Karate-Robo Zaborgar (Blu-Ray)

Holy cow, I just saw this movie, and it is absolutely, amazingly, unpredictably fun. I was in the mood for something a little silly, and a movie about "a motorcycle that knows karate" which reminded me of Ultraman seemed about right. This movie did not disappoint, and in fact blew my mind. This is a hilarious movie, written and played with tongue firmly in cheek, that takes itself serious enough to drive the story and characters to their absurd and awesome ends, yet is clearly designed to smack a smile right on your mug and keep re-plastering it there over and over again. I had no clue what was coming, and I suspect that that is the best way to experience this. It looks something like a cross between a standard sci fi Japanese B-movie and an unbelievably well-produced episode of the Power Rangers--and I mean that in a good way (you may have to just see it to know how that somehow works so well). But it feels more like Shaolin Soccer or something in that vein. If you are familiar with that movie and it is the type of thing you like, you might want to experience this crazy flick. If you like that and also are a fan of transforming robots and/or B science fiction, then you pretty much have to see this or you are not a complete person yet. Not to be taken seriously, yet somehow sweepingly epic, too over-the-top to be drama but somehow still fleetingly moving in several moments (I mean, you really have to go with it, but, it's there), and too stupid to ever be anything but rabid fun, I can't believe this won't become a real cult classic over time. Probably not for kids, would be great fun to watch with a group of friends who have a sense of humor and know a little about Japanese cult sci fi, nothing your mom or dad could relate to. I'm over 40, though, so that means something different to a lot of you out there. Zaborgar GO! (I can't tell you how much I wish I could experience watching this movie for the first time over again . . . pure karate-robo insanity.)

Wow. Sushi Typhoon did something that alot of recent reboots have not been able to accomplish, they kept the heart of the show intact. In the process of "modernizing" old shows, reboots throw in high tech special effects, glamorous actors, adult sexuality but unfortunately lose all the charm of the original. Zaborgar was a childhood favorite of mines. I'm so glad that this update retains all the campy, goofy, heartfelt goodness of the original without compromising for the jaded audiences of today. All the characters from the old series are back in this neat, entertaining movie!

Apparently this is an update to one of those Japanese hero shows along the lines of Ultraman: The Complete Series and Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot: The Complete Series.

The story is told in two parts. The first is hilariously funny, with cheap looking effects and fun fight sequences. The main character is Daimon, a 22-year old who appears to be the only employee of the Special Police unit. He rides a motorcycle that transforms into a fighting robot. Oh yeah, the robot was created from the DNA of Daimon's dead brother. The plot of this part is pretty predictable, but I had fun watching it.

The second part takes place 25 years later. Daimon is now 47-years old, diabetic, penniless, and has a bad back. Although there are some early scenes here that are laugh out loud funny, the second part doesn't hold a lot of surprises either, but does have a lot of heart. It also has better effects than part 1, and the forced perspective shots of the Jumbo Mecha are pretty good for the most part. I especially liked the scene where the Jumbo Mecha is destroying Tokyo while talking to a friend on a cell phone.

The closing credits show some of the same scenes from the original TV series (which I don't believe is available in the US) and it's fun to watch and see how much better this movie actually does them.

If you're a fan of these types of shows, this one is a worthwhile addition to your collection. RECOMMENDED.