Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Let's make it showy!
*The following blog post is a pure fanboy rant about a super sentai series. Yes I do and am currently actively watching sentai for those of you who don't know. So unless u which to be bored to death, you may stop reading any further on. You have been warned...*
Just afew days back, I finished watching the 35th Anniversary series of the Super Sentai franchise, Gokiager. Yes Sentai has been around for 35 years, much longer than the number of years I've been on this planet. For those who do not know, Super Sentai is the original Power Rangers, in the sense that America bought over the idea and repackaged it as Power Rangers. And they didn't do so for all the series, starting only from the Mighty Morphing Power Rangers that we're all so familiar with only. But before that there were so many more Sentais before Tommy and Kimberly.
Being the 35th series, they decided to do something in commemoration. How, by simply bringing back all the other 35 Sentais! Epicness yo! All 35 years of Sentai in one series, pure fandom :). Summarising up the story, it takes place after the Legendary War, where all 34 previous Sentais sacrificed their powers to defeat a Zangyack(space invaders bent on conquering the whole universe), resulting in their powers scattered all over the galaxy in the form of Ranger keys. With the promise that gathering all 35 Grand Power would reveal "Greatest treasure in the universe", a band of 5 pirates (all hailing from planets destroyed by the Zangyack Empire) has come to Earth in search of the Grand Powers, in which consquently Zangyack has is trying to invade. The rest is, as you can guess.
Verdict bout the show. Best Sentai series EVER! The whole 35th anniversary idea was carried super well, without the notion of bringing back the past Sentais being cliche at all. As compared to the anniversary series of Kamen Rider, Decade, Gokaiger is soooooo much more well executed.
First let's talk about the cast. 2 characters to highlight mainly. First, Gokai Red, Marvelous(yes that's his name). I think it was very apt choosing Ryota Ozawa as the lead. Remember that this being Sentai, there has to be alittle kid element in it always, and there's just something about the way Ryota looks and acts(especially when he gives that smirks of his) that sort of brings out the child aura in him. Next, Gokai Silver. Not as much about the actor, but the character itself. He's your typical adult Sentai Fanboy, super crazy about Sentai, sort of like a walking Sentai encyclopedia :). I like how the script writer went to the lengths of including a Sentai Fanboy into the ranger list, especially this being the 35th anniversary, like it's a tribute to all the fans watching the fans out there. The way he got his Gokai Cellular is also freaking funny. Being as heroic as he is from watching Sentais all his life, he ends up dying in a car accident to save a kid, only to be revived by the sixth rangers from previous series to be the Sixth Gokaiger. Talk about max fandom Haha!
Second, their henshin. With the plot requiring the Rangers to transform numerous times during each fight, the transformation sequence is very important, otherwise the whole show get's too dull as it gets repeated over and over again. Which I'm glad to say Gokaiger pulled it off very well. Their original henshin isn't too fanciful, and I like how they used the original henshin voices when they cross henshin. Helps to keep the idea original and fresh when they keep changing inbetween fights.
Gokaiger henshin and roll call
Thirdly, Gokaioh. In other words, their megazord. Gokaioh has got to be by far the best looking one I've ever seen. Dosen't seem too clunky, and too fake. I also like how they incorporated Treasure chests into it to suit the Pirate theme.
Storyline wise. I like how ironic they played the idea, using the theme of Pirates for their anniversary. Throughout the whole series, the five would just not admit to being Sentais, simply brushing off just by saying that being pirates, they take what they want and wallop whoever they don't see eye to eye with. As expected all the way until the last episode. Kinda of a fresh idea, having Sentais who don't want to be, but wield the power of the previous 34 Sentais, for a 35th anniversary series. Nice. They way they included the the other 34 Sentais into the series is also very well placed, in the sense that even though they didn't mange to bring back all, they did bring back enough iconic actors to keep the anniversary feel in it, like Kenji Ohba :).
Lastly, All Sentais come with their signature finishing moves. Well I wouldn't say that the Final Wave Gokaiger uses is the best looking (it does get abit irritating when it keeps repeating Final Wave loudly), but Gokai Silver Gold mode's finisher(Gokai Legend Dream) is nose-bleeding epic. The combination of splitting all the sixth rangers, into the first 7 who uses guns, and then the 8 who uses swords, finally finishing with the Gokai Silver himself. Too badass idea. I LIKE!
You would have also noticed that his Gold mode armour chest plate has the faces of all the sixth rangers on it. Talk about anniversary tribute Haha!!!All in all, Gokaiger is probably the best Sentai I've watched thus far. Of course it does have it's bad moments. For example I felt that it's ending was rather rush, and the final few boss fights could've been so much better. But overall, it's a very well done anniversary series, definitely worth me rewatching again.
Last note. To those who still thinks Super Sentai is for kids, this series is like "In your face!". No kid would be able to enjoy this series properly, simply because they would not know all the 35 Super Sentais, much less appreciate. Even I don't know all of them. So this being the 35th anniversary, simply means that those who should watch this should be around 40 by now? Now who says it's for kids ;p
Opening of the series. Love the scene where all the Red runs past Marvelous.
With that, the most epic picture of 35 years of Sentai to end this wonderful post.
Revealed on [8:14 PM]