Guyver: Dark Hero
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| Guyver: Dark Hero | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Steve Wang |
| Produced by | Steve Wang |
| Written by | Steve Wang Nathan Long |
| Starring | David Hayter Kathy Christopherson |
| Music by | Les Claypool III |
| Cinematography | Michael G. Wojciechowski |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
| Running time | 127 min |
| Preceded by | The Guyver |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Guyver: Dark Hero is a 1994 movie, the sequel to The Guyver. It is based on the manga, and following anime, Guyver. It was directed by Steve Wang, and stars David Hayter, Kathy Christopherson, and Bruno Giannotta. According to Steve Wang and production estimates, the movie was made for about $900,000.
Compared to the previous film, Guyver 2 was much more in line with the source material. The flashback to the Creation of the Guyvers, for instance, is almost straight from the manga. Unlike the first one, it was direct-to-video and it was Rated R (Unlike the PG-13 rating of the first movie).
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The story begins when the Guyver kills a group of mobsters who are stealing plastic related items to use in cocaine trafficking. Sean Barker (the Guyver) has been suffering from constant nightmares involving strange symbols which he writes down in a sketch book immediately after he awakens. After hearing of an archaeological dig being done in the mountains (which conveniently uncovers rocks with the same symbols Sean's been seeing) Sean travels to the area, hoping to learn more about the Guyver. He is later picked up by Cori Edwards, the daughter of Marcus Edwards, the man conducting the dig. She takes him to the dig site and introduces him as a latecomer. While strolling with Cori through the woods a man screams and Sean finds that a man is being attacked by a Zoanoid. The Zoanoid escapes and Sean claims that it was a bear attack. Eventually Sean learns the truth about the Guyver and destroys the Zoanoid population in the dig.
Ultimately, Sean must fight Chronos henchman Crane, who uses a damaged Guyver Unit similar to the anime's Guyver II. Crane, now a Guyver Zoanoid (who bears the same colors as the anime's Guyver III) is superior to Sean in almost every way, beating him up all over the dig site. It takes a lucky shot from Cori to damage the Control Metal further. Sean takes the chance and rips the Metal out before he unleashes the Mega-Smasher to utterly destroy Crane as he was being consumed by the organism that made up the armor. During the battle Sean declares that the Zoanoids, the creation of the alien Creators, were the mistakes of their two races and that the Guyvers were created to make up for them. However, after the battle Sean admits that he lied and that the Guyver was the Creator's actual mistake. The Guyvers were supposed to be the Creator's foot-soldiers, but they turned on the Creators. Hence the name "Guyver" (Out of Control).
The ending of the movie hints at a sequel when Sean fights with the Anti-Chronos group, but for the moment, he is happy to drive into the sunset with Cori.
[edit] Cast
- David Hayter - Sean Barker/Guyver
- Kathy Christopherson - Cori Edwards
- Bruno Giannotta - Crane
- Christopher Michael - Atkins
- Stuart Weiss - Marcus Edwards
- Billi Lee - Mizky Segawa
- Jim O'Donoghoe - Gouo
- J.D. Smith - Doug
- Wes Deitrick - Volker
- Stephen Oprychal - Bob
- Koichi Sakamoto - Sakai
- Christopher J. Bradshaw - Grau
- Vern Roguen - Mazzo
[edit] Suit Actors
- Brian Simpson - Benny/Volker Zoanoid/Crane Zoanoid
- Tatsuro Koike - Guyver Zoanoid
- Ted Smith - Commando/Stenzoanoid/Mazzo Zoanoid
- Anthony Houk - Guyver
- David McDonald - Marcus Zoanoid
- Scott Putman - Corben Zoanoid
- C.D. Post - Monk Zoanoid
[edit] Guyver Zoanoid
The concept of the Guyver Zoanoid seems to be a mix of the two other Guyvers from the manga. The damaged unit being used by a high ranking Chronos member is an obvious reference to the Guyver II (even though the name Lisker was given to the lead Zoanoid in the first film), as well as his death which involved his Control Metal being removed and his body being blasted away by Guyver I's Mega-smasher as the armor starts to devour him. The design of the Guyver Zoanoid's armor bears a resemblance to Guyver III's, with some anatomical variations to account for his Zoanoid anatomy, as well as the single forward pointing blades on his forearms rather than the double, reverse pointing blades of Guyver III. His manipulative and power-hungry nature could also be comparable to Agito Makishima's.
