Power Rangers Mystic Force, Episode 8, "Stranger Within, Part 1" still has the flaws that I recall the first time I watched it. Vida being a vampire was campy and it wasn't like Magiranger where it had a sort of preschool feel to it. Vida's actress had no idea what to do when she acted like a vampire, has no desire to portray one, and I can't really blame her.
She has a tan also, which really doesn't help when casting her as a pale skin vampire.
Also, there was really no storyline reason to copy this plot other than the Koragg zord fight scene. Just really lame and lazy in a show about entertainment and creativity.
Her wanting to fit in could've been worked into the DJ Fly storyline a bit better.
Chip becoming a part of Count V was nonsensical, but is played by a character who say this. The Rangers not believing Chip's belief in there not being vampires is soo obvious, cuz 1) it's true and 2) Chip believes in the nonsensical.
If it wasn't done in the Bruce Kalish fashion of Strange Times of Blake Holsey High title themes, I'd go with "Not a hero, just a friend" or "friend for life" as the title of the episode.
The episode could've been writing even better with having Vida as the main character in the beginning of the episode and Chip as the main character later, albeit it's debatable that they did that right.
Vida being the strong one makes sense, and defending Chip for being picked on. I may have even had this moment watching this when I was in college. It'd even be cool if Chip called Vida, his superhero. And Vida gives him back the favor.
However, this is me watching the episode and figuring out the process. Writing and then directing without that knowledge is very different, and being on that type of television schedule I could've screwed that up. That, and the fact, that they probably do all Rockporium scenes together, Rootcore, outside scenes, etc. shows that they did make a rather cohesive show given the shortcuts they did.
Chip does US fighting footage scene in the DJ Fly scene. DJ Fly could also refer to flying bats, which is an interesting US adaptation of that.
They also could've adapted the Vida being bad reveal into something else if you know spoilers.
That was a really good use of a cliffhanger.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Episode 2, "Contract with the Dragon"
2 Len tells Kit to stay away from the Dragon. Len senses the Dragon may have something to do with his father.
Kit attempts to get his deck.
Maya is attempting to help Kit Taylor find his father. Maya says Kit’s father was gone when the monsters showed up. Dragons,
Kit attempts to get his deck.
He then dubs him Dragon Knight after finally becoming him.
Kit is always seen riding bikes.
Len breaks Maya's camera because of her witnessing the Ventara monsters.
Maya is attempting to help Kit Taylor find his father. Maya says Kit’s father was gone when the monsters showed up. Dragons,
Incisor challenges him from the end.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight debut response
I didn't know Ryuki
It was new
It wasn't Disney.
It was original.
Even if I didn't know Ryuki.
I only recall the pilot and when all the Ventara Riders meet.
I enjoyed its homage to VR Troopers.
Len was a cool Terminator Bruce Wayne character.
It was new
It wasn't Disney.
It was original.
Even if I didn't know Ryuki.
I only recall the pilot and when all the Ventara Riders meet.
I enjoyed its homage to VR Troopers.
Len was a cool Terminator Bruce Wayne character.
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Episode 3, "Kamen Rider Incisor" Review
Kit doesn’t want to fight Incisor for whatever reason. He backs off.
It's revealed that his Dad kicks Incisor out of the house and his friends are douchebags. Incisor himself is still selfish and totally unlikeable. Could’ve been darker. Impress girls.
Incisor trains on a rooftop like Len does.
Len agrees to train Kit
Len overtrains.
Sounds so lousy saying a million dollars.
It's revealed that his Dad kicks Incisor out of the house and his friends are douchebags. Incisor himself is still selfish and totally unlikeable. Could’ve been darker. Impress girls.
Incisor trains on a rooftop like Len does.
Len agrees to train Kit
Len overtrains.
Sounds so lousy saying a million dollars.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Episode 1, “Search for a Dragon” Positives and Negatives
I already (link) previously explained (link) how Dragon Knight was probably inspired by the VR Troopers/Empire Strikes Back storyline. (Yay, VR Tropers fans!)
Other stuff I want to explore is the constant hallucinations of Kit Taylor seeing his dad, the Taylors’ friend who helps Kit out of juvenile hall, Maya’s role or lack thereof in this episode and how the writing is crafted a bit better in this episode than in others.
So anyway, the hallucinations are interesting, although I don’t recall if they actually add up to anything in the end. Is Kit crazy? Is his dad actually in another world or is it the other dude as revealed later on?
Also, what’s with this character that bails him out? I really don’t recall him in the show! (Yeah, some fan I am I know.)
Maya does nothing this episode, but it’s a debut/intro so it’s fine.
However, the main strength of the episode is the crafting of Len’s character (costume design and mission) in addition to Kit’s story about looking for his father prior to the two meeting at the end of the episode. That was well crafted and something I recall quite well.
Also, dumb Kit running into a spider monster sorta ruins that, but whatever. The Dragon chase is cool.
Other stuff I want to explore is the constant hallucinations of Kit Taylor seeing his dad, the Taylors’ friend who helps Kit out of juvenile hall, Maya’s role or lack thereof in this episode and how the writing is crafted a bit better in this episode than in others.
So anyway, the hallucinations are interesting, although I don’t recall if they actually add up to anything in the end. Is Kit crazy? Is his dad actually in another world or is it the other dude as revealed later on?
Also, what’s with this character that bails him out? I really don’t recall him in the show! (Yeah, some fan I am I know.)
Maya does nothing this episode, but it’s a debut/intro so it’s fine.
However, the main strength of the episode is the crafting of Len’s character (costume design and mission) in addition to Kit’s story about looking for his father prior to the two meeting at the end of the episode. That was well crafted and something I recall quite well.
Also, dumb Kit running into a spider monster sorta ruins that, but whatever. The Dragon chase is cool.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Power Rangers Mystic Force Episode 1, "Broken Spell" Part 1 Review
This show was made after the critical and commercial success of Power Rangers SPD. This was Executive Producer Bruce Kalish's second season. Executive Producer Greg Aronowitz moved on to the Guild and other projects.
I myself am doing this review because of the hits the site has been getting over Mystic Force. Toys R Us advertisements of the toys 10 years after it came out is a factor as well.
I'd like to divide this review into three parts:
"Broken Spell" uses a great number of extras, and at least seemingly number of extras through CGI, compared to the Mighty Morphin days of just 10 people being on screen at a time. Technology is always a factor in these types of series, and modernizing despite having ancient characters is always interesting.
It also makes the story feel bigger and audiences get to know more characters and more stories.
Some woman who isn't Kimberly, but looks like her is in a CGI field. A dragon appears.
Interestingly the ancient ones in mystic force have armor but it isn't Power Rangers spandex
Irony of every day kids. A Juxtaposition.
Also, oddly enough, the Great War only takes place a few years ago, although you'd assume a long time ago, since there were talks of Ancients and it having magic. It's not really often addressed, which I will in a future article.
Having a young woman with red hair wear purple was a nice touch, I didn't notice till 10 years later.
However, a lot of stuff is wasted this episode, especially in the expensive Rockporium set scene.
They establish that Toby is the boss of the Rockporium, but spend way too much time doing so. He acts bossy, which is never part of his character later on, whereas they could've emphasized the fact.
And the true Toby of the series, (being misused that is) is Xander. He's represented as being the bossy one early on and later on, has nothing to do the rest of the series. A shame, considering he does such a good job later on in the Operation Overdrive crossover, albeit they needed a magician and having any would've done. They don't overstate how sort of bland and mishandled his character is making it seem even more of a waste and afterthought.
Chip I also have problems with. As a teenager/college kid I enjoyed his original take on superheroes, but he sorta has no sense or reality, still portraying a character rather than acting as one. He campily reacts to an earthquake and mortal danger pretending he's this type of nerdy superhero type. It'll probably really work now, since Power Rangers, DC and Marvel pretty much work in a , but with critical anti-Power Ranger eyes, I can really see people turned off by this character.
Vida is sort of short and to the point. She's a rocker and doesn't like pink. I'm not looking for anything A-list. However, you can debate how much she has to do in the show prior to those extents being eliminated from the show. The same applies to Madison, where her romance with Nick isn't really implied this episode and isn't properly executed in the end though.
Nick sorta yells too much like a coward, opposed too looking really tough like he should. Him not believing in magic.
Udonna is well acted by Peta Rutter, Rest in Peace. She plays a tropey old lady Obi-Wan character. They could've played more thematically with being a witch, but it's only a 20 minute episode and they have like 20 characters to introduce.
So, they go into the Woods, because some random old man who isn't a pedophile requests help. Teenagers in the 90s at least would've done it possibly to help the old man, but more realistically to challenge themselves and act tough. It's a kid's show about morality, so they do it, cuz it's the right thing to do.
Also, no map? No guide? Why would you live near haunted woods? Real haunted woods? And believe that they're haunted without moving?
This may sound a bit of criticism, and the direction does hurt.
However, it does add a bit of lore and mythos to the story, although a bit too tropey and honed in. It does gets itself across in the story, and it's a hero's journey thing, so why not?
SPOILER ALERT
So the old man who isn't a pedophile is an old lady who isn't a pedophile.
They get shot off away in a fairly decent amount of CG for its time and just straight out not being Mighty Morphin Remastered excusable. They shoot what looks like footage of them being rewound going into Rootcore, because of them screwing up the original footage or not having a good take or something going into Rootcore.
They get out of Rootcore, because they don't want to get Princess Amidalaed.
Why would a tough guy believe in magic? I dunno. Is Nick a tough guy? I dunno.
Nick believes in superheroes or something sorta bsed and mishandled. Let him believe in magic. Nope.
These are teenagers, not kids. Why would the believe in magic. My last point.
Believing in magic should work really well in this show, because of the large amount of CGI used in this episode in both the US and Japanese footage, however it doesn't.
So, they see magic and don't believe in it.
Then they sorta do magic, because they're about to die. If you're any Rob Ager fan like I am, you'd believe this would be an even lesser reason for audiences to believe in magic, and more like just believe in anything so that you can live getting beat up by a gang and a lady who could be in cahoot with them.
Nick's a tough guy supposedly, isn't tough and doesn't believe in magic. We don't know anything about his character, despite him being such a vital part of it, especially later on in the series, making us ponder why he doesn't know about magic? If this was something worth of Ager analysis, it'd be because he's the sane one and wants to fight his way out, being a tough 80s action type. It isn't the case. They could've made a bit of an effort, campier or darker.
So SPOILER ALERT,
Old lady, who's actually his mother tortures her son, and makes him believe in magic, Brian De Palma Carrie style. He gives in. Happily ever after. No more show.
The Star Wars franchise excels and not only believing in magic, but space magic to handle stuff even crazily.
Overall, this episode executed the important stuff. Establishing the lore. It's critical results may be mixed, but I felt that they did a good job with what they wanted to do. Also kudos to them for making a show, I didn't hate as much as I should at an age that was way beyond the average of which people enjoyed the show.
Here's to hoping it's not completely lost by 40.
I myself am doing this review because of the hits the site has been getting over Mystic Force. Toys R Us advertisements of the toys 10 years after it came out is a factor as well.
I'd like to divide this review into three parts:
- The opening
- The main characters
- The ending, especially why you shouldn't believe in magic
"Broken Spell" uses a great number of extras, and at least seemingly number of extras through CGI, compared to the Mighty Morphin days of just 10 people being on screen at a time. Technology is always a factor in these types of series, and modernizing despite having ancient characters is always interesting.
It also makes the story feel bigger and audiences get to know more characters and more stories.
Some woman who isn't Kimberly, but looks like her is in a CGI field. A dragon appears.
Interestingly the ancient ones in mystic force have armor but it isn't Power Rangers spandex
Irony of every day kids. A Juxtaposition.
Also, oddly enough, the Great War only takes place a few years ago, although you'd assume a long time ago, since there were talks of Ancients and it having magic. It's not really often addressed, which I will in a future article.
Having a young woman with red hair wear purple was a nice touch, I didn't notice till 10 years later.
However, a lot of stuff is wasted this episode, especially in the expensive Rockporium set scene.
They establish that Toby is the boss of the Rockporium, but spend way too much time doing so. He acts bossy, which is never part of his character later on, whereas they could've emphasized the fact.
And the true Toby of the series, (being misused that is) is Xander. He's represented as being the bossy one early on and later on, has nothing to do the rest of the series. A shame, considering he does such a good job later on in the Operation Overdrive crossover, albeit they needed a magician and having any would've done. They don't overstate how sort of bland and mishandled his character is making it seem even more of a waste and afterthought.
Chip I also have problems with. As a teenager/college kid I enjoyed his original take on superheroes, but he sorta has no sense or reality, still portraying a character rather than acting as one. He campily reacts to an earthquake and mortal danger pretending he's this type of nerdy superhero type. It'll probably really work now, since Power Rangers, DC and Marvel pretty much work in a , but with critical anti-Power Ranger eyes, I can really see people turned off by this character.
Vida is sort of short and to the point. She's a rocker and doesn't like pink. I'm not looking for anything A-list. However, you can debate how much she has to do in the show prior to those extents being eliminated from the show. The same applies to Madison, where her romance with Nick isn't really implied this episode and isn't properly executed in the end though.
Nick sorta yells too much like a coward, opposed too looking really tough like he should. Him not believing in magic.
Udonna is well acted by Peta Rutter, Rest in Peace. She plays a tropey old lady Obi-Wan character. They could've played more thematically with being a witch, but it's only a 20 minute episode and they have like 20 characters to introduce.
So, they go into the Woods, because some random old man who isn't a pedophile requests help. Teenagers in the 90s at least would've done it possibly to help the old man, but more realistically to challenge themselves and act tough. It's a kid's show about morality, so they do it, cuz it's the right thing to do.
Also, no map? No guide? Why would you live near haunted woods? Real haunted woods? And believe that they're haunted without moving?
This may sound a bit of criticism, and the direction does hurt.
However, it does add a bit of lore and mythos to the story, although a bit too tropey and honed in. It does gets itself across in the story, and it's a hero's journey thing, so why not?
SPOILER ALERT
So the old man who isn't a pedophile is an old lady who isn't a pedophile.
They get shot off away in a fairly decent amount of CG for its time and just straight out not being Mighty Morphin Remastered excusable. They shoot what looks like footage of them being rewound going into Rootcore, because of them screwing up the original footage or not having a good take or something going into Rootcore.
They get out of Rootcore, because they don't want to get Princess Amidalaed.
Why would a tough guy believe in magic? I dunno. Is Nick a tough guy? I dunno.
Nick believes in superheroes or something sorta bsed and mishandled. Let him believe in magic. Nope.
These are teenagers, not kids. Why would the believe in magic. My last point.
Believing in magic should work really well in this show, because of the large amount of CGI used in this episode in both the US and Japanese footage, however it doesn't.
So, they see magic and don't believe in it.
Then they sorta do magic, because they're about to die. If you're any Rob Ager fan like I am, you'd believe this would be an even lesser reason for audiences to believe in magic, and more like just believe in anything so that you can live getting beat up by a gang and a lady who could be in cahoot with them.
Nick's a tough guy supposedly, isn't tough and doesn't believe in magic. We don't know anything about his character, despite him being such a vital part of it, especially later on in the series, making us ponder why he doesn't know about magic? If this was something worth of Ager analysis, it'd be because he's the sane one and wants to fight his way out, being a tough 80s action type. It isn't the case. They could've made a bit of an effort, campier or darker.
So SPOILER ALERT,
Old lady, who's actually his mother tortures her son, and makes him believe in magic, Brian De Palma Carrie style. He gives in. Happily ever after. No more show.
The Star Wars franchise excels and not only believing in magic, but space magic to handle stuff even crazily.
Overall, this episode executed the important stuff. Establishing the lore. It's critical results may be mixed, but I felt that they did a good job with what they wanted to do. Also kudos to them for making a show, I didn't hate as much as I should at an age that was way beyond the average of which people enjoyed the show.
Here's to hoping it's not completely lost by 40.
Power Rangers Mystic Force "Broken Spell" Part 1 improvements suggestions
Keep in mind, Power Rangers has been a franchise about low cost labor and multiple legal issues in addition to constant need or writing since there's like 30 episodes a year and so much time to make 20 episodes, add CGI and edit and take the best scenes from the dailies.
So this'll probably never happen. But as a former film critic, and frequent enjoyer or story and plot, why not?
Mystic Force has a theme of magic. What's really interesting about magic, is illusions and the unknown. Hellblazer, Star Wars and the works of Stanley Kubrick use subtleties to explain its story.
Get themes of the unknown and the horrific past censors. Granted, this was a Disney show at the time, but it's always what I found was fascinating about the show. The horror genre has had huge links to the supernatural whether through Pagan or Christian gods. Whether in the role of the dice, the idea of faith and belief, there's something fascinating yet very horrific regarding how the spirituality aspect of humans has dominated the Earth's culture since the creation of humanity. From the creation of pyramids, to the Inquisition, there are many things that could be explored with this theme.
Setting, as anyone who's ever played a Warner Bros deck building game, is also a key element in magical storytelling. The woods of England and Salemn were very inspirational to tales of monsters and other ficitional ideas. I don't want to dwelve too taboo-ish, but I feel like at least bringing up the idea, that the way of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic God going the way of the Greek-Roman mythos especially with current day statistics, and it'll be interesting what some elements of history and even now with Kamen Rider and Alternate Reality can turn up.
So this'll probably never happen. But as a former film critic, and frequent enjoyer or story and plot, why not?
Mystic Force has a theme of magic. What's really interesting about magic, is illusions and the unknown. Hellblazer, Star Wars and the works of Stanley Kubrick use subtleties to explain its story.
Get themes of the unknown and the horrific past censors. Granted, this was a Disney show at the time, but it's always what I found was fascinating about the show. The horror genre has had huge links to the supernatural whether through Pagan or Christian gods. Whether in the role of the dice, the idea of faith and belief, there's something fascinating yet very horrific regarding how the spirituality aspect of humans has dominated the Earth's culture since the creation of humanity. From the creation of pyramids, to the Inquisition, there are many things that could be explored with this theme.
Setting, as anyone who's ever played a Warner Bros deck building game, is also a key element in magical storytelling. The woods of England and Salemn were very inspirational to tales of monsters and other ficitional ideas. I don't want to dwelve too taboo-ish, but I feel like at least bringing up the idea, that the way of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic God going the way of the Greek-Roman mythos especially with current day statistics, and it'll be interesting what some elements of history and even now with Kamen Rider and Alternate Reality can turn up.
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