Shin Kamen Rider

I would have loved to have seen Shin Kamen Rider on the big screen. But just like with Shin Ultraman, its theatrical release was just two nights. Fortunately, it’s ready to stream on Amazon Prime, albeit as Shin Masked Rider. Either way, it’s free, so let’s go talk about it.

Hideaki Anno once again revitalizes another Japanese pop-culture icon. But unlike with Shin Ultraman, and the earlier Shin Godzilla, he goes it alone without his frequent collaborator, Shinji Higuchi. As a rundown, Kamen Rider was created in 1971 by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori, who, among other works, also started the Super Sentai franchise, the eventual source of Power Rangers, with Himitsu Sentai Gorenger. There have been multiple variations of Ishinomori’s concept throughout the years. But the original one has persisted with them.

The film opens up with Takeshi Hongo (Sosuke Ikematsu) and Ruriko Midorikawa (Minami Hanabe) on the run from the evil Shocker organization. Takeshi was to be their latest cyborg mutant warrior, the Grasshopper-Aug, but Ruriko set him free. He’s quite unnerved by his new inhuman power; he can smash Shockers’ goons’ faces in with a single punch. But after a pep talk from Ruriko’s father, Professor Hiroshi (Shinya Tsukamoto), Takeshi reinvents himself as Kamen Rider and saves Ruriko from the evil Spider-Aug (Nao Omori) and his goons. 

Takeshi and Ruriko are recruited by Agents Taki and Tachibana (Takumi Saitoh and Yutaka Takenouchi) to help them defeat Shocker. Takeshi struggles to do the right thing without killing anybody else. But that’s complicated when Ichiro (Mirai Moriyama), Ruriko’s brother and the leader of Shocker, steps up to bat. His master plan is to assimilate all of humanity’s lifeforce (aka Prana) into the single Habitat Realm (much like the Human Instrumentality Project that Evangelion hinged on). Fortunately, Takeshi’s fight is easier when another Shocker warrior, Hayato Ichimonji (Tasuku Emoto), joins him as Kamen Rider #2.

Anno’s episodic screenplay breezes through Shocker’s mutants. Our heroes meet a new mutant who gloats evilly, they fight, and the mutant loses, dissolving into foam upon death. One mutant, the Scorpion-Aug (Masami Nagasawa), doesn’t even meet Takeshi. These episodes are held together by Takeshi and Ruriko’s developing platonic relationship. This plot thread amplifies the third act, where Takeshi fights Ruriko’s former friend, Hiromi (Nanase Nishino), now the Wasp-Aug. Another plot thread, where Takeshi flashbacks to his policeman dad’s murder, hits the hardest at the end. 

Any problems with the story? We only get fleeting flashbacks to Takeshi’s "recruitment." They're all in the opening. Hayato barely figures into the plot until about an hour in. The Bat-Aug's (Toru Tezuka) virus scheme is nearly, almost accidentally, confusing, not helped by Amazon’s mistimed subs. A few lines are left without subtitles at all. Other than that, there's not much to gripe about.

Let’s highlight a few characters. It’s great to see Takeshi and Ruriko open up to each other. You’ll feel it after the fight with KK-Aug (Kanata Hongo), a part chameleon and mantis mutant. Hayato makes up for his late arrival with his bravado. Hiromi/Wasp-Aug’s childish personality and spectacular fashion sense leaves quite an impression. Ichiro is a decent antagonist, but K (Tori Matsuzaka), his stoic robot aide, is the most likable of the villains. K is actually an update of the titular character in Ishinomori's Robot Detective, and his design is spot-on. 

The Kamen Riders and their mutant adversaries were all impressively redesigned by Anno and a few collaborators. The mutants' lairs are as splendid as they are. The fight scenes are spectacular, especially when Takeshi and Hayato face a literal swarm of knockoffs near the end. Veteran anime composer Taku Iwasaki's rendition of the show's theme song, Let's Go! Rider Kick, perfectly punctuates that fight, as well as Takeshi's first fight as Kamen Rider. The most impressive effects are the CGI-enhanced makeup job underneath Takeshi's mask. Some effects aren't flawless, namely Bat-Aug in flight, but they're still creepy.

Whether it's Shin Kamen Rider or Shin Masked Rider, it is still a good superhero movie. Its story isn't fully elaborated, but it makes for an interesting two hours. Anyone who missed the theatrical run have a nice home matinee waiting for them. Just beware of the subtitle problem. Then again, that seems to be a problem with Prime.