Hot Picks
|
|
|
Ryusei Ningen Zon 14
episode 14 / Zone Fighter - Rampage! The Garoga Boys Attack Force
Japan 1973
produced by Kimihiko Eto, Shunji Takahasi, Yoshio Nishikawa, Tomoyuki Tanaka (executive) for Mannen-Sha, Toho/NTV (= Nippon Television Network)
directed by Akiyasu Kikuchi
starring Kazuya Aoyama, Kazumi Kitahara, Takashi Sato, Shoji Nakayama, Sachiko Kozuki, Shiro Amakusa, Hideaki Ohara, Munemaru Koda (voice), Kiyoshi Kobayashi (voice)
written by Masaru Takesue, created by Tomoyuki Tanaka, music by Goh Misawa, special effects by Koichi Kawakita
TV-series Zone Fighter
review by Mike Haberfelner
|
For this round in their attempt to conquer the world, the evil alien
race Gagora develop an elixir that makes whoever takes it super-strong and
super-smart - but it also contains a substance called Garogalizer
that puts its recipient under the spell of Gold Garoga (voiced by Munemaru
Koda). The elixir is first given to Tsuyoshi, a frail little boy who's
constantly bullied, not only for his physique but also because he's no
good at school. But the elixir turns him into a super student but also
strong enough to beat up his bullies. Having forced them into submission,
he makes himself their leader and gives them the elixir as well. He also
gives a bottle of the elixir to his friend Akira (Takashi Sato) a.k.a.
Zone Junior, but Akira quickly realizes there's something wrong and takes
the bottle home to have it analyzed - and it soon becomes clear this is a
job for Zone Fighter (Kazuya Aoyama). In the meantime though Tsuyoshi and
his gang have gone on a spree of vandalism, and are presently heading for
the local chemical plant. Akira and Zone family friend Takeru (Hideaki Ohara)
try to stop them but are taken captive by Tsuyoshi and the boys. Zone
Fighter comes to the rescue, but it's of course a trap - a trap he easily
avoids. When Tsuyoshi and company face Zone Fighter, they turn into two
Garoga, and only once Zone Fighter has defeated them turn back into their
human form, now not brainwashed anymore. Two Garoga leaders turn into a
giant monster, but Zone Fighter turns into his giant self, wrestles the
monster into the ground and then blows it up - and everything ends
happily. Sure, the kids turned violent in this episode do have
some shock potential - but also some camp potential. And frankly, the
series as a whole has always been more on the campy side of things. As a
result, this is anything but brilliant TV entertainment - but that said,
if you're at all into vintage Japanese-superheroes-fighting-giant-monsters
shenanigans, you'll probably enjoy it on some level nevertheless.
|
|
|
review © by Mike Haberfelner
|
Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned) |
The links below will take you just there!!!
|
|
|
Thanks for watching !!!
|
|
|
Robots and rats,
demons and potholes, cuddly toys and shopping mall Santas,
love and death and everything in between,
Tales to Chill Your Bones to is all of that.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to -
a collection of short stories and mini-plays ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalyptic to the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle,
all thought up by the twisted mind of screenwriter and film reviewer Michael Haberfelner.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to
the new anthology by Michael Haberfelner
Out now from Amazon!!! |
|