Well, I happened to peak in last week and watch the first two episodes of Power Rangers Mystic Force. I'm not exactly sure what I think. The forced ethnic diversity of the show seemed a lot more muted, as well as the attempt to hide everyone's New Zealand accents. Xander's is especially thick. Watching the episode my mind went: "This is so close to the Japanese version... yet so very very different."
Other thoughts:
The show feels like one of those kids shows like Ocean Girl that aired on the CBC from New Zealand during an after school slot (4:30pm if memory serves) thinking a little bit on it, I guess it would qualify now.
Nick has eyes that make me want to stare at him. His eyes are very captivating, his acting is not.
I love it! A Pink Ranger that doesn't Think Pink.
The world of Power Rangers has a funny way of not saying someone dies or is out to kill them. They say "destroy" instead. So question... Are they machines? Yes I know you can destroy a body, but usually someone says they don't want to be killed... not destroyed. Interesting concept
I think I would have preferred the Japanese version of the non-morphed color coded outfits. There's just something about these that make me go. "Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog... cheap cosplay?"
And last... If the Yellow Ranger is male... must he be a complete ditz?
Monday, February 27, 2006
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Final Thoughts on DekaRanger
At the end of Episode 48 we find out that Ban is being promoted and recruited for a special team of Red Rangers. So sad :( yes :( I dear beloved Ban is leaving the team. Unlike another Red Ranger wearing the same uniform as Ban (he shall remain nameless [coughs: Jack]); the whole team is informed and Ban passes on his burning torch and force of will to Tetsu. The final battle is intense, Doggie is presumed dead but the Rangers refuse to give up despite orders to back down from their superiors.
It's a race against the clock to prevent anarchy from reigning supreme over the galaxy. It's the Zero Hour and Rangers emerge victorious by the flaming determination led by Ban and his kouhai, Tetsu.
I really loved this series. It's the first Super Sentai I've seen all the way through in Japanese. Comparing it to Power Rangers was fun. There were a lot more similarities than other seasons I've read the synapses for.
Umeko rose up from being the useless Pink Ranger with the Zord that didn't really do anything, to a powerful teammate that you didn't want to mistake as being an easy target. I think she received the most overall character development. The character truly did evolve as the show progressed and she was even able to use some of her "weaknesses" to help save the day. (The bathtub scene in the last episode was great!)
Hoji had second highest character development. The series began with him being distant from everyone. Little by little, he became more reliant on his teammates, especially Ban. He had a similar lesson to learn that everyone learned from Ban. The burning fire of determination doesn't necessarily cloud skill. And finally at the end he was able to call Ban "aibou" (partner). Of course Ban playfully replied with "aiboutte yuuna" (don't call me partner).
Jasmine had a small bit of development, however it was mostly just getting to know her character more, and therefore not true character development. Aside from the occasional pair-up with Umeko for the special "Girls in Trouble" episodes, Jasmine's character never really changed. She stayed distant from her teammates, however her determination to save those in trouble was unmatched. She wore the color yellow well, as being full of couragious might.
Sen-chan. Oh, Sen-chan. The cute lovable Green Ranger had idosyncrasies that could make your brain stop. If you look closely he may even be the most powerful of the Dekas. As far as I've seen, he's the only one that doesn't actually say the morphing sequence to transform every time he suits up. The two main examples I remember are: Near the beginning of the series when Sen deduces the identity of the real murderer and car slicer he walks to a car and simply transforms on his way, picks it up and throws it at the suspect. None of the others have actually shown an ability to do that. The second example is in episode 46, when he was pissed off at the guy that was going to turn Umeko into a pile of dust.
Tetsu first came on to the scene as an elitist. But very quickly learned that true power comes from believing in oneself and one's comrads. If the statistics say it can't happen, that doesn't mean that it's impossible. Tetsu learned this quickly and came to call the other Dekas "sempai" not only because he's younger than they, but because their experience is greater as well, for he technically outranks them. His burning determination has enabled him him to be an ideal successor to Ban's legacy on the team.
Ban. The driving force of the DekaRangers. His development wasn't so much as a change in himself but getting to know his team and all of their strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies. Learning how his team worked helped him become a better officer and eventually earning him a promotion to a new team.
Doggie and Swan round out the team as their mentors. Just as in the American version, Swan is Doggie's voice of reason and conscience. And the two of them guide their Earth Dekas to higher standards.
Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger... the End :)
It's a race against the clock to prevent anarchy from reigning supreme over the galaxy. It's the Zero Hour and Rangers emerge victorious by the flaming determination led by Ban and his kouhai, Tetsu.
I really loved this series. It's the first Super Sentai I've seen all the way through in Japanese. Comparing it to Power Rangers was fun. There were a lot more similarities than other seasons I've read the synapses for.
Umeko rose up from being the useless Pink Ranger with the Zord that didn't really do anything, to a powerful teammate that you didn't want to mistake as being an easy target. I think she received the most overall character development. The character truly did evolve as the show progressed and she was even able to use some of her "weaknesses" to help save the day. (The bathtub scene in the last episode was great!)
Hoji had second highest character development. The series began with him being distant from everyone. Little by little, he became more reliant on his teammates, especially Ban. He had a similar lesson to learn that everyone learned from Ban. The burning fire of determination doesn't necessarily cloud skill. And finally at the end he was able to call Ban "aibou" (partner). Of course Ban playfully replied with "aiboutte yuuna" (don't call me partner).
Jasmine had a small bit of development, however it was mostly just getting to know her character more, and therefore not true character development. Aside from the occasional pair-up with Umeko for the special "Girls in Trouble" episodes, Jasmine's character never really changed. She stayed distant from her teammates, however her determination to save those in trouble was unmatched. She wore the color yellow well, as being full of couragious might.
Sen-chan. Oh, Sen-chan. The cute lovable Green Ranger had idosyncrasies that could make your brain stop. If you look closely he may even be the most powerful of the Dekas. As far as I've seen, he's the only one that doesn't actually say the morphing sequence to transform every time he suits up. The two main examples I remember are: Near the beginning of the series when Sen deduces the identity of the real murderer and car slicer he walks to a car and simply transforms on his way, picks it up and throws it at the suspect. None of the others have actually shown an ability to do that. The second example is in episode 46, when he was pissed off at the guy that was going to turn Umeko into a pile of dust.
Tetsu first came on to the scene as an elitist. But very quickly learned that true power comes from believing in oneself and one's comrads. If the statistics say it can't happen, that doesn't mean that it's impossible. Tetsu learned this quickly and came to call the other Dekas "sempai" not only because he's younger than they, but because their experience is greater as well, for he technically outranks them. His burning determination has enabled him him to be an ideal successor to Ban's legacy on the team.
Ban. The driving force of the DekaRangers. His development wasn't so much as a change in himself but getting to know his team and all of their strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies. Learning how his team worked helped him become a better officer and eventually earning him a promotion to a new team.
Doggie and Swan round out the team as their mentors. Just as in the American version, Swan is Doggie's voice of reason and conscience. And the two of them guide their Earth Dekas to higher standards.
Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger... the End :)
Monday, February 13, 2006
Naming in Kamen Rider #4
After a nice little break, I'm back and with the 4th installment of "Naming in Kamen Rider" (insert cavernous echo). Zanki (斬鬼) meaning "Sword wielding Demon" or "Cutting Sword Demon". He is an oni that retires in the series and passes on his legacy to Todoroki.Near the beginning of the series we hear of an injury that hospitalizes one of the oni, this of course is Zanki. Once he's released from the hospital he tries to continue his duties as an Oni, however his body can no longer handle the rigorous punishment and feels he'd be a liability if he countiued to fight as an Oni, he passes his apprentice to full Oni status and instead of taking his name, his apprentice takes the name Todoroki instead.
And now for the pun.. If you add two different radicals for "heart" to Zanki's name you get (慙愧) which means "feeling Shame". It's visible in just about every action Zanki makes on screen that he feels shame for being unable to continue as a proper Oni.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Naming in Kamen Rider #3
Sorry for the delay of this topic. Got a bit sidetracked.
While looking for pictures of Shibue Jyouji (points giant arrow to picture) after taking my own screenshots of him, I discovered he was Tuxedo Kamen in the live action version of Sailor Moon--very ironic that--just before taking the role of Ibuki in Kamen Rider Hibiki. I think I mentioned this earlier but still I thought it immensely amusing. Now on with the show!
Ibuki's kanji reads (威吹鬼) which roughly translates to "Mighty Blowing Demon"... ... ...
I will leave the dirty unclean thoughts up to you. However Shibue is so thin he makes a regular sheet of paper look like a large brick. If he's a Mighty Blowing Demon, I think he and the Big Bad Wolf will have an interesting conversation on that first visit to the Three Little Pigs.
While looking for pictures of Shibue Jyouji (points giant arrow to picture) after taking my own screenshots of him, I discovered he was Tuxedo Kamen in the live action version of Sailor Moon--very ironic that--just before taking the role of Ibuki in Kamen Rider Hibiki. I think I mentioned this earlier but still I thought it immensely amusing. Now on with the show!
Ibuki's kanji reads (威吹鬼) which roughly translates to "Mighty Blowing Demon"... ... ...
I will leave the dirty unclean thoughts up to you. However Shibue is so thin he makes a regular sheet of paper look like a large brick. If he's a Mighty Blowing Demon, I think he and the Big Bad Wolf will have an interesting conversation on that first visit to the Three Little Pigs.
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