Kamen Rider Faiz: Paradise Lost (2003)
Production: Toei Corporation
By CoN_Strife

Introduction

Kamen Rider Faiz is back in Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost!

Set in the near future, Paradise Lost is an alternate story to that of the series and has no real connection to it other than they both feature the same set of characters from the show.

Story

The Smart Brain Corporation and its genetic creations known as Orphenochs, have taken over the world and the once prominent human race is now facing extinction.

Takumi Inui (a.k.a. Kamen Rider Faiz) was once regarded as the savior of mankind ...until he was captured by Smart Brain's troops and presumed dead after a massive battle. Since then, human rebel groups have staged attacks on Smart Brain's complex in an attempt to steal the top-secret "Emperor's Belt", but with no success.

Kiba, Kaido and Osada - three Orphenochs who sympathize the human race, attempt to ease the tension between both races, but Smart Brain’s troops and their newest warrior Kamen Rider Psyga interrupt their peace meeting. With time running out and the Orphenochs on the brink of victory, a young man named Takashi begins to remember a past where he was a hero, a past where he was really Kamen Rider 555!

With his memory restored, Takumi must now face his biggest challenge, the Orphenochs, and protect the human race at all costs. Can Takumi live up to the reputation of being mankind's savior? Or will Kamen Rider 555 be destined to disappear one last time?

Review

This movie feltl kind of rushed at certain moments, but it was really well done when you take into consideration the story that they were trying to pack within the allowed time. The introduction of two new Kamen Riders was awesome, especially since both of the them rocked so hard.

The fight scenes in Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost were great, and much like the series there were those touching moments where you swear you had something in your eye that made tears come forth.

You'll see all your series favorites and even some characters that were killed in the TV show. It's great to see them back for Paradise Lost and even though it's an alternate story you'll still be cheering for them over and over again. In fact, you might even end up cheering for someone you didn't like so much in the series!

Like the last Kamen Rider movie, you'll see some familiar faces from the previous series, although unfortunately it's not a previous Rider. Still, keep an eye out for them, as their cameos are a nice touch to Paradise Lost and for this Kamen Rider fan, a welcomed addition.

I didn't know what to expect from this movie, but after seeing things I could only dream of being in the show, you'll most definitely see me picking up the next Kamen Rider movie if it's anywhere near as good as Kamen Rider Faiz: Paradise Lost.

Conclusion

This movie has everything that a Kamen Rider fan could ask for. Big fights? Got that. Great story? That too. Guest cameos, new Kamen Riders, and a cinematic feel to the series while keeping the character basis I oh-so loved in the TV show, untouched and the same?!

Yep, they got those too.

To make it short, Kamen Rider Faiz: Paradise Lost is nothing short of greatness. It's got everything you want and maybe even a few cool things you didn't ask for or think of. Check it out, you'll be glad you did.

<<CoN_Strife>>