Differences in Toku Movies and TV Shows

[SapphireBlue]

Whenever I watch a tokusatsu movie of a tv show like Super Sentai or Kamen Rider, I keep wondering:

What's the difference between them in terms of production values? Like the quality of the special effects, sets, musical score, cinematography, fight choreography...

I mean, these movies were shown in Japan's theatres nationwide, so the Toei company must've had a higher budget to make these movies compared to the show right? Unfortunately, I've seen a lot of super sentai movies and don't get me wrong super sentai movies are pretty cool, but I don't really see any difference in the production values between the series and the movie. Whenever I watch a Super Sentai or a Kamen Rider movie, I keep thinking the movies are more of an extended episode than an actual movie.

So far, the toku movie I've seen that have had better production values than the TV shows would be the Sazer X movie.

Btw, I just downloaded the Gekiranger movie but I haven't watched it yet. For those who have seen it, did they really film it in Hong Kong?

 

[Kamen Rider ZIX]

Well I don't if they actually filmed in Hong Kong but the special effect were better than the usual TV episodes. Den-O movie also had some impressive movie quality effects.

 

[Solid Snake]

The only difference is that they put just a little more money than the episodes. Although I think that KR movies tend to have a higher budget than SS ones. An SS movie is pretty much two episodes with a higher budget. This is also common in Anime. Anime movies (that are based on a TV show) have just a slightly higher budget.

I think that in Japan people don't really care about how much you money you put in the movie as long as you give them what they like. It's more about the substance I'd say. On the other hand sometimes I feel that in the US we dump too much money in projects that are tasteless. Example, Speed Racer. Now, I haven't watched the movie yet (no one did) but I have this really bad feeling about it. It could be done with 1/10 the budget but with more spirit into it.

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

For those who have seen it, did they really film it in Hong Kong?

Nope, they filmed in the wonderful country of Greenscreenland.

But I think there's a clear difference in the way the movies look and sound from the shows; they're not going to get away with just slapping ordinary TV shows up on the big screen.

 

[Sentaifan'07 Xman]

The only difference is that they put just a little more money than the episodes. Although I think that KR movies tend to have a higher budget than SS ones. An SS movie is pretty much two episodes with a higher budget. This is also common in Anime. Anime movies (that are based on a TV show) have just a slightly higher budget.

I think that in Japan people don't really care about how much money you put in the movie as long as you give them what they like. It's more about the substance I'd say. On the other hand sometimes I feel that in the US we dump too much money in projects that are tasteless. Example, Speed Racer. Now, I haven't watched the movie yet (no one did) but I have this really bad feeling about it. It could be done with 1/10 the budget but with more spirit into it.

I concur.

 

[Mele]

Nope, they filmed in the wonderful country of Greenscreenland.

That´s actually a pretty amazing country! :thumbs:

 

[CaptainB_Money]

Kamen rider movie are atleast an hour and 30 mins. Super Sentai movies range from 30 mins to 40.

 

[Sentaifan'07 Xman]

Yep...Of course Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai had a time length of an hour and 11 minutes because of the Sentai stock footages for each of the vetran Sentai warriors telling their stories to each of the Gaorangers.

 

[monkeyjb1988]

Nope, they filmed in the wonderful country of Greenscreenland.

Oh, I've been there. It's a beautiful country. :laugh:

But I think there's a clear difference in the way the movies look and sound from the shows; they're not going to get away with just slapping ordinary TV shows up on the big screen.

Personally, I think the movies before the Gaoranger movie were lust longer episodes. Despite our individual feelings about CGI zords, I don't think any of us can deny that computers helped make Sentai movies more special than they used to be. I mean, now we actually get some really cool looking henshins in the movies, instead of stock footage from the show.

It does feel like Sentai movies are longer episodes. Thankfully, the stories are usually worthy of the longer format. And they do look and sound better. I like most of the Sentai movies truthfully (although the Ohranger movie is just barely a movie I like).

And, to rebute your last statement, the first four Goranger movies, as well as the JACQ movie, were TV shows on the big screen. :laugh:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goranger#Movies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.A.K.Q._Dengekitai#Movies

 

[Skinwalker]

I noticed with the Gekiranger movie it seemed to be shot differently. The starting fight, the scene in the restaurant place, the scene between Jan and ladywhosenameIforgotalready when she reveals her identity and hits her head. I dunno, just, like it was more natural, but I was more aware that there was a camera filming them. Hard to explain.