Kamen Rider Ryuki the Movie: Episode Final (2002)
Production: Toei Corporation
By Keith “JC” Hayward

Introduction

I've seen bits and pieces of Tokustasu series before. Mostly movies, crossovers, and a few randomly subtitled episodes here and there. Kamen Rider Ryuki, though, is the series where I earned my changer. I fought along side these Henshin Heroes to the very end and loved every minute of it. The corner of my mouth turned up every time I heard that trademark cry of, "HENSHIN!" and my eyes stayed glued for every second of the fight against the Monsters of the Mirror World. Every episode I paid for the whole seat, but when the fight turned from the monsters to the Riders themselves. I only needed the edge.

The Story

Kamen Rider Ryuki's a Henshin Story about 13 individuals from all walks of life ranging from biker, to internet reporter, to even a mass murderer who are given a deck of cards that transform them into armored warriors who also commanded special monsters from the Mirror World. They are told to fight each other, by the mad scientist and creator of the decks, Kanzaki Shiro and that in the end. There Can Be Only One.

In Kamen Rider Ryuki: Episode Final, we approach an alternate end to the Rider War. Shiro grows restless, approaches the final standing Six Riders and gives them an ultimatum. "The War must end in the remaining three days, or none of your dreams shall be realized."

With the lives of loved ones, their own lives, and the evil ambitions of one on the line, they are forced to go all out in this final battle to be the last Rider standing.

Review

The movie starts off as the cinematic version of this story should begin. With all out fighting! Monsters attack a local mall, terrorizing the innocent and in our heroes come rushing in to take the fight to the man-bug creatures and kick their tails back into the mirror world. But this not being your average Kamen Rider, the all out battle royale doesn't stop at Rider against Monster, but as a new Rider (never before seen in the series!!!) makes her grand entrance, the fight between Riders and their respective dreams also kick off to a very exciting start.

What follows is a condensed version of a possible final episode to the TV Series with a few tweaks and changes to facilitate the story of the new female character, Kamen Rider Femme, and to bring the battle to a head quicker with as many casualties as possible. The fight scenes are nothing short of phenomenal and action packed. Special attacks bring more bang for their buck and Kamen Rider Knight even pulls off a little dog-fighting action in one scene where he goes toe to toe with a flying Mirror Monster.

There are some downfalls to this movie. The biggest one being is that there's no real end. I don't feel I'm spoiling you by telling you this, but giving you proper warning so that you're prepared for the disappointment of no complete wrap up. A lot of questions get their answers, but a really big one is why so many Mirror Monsters are on the attack and why they all look the same. In the TV Series the monsters were individually created and distinct. They come once a week for a duke out, and then are Final Vented into oblivion. In this movie the monsters literally come in swarms and they all look alike. This seems unusual and you'd think it'd have something to do with the plot. Maybe with the coming of the end of the Rider War, the Mirror Monsters feel their time and chance of taking over the real world is coming to an end and they're making their big push? It's not ever made known! Monsters attack in swarms, morph into flying mech bugs and by the end of the movie they're tearing up the city like mad leaving only Ryuki and Knight to defeat their uncountable masses. And it just ends right there!

Don't get me wrong. A lot of the movies major plots are sewn up quite excellently and dramatically. Unexpected deaths occur, some well deserved deaths happen and beat downs a plenty are handed out in ways that made my friend who's not even a fan cry out in surprised as one character got finished off in one of the coolest ways I've ever seen in practically anything.

All the actors are in top form. Shinji's as adorable and heartwarming as ever, Ren is his usual cool stoic self with that hint of kindness underneath, Asakura is still a bad bastards always looking for his next kill, Yui is as sweet as they come, and the Lawyer is as debonair and cocky as we all love him to be. You get all you got in the TV Series in a bigger and better budgeted package, with excellent resolve to each character's story. Now if only Shinji and Ren didn't pull a Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid ending, with us not even knowing why they were in such a fix in the first place I'd say that you'd have about as perfect a Kamen Rider Ryuki movie as you could ever ask for.

Conclusion

As I found with many non-fans, this movie is very easily accessible to practically anyone who likes a good super-action movie. The production values make it easy on the eye to the most doubtful newbie who's only used to seeing Tokusatsu characters dangling from strings and an incredible step up from the television production values that Ryuki fans are used to seeing. Seeing Final Vents and new Final Vents with this kind of special effect budget kicks a copious amount of ass. The characters are a fun and charismatic batch that make their stories engaging and a joy to follow. The final couple seconds leave a bit too much to speculation, but it does leave open to one's own imagination as to what happened afterwards. In any case, if you're a Kamen Rider Ryuki fan, your boat has finally come in and you owe it to yourself to seek Ryuki at the top of its game and looking its absolute finest.

Grab your deck of cards, and make sure your Mirror Monster's got your back. The Mirror World once again beacons you all again for one final battle. Who will be the last one standing? The answer is all in the cards, Rider. HENSHIN!

Bonus Uncut Commentary!
By ShadowRider

The movie was great.

First off, most of the deleted/extended scenes are not action scenes. Though I'm not disappointed in that at all.

The added scenes really added to this already excellent movie. If you thought that Episode Final was great, then let me say that the Director's Cut version is way better.

First off we get to see much more of Miho(Femme). We actually are shown how Reiko and Shinji have the bug planted on Miho's "fiancé" in the beginning of the movie.

There is also a flash back to the event that made Miho decide to become a Rider. We actually are shown that event.

Through the added scenes we are better able to see the relationship Miho develops with Shinji. I think that the two had become closer than I first realized watching the theatrical version of the movie.

There is the scene with Shinji and Miho at Tsugami Shouichi's (Kamen Rider Agito!) restaurant, and Miho is trying to convince a man that Shinji is her boyfriend. Though I'm not quite sure of the details because I have very little knowledge of Japanese, but what takes place in the scene makes the man believe that Shinji and Miho are in fact a couple.

As far as the scene with the G3 Unit from Agito, I would have like to see some anger. However both Shinji and Miho run over to them to apologize and attempt to clean up the mess they made. But they're told that it was all right. It was still funny though to see Ozawa-san with her mug of beer!

All in all the added/extended scenes really fit the entire movie together better. There are some moments in the theatrical version that make you wonder how and why something took place. Character's actions, reactions, and such are better explained in the director's cut. It makes much more sense.

If anything you should buy this movie just to see what takes place between Shimada and the Editor of the ORE Journal.

As far as the bonus disc goes, there is a lack of material in my opinion. Except for a feature on the Special effects for Ryuki, which was quite good (except I couldn't make out the 3d Program they were using-looked like 3Ds Max) and one of the two on-stage interviews, this particular one being the TV show cast, the other features can be scene on the HK bootleg of the original release of Episode Final. Though, the R2 is superior quality, which is an understatement......

In summation, no one has seen Ryuki Episode Final until they have seen the Director's Cut. And that is a fact.