Minireview: Kamen Rider The First

[akinoame]

I keep forgetting that sometimes, Kamen Rider is really depressing. Den-O and W had really happy endings, and even Ryuki managed to retcon out most of its tragedy. But the movie remake of the original series, Kamen Rider The First? Oh, god, the subplot! Sure, go ahead. Make us care about the two terminally ill kids. Then give us what we know is tainted hope by having Shocker take them. Yes, I knew they were Cobra and Snake. But GOD, did you have to kill them? And worse, you had to kill Miyoko before she saw that Haruhiko's flowers had bloomed? So Haruhiko has to die putting the flower in her hair?

Thank you, guys. This was a great movie, but utterly depressing. I can't even garner up the optimism from Hongo getting the girl because absolutely everything else is depressing as hell. The two kids are dead. Ichimonji's dying--and I still don't get his character all that much. Shocker is still around and they're going to pull this crap again.

I'm going to have to look at the other Rider series I love in order to get over this. Again, good movie, but bittersweet ending.