I hadn’t seen a minute of the Kamen Rider series before and was still excited about Shin Masked Rider (OT: Shin Kamen Rider). The Japanese superhero film was made for the 50th anniversary of the human-insect series and premiered in Germany in 2023, more or less unnoticed, on Amazon Prime Video. On the occasion of Moviepilot’s annual review, I would like to break a grasshopper’s arm for the spectacle that is tells the story of the fight for good in an imaginative, bloody and full of melancholy way.
Hideaki Anno first renewed Godzilla, then Kamen Rider
Hideaki Anno is what is commonly referred to as a sci-fi god. The Japanese director and author created the influential Neon Genesis Evangelion series. But he also hangs out in other franchises. With the googly-eyed monster tadpole he commented on Japanese disaster policy in Shin Godzilla 2016. That was his first reboot of one of the so-called Tokusatsu series, who derive their entertainment from elaborate special effects. He wrote the script for Shin Ultraman (2022) and Hideaki Anno was back in the director’s chair for the reboot of Kamen and Masked Rider.
Toei
Shin Masked Rider
Kamen Rider came into the TV and manga world in 1971. Then as now, the villains work for the SHOCKER organization Kidnapping people, “upgrading” them as insect hybrids and brainwashing them. Student and motorcyclist Takeshi (Sôsuke Ikematsu) is one of the victims, but is freed in time by the reformed SHOCKER henchwoman Ruriko (Minami Hamabe). From now on, as a Masked Rider, he goes into battle against formerly human spiders, wasps and other creatures and comes ever closer to the winged head of a conspiracy.
A superhero film full of character and bursting minds
Shin Godzilla came up with the animalistic destruction of blocks of houses, the action in the Masked Rider reboot is more down-to-earth. Motorcycle chases, fights and occasional bursting heads take turns.
The usual blockbuster epicness of the superhero film is countered by a truly handmade look. This starts with the sleek insect costumes, leads to visual effects that seem to come from another era, and is also reflected in the hasty camera work. Elegant is not the term I would use for the production, but rather enthusiastic. As if the lens itself was sometimes shocked by the twists and turns of the story. And there are plenty of them.
Toei
Shin Kamen Rider
Shin Masked Rider takes an overpowering approach, both in terms of exhilarating action moments and heartbreaking twists and death scenes. Thanks to the B-movie charm and the serious approach to the heroes who have lost their lives, it doesn’t get on your nerves.
Rather, Shin Masked Rider is a A prime example of a superhero reboot: On the one hand, the costumes and effects are used to create links to the long franchise history. On the other hand, Hideaki Anno infuses his film with such world-weariness that an unmistakably stubborn signature remains on the “branded product”.
In a year where more prominent super insects failed creatively, Shin Masked Rider triumphs. This film has so much character that you are rarely used to in superhero franchises.
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