Kamen Rider Kabuto - Pre-Discussion

[MaraJade]

Wada was a member of the Ono Ken Yukai, another action group, and he was only in-suit during the finale.

As for Oofuji, he also played Guardnoid Gash in Liveman, Five Black, Black Condor, Mammoth Ranger, King Ranger, Green Racer, Gingaman's Bullblack and Sanbasshu and Gao Silver (I think it's also worth noting that he also played Jiku in the GoGoFive movie, a sort of reunion with Ryou!) What's cool about Oofuji is that he's a great martial artist, but he's also a pretty versatile actor. I've always wondered if that's why he didn't stay on as Red, if it was that he didn't want be stuck in that one role. I think he's gotten kind of wasted, though, in some shows -- he's much better than playing someone like Bullblack.

Another of my favorites is Yasuhiro Takeuchi, who's been wasted lately, too. He was Smokey in Magiranger, and while I did like the character he tried to create, I know he's above that part. He's going to be Bouken Blue, though, and I love that that harsh punch he gives that grunt in the second teaser preview -- it shows promise!

But I think Fukuzawa and Imai have been given too many chances and haven't really been too impressive. I've only liked Fukuzawa as Budo in Gingaman. I feel that there's a dozen other people who would have been better Time Fires, Kuwaga Raigers and Abare Killers over Imai (Takeuchi for one).

Speaking of wasted -- Yoshifumi Oshikawa, the most promising of the new guys. I'd like for him to play the title Rider for once.

AH. Then I have seen Oofuji...As Bullblack, Green Racer (I WOULDA REALLY NEVER THOUGHT), and yes, I do remember Jiku - that was Wada as actor. Nice touch, really. Speaking of Wada, I could've sworn I saw him for all of 30 seconds as Ryuki # 1 (in 13 Riders).

Hmm...Fukuzawa has been the token Red for awhile now. There aren't others interested or just that he keeps getting that part each time? Imai was too unexpressive as Time Fire. I think to date, his best is Kuwaga's role. Maybe it's because he played off of Kusaka a lot. But I'm probably biased ^^;;

Oh yeah, in response to Bolt's comment. Ninja Black amused me to no end because he was playing Kane. A striing of thick Japanese Accents and then "Ninja Black" said in perfect English. LOL That being said, I did like Blue's episodes. Good action, reasonably acceptable/interesting plot.

I LIKE Oshikawa. In almost everything I've seen him in, I've really liked his acting, martial arts, etc. I think my favorite role that I've seen him as is Garren so far. But Delta gets honorable mention if not just for the polarity of acting and action that he had to put forth as Delta - Mihara, Kitazaki, and Takumi (once I think). I like Itou - he impressed me as Hibiki - showing his versitility. Although I enjoyed watching him as Kaixa - moves very well IMO. It's nice to see that the upcoming guys show promise.

 

[ForeverRed]

I just noticed someone changed the thread titles. Keep this thread long time.

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

Speaking of Wada, I could've sworn I saw him for all of 30 seconds as Ryuki # 1 (in 13 Riders).

Yep, there he was...wasted. And man, I was so excited when I read he was doing Ryuki, little did I know it was a throwaway role in the throwaway special. I keep having a feeling that if Toei does go ahead and does a "Boukenger VS Super Sentai" that Wada will be returning in place of Shima, which would be cool. It's probably again me thinking too much of Toei and we'll end up with Masaru Nagai...

Oh, Hideaki Kusaka's another one of my favorites. You have to admire the guy for sticking with sentai since Denjiman. The idea of him as Wolzard was cool, but I think the character was just too one-note for him. I hope he has a cool part for Boukenger other than the mecha...

One last thing, though, Makoto Itou doesn't impress me much. I don't really think he brings much to his characters, which is probably why I think he was only good as the ordinary G3. He showed promise with Hibiki, but I never felt like there was much for him to do with it. Both Itou and Fukuzawa are members with the Red Action Club, so I wonder if that might have something to do with their unimpressive performances (as cool as a performer as RAC chief Kazuo Niibori is, he's not the best in terms of direction).

 

[Keith Justice]

I just noticed someone changed the thread titles. Keep this thread long time.

Yeah, please save creation of the official talkback thread for the day it's released.

 

[Kyusaku]

Yeah, please save creation of the official talkback thread for the day it's released.

Some people on this board like to jump the gun way too far and way too often *cough*ForeverRed*cough*.

 

[MaraJade]

Yep, there he was...wasted. I keep having a feeling that if Toei does go ahead and does a "Boukenger VS Super Sentai" that Wada will be returning in place of Shima, which would be cool.

Oh, Hideaki Kusaka's another one of my favorites. You have to admire the guy for sticking with sentai since Denjiman. The idea of him as Wolzard was cool, but I think the character was just too one-note for him. I hope he has a cool part for Boukenger other than the mecha...

One last thing, though, Makoto Itou doesn't impress me much. I don't really think he brings much to his characters, which is probably why I think he was only good as the ordinary G3. He showed promise with Hibiki, but I never felt like there was much for him to do with it. Both Itou and Fukuzawa are members with the Red Action Club, so I wonder if that might have something to do with their unimpressive performances (as cool as a performer as RAC chief Kazuo Niibori is, he's not the best in terms of direction).

Heck he certainly looked like it - pasty white, but his role was really brief. It would be nice to see him again; I liked him in Dai and watching him as Jiku showed that he's still got it. And yeah, Kusaka is prolly up there as one of my faves. After seeing a brief cameo of him in Dekaranger Full Blast Action, I was floored. I can't believe such a respectable looking man is Kabutoraijer, Wolzard, etc. I was amused to find that he's played mecha after mecha - guess it comes from his height, but his performances are really quite entertaining. Have you checked out his REALLY early stuff? I think it's like the kiddy toku of like the 70's and 80's when Ishiminori must've been on crack. Some of those shows...crack I tell you. But it's really quite amusing.

Kusaka fit Wolzard like a glove, but his character was just a bit one dimensional. Truth be told, I like him better as Blagel. And oh, I didn't know Itou was part of Red Action Club. Don't you have to be a Red at some point or another to be one? Hmm...and what's the breakdown for who's who in Boukenger aside from Fukuzawa as Red?

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

Have you checked out his REALLY early stuff? I think it's like the kiddy toku of like the 70's and 80's when Ishiminori must've been on crack. Some of those shows...crack I tell you.

I haven't seen those, actually, but it can't be much worse than those Kabutack/Robotack shows he did in the late '90s. Now that's a waste of any performer's talents...I'd like Kusaka to play a chief villain again, because although he just stands/sits there, he still manages to convey this impressive and intimidating character as Deuce in Flashman or Ragon in Turboranger.

And oh, I didn't know Itou was part of Red Action Club. Don't you have to be a Red at some point or another to be one? Hmm...and what's the breakdown for who's who in Boukenger aside from Fukuzawa as Red?

No, I think that's just the name since the RAC was founded by Kazuo "Red" Niibori. I do think that maybe Itou could make a cool Oh-Red type Red in suit, however. As for the other Boukenger...

Yasuhiko Imai's Black, Yasuhiro Takeuchi as Blue (had to mention him again because he rocks!), Yuuichi Hachisuka as Yellow and Motokuni Nakagawa as Pink. That's what Japanese sites are reporting, but I'd still like for JAE to update for absolute confirmation. I hope they're at least right about Takeuchi.

 

[Bolt]

One last thing, though, Makoto Itou doesn't impress me much. I don't really think he brings much to his characters, which is probably why I think he was only good as the ordinary G3.

Seriously? Itou is great. I think he was especially good as G3/G3-X, Kaixa, and Chalice. I think he brings plenty of little characteristic nuances to his characters, even if it is subtle stuff. He was able to really get the Hibiki movements down, even in costume. And not to drop on Takaiwa, but I think Itou does a better job (at least lately) of showing some intensity. My personal favorite is Yoshifumi Oshikawa though. He's simply awesome! From Gills (absolutely classic), Zolda (a little lacking), Alternative, Delta, Garren, Ibuki... I've enjoyed all his Kamen Rider roles. I have to say though... for whatever reason, I really enjoyed his performance as Garren a lot more than the 2 previous shows.

 

[MaraJade]

I haven't seen those, actually, but it can't be much worse than those Kabutack/Robotack shows he did in the late '90s. Now that's a waste of any performer's talents...I'd like Kusaka to play a chief villain again, because although he just stands/sits there, he still manages to convey this impressive and intimidating character as Deuce in Flashman or Ragon in Turboranger.

Yasuhiko Imai's Black, Yasuhiro Takeuchi as Blue (had to mention him again because he rocks!), Yuuichi Hachisuka as Yellow and Motokuni Nakagawa as Pink. That's what Japanese sites are reporting, but I'd still like for JAE to update for absolute confirmation. I hope they're at least right about Takeuchi.

Agreed. Kusaka just reeked coolness as Grey in Jetman. Especially in that killer end fight with Black Condor. Yup, it's the Robotack stuff. I agree it's really a waste, but it's SO hilarious. Just the thought of the same guy who'd later go on to play so many pivotal roles, traipsing around in a kiddy show as a kid robot - classic or crack, maybe a little bit of both. ^^

Takeuchi IS cool. Everytime I watch him, I'm just struck by how fluid/limber his body is. He's incredibly acrobatic, but ooh sorry to get off topic, but I'm watching Bioman now, and I just have to say - I love this cast. I was really pleasantly surprised that for an earlier sentai, that they really GOT the ideals of Sentai down. I mean, from their teamwork, to drama, to just frigging cool acting, I'm blown by how incredibly modern vive the show gives off. I'm especially blown away by Green 2 - does he do capoeira? And of course, the famous Niborri...OH yeah, back to Takeuchi...I've seen him as Time Blue, Hurri Yellow, and I'm sure he played couple others, but they're slipping my mind at the moment. It will be nice to see him again.

And I agree with you, Bolt. I like Itou. Granted honestly he doesn't blow me away like Takaiwa, yet, but if he's going to jump into those shoes, he's doing a good job. I liked him as Kaixa - just moved so damn smooth and he impressed me in Hibiki. Not just the fight sequences, but that he learned taiko drumming and made it look COOL. I didn't think it would be possible to put a cool spin on instruments, but Hibiki managed to do so.

HA. Another Garren lover...^^

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

I mean, from their teamwork, to drama, to just frigging cool acting, I'm blown by how incredibly modern vive the show gives off.

Well, I do think Bioman is when sentai started to advance from the formula and fashion and style of the '70s and really started to see what it could do. Actually, Dynaman set it in motion, but it gained more speed with Bioman and finally set off with Changeman, IMO.

As for Itou, I do have to agree about Hibiki. I admit that I was one of the ones laughing when I heard of a drumming Rider, but Itou does manage to make it comes across as a lot less goofier than it seems, I forgave that the first time I saw the OP credits (not even Oshikawa could make a trumpet weapon seem cool). He is cool as Hibiki, but I thought he could give much more emotion to roles like Knight, Kaixa and Chalice (he just seemed to be half-heartedly imitating Oshikawa's Gils as Chalice). And especially Horse Orphenoch. What I do think is cool about Itou is how he was child actor who worked on tokusatsu and grew up to really play the heroes (you can see him in an episode of Dynaman and the first Changeman movie as a kid). Itou's always given the "cool" guys and I think he's always just bland in-suit, he doesn't give them a character as Takaiwa would.

I think Naoki Nagase's also cool, but he's always given these throwaway roles as Tiger, Psyga and Glaive! I thought he was really slick as Glaive and it made me wonder what he'd do with a role like Knight or Kaixa.

EDIT: For anyone curious, here's some shots of Itou in Dynaman, Changeman and as a regular on the goofy, family-friendly tokusatsu show "Jaaman Tanteidan Matonarigumi."

Itou in '01 (for the sake of comparison):

Dynaman:

Changeman movie:

Jaaman: