toyguy First of all, the negative review(s) you might read here definitely do not reflect the opinion of all die-hard fans of the classic Kamen Rider series.I watched the original Kamen Rider series as a kid back in the 70s, and it was really good entertainment for the time. Rewatching these classics about 30 yrs later, I feel the nostalgia, but understandably not too impressed with the old fashion FX and fight choreography. So, pulling this franchise into the 21st century is a very good idea to me. I couldn't get into the other "Rider" series because the story just isn't about Hongo. And the Riders only look derivative of the original and therefore not as good.I really enjoyed "The First", and "The Next" was a good follow up. It has been many years since we had new and original stories about Hongo and Ichimonji. Hongo is still the straight forward hero character, where as Ichimonji has more of an edge to him. The tone of the movie is darker, which is good for those who were fans of the original series, as we're all adults now. One really cool idea in this new franchise: we can see that the "grasshopper" heads of the Riders after transforming is really just a helmet. They can take it off to reveal their real human faces. This allows the actors a much greater range of emotions while they are Riders. It also confirms for me that the Rider transformation is just changing into the suit, not changing into another being like Ultraman. And the updated suits look great, like actual bike-racing suits, but still very faithful to the original. Other updates like using CG effects to show the riders' powers is really an improvement compared to the old days.Overall, if you were a fan of the original, I think The First and The Next are must haves for your video library. If you are just getting into Kamen Rider series, its still a great entry-level movie to introduce yourself into the franchise.

jmaruyama Having been disappointed by the first movie, I had high expectations for this new film, which I hoped would be a more action-heavy and spectacular improvement over its predecessor (in much the same way as was "Spider-Man 2"). While called "The Next", the film surprisingly doesn't even introduce Kamen Rider V3 until well near the middle part of the film choosing instead to focus the bulk of the first half of the film on the hero of "The First" film, Hongo Takeshi (Masaya Kikawada) AKA Kamen Rider No. 1, the "kaizou"/altered human who was abducted by the sinister global terrorist organization "SHOCKER" (Sacred Hegemony Of Cycle Kindred Evolutional Realm) in an attempt to make him into a super soldier against the world. Having successfully escaped from the influence of SHOCKER, Hongo is now struggling with adapting to normal life again, taking a job as a science teacher at a local high school. Hongo's meek personality however makes him a laughingstock of his students (who literally ignore him during his class). Yet he still tries to involve himself in his student's lives especially one particular troubled girl, the rebellious and tough talking Kikuma Kotomi (Ishida Miku).As Hongo soon discovers, Kikuma has quite an interesting history. Both parents had died when she was still young and she now lives alone in a small apartment near school. She is a childhood friend of reigning J-Pop idol Chiharu (Mori Erika) who has been getting much hype of late for her debut album which in addition to being a critical hit has also generated some controversy as some have said it contains hidden hypnotic/subliminal messages which drives weak-minded listeners into a killing frenzy (something which Chiharu's handlers have denied). Kotomi tells Hongo that she hasn't seen Chiharu for some time and is worried about her. Hongo agrees to help Kotomi find Chiharu, which proves to be much easier than expected. Yet as in typical J-Horror fashion, things don't appear as they seem as Hongo and Kotomi soon find. Chiharu is in fact a doppelganger who was made to resemble the singer via plastic surgery after the real Chiharu was killed in a tragic backstage incident. Chiharu's spirit has come from beyond the grave as a vengeful spirit and is intent on seeking revenge on those responsible for her death (her handlers, and the two "wanna-be" idols who have taken on her identity).Amidst this ghost story, the SHOCKER organization is also on the attack and is planning a massive assault on Tokyo using "nano" technology to kill all weak humans. Those that have the unique genetic makeup that makes them immune to the nano-virus are recruited to become super soldiers in its organization. Hongo teams up with his sometime rival and fellow super soldier, Ichimonji Hayato (Takano Hasei) AKA Kamen Rider No. 2 to stop the threat. They are soon joined by former software entrepreneur Kazami Shiro (Kato Kazuki) who was infected by the nano-virus and transformed into the newest Kamen Rider - V3 and who just so conveniently is the older brother of Chiharu. Their opponents are the manic and sadistic Scissors Jaguar (Taguchi Tomone) and his sexy, masochistic partner Chainsaw Lizard (Mashiko Rie) both of whom are cyborg/animal/human hybrids and who lead an army of Kamen Rider "clones" collectively known as the SHOCKER Riders.The convoluted plot is a confusing mess that tries too hard to emulate the J-Horror creepiness of films like "Ju-On: The Grudge" while at the same time pandering to the teen demographic by lifting elements of the music/romance film "Nana" and the results fall way short off the mark. While the stunt-work/wire-fu provided by stunt director Yokoyama Makoto and his AAC Stunts team are impressive and a step above the normal stunt-work seen on Tokusatsu TV, it can't save the film. Neither can the visually stunning and very attractive costume designs from famed anime illustrator Izubuchi Yutaka. Even the VFX work by Kobayashi Shingo and his team at Studio Galapagos(in co-operation with rival studio Tsuburaya) can't distract from the weak story.Kikawada Masaya (Battle Royale II, Whiteout) makes for an attractive but dull hero. His Hongo Takeshi character is quite different from the one originated by 70s macho action star Fujioka Hiroshi. Kikawada's hero has more of a Clark Kent/Superman vibe to him by way of "Smallville" than anything else. Hasei Takano's (Ultraman Gaia, Kamen Rider Ryuki) Ichimonji Hayato is also a bit different from the TV series (originally played by Sasaki Takeshi) and Hasei plays him more like a rich spoiled playboy (shades of Batman, perhaps). He has the cool "bishonen" look but the anti-hero cliché wears thin fast. Newest hero Kato Kazuki (Kamen Rider Kabuto) doesn't add anything new to his portrayal of Kazami Shiro AKA V3 (originally played by flamboyant Toei Tokusatsu star Miyauchi Hiroshi). His conflicted personality and switching allegiances seems all too familiar (seems to recall Rider Man from the original V3 series). Gravure idol and model Mori Erika looks like your typical Hello! Project singing idol but she can't generate the necessary sympathy for her character Chiharu although she makes a valiant effort especially towards the end and underneath layers of VFX makeup. Model Ishida Miku also attempts to overcome the silly material but can't do much than play the typical rough tomboy that is so common in Tokusatsu stories. Taguchi Tomone (Tetsuro, Tetsuro II: Body Hammer) seems a perfect fit for his role as the cyborg villain Scissors Jaguar and his hammy, campy performance is lively. Mashiko Rie is also pure eye-candy in her vampy role."Kamen Rider The Next" is reminiscent of the 80s film "Masters of the Universe" or the recent "Speed Racer", a vapid and pure visual spectacle whose aim is merely to dull the mind while banking on its flashy visuals to sway the senses.

helmutty It is a second movie following after Kamen rider the first. After watching Kamen rider the first, I knew there would be a second part. Kamen rider the next is basically the remake of kamen rider V3 alongside with Kamen rider 1 and 2. It is the first kamen rider movie to get a PG-12 in japan for violence and nudity. It is probably the most violent kamen rider I saw. Beside the violence and nudity, the point is the story which I thought it is more action-packed than the first.The story: It is trying to borrow elements from other movies like horror movies. It is like a horror movie with action. They did a bad job in the horror story like putting cheap scares and some creepy moments but I did not care when watching it. It is a kamen rider movie, I expected action and there is, which satisfy me. The story is like an average horror movie: people who listen to a famous Asian pop singer-Chiharu's song, they mysteriously die. Kotomi, Chiharu's best friend, is worried about her and start investigating her disappearance together with Takeshi Hongo, who is a science teacher for a rowdy class and Kamen rider 1. V3 appears with some other Shockers-Scissors Jaguar and Chainsaw Lizard mainly. Kamen rider 1, together with Kamen rider 2 and with the help V3, fights against Shockers with Kotomi solves the mystery. I like the fighting scenes but it is obvious that they had wired-work to help do the fighting they want. There is blood and nudity added.Overall: I can say it is better than Kamen rider the first. It is action-packed with unusual stunts. Hopefully, there will be a next one as it would be nice to see other riders being remade and more of the unusual stunts. It is not the usual kamen rider series or movies, it is more darker and violent plus mature. It is nice to see some dark kamen rider movies. R3 DVD single disc only features a trailer with no English subtitles but with English dub. The dubbing is quite bad though. The worst thing is that it is the cut version. Wait for the original version instead. Avaible in Singapore.