Kamen Rider Battride War II

My 2 boys are really heavy into Kamen Rider right now. Looking at YouTube videos to watching the shows through a program called KeyHole TV on the computer. There are a few websites that adds English subtitles which helps but also hinders their enjoyment of the show.

Two sites that offers subtitles of Kamen Rider as well as Super Sentai shows (before its watered down into Power Rangers) are AEsir and Over-Time. Both are very quick in posting the subtitled shows but at a cost. Too literal to the point they actually change the shows title and the characters names.

We will watch these but it's TV-Nihon that is the King of subtitles. More decorative and accurate translation of whats actually being said. The trade off is that it takes almost a week for TV-Nihon to complete their translation.

And now there is a new Kamen Rider game out in Japan called Kamen Rider Battride War II. And with Nintendo and their region lockout, there is no way we can play this game here in America unless we buy a Japanese Wii U system as well. Not all games released in Japan comes to America.

And they wonder why their games aren't selling that well.

Why I Hate the Power Rangers and Loving It

It took many years but I have finally come to terms with Power Rangers. Originally I regarded it as a joke and insult to the original version still being broadcasting in Japan known as Super Sentai. What made it worse for me was my two boys fell in love with the show. Forcing me to listen to countless stories about the shows episodes and toys they wanted to buy. But now I am beginning to understand it in a better light.

A little history:

Zyuden Sentai Kyoryugers

Ressha Sentai ToQger marks their entry as the 38^th Super Sentai show just starting up this February 2014. Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger has just finished there series run as the 37^th Sentai show with the traditional two Super Sentai movies shown in the movie theaters. Plus the usual specials, music CD’s and the live action stage shows. The theme of the Kyoryuger’s is dinosaurs as ToQgers are trains.

My kids became fans of the Power Rangers during the Power Rangers series call Jungle Fury. The American version of the Sentai show called Juken Sentai Gekiranger. Were as Gekirangers was set inside a martial arts school, a pizza parlor was the headquarters for Jungle Fury as the owner built their equipment in the upstairs loft in-between making pizzas for the customers.

My kids continued to watch the Power Rangers as I eventually found a few links to watch the original Japanese version with subtitles. I didn’t think my kids would like it but they ended up loving the Japanese version so much that they stopped watching Power Rangers. Their response was that Power Rangers looked stupid.

The nail in the coffin was Power Rangers RPM. A Terminator theme as the machines had taken over the world except for a small human colony. The Japanese version of Engine Sentai Go-onger theme was humans and machines from another world working together to stop an invasion into the human world.

Bandai makes all the toys for both Super Sentai and Power Rangers. We have been buying all the Japanese toys from Go-onger to the new series ToQgers.  They are larger, made of metal and stronger plastics making them well-built and more durable. These toys make the Power Ranger toys look in comparison to a McDonald’s kid’s meal toy. 

For some reason Bandai made sure every Power Ranger toy set have motorcycles. Even if no one in the show drove one.  That might change as the Kyoryugers use motorcycles that were basically comprised of two dinosaur transformers.

The current Power Ranger show is called Power Rangers Megaforce loosely based on Tensou Sentai Goseiger. In the Japanese version the Goseigers are Angels from Heaven who guard the Earth. The Power Ranger version is five teenagers chosen to fight the invading forces. The second season of Megaforce is called Power Rangers Super Megaforce based on Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger.

In the Japanese movie Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle, all the Super Sentai unites to stop the invading army called Zangyack. They lose all their powers which are transformed into keys that a group of space pirates called Gokaigers find and use them for their purpose.

Saban is skipping over Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters to make Power Rangers Dino Charge based on the Sentai show Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger. In Kyoryugers the ones that killed the dinosaurs are unfrozen and threaten to kill the Earth as originally planned. A group of people are chosen for their bravery by the dinosaurs to stop the bad guys. The last two episodes of the series was really an emotional ride that I doubt the Power Rangers would not dare show on American TV.

Episode 37 part 1 was, in my opinion, taken from the movie called ‘Legend of the 8 Samurai’ starring Hiroyuki Sanada. An actor you may remember from the 2013 movie ‘The Wolverine’ and the Syfy show called Helix. In it eight people were chosen to protect a princess. In doing so all but one died in holding back the invading armies so the Princess could escape.

 And in Kyoryugers each one is helping the rest get into the fortress to stop it from destroying the planet. And not everyone walks away from it alive. What sets this show apart from the future Power Ranger version is that two and eventually one more of the Kyoryugers are spirits. And to fully protect the Earth they have to destroy Hell in order to keep the bad guys from resurrecting. A story line from a country that has less than 1% Christianity in it.  But will never be broadcast in a country founded on the freedom of religion.

But what helped me to begin tolerating Power Rangers was due to a 1969 movie called ‘Support Your Local Sheriff!’ staring James Garner. A Western comedy that more than inspired Mel Brooks when he made 1974 movie ‘Blazing Saddles’. But the sequel to ‘Support Your Local Sheriff’ was called ‘Support Your Local Gunfighter’. Using the same actors from the first movie and based on the 1961 Japanese movie ‘Yojimbo’.

American remakes of Japanese movies and TV shows have opened up for more people to experience Japanese entertainment and culture.  With Power Rangers my boys were able to connect to current TV shows in Japan such as Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Garo as well as many of the Japanese animation shows that are yet shown or unlikely in being shown here in America.

And as I look back on TV shows and movies that I grew up watching; many of which originated from Japan has showed me that my negative attitude towards Power Rangers is hurting more than helping. As bad as it may be, it is causing kids and adults to research more on these shows and to explore more quality entertainment outside of America. Whether it is coming from Japan or other nations has taught me that Hollywood is running dry on TV and movie ideas for American audiences.

Many shows are simply being changed in character names and language to appear as if was originally from America. But in fact Hollywood has been plagiarizing for decades with blessings of the original creators or not. Dragonball Evolution is one example. As is the DreamWorks movie ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ which is loosely based on an old Japanese cartoon called ‘Vicky the Viking’. As ‘Vic the Viking’, a German live action version, is one of the few movies to truly honor the original Japanese works. But Disney’s The Lion King plagiarized nearly frame by frame from Kimba the White Lion and still refuses to admit it.

The list goes on and on but from an old Western movie I have opened up to loving the Power Rangers for what it is. And in the process has caused my two boys to delve deep into other cultures and lifestyles. They are joining others in breaking down stereotypes and dissolving racial and bigotry thoughts and actions that many older generations still cling to. I just wish they would stop using the same opening song for every freaking Power Ranger show.

10 minutes and 30 seconds into the movie below is when Goseigers and Gokaiger meet for the first time. Just before they start fighting each other. Roll call is at the 50 minute mark.

Ressha Sentai ToQger ( last 10 minutes of the 1st episode)

Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger - opening and closing w/ extras

This is the new Super Sentai show now showing in Japan. My two boys are such fans of the series that they know the order of each show as well as the songs that is connected to each of the shows. My youngest one was able to get the first 5 dinosaurs of the show. Many more on sale soon.

The video below is a collection of the opening, closing, roll call as well as the formations of Kyoryuzin and Kyoryuzin Western. All scenes contain English translations.

Super Sentai vs Power Rangers

I admit that I still love watching the Super Sentai series. Even the Kamen Rider series. Am I too old? Never. Hollywood is still making movies based on characters from comic books and cartoon shows I enjoyed as a kid. Some would say it’s due to their inability to actually writing something worth watching. I say it’s because the people in charge are of my age and are simply celebrating the days of their youth, which was the greatest.  To whereas kids nowadays are super glued to a computer screen or cell phone.

But I’m getting off target. The Sentai Series is really good entertainment that we watch as a family. As of this writing we are getting ready to watch the final episode of Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters. As here in America a new Power Rangers show has just begun, Power Rangers Megaforce. For those keeping score, it the Americanized version of Tensou Sentai Goseiger.

Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen movie

The Japanese version is as follows:

Unknown to the people of Earth, there is a branch of humanity called the "Gosei Angels" whose mission is to protect the Earth. When the Earth is targeted by an evil alien invasion force called Warstar, they destroy the Heaven's Tower, the bridge between the Earth and the Gosei World, home of the Gosei Angels, to keep them from interfering. However, five apprentice Gosei Angels are on Earth at the time and, while finding a way to return back home, they become the Goseigers to stop Warstar.

The American version:

When the evil Warstar aliens attack Earth, the supernatural guardian Gosei and his faithful robot assistant Tensou recruit five teenagers with attitude to combat the invading forces. Equipped with powers that grant them mastery over martial arts and other forms of combat, the teenagers transform into the latest champions of good: The Power Rangers Megaforce.

Power Rangers Megaforce is basically an almost straight copy of the plot from the Super Sentai show, Engine Sentai Go-onger later renamed as Power Rangers RPM. In all the years of Power Rangers bringing the Super Sentai series to the rest of the world has been a really great thing to do. It has made many people like me flock to an assortment of web sites to watch the Super Sentai series rather than the water clogged version of it.

Power Rangers in my opinion, is what I imagine would have come from the mind of Weird Al Yankovic who had overdosed on crack cocaine while using only hard whiskey while he was doing beer bongs. I figure the way the Power Rangers are continually watering down the entertainment value of the Super Sentai series that by the time the series makes it to Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger could be something of a huge letdown. Again.

The Sentai Series after Tensou Sentai Goseiger:

Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger : A group of young pirates come from space to Earth to obtain the "Greatest Treasure in the Universe", which can only be acquired after obtaining the "Greater Powers" of the different 34 Super Sentai Teams. However, they end up facing the Space Empire Zangyack, whose earlier invasion forces were wiped out by the 34 Sentai groups long ago before a new invasion force is established under Commander Warz Gill, the emperor's son. As a result, due to their history with the empire, the space pirates use the powers of the older teams and attempt to master their powers to fight the Zangyack forces as the Gokaigers.

What if?

Power Rangers Key Masters:

While a group of high school kids are rehearsing their school play called The Ice Pirates based on the 1984 movie, the planet is attacked by the Space Empire who want to recover a great treasure hidden on Earth. During the attack a robot bird is found with a chest containing keys of all the past Rangers who have protected the Earth. As they are still wearing their pirate costumes, they are transformed into Power Rangers Key Masters. Fighting the Space Empire, they continue to rehearse and perform school plays and musicals as brainless school bullies led by a disgruntled teacher tries to put an end to the drama club.

I’m joking about the American version of this show. But for anyone like me who grew up watching the Super Sentai Series then comparing it to the Power Rangers version of the series will more than likely agree with me on this theme idea. The people behind the Power Rangers pick and choose what they want to put into each show. Mainly picking the needed materials from each series and choosing to add something else.

But the one thing I would love to see broadcast here in America are the actual Super Sentai Series movies. Where two different Sentai groups, even the Kamen Rider crossovers, would meet as they both battle the combined bad guys from both shows. Dubbed or subtitles it doesn't matter. What will is for those who have never seen a Super Sentai show to finally know what real entertainment is. Experiencing the real flavor of these shows rather than watching a highlighted clip show.