Kamen Rider Kabuto - Pre-Discussion

[MaraJade]

Well a Bee is one of the cooler insect designs you could do, especially compared to a cockroach or something. Not to say the roach thing didn't turn out alright, just saying... cockroach... bee... you see.

When doesn't he?

I've watched all of Hibiki, hyper vid, and movie and I think Hibiki did an OK job. I liked the fact that it was character driven, while giving the occasional rider-ness stuff. The CGI did go a bit overboard, but such was the need of the show; it's focused heavily on the Makamou, etc. However, I think the writers did a good job of re-defining the KR genre, while staying within its parameters, however stretched they turned out to be. Hibiki ended on a good note for me; it was true to what it started out as, which is to say, there was closure - and it made sense.

Kabuto on the other hand, the entire show (from what I've seen of the promos), has a "rawness" to it that makes me think that it will be darker, story driven with an emphasis on characterization. Perhaps I'm projecting my hopes, but so far, I'm optimistic about Kabuto. I haven't seen the original KR, but I did see Kuuga and I can see where there is a "lone wolf" feeling to the show (particularly the character).

I think I missed a rider somewhere, but who's the third rider? Kabuto, Zabee sp?) and I know there's a suspected fourth - or is that more fan hearsay?

As for Bolt's question...ditto.

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

When doesn't he?

Come on, you know the answer...Magiranger! Honestly, maybe I'm silly, but I think Seiji was about the only thing that kept me watching Magiranger for as long as I did until I checked out. Sure, I prefer him as the cool Agito type, but he's just fun when playing goofy, so mute out Kai and laugh at Seiji! He's not laugh out loud funny, but probably the only thing entertaining you'll find in that disgrace of a series.

That said, Takaiwa actually doesn't impress me much as Ninja Red. Especially for following the awesome, awesome Naoki Oofuji as Ryuranger.

 

[FreedomR8G6B1]

To what?

Hibiki...instead of using Musical Instruments as their motif...

 

[MaraJade]

Come on, you know the answer...Magiranger! Honestly, maybe I'm silly, but I think Seiji was about the only thing that kept me watching Magiranger for as long as I did until I checked out. Sure, I prefer him as the cool Agito type, but he's just fun when playing goofy, so mute out Kai and laugh at Seiji! He's not laugh out loud funny, but probably the only thing entertaining you'll find in that disgrace of a series.

That said, Takaiwa actually doesn't impress me much as Ninja Red. Especially for following the awesome, awesome Naoki Oofuji as Ryuranger.

LOL. I agree with that. I actually grit my teeth, tried to tune out that word "Yuuki" and the excessive amount of sparklies, and watched Magi. For Magi's credit and Kai - he did eventually grow on me, the story DID FINALLY pick up around ep 25 or so...but yeah. The stunties are very good at what they do...and Takaiwa does seem to enjoy goofing off - I didn't think he could pull off the annoying, firehead ('scuse the pun) little brother, but he did. That said, I do like watching him as the cool, cocky types too, but this was a refreshment from that. I look forward to seeing him as that again in Kabuto.

Wasn't Ninja Red his first Sentai appearance? Or was that his first Red? He's a bit rough around the edges in that - I agree, but there were times when he came through...Also, maybe it's just me, but I couldn't help thinking that those Kaku suits looked quite feminine. Excluding Ninja White ( I know it was a woman stunt), I wondered maybe it's the suite design? Maybe they just weren't as built then...Magi's suit designs seems to accentuate their build. ::shrugs:: It's gotten to the point I can usually tell them apart by build and/or mannerisms...

Oofuji was Ryuranger? Isn't he also DekaBreak? I woulda never guessed...

EDIT: I must've been on crack...Break was Ooiwa...::goes to get coffee::

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

Wasn't Ninja Red his first Sentai appearance? Or was that his first Red?

It was his first Red, yeah. Possibly his first sentai hero appearance, but a lot of Japanese sites claim that he played Zyuranger's Dragon Ranger, although his name isn't in the credits, so I've always kept skeptical of that. On top of that, he never acted very Seiji-ish to me.

I was hoping he'd hang onto sentai for Boukenger, though. Because I think Hirofumi Fukuzawa makes a crappy Red and we're stuck with him again. Maybe he just needs a serious Red, though, and here's hoping Bouken's serious for once. Takaiwa was the only one who I thought did a good job in Magiranger; the others out of the four went too overboard, even if it did suit the nincompoops they were supposed to be playing transformed. Takaiwa's far too generous making twerps like Kai, Takumi and Kenzaki seem far cooler or interesting in-suit than they could ever hope to be.

Oofuji was Ryuranger?

Yeah, and I think the best suit actor to play a Red other than Kazuo Niibori (maybe he new what sentai's future was, but I always thought it was weird of Oofuji to bail after playing one Red). Sorry to get off-track, but Oofuji's probably my favorite suit actor, but he's hardly been given anything good in recent years (and he's recently left the JAE). Although he did play Abare Killer in Dekaranger VS Abaranger and was much better than the regular guy, IMO. I think he really needed a Rider. I also believe that Jiro Okamoto rips off of Oofuji heavily with a lot of his movements and characteristics in these new Rider shows (when I first saw Project G4, I was certain it was Oofuji). And while I like the guy who actually did play him, a Naoki Oofuji Another Agito would have been the ultimate (if it were also Yutaka Hirose playing Kino).

 

[Bolt]

Whoah, I didn't know Takaiwa was Ninja Red. Awesomeness! Actually, contrary to most people's opinion that Ninja Black was the best, I thought Ninja Blue's action segments were some of the best in Kakuranger.

From the small amount of action they've showed in the Kabuto previews, I'm very optimistic. It looks fast and powerful; I was afraid the guys might be slowing down after some of Hibiki's sluggish fights. Good to see them get swift.

 

[MaraJade]

It was his first Red, yeah. Possibly his first sentai hero appearance, but a lot of Japanese sites claim that he played Zyuranger's Dragon Ranger, although his name isn't in the credits, so I've always kept skeptical of that. On top of that, he never acted very Seiji-ish to me.

Yeah, I think I heard about that as well. I watched some of the MMPR S1, after they'd shot all the stuff for it from Zyu, and SOME of Dragon Ranger's movements make me think it's Seiji, but yeah - I've scoured Zyu's credits and his name doesn't show up at all.

I was hoping he'd hang onto sentai for Boukenger, though. Because I think Hirofumi Fukuzawa makes a crappy Red and we're stuck with him again. Takaiwa was the only one who I thought did a good job in Magiranger; the others out of the four went too overboard, even if it did suit the nincompoops they were supposed to be playing transformed. Takaiwa's far too generous making twerps like Kai, Takumi and Kenzaki seem far cooler or interesting in-suit than they could ever hope to be.

Yeah me too. After having seen his Sentai stuff, I was hoping he'd stay - not that I'm perfectly happy with him as KR. I think Fukuzawa does an OK job as Red. I liked him best in a tossup btwn Aba and Deka - he pulled some nice stuff with his magnums. It was a nice switch from the kind of 'non-fighting action" that Aba called for. As for Magi, I didn't think the other stunties were that bad. Maybe it's just me and my eye kind of zones in on Takaiwa, but in general, I think the suit actors really give life to a lot of these series, both KR and Sentai. I think Kusaka did a good job as Wolzard. Jiro as Shine was not bad either IMO. I think Imai was kind of shorthanded, maybe it's because of his character, but I liked him better as Kuwaga Raijer. And I think for Blue's debut? Not sure of that, but she did a passable job.

I have to agree...Takaiwa really did go out of his way to make Takumi especially and other leads he plays look much cooler. It's prolly the reason why I like Faiz so much, despite its shortcomings.

Sorry to get off-track, but Oofuji's probably my favorite suit actor, but he's hardly been given anything good in recent years (and he's recently left the JAE). Although he did play Abare Killer in Dekaranger VS Abaranger and was much better than the regular guy, IMO. I think he really needed a Rider. I also believe that Jiro Okamoto rips off of Oofuji heavily with a lot of his movements and characteristics in these new Rider shows (when I first saw Project G4, I was certain it was Oofuji). And while I like the guy who actually did play him, a Naoki Oofuji Another Agito would have been the ultimate (if it were also Yutaka Hirose playing Kino).

No prob at all - I think I'm one of the few girls of the fandom that really look at this stuff. ::shrugs:: I had thought that Ryuranger might've been played at times by the actual actor - Wada something. Wasn't he JAE at one point or another as well? And ahh, I liked Abarekiller in Deka vs. Aba. What else has Oofuji done? Is he before Jiro's time? I thought he went WAY back as well - Black and RX, I think. It seems to me Jiro gets casted a lot as a bigger, rougher guy - in both Sentai and KR. I think he did a good job as G4.

 

[Bolt]

It seems to me Jiro gets casted a lot as a bigger, rougher guy - in both Sentai and KR.

I dunno, he matched Takaiwa blow for blow as Ryuuga in Episode Final despite being a bit more sloppy and scheming as Ouja-I think he's just adaptable.

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

I had thought that Ryuranger might've been played at times by the actual actor - Wada something. Wasn't he JAE at one point or another as well? And ahh, I liked Abarekiller in Deka vs. Aba. What else has Oofuji done?

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.

 

[ForeverRed]