How many rangers are too many rangers?

[Bells]

This is why japan is so powerfulll.. they have a secret army of power rangers!

I mean... when you take your battleships, Stealth fighters and marines and you see a fucking wall of power rangers on the coast line, you -DO- turn around!

Anyway, this is from a comemorative movie from a few years ago, just a 5min clip, but... go'damn! I Actually lost count of how many of them are on screen...

But one thign is for sure, they didnt use the Stupid ones!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70J0Fukxd8w

Thsi can also serve for a relative discussion about how these series are used over the globe (mostly ripped to shreds by Us/Japan companies...) and ofcourse, its a luxury for anyone who is a fan of these things, or just like to make fun of them :D

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

For fucks sake, by the time they've transformed and stopped dancing around like loons you could've put a bullet in each of them about 100 times over!!!

I would so love for that whole sequece to just end with them all getting gatling gunned down!! That would rock!

[Kroze Gamegod]

For one, Kamen Rider series have always been better
Two, why have we never got the "Pimp Ranger" with the pimp stick for a weapon?
Three, the US's original Green Ranger (Tommy) when he was evil could totally beat all of their asses with no problem.

[rxm_9600]

1 ranger=TOO MANY FREAKING RANGERS!!

[BitVyper]

Gaoranger vs Super Sentai = best movie ever. Most of the people who come down on Super Sentai just have absolutely no understanding of it, and assume it's exactly like PR. You only have to compare Dekamaster's introduction to his English analogue, Shadow Ranger, to see that THAT isn't true. God, I can't believe how badly they botched that scene. 4kids couldn't have done worse.

I really can't wait for Boukenger vs Super Sentai.

Kamen Rider series have always been better

Eh, they look similar, but they're very different. Too different to compare, as far as I'm concerned. Kamen Rider tends to be more plot-focused, darker, and heavier on the graphics. Which isn't to say it isn't good. I love Kamen Rider 555. It did a really awesome job of tackling themes like race, hate, and isolation. Much much better than stuff like X-Men has ever done.

Two, why have we never got the "Pimp Ranger" with the pimp stick for a weapon?

Because he's from JAQK, which was around in 1977. Coolest thing about that series is that it's back when Nintendo was just a company that made cards, so when Spade Ace introduces himself, he tosses out a card with the Nintendo logo on it.

he US's original Green Ranger (Tommy) when he was evil could totally beat all of their asses with no problem.

*Yawn* Burai was so much more interesting that his US version, Tommy. Burai had a very touching death scene too.

I would so love for that whole sequece to just end with them all getting gatling gunned down!!

This is what I'm talking about. You have absolutely no understanding of Sentai, or you'd know why that scene is all kinds of awesome. Really though, they don't actually do a full pose sequence like that very often, usually preceding the more intense battles. Most of them can transform without all the hullabaloo. It's called dramatic effect. Part of what you have to understand about that scene, is that it's in the 25th anniversary movie, so it was more about giving the fans, fans who may well have been watching since the seventies, something to drool over.

Sentai is as close as you will EVER get to live action comics. All that stuff they do happens in comics all the time. You just don't notice it because it's in stills.

I love Super Sentai. It's a marketing ploy so brilliant, it's beautiful. The only thing I know of that comes close, is Transformers. They've managed to keep this up for thirty years now, and it's still fun to watch. It's not about being deep, or exploring the depths of the human condition. It's about being frickin awesome. There's still depth there, but it's not the point. The team dynamic is always nice though.

They don't take themselves seriously, and that's part of what I love. Each series only lasts one season, before they completely overhaul it for a new series, so it never gets stale. Of course, this allows them to sell a whole new slew of toys, CDs, and everything in between the next year, but it also gives us a great show, and cool toys.

I should point out that I've only really been in to Super Sentai for a little over two years now, so I don't know everything there is to know, but I know enough.

Edit: This isn't to say that every Super Sentai series has been totally awesome. I can name a couple that I'm not overly fond of, myself. As a rule though, they tend to be pretty friggin cool.

My second favourite scene from the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LUsaHDffmo

Edit: Hell, Big One (the pimp) doesn't even need to henshin to be obscenely powerful. That scene from the first post comes shortly after he pwned two of the bad guys with just his pimp cane. No henshin involved.

Edit: Hell, if long sequences that exist for nothing but dramatic effect and make no realistic sense are all it takes to turn you off something, I sure hope you never play any RPGs from Playstation on.

[Mirai Gen]

As a rule, I think it's worthwhile mentioning that the reason they say "Power Rangers is a show that cannibalizes Super Sentai" is, well, accurate. Cannibalizes. Super Sentai is actually a fairly interesting show (from what I read on Wikipedia anyway).

See, what gets me about Super Sentai is that I wouldn't be able to take it seriously. Just having watched chunks, I keep on remembering all of the "whiff!" noises that kept on occurring during scenes that were not fight scenes, and I thought, "Why are their arms making Casio noises?"

*whiif!*"Alright guys! *point, whiff* Let's kick *whiff* his tail back to *Whiff* where he came from!"

*Whiff X 5* "Alright!"

Also about the video: Oh yeah, "Forever Red" was the PR version.

Damn, for all I know about Power Rangers, I should just watch original Super Sentai and get it over with.
The only thing I know of that comes close, is Transformers.
Oh now you're just trying to flatter me!

EDIT: Also, Bit, I understand now (having browsed YouTube) why Big One is your avatar. He is pretty pimpin.

[Iyeru]

The rangers need to die already! Why don't them Japanese and Americans get the picture?

.:. iyeru42 .:.

[Kroze Gamegod]

You only have to compare Dekamaster's introduction to his English analogue, Shadow Ranger, to see that THAT isn't true. God, I can't believe how badly they botched that scene. 4kids couldn't have done worse.

I am glad to see another Super Sentai aficionado on here....
About the JAQK reason for Big One not being in the US series at all, you know if they really wanted to they could of just pulled what they did with the White Ranger and plop him in a diffrent team. Power Rangers needs more pimps...
And nice avatar change.

About Burai...
Yes, that WAS a good death scene but I still prefer Tommy over him in this case... (Normally I prefer all the Super Sentai stuff over the american Power Rangers).

And the darker, more story focused thing is what really grabs me with Kamen Rider... Yes, 555 was amazing but Kamen Rider: The First movie that just got done is just simply mind blowing.

See, what gets me about Super Sentai is that I wouldn't be able to take it seriously. Just having watched chunks, I keep on remembering all of the "whiff!" noises that kept on occurring during scenes that were not fight scenes, and I thought, "Why are their arms making Casio noises?"

*whiif!*"Alright guys! *point, whiff* Let's kick *whiff* his tail back to *Whiff* where he came from!"

*Whiff X 5* "Alright!"

You would enjoy a lot of the Kamen Rider series then.

Also about the video: Oh yeah, "Forever Red" was the PR version.

Its best to try and forget that episode ever happened.
Bad memories....

[Iyeru]

Its best to try and forget that episode ever happened.
Bad memories....

That's why we have the delete button in our brains. But seriously now, when does ANYONE think the rangers will lose and totally die in a burning sensation or some other similar catastrophe that may even be unexplainable?

.:. iyeru42 .:.

[ArlanKels]

For fucks sake, by the time they've transformed and stopped dancing around like loons you could've put a bullet in each of them about 100 times over!!!

I would so love for that whole sequece to just end with them all getting gatling gunned down!! That would rock!


This has been attempted before.

Normally it just causes a large multi-colored chain of explosions matching the colors of all the rangers to appear behind the rangers as the posing ends.

[Iyeru]

This has been attempted before.

Normally it just causes a large multi-colored chain of explosions matching the colors of all the rangers to appear behind the rangers as the posing ends.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
That doesn't make sense at all anymore. Because if you do it right, there would be no need for such trivalties as those. CG ftw.

.:. iyeru42 .:.

[BitVyper]

I wouldn't be able to take it seriously

You're not supposed to. Or rather, you are, just not that way. Sentai is the series that will give you ninjas riding dinosaurs armed with febreze just because it can. Kroze is right though; Kamen Rider is a good gateway series.

CG ftw.

Much like Doctor Who, they've stuck with a lot of the cheesy old effects over the years. It's part of the show's charm. I know a lot of Who fans would be unhappy if the Daleks suddenly looked like new BSG Cylons or something. Power Rangers has completely destroyed some really awesome scenes by using newer special effects. I'm looking at YOU Shadow Ranger.

Edit: As usual, no one makes fun of the Japanese better than the Japanese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2BBl7_-4JA

[Bells]

Well.... i think i created a monster...

aaaaanyay

i would like to present evidence that those fighting scenes show what it is about Super Sentai that i like...

Everything that happens outside of the costume is dark, heavy, and well done characters development... everythign that happens with the costumes its jsut so damn funny! =D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rlrhjkpcLI

[Kroze Gamegod]

As usual, no one makes fun of the Japanese better than the Japanese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2BBl7_-4JA

Oh noes...
You have invoked the power of the rolling bomber special!
Man, that cracked me up like mad when I first saw it.
The best part is when he just steps outta the way of the blast.
And you are right, Super Sentai is not to be taken too seriously one bit.

[Iyeru]

Oh noes...
You have invoked the power of the rolling bomber special!
Man, that cracked me up like mad when I first saw it.
The best part is when he just steps outta the way of the blast.
And you are right, Super Sentai is not to be taken too seriously one bit.


Reminds me of the old ones... -_-

.:. iyeru42 .:.

[Mirai Gen]

You're not supposed to. Or rather, you are, just not that way. Sentai is the series that will give you ninjas riding dinosaurs armed with febreze just because it can. Kroze is right though; Kamen Rider is a good gateway series.
Well, okay, "Take it seriously" in the sense that I take Transformers seriously.

There have been two Starscreams in one scene before. It was not uncommon for Optimus Prime to mysteriously be colored entirely blue. Megatron frequently developed a Bond style master plan involving a part where he stands and gloats, with bursts of laughter (Maniac style) dropped in every once in a while, giving the Autobots just enough time to fix the situation.

And, as always, there was a punchline or a moral to the story. Sometimes, there was even both (A Plague of Insecticons, I mean you). I mean, how could you take it seriously? Simple; You grew up with it, you played with the toys, read it's stories, and got heavily delved into the more mature-themed version later in life (Beast Wars: The Gathering, IDW's Transformers: Infiltration, the Transformers Marvel comics from 1986, etc.).

So, having said thus, I think that Power Rangers may have permanently mindfucked my ability to watch and enjoy Super Sentai. I only mean "Take it seriously" in the sense of how I take Transformers seriously - the nostalgia aspect.

[POS Industries]

I have to say I know where Mirai is coming from on this. Trying to watch Super Sentai is basically like looking into some bizarro mirror universe version of the Power Rangers I was into as a kid. I mean, yeah, of course Super Sentai was better than PR, if for no other reason than because it was 100% original footage, used in proper chronology and context. But because I have this unshakable memory of how these scenes fit into PR, it's too weird for me to watch them in a completely different context, even if it is the correct one.

Big One, though... Man, that's awesome.

[Mirai Gen]

Its like Bizzaro episode of Sealab 2021, except with jumpsuits and "Morphin time!"

[Krylo]

It's not about being deep, or exploring the depths of the human condition. It's about being frickin awesome. Even after watching some of them, no, I'm going to say this isn't about being awesome. It's about spazs spazzing out in brightly colored clothes with cliched dialogue torn right out of the old godzilla and martial arts movies I ridiculed relentlessy as a kid. Including the 'character development'.

...In other words, it'd be fun to watch on mute with a group of people doing our own 'fan-dubbing'... but other than that, just... no.

You have absolutely no understanding of Sentai, or you'd know why that scene is all kinds of awesome.It's awesome because you're a fan. Kinda like how DBZ fans think it's awesome when Goku spends five minutes powering up. Except, yanno, that's actually at least a little cool because he's blowing out televisions the world over with his spiritual energy, or some inane shit. The point is he's blowing stuff up. These guys are just looking really really stupid with multi-colored explosions that apparently have nothing to do with anything behind them. Like. Really stupid. To anyone who isn't a die hard fan this scene is not cool. It's fan service, nothing more.

Really though, they don't actually do a full pose sequence like that very often, usually preceding the more intense battles. Most of them can transform without all the hullabaloo. It's called dramatic effect.You still sound like you're defending the power up sequences in Dragon Ballz. Part of what you have to understand about that scene, is that it's in the 25th anniversary movie, so it was more about giving the fans, fans who may well have been watching since the seventies, something to drool over.That really, honestly, doesn't make it any less stupid. It makes it understandable, because they're providing fan service. But what YOU have to understand is that the poses in the FIRST PLACE are ridiculous. I mean, honestly, even DBZ makes fun of that crap (Ginyuu force). When you look like an idiot to a guy who commonly spends a bunch of time squatting and screaming with other guys doing the same thing that says a lot.


Sentai is as close as you will EVER get to live action comics. All that stuff they do happens in comics all the time. You just don't notice it because it's in stills.I think you're confusing comics in general with really really bad Manga. Because, you know, I'm pretty sure that Super Man, Spiderman, Batman, Blade, Skull Rider, Nighthawk, Dare Devil, Edward Elric, Matoko Kusanagi, Inu-freakin'-yasha, Ranma, and all the other people I could spend ALL GODDAMN DAY with, never did a little happy dance before battle. Well... ok, maybe Alex Louis Armstrong did, but that's different. That art of pre-battle fruity dancing has been, after all, passed down the Armstrong line for generations.

Honestly, I will never understand some of the geeks (and I use that term with endearment) around here. For the most part I ignore it (like the Transformer's fandom--which Mirai pretty much explained, including why it's just goddamn weird to us with retarded senses of nostalgia), but when you start saying things like Most of the people who come down on Super Sentai just have absolutely no understanding of it, and assume it's exactly like PR When all you're really watching is the bastard child of old Toho Godzilla movies and bad japanese martial arts flicks... with all the over exciteable terrible acting to go along with it... well I just have to point out that there are plenty of perfectly good reasons for people to look at this and get nothing more out of it than a cheap laugh and maybe an overwhelming feeling of embarassment if someone happened to CATCH them watching it.

[Kroze Gamegod]

Thats why we have Kamen Rider Krylo...
Twice the badassness with 1% of Sentai cheese.

At least when they Henshin, they don't stand around throwing poses... they just start throwing punches...


Like this for example... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=p4DumSU1FCY)
Just right down to the fighting!

[Mirai Gen]

It's awesome because you're a fan. Kinda like how DBZ fans think it's awesome when Goku spends five minutes powering up. Except, yanno, that's actually at least a little cool because he's blowing out televisions the world over with his spiritual energy, or some inane shit. The point is he's blowing stuff up. These guys are just looking really really stupid with multi-colored explosions that apparently have nothing to do with anything behind them. Like. Really stupid. To anyone who isn't a die hard fan this scene is not cool. It's fan service, nothing more.
I'm going to just kind of assume that when you're saying this, you mean "Don't be so cruel to non-fans of Super Sentai?"
Honestly, I will never understand some of the geeks (and I use that term with endearment) around here.
Love you too.

EDIT: I honestly believe nostalgia is one of the more powerful emotions in the world. I can see Super Sentai/Power Rangers characters drawn in a scenario not unlike this (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/Deathofsuperman.jpg), and could get the appeal. Hell, I'm feeling the appeal right now. I think it's the desire to see your childhood heroes become mature and adult. I know the idea of a battletorn Red Ranger dying would be an interesting sight to say the least.

Take the word 'interesting' as you will.

*patiently waits for Fifthfiend to make fun of me*

[Fifthfiend]

I know the idea of a battletorn Red Ranger dying would be an interesting sight to say the least.

Take the word 'interesting' as you will.

*patiently waits for Fifthfiend to make fun of me*

There's actually nothing I can say to top that. I mean that's like something I would make up as a way of making fun of something else that sucks not quite as much as that sucks. Like I would see you say something else that sucks, and be like "What, that's just as stupid as if the Power Rangers were fighting some monster, and then instead of kicking his ass, all of a sudden he just starts brutally murdering them, and then it ends with Trini the Yellow Ranger clutching Billy the Red Ranger in her arms, sobbing in woe."

You know come to think of it, the same goes for the video that starts this thread. I mean I'm pretty sure I said that about the Power Rangers, back when I was like, eleven. Like, "Jesus Shit, why don't they just do the entire goddamn episode of the Power Rangers transforming, you could have Power Rangers transforming, and then they could do some more transforming, and then they could transform from transforming into transformative transforming, and then some more Power Rangers could jump up and do some more transforming, and then everybody could do a little dance, and then do some more transforming! And then evil would just die from how hard the Rangers transformed at them!" That is my parody of the Power Rangers - except apparently, that actually is the actual damn Power Rangers! We humble would-be satirists just can't begin to keep up.

[Mirai Gen]

There's actually nothing I can say to top that. I mean that's like something I would make up as a way of making fun of something else that sucks not quite as much as that sucks. Like I would see you say something else that sucks, and be like "What, that's just as stupid as if the Power Rangers were fighting some monster, and then instead of kicking his ass, all of a sudden he just starts brutally murdering them, and then it ends with Trini the Yellow Ranger clutching Billy the Red Ranger in her arms, sobbing in woe.
I'm flattered. I created something so incredibly nerdy Fifthfiend won't touch it.

EDIT: Also, according to the original series, Billy was the blue ranger.

[BitVyper]

As a side-note: I'm enjoying Boukenger a lot. I like the Indiana Jones style treasure-hunting theme.

It's fan service

Didn't I say that? I'm almost positive I took a whole paragraph to say exactly that. If you know anything about it, you'll understand why it's cool. I never said you had to think that way. Of course, I say that, but I've known plenty of non-fans who still liked that scene. They must have been mutants, or aberrations or something.

Anyway, those transformation sequences usually make up about twenty seconds of the average episode, maybe a minute if they do a full pose sequence, and yes, they do only do it for you if you're into it. The point is that they're placed skillfully enough that by the time you get to the transformation sequence, you're into it. The crossover movies always have one big one like at the start of this thread.

"You only like X because you're a fan" always fails. There has to be something to make you a fan in the first place. For me, it was Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger, with stuff like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8NmhnziLzE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmG2s05GR5Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc9bIuF6ERY

Aside from the action, one thing I think Sentai does very well is character growth and relationships. That's something that's always important to me. I think my favourites for this in Dekaranger were Hoji, Tetsu, and especially Banban. I liked seeing Tetsu and Banban practically switch places in the ending. Tetsu essentially dropping a rank on purpose to grow as a person is something I can relate to. And watching Banban develop into someone who could serve in the special forces while remaining such a passionate individual was great. They all start the series as very incomplete individuals, defined by their archetypes, and it's because of each other that they grow. With Dekaranger(and some of the other series'), I think the fact that in the finale they all sort of had their own battles rather than teaming up to fight one monster could be seen as metaphorical for how they've become complete themselves.

I also enjoy the different themes they use every year. Dekaranger was a police drama with superheroes (and some MiB influence), Majiranger was Harry Potter with super heroes, Boukenger is Indiana Jonesish, and so on.

"Don't be so cruel to non-fans of Super Sentai?"

Well, considering that my post was a response to "omg sentai sucks, they should all die!" I think it's merited somewhat. I mean, being into nerdy stuff, you have to be used to that kind of thing, but that doesn't make it any less annoying to see people attack something you love for all the wrong reasons.

Edit: I'd just like to add that the Super Sentai transformation and pose sequences tend to be very charged with adrenalin. A lot of people, myself included, like that.

[Truce]

Honestly, I loved that scene, though it was more because I love the concept of sentai than any of the series itself.

And to answer the question of the thread: There are never too many rangers.

[Bells]

Besides, everybody knows that Ghost rider is just a copy fo Kamen Rider (Hooold it! Just kidding)... also... if you put Krylo's avatar on a Kamen Raider Body, i could see a Krylo Rider... for some reason i see a chainsaw there in his hand while riding too...

Im surprised no one talked about the Giant Robots Yet...

[Mirai Gen]

if you put Krylo's avatar on a Kamen Raider Body, i could see a Krylo Rider... for some reason i see a chainsaw there in his hand while riding too...
Greatest idea ever.
Im surprised no one talked about the Giant Robots Yet...
Transformers did it better anyway.

[BitVyper]

I tend to prefer the ones that aren't actually robots. I liked the Abaranger ones because they were living creatures with entirely individual identities. I liked how the Zyuranger ones were outright gods too, and pretty much formed GOD when they all combined.

Transformers did it better anyway.

Well, of course. No robot will ever compare to the likes of G1 Prime.

[Mirai Gen]

To be fair, there are pretty damn good designs for the outrageous power armor and "Zord" robots that Sentai conjured up on a regular basis. Very space-y and original.

[BitVyper]

You have invoked the power of the rolling bomber special!

Their pink ranger is hot.

there are pretty damn good designs for the outrageous power armor and "Zord" robots that Sentai conjured up on a regular basis. Very space-y and original.

Yes, I think my favourite is the complete Zyuranger one... ah, what was the name...*checks Wikipedia* ah yes: Ultimate Daizyujin.

Actually, I liked a lot about Zyuranger. It was a pretty darn good series. I just wish I could find the whole thing...

Edit: Oh, I didn't even notice that that video on the first page isn't actually just one scene. Yeah, those scenes happened about thirty minutes apart. There was actually a sweet fight there. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df9qQVye3tk

There was a massive fight (more than what's in that clip), the monster got big, and every zord ever came out to fight it.

You can see some of that stuff here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u0xbJ1BYkY and the rest in part seven, which should be linked to right there.

[POS Industries]

EDIT: Also, according to the original series, Billy was the blue ranger.

Yeah, I dunno. Maybe he got promoted. Dude put in some time. I'm more concerned with how Fifth proposes they resurrect Thuy Trang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuy_Trang).

[BlackMageGirl!]

No offense to the fans, but I've never laughed so hard in my life. XD;

I still remember seein' the American version 'bout...ten years ago? Yeah, around then.

[BitVyper]

No offense to the fans, but I've never laughed so hard in my life.

None taken. Like I said before, it's not meant to be taken seriously. I mean, GoYellow taught GaoBlue a move called "milk tornado." MegaPink spent twenty minutes running around teaching GaoWhite typical "girl" powers. Sentai is part self-satire.

It just frustrates me when people who've never made any attempt to really watch or understand the show (without having already dismissed it as childish or whatever) attack it. Yes, everyone is well within their rights (if not remotely justified) to do so, but that, of course, is a two way street.