Shin Kamen Ridder is a 2023 Japanese superhero film written and directed by Hideaki Anno and staring Sosuke Ikematsu, Minami Hamabe, Tasuku Emoto, Nanase Nishino, Shinya Tsukamoto, Toru Tezuka, Suzuki Matsuo, and Mirai Moriyama. The film centres around a motorcyclist who gets kidnapped and turned in a Synthetic Insect-Hybrid soldier, but he escapes and along with his female friend attempt to stop the organisation responsible for his transformation and their plan to concur society. Shin Kamen Rider is an entertaining film that any fan of kaiju films and franchise like power rangers will love.
The direction in the film is good. The film has a good ensemble cast that really work well together. Everyone feels like a sort of rag tag team trying to save the world and fits with the boots on the ground normal person fighting that the film has. The mood of the film is an interesting mixture. The film is fun and entertaining throughout. The film encapsulates that power rangers like fighting with a crazy over the top feeling that is very entertaining. However, there is also a serious nature to the film. The film has good serious story with complex characters that question their lives being brought back to life which adds some depth to the film. the film has a good style. The film is a mixture of gritty grounded fighting mixed in with a classic over the top nature that works well.
The acting in the film is good. Sosuke Ikematsu does a good job as Takeshi Hongo a motorcyclist that get kidnapped by the villains but escapes redubbing himself as Kamen Rider and declares war against the villains. Minami Hamabe does a god job as Ruriko Midorikawa a female computational organism that aids Hogo in his war against the organisation. Tasuku Emoto does a good job as Hayato Ichimonji a photojournalist who shocker transforms into the second Kamen rider who is initially a soldier before his freed. Nanase Nishino does a good job as Hiromi a senior member of shcker and childhood fiend of Ruriko that transforms into a wasp rider. Toru Tezuka as Bat-Aug a part human part bat biomechanical researcher chief of shocker. Suzuki Matsuo does a good job as the founder of shocker a mysterious billionaire that crated the shocker A.I. Mirai Moriyama dos a good job as Ichiro Midorikawa a high-ranking member of shocker that transforms into a butterfly Kamen Rider.
The writing in the film is good. The film is entertaining power rangers style romp that makes for a very entertaining, enjoyable film. The film also is a lot darker than I expected. The film takes it characters seriously and creates a very real and gritty story that feels grounded and creates an interesting theme. The film is a lot more complex than a traditional superhero film with a complex main character that is sympathetic and feels a lot of guilt throughout the film. the main character deals with his death throughout the film and being brought back to live making a complex character grappling with his own mortality. The fact that the main character at the end is also interesting and paves the way for the next generation of Kamen Rider.
The cinematography in the film is good. The film is decently shot as well as having clearly filmed action scenes where you can see everything. The film also has some interesting uses of camera work that make for a stylised film. the film has some cool special effects. There is also good use of practical effects throughout such as Kamen Riders suit which looks good. The film also has good piratical fight scenes and blood effects that make it feel grotty. The film also uses CGI witch although not amazing does not look terrible and works with the over-the-top nature of the film.
Kamen Rider is a fun entertaining film that any Kaiju fan would love
