Having been disappointed by the first movie, I had high expectations for this new film, which I hoped would be a more action-heavy and spectacular improvement over its predecessor (in much the same way as was "Spider-Man 2").
While called "The Next", the film surprisingly doesn't even introduce Kamen Rider V3 until well near the middle part of the film choosing instead to focus the bulk of the first half of the film on the hero of "The First" film, Hongo Takeshi (Masaya Kikawada) AKA Kamen Rider No. 1, the "kaizou"/altered human who was abducted by the sinister global terrorist organization "SHOCKER" (Sacred Hegemony Of Cycle Kindred Evolutional Realm) in an attempt to make him into a super soldier against the world.
Having successfully escaped from the influence of SHOCKER, Hongo is now struggling with adapting to normal life again, taking a job as a science teacher at a local high school. Hongo's meek personality however makes him a laughingstock of his students (who literally ignore him during his class). Yet he still tries to involve himself in his student's lives especially one particular troubled girl, the rebellious and tough talking Kikuma Kotomi (Ishida Miku).
As Hongo soon discovers, Kikuma has quite an interesting history. Both parents had died when she was still young and she now lives alone in a small apartment near school. She is a childhood friend of reigning J-Pop idol Chiharu (Mori Erika) who has been getting much hype of late for her debut album which in addition to being a critical hit has also generated some controversy as some have said it contains hidden hypnotic/subliminal messages which drives weak-minded listeners into a killing frenzy (something which Chiharu's handlers have denied).
Kotomi tells Hongo that she hasn't seen Chiharu for some time and is worried about her. Hongo agrees to help Kotomi find Chiharu, which proves to be much easier than expected. Yet as in typical J-Horror fashion, things don't appear as they seem as Hongo and Kotomi soon find. Chiharu is in fact a doppelganger who was made to resemble the singer via plastic surgery after the real Chiharu was killed in a tragic backstage incident. Chiharu's spirit has come from beyond the grave as a vengeful spirit and is intent on seeking revenge on those responsible for her death (her handlers, and the two "wanna-be" idols who have taken on her identity).
Amidst this ghost story, the SHOCKER organization is also on the attack and is planning a massive assault on Tokyo using "nano" technology to kill all weak humans. Those that have the unique genetic makeup that makes them immune to the nano-virus are recruited to become super soldiers in its organization. Hongo teams up with his sometime rival and fellow super soldier, Ichimonji Hayato (Takano Hasei) AKA Kamen Rider No. 2 to stop the threat. They are soon joined by former software entrepreneur Kazami Shiro (Kato Kazuki) who was infected by the nano-virus and transformed into the newest Kamen Rider - V3 and who just so conveniently is the older brother of Chiharu. Their opponents are the manic and sadistic Scissors Jaguar (Taguchi Tomone) and his sexy, masochistic partner Chainsaw Lizard (Mashiko Rie) both of whom are cyborg/animal/human hybrids and who lead an army of Kamen Rider "clones" collectively known as the SHOCKER Riders.
The convoluted plot is a confusing mess that tries too hard to emulate the J-Horror creepiness of films like "Ju-On: The Grudge" while at the same time pandering to the teen demographic by lifting elements of the music/romance film "Nana" and the results fall way short off the mark.
While the stunt-work/wire-fu provided by stunt director Yokoyama Makoto and his AAC Stunts team are impressive and a step above the normal stunt-work seen on Tokusatsu TV, it can't save the film. Neither can the visually stunning and very attractive costume designs from famed anime illustrator Izubuchi Yutaka. Even the VFX work by Kobayashi Shingo and his team at Studio Galapagos(in co-operation with rival studio Tsuburaya) can't distract from the weak story.
Kikawada Masaya (Battle Royale II, Whiteout) makes for an attractive but dull hero. His Hongo Takeshi character is quite different from the one originated by 70s macho action star Fujioka Hiroshi. Kikawada's hero has more of a Clark Kent/Superman vibe to him by way of "Smallville" than anything else. Hasei Takano's (Ultraman Gaia, Kamen Rider Ryuki) Ichimonji Hayato is also a bit different from the TV series (originally played by Sasaki Takeshi) and Hasei plays him more like a rich spoiled playboy (shades of Batman, perhaps). He has the cool "bishonen" look but the anti-hero cliché wears thin fast. Newest hero Kato Kazuki (Kamen Rider Kabuto) doesn't add anything new to his portrayal of Kazami Shiro AKA V3 (originally played by flamboyant Toei Tokusatsu star Miyauchi Hiroshi). His conflicted personality and switching allegiances seems all too familiar (seems to recall Rider Man from the original V3 series).
Gravure idol and model Mori Erika looks like your typical Hello! Project singing idol but she can't generate the necessary sympathy for her character Chiharu although she makes a valiant effort especially towards the end and underneath layers of VFX makeup. Model Ishida Miku also attempts to overcome the silly material but can't do much than play the typical rough tomboy that is so common in Tokusatsu stories.
Taguchi Tomone (Tetsuro, Tetsuro II: Body Hammer) seems a perfect fit for his role as the cyborg villain Scissors Jaguar and his hammy, campy performance is lively. Mashiko Rie is also pure eye-candy in her vampy role.
"Kamen Rider The Next" is reminiscent of the 80s film "Masters of the Universe" or the recent "Speed Racer", a vapid and pure visual spectacle whose aim is merely to dull the mind while banking on its flashy visuals to sway the senses.
While called "The Next", the film surprisingly doesn't even introduce Kamen Rider V3 until well near the middle part of the film choosing instead to focus the bulk of the first half of the film on the hero of "The First" film, Hongo Takeshi (Masaya Kikawada) AKA Kamen Rider No. 1, the "kaizou"/altered human who was abducted by the sinister global terrorist organization "SHOCKER" (Sacred Hegemony Of Cycle Kindred Evolutional Realm) in an attempt to make him into a super soldier against the world.
Having successfully escaped from the influence of SHOCKER, Hongo is now struggling with adapting to normal life again, taking a job as a science teacher at a local high school. Hongo's meek personality however makes him a laughingstock of his students (who literally ignore him during his class). Yet he still tries to involve himself in his student's lives especially one particular troubled girl, the rebellious and tough talking Kikuma Kotomi (Ishida Miku).
As Hongo soon discovers, Kikuma has quite an interesting history. Both parents had died when she was still young and she now lives alone in a small apartment near school. She is a childhood friend of reigning J-Pop idol Chiharu (Mori Erika) who has been getting much hype of late for her debut album which in addition to being a critical hit has also generated some controversy as some have said it contains hidden hypnotic/subliminal messages which drives weak-minded listeners into a killing frenzy (something which Chiharu's handlers have denied).
Kotomi tells Hongo that she hasn't seen Chiharu for some time and is worried about her. Hongo agrees to help Kotomi find Chiharu, which proves to be much easier than expected. Yet as in typical J-Horror fashion, things don't appear as they seem as Hongo and Kotomi soon find. Chiharu is in fact a doppelganger who was made to resemble the singer via plastic surgery after the real Chiharu was killed in a tragic backstage incident. Chiharu's spirit has come from beyond the grave as a vengeful spirit and is intent on seeking revenge on those responsible for her death (her handlers, and the two "wanna-be" idols who have taken on her identity).
Amidst this ghost story, the SHOCKER organization is also on the attack and is planning a massive assault on Tokyo using "nano" technology to kill all weak humans. Those that have the unique genetic makeup that makes them immune to the nano-virus are recruited to become super soldiers in its organization. Hongo teams up with his sometime rival and fellow super soldier, Ichimonji Hayato (Takano Hasei) AKA Kamen Rider No. 2 to stop the threat. They are soon joined by former software entrepreneur Kazami Shiro (Kato Kazuki) who was infected by the nano-virus and transformed into the newest Kamen Rider - V3 and who just so conveniently is the older brother of Chiharu. Their opponents are the manic and sadistic Scissors Jaguar (Taguchi Tomone) and his sexy, masochistic partner Chainsaw Lizard (Mashiko Rie) both of whom are cyborg/animal/human hybrids and who lead an army of Kamen Rider "clones" collectively known as the SHOCKER Riders.
The convoluted plot is a confusing mess that tries too hard to emulate the J-Horror creepiness of films like "Ju-On: The Grudge" while at the same time pandering to the teen demographic by lifting elements of the music/romance film "Nana" and the results fall way short off the mark.
While the stunt-work/wire-fu provided by stunt director Yokoyama Makoto and his AAC Stunts team are impressive and a step above the normal stunt-work seen on Tokusatsu TV, it can't save the film. Neither can the visually stunning and very attractive costume designs from famed anime illustrator Izubuchi Yutaka. Even the VFX work by Kobayashi Shingo and his team at Studio Galapagos(in co-operation with rival studio Tsuburaya) can't distract from the weak story.
Kikawada Masaya (Battle Royale II, Whiteout) makes for an attractive but dull hero. His Hongo Takeshi character is quite different from the one originated by 70s macho action star Fujioka Hiroshi. Kikawada's hero has more of a Clark Kent/Superman vibe to him by way of "Smallville" than anything else. Hasei Takano's (Ultraman Gaia, Kamen Rider Ryuki) Ichimonji Hayato is also a bit different from the TV series (originally played by Sasaki Takeshi) and Hasei plays him more like a rich spoiled playboy (shades of Batman, perhaps). He has the cool "bishonen" look but the anti-hero cliché wears thin fast. Newest hero Kato Kazuki (Kamen Rider Kabuto) doesn't add anything new to his portrayal of Kazami Shiro AKA V3 (originally played by flamboyant Toei Tokusatsu star Miyauchi Hiroshi). His conflicted personality and switching allegiances seems all too familiar (seems to recall Rider Man from the original V3 series).
Gravure idol and model Mori Erika looks like your typical Hello! Project singing idol but she can't generate the necessary sympathy for her character Chiharu although she makes a valiant effort especially towards the end and underneath layers of VFX makeup. Model Ishida Miku also attempts to overcome the silly material but can't do much than play the typical rough tomboy that is so common in Tokusatsu stories.
Taguchi Tomone (Tetsuro, Tetsuro II: Body Hammer) seems a perfect fit for his role as the cyborg villain Scissors Jaguar and his hammy, campy performance is lively. Mashiko Rie is also pure eye-candy in her vampy role.
"Kamen Rider The Next" is reminiscent of the 80s film "Masters of the Universe" or the recent "Speed Racer", a vapid and pure visual spectacle whose aim is merely to dull the mind while banking on its flashy visuals to sway the senses.