Throughout the 70's and 80's the Japanese live action film or TV series involving superheroes and monsters utilizing heavy effects, also known as tokusatsu, was a huge market. Well known properties like Godzilla and Ultraman got some of the biggest recognition, but they were only a small portion of them. Now director Noboru Iguchi has brought the popular genre back with an action comedy based on the 1974 series Denjin Zaborger, but will it do the classic series justice?
Karate-Robo Zaborgar follows a Yutaka Daimon and his karate-robot/motorcycle, Zaborgar as they fight against the evil organization Sigma who is kidnapping prominent business men to harvest their DNA for the ultimate weapon. This is a hard film to review mostly due to the genre. This is not a film for everyone, unless you enjoyed the old school shows and films it's based on you will not get the overall joke aspect of what it is trying to deliver. With that being said this is a ridiculously brilliant homage to a genre that is all but gone. Almost every kid of the 70's and 80's grew up on these films and hold a special place with most of them. This film takes the subject matter and while still delivers a silly film; it is one that is a whole lot of fun. Filled with a crazy story, wacky robots, gadgets, and characters, this is more of an experience than a film. There is plenty of action that is well done as well as the over the top silly action that will have you rolling with laughter and entertainment. There are moments that will leave you wondering what they were even thinking, but as a whole this movie delivers the fun and classic feel that it sets out for.
Karate-Robo Zaborgar is a special film that delivers everything fans of this genre old and new enjoy. Make no mistake this will only appeal to a certain audience base, but if you give it a chance you are in for a good time that you will not soon forget. As a special side note, there is an awesome montage sequence during the credits of the original series that shows all the homage and similar moments added to this film that just makes it that much better after watching it.
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