers familiar with the Kamen Rider formula.

Life Is Showtime

Overall I had a great time watching Kamen Rider Wizard. It's not a perfect Kamen Rider series, but it's a good series despite its flaws. It was highly entertaining with some great fight scenes and intriguing characters. It's quite different from the traditional Kamen Rider formula, but this didn't detract from its entertainment value and it's an entry I'd recommend to newcomers and long-time fans alike.