Goggle V The Movie (1982)
Production: Toei Corporation
Duration: 30 Minutes
By Jeffrey Couto

Introduction

Instead of reviewing the fourth GoRanger movie I thought I skip ahead a little to one of my favorite Super Sentai team movies, Goggle V! This series is not particularly popular these days, but I always enjoyed it as one of the truer representations of what Toei’s series is all about at its core, with its frenetic, over-the-top energy, rhythm Gymnastic weapons, giant explosions and colorful cast of characters.

The movie for this series was originally released as part of Toei’s Manga Matsuri festival back in 1982 and unlike some of the earlier films is not a TV episode blown up to theatrical scale.

The Story

"The evil Dr. Zazoria has seemingly rebelled against the Death Dark Organization and approaches Goggle Five for help. She warns them that Death Dark has created a secret weapon that has the power to destroy Tokyo in one shot. Google Five rush to the area where Dr. Zazoria has said the weapon is located. They step right into a trap and fall victim to Death Dark’s latest creation Mogura Mozu. Dr. Zazoria shows her true colors and takes a young girl hostage. The Google Five Team race to stop Death Dark’s plans and save the girl." -- Jmaruyama's GoRanger: Goggle V Movie Overview

Review

Unlike the GoRanger films I’ve been reviewing over the past several months this one benefits greatly from a good budget and the mastery by creative staff of what at the time was still an evolving series that would soon blossom into the Super Sentai series that we’ve all come to love today and which to a degree can now be considered an institution of Japanese television. In fact I would say that this series is where it all started really coming together in terms of concept, art style/direction, characters, action choreography, pyrotechnics and special effects.

This movie, which was released as part of the Super Sentai Movie DVD box a couple of years ago, is for all intents and purposes meant to be a roller coaster rider from beginning to end, with its inclusion of not just two major action sequences, but in fact several that are sprinkled throughout the film. From the opening sequence in which our heroes enter a cruise liner in a Japanese harbor to the encounter with the convoy of trucks in the hills of Japan to Goggle Black’s run in with an enemy car in an industrial sector to the predictable conclusion in the Japanese countryside this movie won’t let your attention go for even one second.

Admittedly this is done at the cost of any deep plot or interesting character development, but ultimately that’s not the reason this movie was made and as such it is to be expected that this work will not earn any critical praise for its script. The story is as simple as they come with Dr.Zazoria acting as is she has rebelled against her comrades only to later reveal that she was in fact just setting up a trap for our heroes! A trap which of course they fall for, thus setting the stage for a major battle to save Tokyo at the end of the movie.

As far as the action scenes go, this film is packed with some impressive works that leaves you in awe at the work of the stunt team. There are countless jumps from very high platforms, lots of in-ground explosions next to the actors, a hold-on-for-your-life scene in which Goggle Black hangs on to the top of a moving car, etc. The martial arts works used during fight scenes is also top notch with some impressive moves being performed, both while using hand to hand combat and when engaging the bad guys with rhythm gymnastic weapons such as the ribbon or giant hoops.

The soundtrack is very fitting for the time it was made in and quite heroic. Expect to hear the main theme a number of times as well as several strong BGM pieces that complement the on-screen action as well as could be hoped for.

The quality of the DVD release of this film is surprisingly good, with a very nice looking transfer that makes it look as if the movie had just been filmed thanks to its clarity and solid color transfers. The audio, like-wise., benefits from a proper transfer that comes through crystal clear and loudly, a must for a film of this type. Needless to say that the soundtrack is mono stereo due to the original source material being recorded in that fashion.

Conclusion

If you enjoy the Super Sentai series an yet to enter the world of the more vintage shows, this one is a great entry point that’s sure to not disappoint. However, be warned, if you don’t like you Super Sentai action to have some comedic elements you may want to skip this one as some limited comedy is injected into the proceedings. Otherwise it’s quite nice!

Jeffrey Couto