Thisisok

Ultraman Blazar felt like a return to the classic Ultra series: a focused and serious story, a protagonist who isn’t an inexperienced teenager but a family man, and a more “humble” narrative progression that avoids overly grand ambitions.
The biggest flaw of this season, in my opinion, is how rushed it feels. It seems the writers had more to explore in each situation involving the characters, but were limited to just 25 episodes to develop everything. You can sense they wanted to take more risks (especially considering how episode 25 feels almost like a farewell to the protagonist until halfway through). Still, what was delivered fortunately does not disappoint. And what can be said about the effects? Tsuburaya completely outclasses Toei. The episode direction, especially during action scenes, could have been a bit more dynamic, but it’s far from bad.

Let’s see if the movie expands even more on this fantastic Ultra universe.

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“My name is Garo, a Golden Knight!”

There are works that leave a lasting mark on us. As a child, I can mention some tokusatsu titles such as Ultraman Tiga or Ryukendo. However, none made me appreciate and long for the tokusatsu genre as much as GARO.

Back in the old days, when we had to access fansub blogs to download series (most of them unlicensed) in RMVB or AVI files, my teenage self came across a small poster of an armor that looked like a golden lion. That was Garo.

What can I say about GARO? Without a doubt, its first season has yet to be surpassed by any tokusatsu series. Its effects, including CGI, are superior to many shows still being released in 2025. Twenty years later, it remains a landmark for its fans and for lovers of the genre.

The performances are well above average (for tokusatsu), the character development is strong, and the narrative is simple yet solid. Even the monster suits feel carefully crafted. The soundtrack remains incredible and memorable.

I really enjoy several later GARO seasons, but the first one still stands untouched. Keita Amemiya will have to work hard to surpass the brilliance that the first season still has, even today. Even if you’re not a tokusatsu fan, it’s absolutely worth checking out.

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CHEESINESS FOR THOSE WHO LOVE IT, AND I DO...

Man, I really love Kamen Rider Kiva. It’s definitely in my top 5 Kamen Rider series. Does it have several plot holes and extremely cliché narrative conveniences typical of the tokusatsu genre? Yes, absolutely. Still, it’s hard to deny that it’s a very fun show to watch.
Despite following the usual Kamen Rider “monster of the week” format, the narrative presents an interesting linear structure by alternating between 1986 and 2008, showing how events from one era influence the other. The transitions between time periods are often very fast and can confuse some viewers, especially in the early episodes, but I believe it’s something you eventually get used to.
Without a doubt, the most interesting, and funniest, character is Kurenai Otoya. In fact, the series is surprisingly competent in its comedic and lighthearted moments, not taking itself too seriously while still maintaining the weight of its drama. It also features a straightforward romance and love interest (something often downplayed in Kamen Rider series) between the protagonist and his romantic interest.
I’d say one aspect that works as both a positive and a negative is how, out of nowhere, characters’ motivations and interests can completely change. It’s negative because the narrative often feels messy and poorly explained. On the other hand, it works as a surprise factor, since characters who seemed to be clearly heading in one direction suddenly go in another, something that happens frequently with the show’s romantic subplots.
The ending is silly, but I found it satisfying for what the series aims to be. I know Kiva doesn’t have that many fans out there, but it’s a very pleasant series to watch. Maybe someday I’ll rewatch it.

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Peak Toku

When I started GARO: Hagane wo Tsugomono, I never imagined I would end it as satisfied as I did. The presentation and the above-average performances (for tokusatsu)… And what can be said about the costumes and practical effects? Incredible. Garo, as always, sets the standard for visual effects (and even CGI) within the tokusatsu genre.
The script, despite being simple, managed to keep me engaged, especially from episode 6 onward. Could the ending have been better developed (with fewer genre clichés)? Yes, it could have. Still, the execution was very solid.
In fact, I must say that after following several seasons featuring Ryōga, he is finally becoming as interesting and believable as the fan favorite, Kōga (at least to me). In this season, you can clearly see the character’s evolution compared to previous stories, more respectful and more mature, I would say (though the actor hasn’t improved much from his earlier performances, lol).
I only have one major complaint: the script is simple, but being simple and not taking many risks isn’t the real issue. The problem is the limited time given to develop the story (only 12 episodes). I can’t believe I’m complaining about a tokusatsu having too few episodes, but the narrative would have flowed much better if it had more screen time to flesh out the story and each character’s motivations, and consequently make the audience care more about them. It feels a bit too rushed. I believe this is the season’s biggest flaw.
Now we wait, my fellow GARO fans, the next season is expected to release in 2026.

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Jesus Rider

This is, without exaggeration, the best Kamen Rider I have ever watched (so far), and it became my favorite as soon as I finished it. One major problem with Kamen Rider series is that, when the format tries to combine its story with a long episodic pacing (49–50 episodes), the narrative often becomes dull and poorly cohesive. This is definitely not the case with Geats: all of its arcs, from the earliest to the final ones, are filled with strong character development and solid storytelling.

The idea of adopting a battle royale style combined with an audience-pleasing concept is very interesting without feeling dated to the genre (could it have taken more risks? Yes, for instance, by portraying the audience’s addiction and desire for violence, etc.). Still, within what it proposes, a youth-oriented tokusatsu, the show exceeds expectations and delivers excellent entertainment. The fights and camera work are outstanding.

Kan Hideyoshi also does a great job as the Rider; he has a lot of potential as an actor (unfortunately, I’ve heard he’s being used as fujoshi bait > Japan does waste its talents sometimes).

Entering spoiler territory, unlike some viewers, I liked the ending. Despite a few plot conveniences, the resolution of the “Jesus Rider” fits well within the narrative.

Overall, it’s a phenomenal Kamen Rider work and so far, my favorite.

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Kamen Rider Geats × Kamen Rider Revice is a crossover that does the bare minimum expected from a winter special, but rarely goes beyond that.
The strongest aspect of the movie is its fight choreography, which is well-executed, fast-paced, and designed to showcase each Rider’s suit and unique abilities. For a tokusatsu production, the special effects are also competent, featuring decent CGI, explosions, and transformation sequences that look polished and entertaining.
However, the film’s main weakness lies in its story, which is overly simple and largely unengaging. The plot functions merely as an excuse to bring characters together, without offering meaningful conflicts or exploring the contrast between the worlds of Geats and Revice. The villains are generic, their motivations underdeveloped, and the narrative unfolds in a predictable, formulaic way.
It works as light entertainment for fans, yet it is ultimately forgettable.

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Much Better Than the First One

I know that many hardcore fans like me, both of the manga and anime, usually don’t give live-action adaptations a chance. But I have to say, in this second movie I found the producers’ decisions much more on point. The narrative is rushed, but at least it’s not poorly done and stays true to the original material. The actor who plays General Ouki is really good — the rest of the cast is just okay (though I did like the actress who plays Kyoukai). The facial expressions the actor playing Shin makes are still annoying. The fight scenes and effects are very well done and nicely choreographed (could’ve used a bit more violence, but that’s fine). Overall, it’s a fun movie — perfect for a Saturday night with some buttery popcorn.

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I wasn't expecting much, but it was still very interesting. Despite leaving many loose ends, the script itself is fairly competent in developing the new incarnation of Jinga. That ending probably won't ever be followed up, and we won't get many future explanations either... but it was still enjoyable to watch this spin-off. Inoue Masahiro, as always, knows how to deliver solid performances as Jinga (I'm even starting to like/get used to his overacting). The effects are okay, nothing too spectacular in terms of tokusatsu. I would recommend it only to fans of the character Jinga or Garo enthusiasts.

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Well, that was... something. Aside from the final fight scene (the most entertaining part of this special), the rest felt simplistic and rushed. The acting is atrocious. I think that's the problem with casting pro wrestlers as lead actors. However, the actors who make up the story are equally bad. Nothing makes much sense, and the background effects are lazy rather than artistic. Watch it only if you're a die-hard GARO fan.
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So we have GARO KAMI NO KIBA. It's an overall fun movie. As always, the fight choreography is very well done (typical GARO standard). However, the effects seem inferior to those of Goldstorm, which is 2 years older! I'm not sure what happened, maybe some issue with the film's budget, production problems... they're not as polished in some scenes. Of course, it's always good to remember that we're talking about tokusatsu, it's not supposed to be Hollywood-level CGI, but it's good to be at least decent. The direction of the film was okay; Amemiya Keita didn't quite put as much effort into his creation this time. Overall, it's a movie made for fans and lovers of the villain Jinga (lol). It's a cool film.

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