Watching Dengenki Sentai Changeman...

[cypsiman2]

One of my favorite episodes that helped catch my attention for the show was episode 5. Just cause of how complex the plot was. It felt like it could go in so many different directions. And I feel like this is part of what makes Changeman's eps great.

Yes, I definitely have to agree that episode 5 was very good; I didn't think too much of it in the first half, but the second half pulled it off with exceptional acumen.

 

[Fox-Chan]

If anything, Change Robo is an aesthetic downgrade from Goggle Robo, Dyna Robo and Bio Robo. Maybe it's because it's keeping the military theme of function over form, but there probably wasn't much thought into the design, as Heli Change II looks like it was designed with Lego bricks. I like the shield, though.

Once again, I must question those who praise the show for its props and special effects - especially this scene (fast-forward to 1:43):

Change Robo MV

Eh, I don't know what you're on about...everything looks good to me (well, except the obvious lapse in the miniature quality at 1:43.) I guess it's just a matter of personal taste.

Also, good job reminding me how awesome Change Robo's theme song was.

 

[cypsiman2]

Just watched episode 9, using a summary to know what the heck was going on...the end fight was pretty good, what with them taking off the monsters limbs bit by bit. But, it becomes difficult to take seriously the story about how Hiryuu's super powerful dragonball pitch is the only way to defeat the monster, when he shows up on the battlefield in his old baseball uniform.

I'm far from opposed to silliness in sentai, but that just felt incongruous.

ETA: I'm now up to episode 14, and that was a pretty good run of episodes I have to say. I really liked the two-parter with Nana, as not only was Gozma trying to get around Gyodai's genre weakness, it was really well written and paced too. Plus, they went the extra mile with the giant robot fight at the end, which is always appreciated.

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

Are you kidding me? Making fun of the special-effects of a low-budget show from 1985? Grasping at straws, man.

Commander Ibuki came off as a crazed lunatic, what with him attempting to shoot Hayate in the back and only failing because Hiryuu caused him to miss. And then, they just kind of gloss over that.

Spoiler alert: Ibuki goes lunatic in the first episode for a reason, and it's something they go back to in one of the episodes in the 30s...it's not "glossed over" at all.

That Commander Ibuki is a total asshole, getting his entire platoon killed just for five of them to become Changemen.

If you bother sticking with the show, you find out why he was completely justified in doing that

Still no clue on who these people are and where "Earth Force" comes from.

Regarding the Earth Force: maybe the Greek myths weren't myths at all, but factual accounts of ancient and mystical beasts like the phoenix, mermaid, dragon, griffin, pegasus. Maybe they were Earth's oldest beasts. Maybe tapping into their primeval power -- even symbolically -- helps defend the EARTH from alien threats.

Episode 4 is somewhat disturbing, with Hayate being a borderline pedophile (seriously, before the episode title screen, why does he want some little girl to kiss him?).

People always bring this up like it's valid -- what's wrong with them? He's trying to save the girl's pet. Kids kiss adults for helping them all the time. Furthermore, that episode is supposed to be funny from the other four's point of view -- really, Hayate is blowing off patrolling to look for a cat just to impress some girl? (They don't know it's a little girl, and just think it's the typical behavior of womanizer Hayate. This episode is meant to show there's more to than Hayate than meets the eye.)

And as for Tsurugi in his baseball outfit...really? In all of the goofy stuff you've seen in tokusatsu, THAT is something to get stuck on? Geez Louise! The whole baseball thing was written in because Tsurugi's actor was a star player in high-school, and the character puts on the uniform as a little confidence builder. What's so wrong with that?

So many of these complaints are just minor nitpicks -- I think you guys are looking too hard to find something wrong with the show.

P.S. Change Robo's design is awesome, and he's better looking than the other coneheaded mechas like Goggle Robo or Dyna Robo. Heck, he's better looking than Kamen Rider Fozzie. Personally, I prefer robos to at least look like they combined out of separate vehicles rather than a CGI hot mess like [insert robo from any Heisei sentai]. I like that thought went into how the separate mecha combine as opposed to "Let's just slap the entire crocodile on as an arm!"

EDIT: Here's something I wrote about the characters in another thread...

I think the Changeman heroes are well enough developed on page, but I always give a lot of credit to the five actors for the subtleties they provide -- they really make the characters come alive. It's just spot-on casting, IMO. I give a lot of credit to Haruki Hamada (Tsurugi) himself, who was a dramatic theater actor who held the hero side of the cast together. And I think having two veterans in the cast, like Jun Fujimaki (Ibuki) and Shouhei Yamamoto (Guiluke) made everyone step their game up. But there's little character moments the actors pay attention to -- some things that even happen in the background. I mean, pay attention to Shirou Izumi (Yuuma) some time -- he's always doing something in character, even when the spotlight's not on him. And I think having such a good cast also helped writer Hirohisa Soda step up his game.

I think your problem is...the shows where being a Sentai is the character's job doesn't really give you a peek into their off-duty personal lives, so you have to pick up clues here and there. It's like a cop show that's all business like Law & Order versus a soapy hospital drama. I think Changeman works better than most because of the cast chemistry, and the subtle things the actors provide.

 

[cypsiman2]

Spoiler alert: Ibuki goes lunatic in the first episode for a reason, and it's something they go back to in one of the episodes in the 30s...it's not "glossed over" at all.

While I'm glad that it is eventually addressed, I'd much rather that the issue of why he was willing to shoot one of his subordinates in the back be addressed immediately. I mean, if it turns out that there was a really good reason why he couldn't say why just after they gained the Earth Force, that would be great, but I am skeptical.

And as for Tsurugi in his baseball outfit...really? In all of the goofy stuff you've seen in tokusatsu, THAT is something to get stuck on? Geez Louise! The whole baseball thing was written in because Tsurugi's actor was a star player in high-school, and the character puts on the uniform as a little confidence builder. What's so wrong with that?

My standards are weird, and there's no real accounting for what will be too much and what I'll be just fine with. That said, given the tone and mood and atmosphere established up to that point, the idea of Tsurugi throwing an explosive baseball with a super lethal pitch he'd invented to defeat the monster of the week didn't fit for me. Also, I was not aware that Tsurugi's actor was a star baseball player when I watched the episode and I'm not sure that it really changes all that much for me.

So many of these complaints are just minor nitpicks -- I think you guys are looking too hard to find something wrong with the show.

Personally, I think you're coming off a bit defensive. I understand where you're coming from on this; you're obviously a really big fan of Changeman and everything about it. I myself am a really big fan of Magiranger and everything about that, so you can bet that when I see people picking at straws or distorting what happens in that, I get defensive too. That said, I would like to emphasize that I am enjoying the show and if it keeps getting as it has been, it will likely become one of my favorites. But you're not going to help me to reach that point by acting like people are going out of there way to find problems with the show.

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

That said, I would like to emphasize that I am enjoying the show and if it keeps getting as it has been, it will likely become one of my favorites. But you're not going to help me to reach that point by acting like people are going out of there way to find problems with the show.

I thought my reply was rather mild. I was defending a show I love, not defensive about it.

 

[KingRanger]

So many of these complaints are just minor nitpicks -- I think you guys are looking too hard to find something wrong with the show.

Wow.. Is that the pot ever calling the kettle black. I mean YOU are telling other people the statement above. I will remember that the next time you go on some tirade on a newer toku.

 

[Shougo B'Stard]

Wow.. Is that the pot ever calling the kettle black. I mean YOU are telling other people the statement above. I will remember that the next time you go on some tirade on a newer toku.

Oh, save it.

KingRanger once again feeling the need to contribute nothing, save for starting bullshit.

 

[cypsiman2]

I thought my reply was rather mild. I was defending a show I love, not defensive about it.

That's okay. You just need to recognize that people are going to have different ideas about how a Super Sentai Giant Robot should look and fit together, and that if I'm bothered by something that doesn't get explained until thirty episodes after the fact, there's nothing I can really do about that. I'll be watching more Changeman tomorrow and I'll share my thoughts about those episodes then.

 

[KingRanger]

Oh, save it.

KingRanger once again feeling the need to contribute nothing, save for starting bullshit.

Are you joking? You do nothing but "nitpick, as you put it, pretty much every show post 1999. I agree that some of these complaints about changeman are stupid, but hey.. I love the show. The people saying them can say what ever they want. But YOU of all people brushing aside people's complaints as "nitpicking" with your track record of doing exactly the same with numerous other shows... It's ironic to say the least.\

That's okay. You just need to recognize that people are going to have different ideas about how a Super Sentai Giant Robot should look and fit together, and that if I'm bothered by something that doesn't get explained until thirty episodes after the fact, there's nothing I can really do about that. I'll be watching more Changeman tomorrow and I'll share my thoughts about those episodes then.

He knows all that. You are just "nitpicking" one of HIS favorite shows. If it were one of the shows he "nitpicks" it would be a different story.