Why I love Godzilla

Let’s take another break from sentai.  Godzilla... The name is probably known worldwide.  Even people who have never watched any of the movies should have some knowledge of what the name itself projects.  An unstoppable giant, fire-breathing radioactive lizard, some prefer dinosaur, destroying a city while fighting another giant monster.   

I have vivid memories of watching Godzilla as a child.  I remember watching Terror of Mecha Godzilla and Godzilla Vs Mothra in VHS format when I was maybe 7 to 8 years old.  Some scenes I remember.  Mecha Godzilla forms a shield around itself while Godzilla tries to charge into it.  It results in Godzilla getting bloody hands.  Godzilla being buried alived by Mecha Godzilla and Titanosaurus.  Godzilla brutalizing Mecha Godzilla and Titanosaurus.  Godzilla being wrapped in silk by Mothra larvae and falling into the ocean.  

These memories definitely shaped the way my interests are today.  No wonder I love seeing heroic moments, destroyed infrastructure, awe inspiring scenes and explosions.  These are all present in a Godzilla or kaiju(giant monster) movie.  Now I clearly only want to see Gozilla so after watching the movie whole for the first time, I will just skip to the parts where Godzilla comes in and starts smashing things.

I remember watching the 1998 movie in a theater.  By the end, I was very confused and angry.  Everyone knows the argument.  Godzilla can’t die from a few measly missiles.  The Godzilla I know can take 10 times more than that and then some.  

My love for Godzilla escalated due to my discovery of Cinemassacre’s Godzillathon during late 2009.  It revived wonderful memories and I was hooked.  I quickly hunted down the movies and memorized facts.  I now know there are 29 movies, 28 produced by Toho.  I have watched all of the Millennium, almost all of the Heisei and very few of the Showa.  I definitely love the Millennium design the best.  I remember finding a VCD copy of Godzilla 2000 and I instantly fell in love with the movie.  The classic theme playing at the end was the icing on the cake.  Around 2010, my interest was at its peak.  I even wrote a fanfic meeting for Gozilla and Power Rangers.  At the time, I was not yet knowledgeable about Super Sentai.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5062466/1/Godzilla_Vs_Power_Rangers     

I have tried making a video version of it but it is proving very difficult, but it is a work in progress.  It was also during this time I began to see Godzilla as a big dog.  I have three dogs and I can see some similarities in the way they act like Godzilla.  Yes, I was that obsessed.

At the moment, I am more into Super Sentai and Kamen Rider.  But I know Godzilla was my introduction to these things.  Of course Power Rangers had a huge role in that as well.  The reboot next year is one of my must see in the theater.   

Super Sentai Suit Critic

In every sentai team, there is always that one or several member with a suit design that I dislike.  I will list those down which I particularly dislike.  This is also an analysis of the suit design for each of the 35 teams.

Himitsu Sentai Goranger

The very 1^st team looks fine to me.  I particularly like their capes.  The one I dislike the most is Momoranger.

J.A.K.Q. Dengektai

I love the design for this team.  It’s so easy to relate since everyone knows a card game or two.  I like the capes and the thing that drapes from their shoulders to their waist.  Big One is my least favorite and one gripe I have is why the upper body looks too muscular.  I do not know if it is the design of the suit to look that way or if the suit actor is really that buff.

Battle Fever J

I guess it’s safe to say everyone was put off upon seeing these for the first time.  I know I was.  I guess Battle Japan is the most tolerable one of the bunch.  I just can’t take those emotionless human faces.

Denshi Sentai Denjiman

Since they all look the same from a distance but close up it is clear they are not.  I like their design, especially Denzi Pink.  Their helmets are different in just the slightest detail and they are differentiated by the number of stripes on their chest.  They have some sort of diamond on their helmet and scarves just like a Kamen Rider.

Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan

The only all male sentai team.  There’s nothing bad to say about their suits.  They got the scarves, simple suit design and are the first animal themed sentai as seen from their helmet.  No one to hate in particular.  I also think they have one of the best roll calls in sentai history.

Dai Sentai Goggle-V

They may have the scarves but their masks do not do it justice.  I dislike the design for the whole team.

Kagaku Sentai Dynaman

The bad design continues here.  I read they were modeled after baseball caps.  When I first saw them, I was instantly put off.  Probably due to the bad quality of the video.  But in Gokaiger, I gave a second look and they were a little easier to stomach.  BTW, I thought Dyna Pink was the worst looking pink design.  Let’s see if I will change my opinion after watching the 199 Heroes movie. (No it has not)

Choudenshi Bioman

If one thinks about, Bioman design takes a detour from the usual sentai design.  This may be nostalgia talking but when one pairs them up to the others, they just look really different.  Are they bad?  Well I do not like how the females look like, with the weird swimsuit like design and their helmets look weird as well.  But I do not hate them.  I can remember a little of them wielding their swords, all the while glowing their respective colors and I love that.  They are not the best to look at for some but to me, they are BIOMAN!  This gives us the first two female members in a team and 1^st female yellow senshi.

Dengeki Sentai Changeman

I’ll start by saying I immediately disliked the look for this team.  Their helmets looked the same and those “sports vests” make a bad combination for my taste.  The swimsuit like design returns for the females.  This gives us the 1^st female white senshi.

Choushinsei Flashman

Flashman looks good to me.  Simple suit design.  Not sure what their helmets are based on.  The swimsuit like design is back but I like it better this time compared to the previous two.

Hikari Sentai Maskman

I read that Maskman were supposed to be called Fiveman because of the 5 on their chest but the idea was scrapped.  Maskman sound more bad ass anyway for this series.  I like the design.  I am especially fond of Pink Mask.  She is the 1^st Pink Senshi to look a little menacing with her helmet design but I feel it fits in perfectly with the tone of the series.

Choujuu Sentai Liveman

I have a feeling Red Falcon gets some sort of a legend status as a result from appearing in the 25^th anniversary special.  Anyway, this is the second team based on animals.  They look nice.  Just one complaint I have is the too much white.  The only color is in their chest, helmet, boots and gloves.  Guess I’m used to seeing even the legs in the senshi’s respective color.  This also gives us the 1^st blue female senshi.

Kousoku Sentai Turboranger

At first, I thought they looked really ugly.  There was a big white T shaped design on their chest and their helmets are not that nice to look at.  Over time, they gradually look better.  Definitely not the best looking but I am fond of Pink Turbo.

Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman

I dislike the suits.  Nothing spectacular and the theme it sports on their suit, for me, do not mesh well.  I dislike the helmets of the female.  No skirts just make it even more unappealing to me.

Chōjin Sentai Jetman

The team looks good.  A bird themed sentai.  They have wings on their suits which they use to fly.  They all look identical and the design makes good usage of feathers.  This also gives us the 2^nd blue female senshi as well as the 2^nd white female senshi.  While we’re on, this also gives us the 2^nd fat senshi.  1^st to me is Kiranger.

Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger

The most well known without a doubt.  Dinosaurs are probably loved worldwide and it’s easy for a kid to relate.  Of course realizing Yellow was originally a guy kinda ruins childhood memories a little.  So, technically only Red, Blue and Pink ane based on dinosaurs.   Simple triangles on their suits, the whole team is nice to look at.  Red will forever be known as a bad ass macho manly and whatever else adjective one can think of for Jason.  This gives us our very first regular extra ranger, the most famous ranger of all, Tommy the Green Ranger.  The reason why my favorite color is green and I just love his shield armor. 

Gosei Sentai Dairanger

A real shame Saban decided to skip this, their suit design looks so cool.  Ryuuranger is one of the most awesome looking red ranger.  I do not share the same sentiment for the rest of the male senshis though.  Hououranger is a unique Pink ranger and I am fond of her design.  Kibaranger is not as cool as Dragonranger.  I was bummed when Tommy went from green to white.

Ninja Sentai Kakuranger

If this is not one of the most simple sentai suit designs I don’t know what is.  But they look good altogether.  Ninja White is a standout.  I believe she is the main character.  She is also the 3^rd female white senshi.  I dislike Ninja Yellow’s helmet and I think Red and Blue looks so much alike, with only a curve distinguishing them.  Ninjor is bulky.  That’s it.

Chōriki Sentai Ohranger

Pretty nice.  Easy to distinguish with their shaped themed helmet.  The gold design near their neck is a nice touch.  I never watched Zeo so King Ranger is a mystery to me.  But I can see why they called him Gold Ranger.  He reminds me of a gangster sporting that much gold.

Gekisou Sentai Carranger

Not catering to my type.  Basing things on cars just won’t work for me.  Not that I despise it too much but definitely not the best, especially Yellow Racer.  Signalman is like a police officer.  Their roll call is fun to watch though.

Denji Sentai Megaranger

They all look the same.  Sharp is the adjective I will use to describe their helmets.  Nothing more to say.

Seijuu Sentai Gingaman

Ugh!  I hate how they all look.  I can only tolerate Ginga Red.  The helmet design for the rest of the team just looks bad.  Bullblack is a knight with horns and a cape.

Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive

 Rescue soldiers!  I see nothing wrong with their design.  Helmet design wise, Go Green is my least favorite. 

Mirai Sentai Timeranger

Not a very good design if you ask me.  Pink is a heart and Red is a triangle, but I am repelled by Blue, Green and Yellow’s helmet.  TimeFire though is a darker version of Time Red’s suit with a slight modification in the helmet.  He looks the best of them all.

Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger

I love how everyone looks.  Especially Gao White.  The only hiccup is Gao Blue.  His helmet seems bigger in proportion.

Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger

They all look awesome.  Shurikenger should be in Fire Mode all the time since that mode looks so awesome.  Hurricane Yellow’s helmet is my least favorite.  This gives us our 3^rd female blue senshi.

Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger

The suits just look too plain for me.  Though they do look fierce in upgraded form and Aba Red’s Max Field upgrade looks terrific.  Abare Black and Killer has armor and they basically repeated Gaoranger’s color scheme.

Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger

The only one I like is Deka Red.  The other senshi’s helmets just look too weird.  Though Dekamaster will always look good to anyone.  Their upgrade doesn’t change them too much.

Mahou Sentai Magiranger

I love the designs on their helmets.  Magi Shine is also one of the best looking one yet.  I also love their capes.  Wolzard looks wicked and Magi Mother, well she’s fine.  Their upgrade may take away the capes but they still look good with their upgraded helmets and armor.

GoGo Sentai Boukenger

Again, basing a sentai on vehicles will not bring good design results for me.  I really dislike this team.  The metal on their shoulders, their exhaust mouthpieces and the orange on Bouken Silver.  Bouken Blue is the one I dislike the most.  I think the design was going for trying to go for a fierce look but it fails at that.

Juken Sentai Gekiranger

Based on animals, mainly Tiger, Cheetah, Jaguar, Wolf and a Rhino.  They look great.  The no belt argument is not a factor to me.  I love Geki Yellow and my least favorite is Geki Blue.  Violet has strings around his arms like a Muay Thai fighter and Chopper always carries his weapon.  Super Beast upgrade is not to liking.

Engine Sentai Go-onger

Another car based sentai.  Not surprisingly, I don’t favor the design.  Red repeats the triangle helmet, reminds me of Oh Blue.  I hate how Blue looks like while Green and Black, well their purpose is to imitate Liveman’s color scheme.  Go-On Wings look great, especially Silver. 

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger

The Chinese characters on their helmets really make them stand out.  I dislike how they look.  Looking at their helmets, the characters are too stretched out for my taste.  I do have a liking towards Shinken Pink while Blue and Yellow are my least favorite.

Tensou Sentai Goseiger

Looking at Gosei Red’s helmet from the front view makes him look like a smiling weirdo, from the side though, it looks good.  Pink looks identical and I do not care for Black, Blue and Yellow.  Gosei Knight looks bad ass though.  Their power up looks useless and I’m surprised they can fight with those staffs.  I’d think the glass would break easily.  This brings back the metal mouth on the helmet since Timeranger. 

Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger

The pirate design is very pleasing to the eye.  Red and Pink are my favorite, Red for having a helmet with such an awesome visor and Pink for the heart design.  Blue, Yellow and Green leave more to be desired, especially Yellow.  Gokai Silver has a different visor than the rest but looks good all the same.  His Gold Mode is bulky.

   

 

Tokumei Sentai Gobuster

As requested, here it is.  I have no love towards the design for any of them but I think we can all agree, it's not as bad as we first thought when we initially saw it.  I for one was appalled back then but now, I can accept them.

Image taken from Henshin Grid

Hokonin Sentai Akibaranger

Plain and simple, I do not like their suits.  Though the few episodes I've seen are hilarious, entertaining and informative.  Also, their henshin process is a little like Bioman.