Kamen Rider Kuuga - Talkback

[Sage Shinigami]

I'm glad you're enjoying Kuuga, Sage. It's really one of my favorite Kamen Riders ever and it's a shame more people don't take the time to watch it, since it's not new (that's the only explanation I have).

Its a really good series. I can't find a single good explanation not to watch it. The fights are fantastic (so brutal), the story is intriguing (even though the HKs subs hinder that), and Godai doesn't make me cry because he's a bishie-type or angsty. He's a bit over-perfect though. As if the fact that he does this job, injuries and all, isn't enough, he also helps people with advice, cooks, cleans, and visits children. His only flaw is that he's not in two places at once, so he disappoints people by being late sometimes, but that don't really count.

 

[I_Legend]

still can't enjoy how it ends ... really .. *sigh* ...

 

[Sage Shinigami]

New question, or really just a clarification. In episode 44, are they basically trying to say that the original Kuuga didn't have any rising forms, and Godai was the first one with them? (Millenium Year Special Models, he called them.)
-What's this about the Rising Forms only lasting 30 seconds? I never noticed that, or is it a translation error?

 

[Sage Shinigami]

still can't enjoy how it ends ... really .. *sigh* ...

Okay........maybe I missed something. I just watched episode 49 and I gotta say, that ending was PWN. I seriously thought he would die but damn....him living despite all the **** that happened to him...and remaining a good guy, no less? Wow. Its....its fucking inspiring, is what it is. I'm glad this was the first Toku series I've ever finished, but even if it wasn't, it would stick in my memory for years to come. Even though I admire heroes like Tendou Souji (and think he's just a bit "cooler" than Yusuke), guys like that have no place in the universe when the fight is over and done with. A person like Godai Yusuke however, fights because he's the only one that can, and when its over, he's still got a place as a person who inspires others.

One question....what was with the whole fight in the snow? First they were setting each other on fire, then they were fighting untransformed....it was cool as hell but I couldn't decide if they'd both reached godlike power that only lasted a few seconds or what.


Sidenote: Is there like some specials or movies or something? Is that why people say the ending sucks? 'Cause otherwise....this is one of the best endings I've ever seen.

 

[Igadevil]

I believe Godai is supposed to be the first one with the Rising Forms because, if I remember correctly, they result after he got shocked by the defibrillators in the hospital the time he "died" (in the Mushroom Grongi storyline.) The electrical energy somehow affected the Henshin Belt/stone thingy in his gut.

The final battle between him and Daguba is really unique. I think what they were trying to convey is how utterly powerful each one had become, being able to just set the other on fire with a wave of their hands, so the only way they can really settle things is just with this all-out fist fight with no fancy stuff, just raw brutality. It's really not what you expect at that point I think, but it's really cool. And I like how Daguba looks sort of like Kuuga Ultimate Form, but is white, whereas the good guy is the one in black. Nice little reversal there.

I think where most people don't like the ending is the final episode itself, which has no fight whatsoever, and doesn't even mention Kuuga. It's sort of more about remembering Godai just for what a good guy he was, and not so much that he was a hero. It's an interesting twist, and like I've said before I think it fits the character and series very well. It's not as exciting as say, the end of Kamen Rider Stronger, with the original 7 Riders back and kickin' ass, but what is?

As for other Kuuga stuff:

-there is an "episode #50", but it's a short, self-made parody of sorts, nothing really important to the story, but it's pretty funny.

-there's a TV-Kun video special, but it's also just a short thing with Kuuga fighting a new Grongi and mostly to show off Rising Mighty form.

-There was a TV Special that aired near the end of the series, mostly just a recap of everything up to the last few episodes before the end.

-The Kuuga "movie" is just a special edition of the first two episodes, which came out after the series ended. They change around music, sound effects and such (i.e. Daguba's voice is that of the guy who plays him at the end, not the creepy voice from the original episode #1), improve a few effects, and I think some scenes are longer, but otherwise nothing much new. I believe it was shown in theaters, at a special screening that also had a big interview with the cast (it's on the DVD with the episodes.)

So in other words, #49 is the last thing chronologically that's happened to Kuuga.

 

[Bolt]

One question....what was with the whole fight in the snow? First they were setting each other on fire, then they were fighting untransformed....it was cool as hell but I couldn't decide if they'd both reached godlike power that only lasted a few seconds or what.

I think the angle the makers were going with was that they had beaten each other to the point of becoming untransformed, and still kept fighting. It's been a long time since I've watched the ending but that seems to be my recollection of it.

Sidenote: Is there like some specials or movies or something? Is that why people say the ending sucks? 'Cause otherwise....this is one of the best endings I've ever seen.

There is a special, but it's just a "movie form" of episodes 1 and 2 edited together.

 

[Sage Shinigami]

I think where most people don't like the ending is the final episode itself, which has no fight whatsoever, and doesn't even mention Kuuga. It's sort of more about remembering Godai just for what a good guy he was, and not so much that he was a hero. It's an interesting twist, and like I've said before I think it fits the character and series very well.

Well to be honest, the fact that he was Godai Yusuke overshadowed the fact that he was Kuuga. It was his personality, the way he cared about others and tried to protect the smiling faces of the entire world, that made him who he was. Not some fancy belt and a bunch of forms. I loved it.

And I like how Daguba looks sort of like Kuuga Ultimate Form, but is white, whereas the good guy is the one in black. Nice little reversal there.

I never noticed that. I agree though. Here's what I'm wondering though. Was N-Daguba-Zeba just a regular Grongi, or was he once Kuuga, driven insane by the use of his Ultimate Form? I ask because he had the Kuuga sign on his forehead.

I believe Godai is supposed to be the first one with the Rising Forms because, if I remember correctly, they result after he got shocked by the defibrillators in the hospital the time he "died" (in the Mushroom Grongi storyline.) The electrical energy somehow affected the Henshin Belt/stone thingy in his gut.

I think you're right. In fact, before he reached Amazing Mighty Form, they did it again and he was given enough strength to be in Rising Form all the time, which was pretty awesome.

I think what they were trying to convey is how utterly powerful each one had become, being able to just set the other on fire with a wave of their hands, so the only way they can really settle things is just with this all-out fist fight with no fancy stuff, just raw brutality. It's really not what you expect at that point I think, but it's really cool.

I get that. And yeah, very very awesome fight, though I was getting sort of worried about Godai 'cause I thought he'd turn evil. I swear at the end with the way people were talking about it, I seriously thought the first time we'd see Yusuke, he'd be wearing that same white outfit as No. 0.

 

[MattComix]

I before I get into my deeper thoughts about let me just be upfront. To borrow from JC himself: Kuuga is great justice and it rocks! Cho bygod henshin!

I was just getting into Kamen Rider at the time it came out and I had seen 4 episodes of Black and then the ZO and J movies. When I saw pictures of Kuuga and then the first episode raw got put online later that week. (This was in the before time, the long-long ago; where it seemed like nobody except Ctenosaur was doing fansubs and there was no YouTube.) Watching it there was only one reaction I could have: :buttrock:

Kamen Rider Kuuga is still my favorite of the new Rider series. It's hard to quantify all the reasons why. It's everything from the larger aspects like the stories theme, the characters, the suit desgins (Mighty Form is prolly my all-time favorite), concepts, music, the tension, the fresh yet also familiar take on the Rider. To also just little things like Godais thumbs-up or one of the police guys seeing Godai henshin for the first time going "whoa!"

I liked the feel of the show and how the darkness of it was equally balanced with light. So many times when creators on either side of the ocean attempt to do realism in superheroes they go for the cheap grim n' gritty shockvalue. Kuuga felt more real because the goal seemed to be to give the super or henshin hero story a realistic texture rather than beat you over the head with deconstructing it or villifying the fantasy.

I liked Godai as a character I think for alot of the reasons I like Superman. He's someone who has an inate sense of compassion and thinks beyond himself. ..and like Superman alot of people mistake Godai for being perfect but he wasn't. He was just willing to do more and be more. Besides, not even his kind nature was invunerable. The episodes with the Porcupine Grongi are excellent because it shows you that Godai isn't immune to the kind of rage that anyone would be feeling in this kind of situation. Or that we even do in real life when we hear about heinous acts.

Godai Yuuske is right up there with Minami Kotaro for my favorite Rider protag.

But even when ya really like something you can see the flaws. The show does have problems with pacing and action. There are a couple of things about the ending stretch of the show that don't work as well as they could have. For one, I felt robbed that Kuuga didn't get to finish off the bat-Grongi as we had to spend the entire series watching him slither and snarl around. I would have even settled for Ichijo just unloading some of that new ammo into him.

I really didn't approve of the fact that we were not allowed to see the first fight between Kuuga and Daguba. As for the ending, people have made some really wonderful points about it and I understand what they were going for. Still I think it would have helped to balance the Kuuga aspect with the really excellent job they did on the Godai aspect of it. I agree that Godai isn't defined by a belt and powers, but I don't think it's fair to go all this distance and then dismiss the Kamen Rider aspect in a Kamen Rider story.

Still it is very inspiring. So much so that I'm trying very hard to master the first skill. Not losing your ability to smile even in hard times. :thumbs:

 

[satz]

I used to own a HK set of Kuuga, unfortunately my room threw it away... Any idea where are the best sources to get a subbed set?

 

[rambo]

should be getting this in 6 days i've seen the 4 eps tv nihon subbed

unfortenly with getting this i'll fall behind on hibiki

anyway is kuuga as good as u lot say because i'm used to having more than 1 rider