Mechanical Violator Hakaider
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Mechanical Violator Hakaider (人造人間ハカイダー Jinzō Ningen Hakaidā?), is a Japanese tokusatsu film starring Hakaider, Kikaider's deadly rival and anti hero.
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[edit] Plot
The story begins when a group a thieves open an ancient vault in an abandoned warehouse attempting to uncover a rumored ancient valuable treasure hidden deep within its compound. Once they reach the vault they discover not treasure, but a man chained up to a chair in the dark. The men, in a panic, open fire on the man when they see him reviving, only to discover that this man is, in fact, a powerful battle android suffering from amnesia. After defeating the robbers, the robot later discovers a motorcycle chained up outside the compound and escapes with no actual location in mind.
The scene then changes to a large, enclosed city known as "Jesus Town" by the inhabitants. This particular night happens to be the celebration of the three year anniversary of the founding of Jesus Town and the city is alive with excitement, except for a group of renegades who are planning an open revolt against the government, starting with an armed robbery of an armored truck carrying currency. The situation becomes dicey when the group discovers a large squad of battle soldiers heading in their direction.
The group hides in the shadows of an alley and discover that what the soldiers were after was not them at all; they were setting up a blockade to battle an unknown assailant who had broken his way through the city borders, who turns out to be the amnesiac android. The android just barely manages to destroy his opponents armed only with an unusual single handed shot gun(at least by him, one of the soldiers attempted to shoot the android with the fire arm and got his arm blown off by the guns impact). Just when the android is about to collapse he is rescued by one of the rebels, Kaoru (who believes he's the great warrior who will help them liberate the city as that she'd seen in her dreams), and is whisked away to their secret hide-out.
Meanwhile, back at the capital of Jesus Town Gurjev (The leader and self proclaimed "defender" of Jesus Town), after reviewing images of the battle, is terrified to discover that the strange assailant of Jesus Town was in fact, Hakaider! Realizing the threat Hakaider poses, Gurjev dispatches his most trusted official, Michael (who is also a powerful battle android), to track down Hakaider and destroy him.
Back at the hide-out, Hakaider reawakens to be greeted by (and presumably repaired by) Kaoru, who is eager to interact with him (Though he shows more interest in her jewelry then anything else). In an attempt to befriend Hakaider Kaoru offers him an explanation about who where his, her groups mission and a lot of bread and some soup, which he eats, to everybody else's surprise. Kaoru explains that she and Hakaider are "comrades, rebelling against the government." which she sees as hypocritical (Whenever a person breaks the law in Jesus Town they have a chip planted in their heads which retards the brain and makes them little more than infants, although Gurjev sees it as "giving them a new, innocent life"), and also that though the government speaks of things like love and peace, soldiers are always marching through the streets and that nobody can really be independent under Gurjev's rule. Kaoru begs Hakaider to help them while the others take an instant dislike to him and seem more interested in overthrowing the parliament so they can take over and hold all the cards. Hakaider becomes angered by their statements, seeing them as "the same as the government, corrupted and ugly." Just as he is about to "punish" the rebels a group of attack soldiers attack the hide-out and kill all of group except for Kaoru, who inexplicably escapes badly wounded, and Hakaider (who was left for destroyed in the debris of the building).
Kaoru travels aimlessly through the city until Hakaider finds her and takes her to a secret hangout of hers that is unchanged by Gurjev. While there, Kaoru gives Hakaider one of the bells from her outfit to Hakaider and slowly drifts into death. Hakaider leaves her body there and travels to the capital and battles the remainder of Gurjevs soldiers and eventually encounters Michael awaiting him in Gurjev's office. He claims that he must destroy Hakaider "in the name of justice" while Hakaider disregards his words, claiming that he "burns [justice] up in flames."
An intense battle ensues between Hakaider and Michael, and Hakaider is desperately wounded and robbed of his shotgun, which Michael takes from him and empties the still loaded shells onto the floor. Hakaider then grabs a hold of one of the shells and yields, apparently prepared to acknowledge defeat and then quickly catches Michael off-guard long enough to load the shell into another gun hidden in his wrist. Michael falls and is decapitated by Hakaider, who rips his head off and discards it on the ground.
As Hakaider gets up to leave he hears a voice and turns around to meet Gurjev face-to-face. Gurjev preeches to Hakaider, claiming that Hakaider is destined to follow him and promises him more power. Hakaider disregards Gurjev's speech claiming that he will "decide my own destiny. I am the decider and the judge." While Hakaider is talking to Gurjev Michaels head was reclaimed and attached to another robotic body and attacks Hakaider on Gurjev's order; "After all you are the failed experiment. Die Hakaider!"
Hakaider then finds himself helpless against a gigantic robot (with a body color and head that bears an unusual resemblance to Kikaider) which pummels him into the wall several times and then staples him to the wall to go in for the kill. As he approaches, an unexplained "X" shaped mark in Hakaider's chest opens to reveal a large, three barreled canon that fires automatically into the robots weak spot and blows it into pieces.
Hakaider emerges triumphant and stands before Gurjev, who makes a feeble attempt to shoot Hakaider but quickly falls to the floor begging Hakaider to spare him (In the Japanese dialect, in the English dialect he shouts at Hakaider to kill him). Hakaider simply turns to leave, saying "it is not even worth it to kill you." Gurjev sighs in relief as Hakaider turns to depart then notices one of the gigantic robots laser rifles on the ground and attempts to shoot Hakaider, who quickly responds and punches Gurjev fatally in the stomach. Gujev falls, dead, and the parliament crumbles to dust as Hakaider departs on his motorcycle, more certain of himself then before, and travels out into the unknown...
[edit] Production
"Machanical Violater Kakaider was released in Japan on April 15, of 1995. It was produced by Bandai/Toei, directed by Keita Amemiya, and was released on April 15, 1995. The title character was, of course, from the original Kikaider series.
[edit] Criticism and Reception
While the film has slowly gained a small, but strong United States fanbase, those of the Japanese fanbase for Kikaider (and even Hawaii) have universally rejected this film, which bombed at the Japanese box-office. Since then, Amemiya has never worked with Toei again. The main criticism from most of the fanbase was that most saw Hakaider as being truly evil and that casting him in a protagonistic light was out of place, particularly because the film isn't even canon with the main storyline and is a whole other story in of itself.
[edit] Trivia
- In one of the first opening scenes when Ryo is stopped at a checkpoint, concept designs for other Amemiya films can be seen hanging up as wanted posters, namely the Fog Mother in 1994's Kamen Rider J.
- The film states that Hakaider was created by the Parliament of Jesus Town, and was later stolen by scientists. This is proof that this film does not take place in the original Kikaider story's universe. Because originally, Hakaider was created by Dr. Komyoji, to destroy Kikaider if necessary.
[edit] Memorable Quotes
(Note: The following quotes are based on the English dub of the film and are not genuine to the original Japanese script)
- Hakaider (having just awoken and defeated the burglers): Who am I? Who in the world... am I?
- Michael (Having just pinned Hakaider to a wall): I never believed someone like you could exsist. We all must retain discipline in order to maintain order.
Hakaider: Get off of me!
(Hakaider pushes Michael onto a desk)
Hakaider:Who's in charge here? I don't recall ever accepting such orders.
(Michael wrestles himself ontop)
Micheal: I am the law. I am justice. (Michael picks up a flower from the desk) Now, in the name of justice, I will destroy you.
(Hakaider pushes Michael off of him and steals the flower from him)
Hakaider:Justice? This is what I do with it. (Hakaider trightens his grip on the flower and burns it) I burn it up, in flames!
(Hakaider throws away the flower)
(Hakaider walks over to a soldier on the ground and picks him up)
- Soldier: You think you can get away with this? Your Dooooomed!
Hakaider: Who sent you? Why do you attack me?
Soldier: I didn't ask! I was just following orders!
Hakaider: If you don't have your own will, it is pointless to have a life!
