Shin: Kamen Rider Prologue
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Shin: Kamen Rider Prologue (真・仮面ライダー 序章 Shin Kamen Raidā Purorōgu?, translated as The Real Masked Rider Prologue) is a 1992 direct-to-video entry in the Kamen Rider Series. Shin is the eleventh production in the franchise, at the time heavily straying from the roots of the franchise.
As a work celebrating the 20th anniversary of the franchise, the film targeted the now-adult fans of the original, taking the bare essence of the Rider character and his origin, placing it in a violent, realistic and modern setting and conveying the driving sorrow of the Kamen Rider character, who finds himself in the center of conspiracy. Such a drastic change in the franchise put off some viewers and the film wasn't seen as much of a success, therefore eliminating chances of the planned follow-up. On the other hand, some were simply put off by the violence in the film, seeming to be heavily inspired by David Cronenberg's The Fly. This movie features a Kamen Rider whose characterization is closer to a tohsaku monster than a hero.
To this day, Shin Kamen Rider is a point of discussion for Kamen Rider fans. Some of the purists cannot get past the fact that Shin does not have the "henshin" movement, wear a belt or ride a motorcycle in his Rider form and denounce the film simply for that. However, it does have a cult following of those who respect it for its fresh attempts and for perhaps being the utmost representation of Shotaro Ishinomori's original vision, the franchise creator.
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[edit] Plot
Doctors Kazamatsuri and Onizuka are geneticists researching cures on diseases such as AIDS and cancer by performing experiments to strengthen the human body. The test subject is Shin Kazamatsuri, motorcycle racing son of Doctor Kazamatsuri. Unknown to them, their operation is funded by a syndicate group, who plan to use this research to have the bodies of men strengthened for their own gain—they have already been experimenting in the field of cyborg soldiers, to a less-than-successful attempt. However, they did not count on Onizuka's own secret ambitions; the mad Onizuka wanted to create a new species, by fusing a grasshopper's DNA with the test subject's, in order to start a new civilization and be their god. He has tested on himself, but seems to be having greater success with Shin.
Meanwhile, a murderous creature is stalking the city, while Shin dreams of it. While he believes he is the one causing the murders, he eventually finds of Onizuka's plan and discovers that it's Onizuka who has been behind the killings. Onizuka has experimented on himself and altered his genes, making him a humanoid grasshopper; the telepathy of grasshoppers allowed him to communicate with Shin, resulting in his witnessing the murders.
The syndicate learns of Onizuka's plans and have him institutionalized. As if the syndicate were not enough, a CIA agent tracks Shin and wants him eliminated, for he doesn't know the true threat he could pose. The repulsed Shin digs to find out all he can about the experiment he foolishly volunteered to be a part of, which is now altering his body and putting him and his loved ones in danger.
[edit] Characters
- Shin Kazamatsuri / Kamen Rider Shin (Cyborg Soldier Level 3) (風祭 真 / 仮面ライダーシン (改造兵士レベル3) Kazamatsuri Shin / Kamen Raidā Shin (Kaizō Heishi Reberu Surī)?): A motorcycle racer who gave everything up to volunteer for his father's experiment, not knowing the true ambitions of his father's partner or the organization they worked for. He struggles to uncover the conspiracies, not completely knowing just how much his loved ones are truly involved.
- Ai Asuka (明日香 愛 Asuka Ai?): Shin's girlfriend and nurse at the ISS (Institute of Super Science) where the experiments are held. She tells Shin of the conspiracy, only later to be killed while pregnant with Shin's child. With her dying breath, she tells him to protect the child at all costs, for it's now a target of the syndicate due to its mutation (it shares a telepathic bond with its father).
- Daimon Kazamatsuri (風祭 大門 Kazamatsuri Daimon?): Shin's father. Geneticist, not completely aware of the grave situation he put his son in.
- Iwao Himuro (氷室 巌 Himuro Iwao?): The head of ISS and a major player in the syndicate. He appears to be a kind gentleman, but is truly a heartless man. He is slaughtered by Shin after he guns down Ai.
- Goushiima / Cyborg Soldier Level 2 (豪島 / 改造兵士レベル2 Gōshima / Kaizō Heishi Reberu Tsū?): Himuro's confidant and henchman. He is actually a Level 2 cyborg, an outdated cyborg model. He is decapitated by Shin.
- Giichi Onizuka / Cyborg Soldier Level 3 (鬼塚 義一 / 改造兵士レベル3 Onizuka Giichi / Kaizō Heishi Reberu Surī?): Kazamatsuri's partner, with the plan to create a fusion of grasshopper and man and be their ruler. He is killed by CIA agents, while sending a telepathic plea for help to Shin as he dies, burning.
- Sarah Fukamachi (セーラ 深町 Sēra Fukamachi?): A CIA agent who tracks Shin and those connected to ISS/the syndicate.
- Takuya Yuuki (結城 卓也 Yūki Takuya?): Shin's friend, who urges him to escape from the experiment while he still can.
[edit] Cast
- Shin Kazamatsuri / Kamen Rider Shin (風祭 真 / 仮面ライダーシン Kazamatsuri Shin / Kamen Raidā Shin?) - Shin Ishikawa (石川 真 Ishikawa Shin?) (Played as Katsuhisa Ishikawa (石川 功久 Ishikawa Katsuhisa?))
- Ai Asuka (明日香 愛 Asuka Ai?) - Yumi Nomura (野村 裕美 Nomura Yumi?)
- Daimon Kazamatsuri (風祭 大門 Kazamatsuri Daimon?) - Akira Ishihama (石濱 朗 Ishihama akira?)
- Iwao Himuro (氷室 巌 Himuro Iwao?) - Daijiro Harada (原田 大二郎 Harada Daijirō?)
- Goushima / Cyborg Soldier Level 2 (豪島 / 改造兵士レベル2 Gōshima / Kaizō Heishi Reberu Tsū?) - Reiji Andou (安藤 麗二 Andō Reiji?)
- Giichi Onizuka / Cyborg Solgier Level 3 (鬼塚 義一 / 改造兵士レベル3 Onizuka Giichi / Kaizō Heishi Reberu Surī?) - Kouki Kataoka (片岡 弘貴 Kataoka Kōki?)
- Sarah Fukamachi (セーラ 深町 Sēra Fukamachi?) - Kiyomi Tsukada (塚田 きよみ Tsukada Kiyomi?)
- Takuya Yuuki (結城 卓也 Yūki Takuya?) - Masanobu Takashima (高嶋 政伸 Takashima Masanobu?)
[edit] Suit actor
- Kamen Rider Shin - Jiro Okamoto (岡元 次郎 Okamoto Jirō?)
- Cyborg Soldier Level 2 - Kazutoshi Yokoyama (横山 一敏 Yokoyama Kazutoshi?)
[edit] Staff
- Director: Osamu Tsuji
- Creator: Shotaro Ishinomori
- Producers: Shin Unosawa, Satoshi Kubo, Nagafumi Hori, Shin'ichirou Shirakura
- Writers: Jun'ichi Miyashita, Jou Onodera
- Project planner: Susumu Yoshikawa
- Music: Ryuudou Uzaki, Kaoru Wada, Takefumi Haketa, Yoshihiro Matsuura
- Action Directors: Osamu Kaneda, Kazuyoshi Yamada
- Special Effects Director: Nobuo Yajima
- Executive Producer: Katsushi Murakami
[edit] Main Theme
- "Forever"
- Vocals: Noriko Watanabe
- Lyrics: Hiroko Kimura
- Music: Ryuudou Uzaki
- Arrangement: Tooru Yuugawa
[edit] See also
| Preceded by BLACK |
Kamen Rider 1992 |
Succeeded by ZO |
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