Karate-Robo Zaborgar, the strangest toku movie ive ever seen

[Kain]

Tonight was like most others for me, I was home alone, browsing Netflix for something to watch and I spotted this particular gem. Having heard the name Denjin Zaborgar here and there and was aware that there was an old toku series by that name, and having a friend that actually got his username from it I decided to check it out.

What I was treated to was quite an experience to say the least, and definitely not what I was expecting from a super hero reboot movie type thingy. Where most go for the darker and edgier feel this one seemed to go for an over the top crazy sort of feel with some perviness sprinkled in at times, while having the look of an edgier reboot sometimes. Im also pretty sure I saw Go-On Red in there as well as some other tokusatsu alumni. Not sure how true it is to the series that inspired it but didnt stop me from enjoying it.

Overall im at a loss for words at how nuts this movie is, but I can say one thing for sure, I had a blast watching it. Anyone else out there see this one?

 

[LaZerwolfX]

I actually checked it out just the other night as well, I didn't get too far; mostly because I started it after finishing the first Battle Royal (great flick) and it just didn't fit the mood but it looks funny.

 

[DarthBoolean]

I think part of the problem you're experiencing is that this wasnt your typical hardcore reboot movie a la Kamen Rider the First. The company that made that is part of a new wave of directors in Japan who are coming from making AV films to legitimate movies. Most of their movies are on netflix with a few exceptions, but their hallmarks are

1. Using primarily AV actresses in the starring roles
2. Lots of over the top, cheesy special effects that make Karo syrups salesmen say "Enough is enough guys"
3. a lot of wtf moments that make no sense to anyone viewing at home who is in the right state of mind (The director of one of them that I rented on DVD came on and said that he recommended having a bottle of saki handy)

That being said, I love these movies. Their attempts at horror often turn out to be so bad they're good, and when they work within an established franchise, I often am impressed with the amount of love that went into it. Karate Robo Zaborgar got a little out of control towards the end, but the deconstruction of a fallen action hero and watching him struggle against a perceived impotence to right a wrong was something that I felt they conveyed really well.

 

[SamuraiEchidna]

I LOVED Karate Robo Zaborgar! The movie blew away ANY expectations I ever had. I feel like, if anyone should make an homage movie to previous toku heroes, they should take a note from this movie. As of now, it is one of my all time favorite tokusatsu movies. :wub:

 

[Aoi Kurenai]

Am I the only one that didn't like this thing? Like, I love the episodes of the original Zaborger that I got to see, and the concept here seems so interesting, but this movie was straight up boring. I actually asleep while watching it.

 

[Mr G]

Aoi, I didn't care for the movie either.

Now, I haven't seen much of the original series outside of some RAW clips on Youtube and such, but my main gripe with this movie is it almost seems to be mocking the original rather than paying loving homage to it. It's like the director took all of the silly stuff from the series and cranked it up to be even more ridiculous. Ironically, the various mini clips that were featured as additional content on the Blu-ray were far funnier than the actual movie.

 

[Toku Prime]

Aah Zaborgar: the only movie to include a sex scene that largely consists of Go-On Red getting slapped around the face by a robotic tentacle :sly:

It's one of those films that reminds you just how good Sentai and Rider are on a technical level. Toei may have distributed this (according to wikipedia - they're not credited as such on IMDB) but they certainly weren't giving out any tips on how they make everything look so slick. Even without looking it up you could tell this one was probably from the makers of Machine Girl and Mutant Girls Squad. It was all harmless goofy fun if you're in that kind of mood, but it's definitely C-list toku.