KingRanger
Banned
I don't agree with it, but I can see how you have come to your conclusion.
Kamen Rider 555 - Thoughts and Opinions
- Thread starter Ultraman_Meta777
- Start date
I don't agree with it, but I can see how you have come to your conclusion.
Inui Takumi
The Ends JustiΦ's the Means
I know that my opinion will probably get glossed over as biased based solely on my screenname. 
What can I say, when I joined the forum, I had just finished KR 555 as my first toku series and loved it. Hence the name. But, I digress.
For a long time, Faiz was my favorite show. I remember when I first watched it, youtube couldn't load up the episode fast enough for me because I was so enthralled in the show. Granted, it was my first show and all. But for a show aimed at kids and young adults, I was blown away that these themes were being addressed, such as prejudice and whatnot. Sure, X-men did it decades ago, but this was a different take on it and it did have a slightly darker tone to it. Like most have said, the first half was very well done. I think the characters and the situations they were placed in were compelling and really worked for the show. I was watching Kabuto as it aired at the time, so it definitely felt different to me. I loved the suits and the attacks. The fights scenes were well done, even if the CGI mechs and stuff we sub-par. And I thought that the misunderstandings in the show, though they could have been easily avoided and even handled differently, helped with the theme of these two types of heroes being misjudged amongst themselves and amongst the world. I really made me invested in the show.
Until we get to around the midway point or just after that. At the time, I didnt see anything wrong with it. But after a second viewing years later, it disappointed me at how much was left unanswered and a few of the characters sudden changes, the main offender being Kiba. There also was a point in teh show where Takumi gets a bit depressed and does **** all for a few episodes, which really annoyed me. But the ending, though it was very opened ended and one that should only be done for a continuing storyline, didnt enrage me as much as people say it should have. It could have been handled a whole lot better. And it still is one of my least favorite endings of a series, but after the rollercoaster ride of most of the show, I forgave it to a certain degree.
So, Faiz does hold a special place for me since it was my first Tokusatsu series. But it has fallen down in my rankings since, especially after great shows like W and Hibiki. But I still think that it is worth the watch.
And as far as the name "Kamen Rider" goes, I'm actually glad that few shows actually refer to the heroes as Kamen Riders within the story itself. I think W handled it well where it wasn't W himself who gave him the name, but the residents of Fuuto City that tagged him with the name and thus, becoming the "Kamen Rider". I think that gives it a much more heroic and almost mythical value to the name then if everyone calls him Kamen Rider Faiz or Kamen Rider W from the get-go.
What can I say, when I joined the forum, I had just finished KR 555 as my first toku series and loved it. Hence the name. But, I digress.For a long time, Faiz was my favorite show. I remember when I first watched it, youtube couldn't load up the episode fast enough for me because I was so enthralled in the show. Granted, it was my first show and all. But for a show aimed at kids and young adults, I was blown away that these themes were being addressed, such as prejudice and whatnot. Sure, X-men did it decades ago, but this was a different take on it and it did have a slightly darker tone to it. Like most have said, the first half was very well done. I think the characters and the situations they were placed in were compelling and really worked for the show. I was watching Kabuto as it aired at the time, so it definitely felt different to me. I loved the suits and the attacks. The fights scenes were well done, even if the CGI mechs and stuff we sub-par. And I thought that the misunderstandings in the show, though they could have been easily avoided and even handled differently, helped with the theme of these two types of heroes being misjudged amongst themselves and amongst the world. I really made me invested in the show.
Until we get to around the midway point or just after that. At the time, I didnt see anything wrong with it. But after a second viewing years later, it disappointed me at how much was left unanswered and a few of the characters sudden changes, the main offender being Kiba. There also was a point in teh show where Takumi gets a bit depressed and does **** all for a few episodes, which really annoyed me. But the ending, though it was very opened ended and one that should only be done for a continuing storyline, didnt enrage me as much as people say it should have. It could have been handled a whole lot better. And it still is one of my least favorite endings of a series, but after the rollercoaster ride of most of the show, I forgave it to a certain degree.
So, Faiz does hold a special place for me since it was my first Tokusatsu series. But it has fallen down in my rankings since, especially after great shows like W and Hibiki. But I still think that it is worth the watch.
And as far as the name "Kamen Rider" goes, I'm actually glad that few shows actually refer to the heroes as Kamen Riders within the story itself. I think W handled it well where it wasn't W himself who gave him the name, but the residents of Fuuto City that tagged him with the name and thus, becoming the "Kamen Rider". I think that gives it a much more heroic and almost mythical value to the name then if everyone calls him Kamen Rider Faiz or Kamen Rider W from the get-go.
Darkster
It's over 8,000!
Fail. That is your opinion. The rest of your post has been negated. Try again.
big_j_ny
Just an Internet User Passing Thru
KingRanger
Banned
If darkster was any more uptight you would get a diamond from coal if you shoved it up his ass.:laugh:
Black Fang
Active Member
I greatly enjoyed Faiz the first time I watched it. The second time, I was more observant of the flaws people always mention and have already been mentioned here. (Some things like Kusaka and Takumi's first fight got to such ridiculous levels. A disagreement on how to deal with an Orphenoch leads to Kusaka shooting a whole barrage of missiles at Takumi? Are you kidding?) But overall I still enjoyed it. It's better than the post-Hibiki shows sans W.
Further regarding Kusaka and Takumi's feud, I think that might have been an ample time to delve more into Takumi's background (which Inoue never really did beyond a few things here and there). His streetwise personality would make him more wary of Kusaka's act than the others, and that (the loss of control over people) would have made Kusaka incensed. Or something to that effect. But it always came off as just "I dislike you for no clear reason."
Further regarding Kusaka and Takumi's feud, I think that might have been an ample time to delve more into Takumi's background (which Inoue never really did beyond a few things here and there). His streetwise personality would make him more wary of Kusaka's act than the others, and that (the loss of control over people) would have made Kusaka incensed. Or something to that effect. But it always came off as just "I dislike you for no clear reason."
Sentaifan'07 Xman
"Let's DRIVING!!!!!"
The first part will leave you breathless, but the second half will have you thinking, "WTF?!:hmm::confused2"
Shin Ryuchi
Member
Ooohh.. I just finished reading all the posts here. I'm really amazed at how all of you guys can observe all those things. I just watch the series and take it as it is so I can't really give out any.. Uhmm.. Detailed reviews? Constructive opinions? I don't know the term that I should use but I think you guys got the point. Hehe! n__n
As for the series, this was my first favorite Kamen Rider series and I really loved it the first time I saw it. I am currently watching this again (I'm on episode 36) and my opinion of it is still the same. Concept of the riders were great and the Orphenochs rock. Haha! Except for Kusaka (Hate that bastard.), I still enjoy watching the show.
Oh, I also want to ask you guys, was the Orphenoch on Episode 32, the double sword-wielder one, is he Radiguet from Chojin Sentai Jetman? xD
As for the series, this was my first favorite Kamen Rider series and I really loved it the first time I saw it. I am currently watching this again (I'm on episode 36) and my opinion of it is still the same. Concept of the riders were great and the Orphenochs rock. Haha! Except for Kusaka (Hate that bastard.), I still enjoy watching the show.
Oh, I also want to ask you guys, was the Orphenoch on Episode 32, the double sword-wielder one, is he Radiguet from Chojin Sentai Jetman? xD
555 was one of those serieses that I watched...well....I think about the time I turned off something else because I'd lost interest and was asking myself why on earth I was watching it when I had this series that had been peaking my interest since I first started watching KR but I'd never gotten around to.
Overall, a good series but naturally it does have flaws. While I'll agree that it tries to show what a real person would do in these kinds of situations, it fell somewhat flat on it's face in doing so. Ryuki did a better job of it really, but then again Ryuki had a put-together premise to start with. With Kenzaki, you knew what he was about from day one, at least on the surface, and the later characterization didn't hurt him at all.
By comparison you have Smart Brain...it's just kinda there, innit? There...looming....watching....being....not really doing much of anything really. Oh sure, trying to get the belt back is fine, but if you're a giant multi-national company you think you'd be able to be a bit more effective than just doing things so overly convoluted and covertly. Take a few cues from Umbrella Corp., Smart Brain. They turn entire cities into zombies and still come out with their hides intact. Okay so you wrecked a few city blocks and everything is rubble, that's fine. Bribe a few chair-warmers and move on! Everyone else does it.
My point is that, as many have stated before, a hero in Toku is only as good as the villain, and we really didn't have a defined villain here. It was like Smart Brain was meant to fill the role but someone cut out it's gizzard or something at the last minute.
As for characters, the word 'flat' comes to mind. I didn't really feel invested in anyone else outside of Takumi, Mari, and their monkey-boy sidekick. Okay I'll admit I wanted Kusaka to die about the time he jammed himself into the main trio's lives with his amazing stalker crowbar and his mixtape of fifty tracks' worth of 'The girl is mine' on repeat. SHE'S NOT INTERESTED! Leave the poor thing alone! She's already got enough problems in her character...
Looking back on it, few things stand out outside of my enjoyment of Takumi (that actor's skill or lack thereof aside), my sympathy for Yuka, and my laughter at Kaido's wacky antics. It was decent enough I suppose, it's just that it is indeed like Kiva. They tried to do too much, and not enough got done, so now you're just left unsatisfied.
Overall, a good series but naturally it does have flaws. While I'll agree that it tries to show what a real person would do in these kinds of situations, it fell somewhat flat on it's face in doing so. Ryuki did a better job of it really, but then again Ryuki had a put-together premise to start with. With Kenzaki, you knew what he was about from day one, at least on the surface, and the later characterization didn't hurt him at all.
By comparison you have Smart Brain...it's just kinda there, innit? There...looming....watching....being....not really doing much of anything really. Oh sure, trying to get the belt back is fine, but if you're a giant multi-national company you think you'd be able to be a bit more effective than just doing things so overly convoluted and covertly. Take a few cues from Umbrella Corp., Smart Brain. They turn entire cities into zombies and still come out with their hides intact. Okay so you wrecked a few city blocks and everything is rubble, that's fine. Bribe a few chair-warmers and move on! Everyone else does it.
My point is that, as many have stated before, a hero in Toku is only as good as the villain, and we really didn't have a defined villain here. It was like Smart Brain was meant to fill the role but someone cut out it's gizzard or something at the last minute.
As for characters, the word 'flat' comes to mind. I didn't really feel invested in anyone else outside of Takumi, Mari, and their monkey-boy sidekick. Okay I'll admit I wanted Kusaka to die about the time he jammed himself into the main trio's lives with his amazing stalker crowbar and his mixtape of fifty tracks' worth of 'The girl is mine' on repeat. SHE'S NOT INTERESTED! Leave the poor thing alone! She's already got enough problems in her character...
Looking back on it, few things stand out outside of my enjoyment of Takumi (that actor's skill or lack thereof aside), my sympathy for Yuka, and my laughter at Kaido's wacky antics. It was decent enough I suppose, it's just that it is indeed like Kiva. They tried to do too much, and not enough got done, so now you're just left unsatisfied.
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