Synopsis (from Wiki):
Two years after the events of Kamen Rider the First, a strange series of bizarre murders occur with the victims mutilated in a most gruesome fashion while pop star Chiharu’s “Platinum Smile” is being played, becoming an urban legend. Meanwhile, Takeshi Hongo has become a high school science teacher with a troublesome class with one catching his attention, a troubled girl named Kotomi Kikuma who was best friends with Chiharu and is worried about her. By the time Hongo and she find a dying “Chiharu”, they learn she’s actually an imposter as the Shocker Inhumanoid Chainsaw Lizard arrives with the six Shocker Riders to carry out the task of executing Hongo, forcing him to reveal himself in as Kamen Rider 1 to Kotomi before escaping his hunters. At around the same time, Hayato Ichimonji is shown still alive but slowly weakening due to his body’s rejection of the cybernetic changes which made him Kamen Rider 2.
Kamen Rider The Next is a sequel to the Kamen Rider The First movie (which I still haven’t seen). It is a loose adaptation to the second Kamen Rider series, Kamen Rider V3. Loose, meaning, there are drastic changes in the storyline including Shirou Kazami’s (Kamen Rider V3) family and how he became a Kamen Rider. But there are still some aspects that are retained.
Some stars in this movie have already made an appearance on previous Kamen Rider series. Shirou Kazami is played by Keisuke Kato (previously seen as Drake in Kamen Rider Kabuto) and Chiharu is played by Erika Mori (previously seen as Hitomi Mochida in Kamen Rider Hibiki). While Takeshi Hongo is played by Masaya Kikawada and Hayato Ichimonji by Hassei Takano. Both reprised their roles from Kamen Rider The First.
The movie’s main focus is on the pop idol, Chiharu, Shirou Kazami’s sister (this contradicts the original series on having Yukiko as Shirou’s sister). There have been rumors that anyone who listens to the song “Platinum Smile” will die due to unknown reasons. But the reason is later revealed in the movie along with V3’s origin.
Instead of having pure action, like the previous Kamen Rider movies, this movie incorporates a horror theme, similar to The Grudge. From my point of view, this is a experiment if horror can be used properly on a tokusatsu movie, in which I think didn’t really work out. It just became cheesy on those horror moments.
The action scenes on this movie are superb especially the bike chase. Lots of flips, punches and high powered kicks are used. There are also some instances that the scenes were in slow motion. It do seems that they focused on these rather than on CGIs. There are nearly a few CGI throughout the movie and most of them can be seen at the climax.
If you are a typical Kamen Rider fan, you might get disappointed that the word “henshin” was not used in the movie, even the “henshin sequences” like we see in the current series. I too get disappointed on this one. But the bikes of the original are retained here. That includes Cyclone 1 and 2, and Hurricane.
The best part of this movie is when it’s on climax and the three Kamen Rider used the same poses from the original series. And V3 also used the Double Typhoon in this movie which utilizes the skill and strength of Ichigo and Nigo. Don’t forget the Kamen Rider’s signature moves such as Rider Kick and Rider Punch.
Funniest part? Hmm… Let me think… Ah… The one when Hongo visits Kikuma’s house. There’s a lady who spoke Filipino. At first I really didn’t recognize it until the voice is loud enough to be heard. It’s funny since I’m a Filipino and this is the only language I can understand without subs. Plus, the lady must be very lucky to be a extra on a Kamen Rider movie… I wonder where is she now…
Another comment, according to the DVD jacket, this movie is rated PG-12 because of slight nudity and violence. But in my opinion, children who are just 12 years old are not meant to be seeing nudity. They would’ve put it under PG-16. Just my two cents.
Other than that, Kamen Rider The Next is an enjoyable and action packed movie to watch even if you are a Kamen Rider fan or not. If you are not, this might give you an urge to be in the fandom. XD
My rating: 4/5 stars
Reposted from: JEFusiom | Kamen Rider The Next Movie Review
