Sailor Moon Crystal - Act 11 Enemy Metallia - Episode Review

 Episode Review:

Where we last left the crew, Beryl and evil Endymion faced the Senshi inside their headquarters. Beryl tells Usagi that Mamo-Chan is dead and only the evil Endymion is around. The Senshi discover that Beryl is under the evil influence of Queen Metalia and that is what happened long ago. Venus summons the Legendary Sword and tries defeating Beryl to no avail. Moon destroys Beryl's stone along with the help of the Silver Crystal which is still in Endymion's hands. Beryl is reverted to original form and she apologizes to Endymion explaining she had a crush on him when he was with Princess Serenity back then. She is destroyed.

 

Endymion and Usagi go through a portal. The Senshi track down that they are in the north pole and travel there. Usagi tries turning Endymion good to no avail. The sword didn't work because it needed the crystal whole, Ami tells Usagi she needs to extract the small piece from Mamoru in order to have the crystal whole. The Shittenou fight the Senshi and the Senshi make them remember who they are, that they protected Endymion. Metallia kills them and the girls mourn them. They speak to the Senshi to encougar them. Usagi kills Endymion and kills herself, driving the Senshi and Luna to scream not to. To Be Continued.

 

Episode Summary:

A factor I always hated from the manga was that Sailor Moon committed suicide and I was hoping they would not use it here. For me, suicide is a sign of weakness in fiction, I am not going to go into the whole thing in real life because it is a thorny issue as many people have lost people due to suicide. I personally have. Anyway, Sailor Moon was shown to be courageous and brave heroine up until the point she takes her life at the end of this episode. And major spoiler, 'resurrection' is the next episode so everyone is going to come back to life much like in past incarnations of Sailor Moon. In Sailor Moon, the Sailor Senshi die and reborn hundreds of times. But the major difference is that in the original anime, the senshi died due to villains and Moon hit the reboot button in destroying Beryl. But here it is different.

As for the Episode itself, it is pretty good. It has emotion and suspense. Plus, there is much more interaction between Beryl and the Senshi than in the other Anime. Also, Venus kills Beryl in the manga, so that is once change here, Moon does it herself. Luna's arc is a bit subdued here. Luna watches the action for most of the episode but the voice actress does a good job at expressing her emotion for Usagi. 

Is Black Ranger "Mighty Morphin" Left Out or is he?

UPDATED 12/20/14

So it has almost been twenty years since Mighty Morphin Power Rangers the Movie premiered. And Bandai Creation will release Legacy figures of MMPR:TM. Ivan Ooze above which will come with two different hands, one with a flute. I am looking forward to these than the 5 inch Legacy figures. Personally, I didn't get the regular ones because I already have the MMPR 2010 figures and they are basically the same, just with more detail and paint. If they were 8 inches like the originals, then I would've gotten them. But the movie figures, we never got accurate figures of the movie costumes which I still love. Anyway, I digress, we are learning new things all the time. Razzle1337 recently discovered something new or just hasn't been heavily talked about.

 

Red Ranger

As you may know, each Ranger had an unique gimmick in the movie, well most of them. Red Ranger legacy figure will come with two helmets. One shows off his "Power Scope" scanner mode he had.

 

Yellow Ranger

She had "Power Beams" mode which be portrayed as two different heads in the Legacy figure. I always liked those lights.

 

White Ranger

White Ranger just had Saba, so the figure just comes with it.  

 

Pink Ranger

She has the Thunderwhip and it will come with the figure but with the 'tongue' part sticking out and 'frozen' form.

Blue Ranger

In the movie, Blue Ranger had a Stega Stinger. In the original script, he had "Audio Enhancer" in his helmet and Black Ranger had the Stega Stinger. But then it was switched. It was switched for some unknown reason. People say that the hooks that come out of the device reminds people of Triceratops zord.

 

Black Ranger

Most fans thought that the Black Ranger had no special thing. In the shooting script, he had the Stega Stinger but that was given to Blue Ranger. I believe the toy he won't have anything either, just the Blade Blaster.

 

 

 I have rewatched the MMPR movie multiple times but right now my nephew watched the movie so much he scratched the DVD and I have lost it. But anyway I did notice the image before but I thought it was a reflection or something. I never paused it. I did notice something off about the scene. This scene is when Tommy says "Let's Power Up" when the Rangers face the Oozemen. Razzle1337 has spotted there is something different with the Black Ranger's helmet. It is like a alternate version. Because it is protruding out of the side of it, it makes me believe it might be the Mastadon ear popping out.

 

It COULD be the Audio Enhancers. But that I know of, fans have not seen pictures of this helmet alternative prop. Now why would it pop up in the film? Most likely they made the helmet, shot a scene for it, cut the scene out but used one shot where he still had it on for a split second. The only reason I can think why they cut it out was for time (full movie length) or that maybe the Audio Enhancers was a bit tedious after already seeing Power Scope and Power Beams. It makes sense that 3 Rangers had handheld weapons (stinger, whip and saber) and 3 Rangers had helmet upgrades (beams, scope, audio). It would've been cool if the toy came with it too but I guess Bandai doesn't even know.

Razzle apparently brought this back up in 2011:
http://www.rangerboard.com/showthread.php?t=149297

Here are captures from Netflix thanks to Razzle:

 

 

Related: http://henshingrid.blogspot.com/2010/08/movie-exclusive-weapons.html



Best and Worst of 2014: Power Rangers and Super Sentai

It is almost the end of the year, magazines, TV shows and websites do their Best and Worst of the year so here is mine. I usually split it up by series, Power Rangers and Super Sentai, now I am just clumping them in Best and Worst.

 

BEST of 2014

Best App
The Dino Charge app just came along on Thanksgiving but it has to be the best app for Power Rangers ever. It has the new theme song, stickers for pictures, 3-D morph images, 'prizes' and 'levels.'
 

Best Butt

I did best Abs last year and I am sure some fans will complain that 'this is too gay' but I bet you if I did 'Best Butt' of a girl, there would be no problem. This goes to Azim Rizk (Jake).

 

Best Theme Song in the last six years

We finally got a song that doesn't recycle Mighty Morphin Power Rangers theme song. It has the 'Go Go Power Rangers' hook but at least it sounds different.

 

Best Use of Orange

Toq 6 Gou is the second Orange Ranger, other than Battle Cossack of Battle Fever J (1979).

 

Best use of a Dog Mecha

People might not agree with the choice of mecha for Ninninger or even the use of another train since the pervious Sentai was all trains. I sure liked the dog.

 

 

 

WORST of 2014

Worst Finale

  I won't mince words. I wish I could put this in the middle but this is best and worst, not kinda okay list. This was a major disappointment for fans. Fans were hoping to see Tommy actually fight and see more or hear more of the other veteran Rangers. Even in Gokaiger (which Super Megaforce got footage from) there were cameos without lines (voice) but they had A LOT of cameos. Americans can't even top that? Gokaiger had more consistent footage. The use of Legacy War and new footage, Rangers disappeared and reappeared. Even with Extended Version, it still didn't fulfill fan's wants or even made the episode any better. Now I am not saying it is the worst finale of Power Rangers history, just worst finale of the year.

 Worst Misuse of Powers
The Super Megaforce Rangers did not transform into full teams of Lightspeed Rescue, In Space, Time Force, and Operation Overdrive yet they transformed plenty of times in SPD. This was because of the footage, Gokaiger concentrated more on later seasons. Also while the Gokaiger became Extra Heroes, the Super Megaforce Rangers did not become Shadow Ranger, Sentinel Knight, Blue Senturion, Dai Shi, etc. But the Rangers did get "New Powers" and didn't concentrate on old seasons. Noah did become Blue Lightspeed in the extended "Legendary Battle," Emma became Pink Time Force in "Samurai Surprise," Red Operation Overdrive was used in "Super Megaforce" and extended Legendary Battle, Gia became Yellow Space and Troy and Orion became Red and Silver Space.

 

 

Worst Editing
Megaforce had the worst editing with splices of Non-Power Ranger scenes from Gokaiger footage (Turboranger in "A Lion Alliance," Midoranger key popping up, etc.) and the Japanese "Power Cards" from Goseiger. Also the Legendary Battle was just a mess. I could go on and on about Super Megaforce but I don't want to bore you guys, you guys know already. It is not the worst season (cough cough Operation Overdrive) but I think the biggest letdown is that it had so much potential and promise.

 

 

Related: http://henshingrid.blogspot.com/2013/12/best-and-worst-of-2013-power.html

Winners and Losers of 2014: Tokusatsu and Anime



TV Shows, Magazines and websites do "Winners and Losers," I've done it for the last two years, so here my mine for this year. You may not agree, I may me completely wrong, but there we go.

WINNERS

Sailor Moon Fans

Sailor Moon has been revived with new merchandise in order of the 20th anniversary and then a brand new anime Sailor Moon Crystal. On top of that, Figuarts, dolls and recreations of the wands and brooches.

Kamen Rider Gaim Fans

A good series is a good series. Kudos. It is a well written series, it had multiple Riders, it has creative fruit-based weapons, arsenal and belts.

White Rangers Fans

We haven't had a White Ranger since Gekiranger (2007). And there was not a female White Ranger since Magiranger (2005) and not a female White Ranger in a core five-member team since Gaoranger (2001).

Dino Charge Megazord Fans

We dodged a bullet, the Triceratops was going to be in Purple and it showed up at SDCC 2014. Now it is correctly pink. Why purple? Bandai America feared boys wouldn't buy the Megazord because it had pink in it. But there will be a purple zord and also with the Dino Charge Power Packs, there are more purple ones. I have no problem with purple, it is just the show accuracy.

LOSERS

Power Rangers Fans older than 12

Fans who have grown up with Power Rangers and know the past seasons were hoping for a lot out of Super Megaforce. Especially those who saw that Saban Brands was hyping up the Legendary War (with the PMC 2012 promo, in early eps of Megaforce, etc.) and the 20th Anniversary. Sure, people can say that I am expecting too much from Saban Brands and that it is not going to be good because Samurai wasn't any good. Also actors have stressed the worked really hard on the show. But think about it this way. The majority of the populace agree that the Super Mario Bros Movie and Batman & Robin were not good films. While personally I think they are both hoots and a half, really small cult films or campy kitsch. If it is not good, it ain't good. Now yes, the Megaforce seasons had redeemable qualities and the cast wasn't bad. I am just saying this was a lowpoint.

Ranger Key Collectors

Now Bandai America didn't promise we would get all teams. Fans were just hoping they would. At San Diego Comic Con of 2013, they showed a variety of female and sixth rangers but when the actual keys came around, it was just 3 per pack and all males. Then there was the bombshell at the Toy Fair that they would only do 60 keys. Because of fan complaints, they then announced at SDCC 2014 that there would be more keys. They said they wouldn't say how because they hadn't finalize agreements with their partner. Razzle1337 then spotted new key listings at Toys R Us. Then a fan found pictures of these listings on a foreign website that usually just have prototypes that never make it to stores. I am included in these "Losers." I don't mean Losers like you are a loser, just that this was a sore spot.

Super Sentai Fans

Super Sentai fans that were hoping Dairanger and pre-Zyuranger Sentai would be free of not being part of Power Rangers now can't rest easy with this. Changeman, Flashman, Fiveman, Maskman, Dairanger and inadvertently Dynaman have been included in Super Megaforce as "New Powers." To add insult to injury, they didn't even keep the names straight. In one episode Maskman is called Blitz, then later called Lightning. Changeman is called Dragon in one ep and then Blitz in another. Ugh.



Related: http://henshingrid.blogspot.com/2013/12/winners-and-losers-of-2013-power.html | http://henshingrid.blogspot.com/2012/12/winners-and-losers-of-2012-power.html

Poll Results: Ninninger and Extended Legendary Battle

What do you think of the color combo of Red-Blue-Yellow-White-Pink?

 

Epic	140 (74%)
Cool	69 (36%)
So-So	19 (10%)
Bad	16 (8%)

   
What do you think about the Ninninger designs?

 

Cool	140 (81%)
So-So	39 (22%)
Tired	12 (7%)
Bad	13 (7%)

   

Extended Edition of "Legendary Battle": Favorite Part?

Astronema Cameo	84 (62%)
Mavro Land Battle	84 (62%)
Mystic Morph	29 (21%)
Blitz Megazord use	27 (20%)
Extended New Powers	43 (32%)
Q-Rex Battle	28 (20%)



Ninninger: Shurikenjin and other mecha

UPDATED 12/9/14 5:30 PM EST
 

 

Shurikenjin

It also becomes some sort of beast.

Shinboumaru (Red) - Humanoid

Dragomaru (Blue) - Dragon

Danpumaru (Yellow) - Dump ruck

Wanmaru (White) - dog

Byunmaru (Pink) - train

 

DX Paonmaru - Elephant

DX UFOmaru - UFO

DX Karakuri Hengen
 Another piece of the Ninningers’ arsenal is the Karakuri Hengen- a massive Shuriken capable of 3 distinctive forms- Blade, Claw and Bow. Each Ninninger carries Shurikens in the Ninnin Buckle.

DX Gamagamaju - The Shinobi Shurikens can unlock new powers, weapons and can create new weapons and features when used with individual mecha as well as DX Shurikenjin. The Ninningers also have a blaster weapon, the Gama Gama Ju- a gun shaped like a frog

 Red, Blue and Yellow get articulated figures (Ninnin Action Series figures) while all 5 get the usual vinyl figures.

 Looks like Bandai Japan adapted the Bandai America idea of barcodes on the toys

DX Shinobi Ichibangatana

The Ninningers’ main weapon and changer, the Shinobi Ichibangatana is a sword that all five Ninningers take into combat.

 

Pictures from: http://news.tokunation.com/2014/12/09/ninninger-dx-shurikenjin-full-catalog-reveal-23091#images and http://news.tokunation.com/2014/12/09/shuriken-sentai-ninninjer-catalog-details-online-including-changer-weapons-23080