Tag Archives: Jungle Fury

Jungle Fever #19 – 23 Mini Review (SPOILERS)

Posted by utsukushuudreamer on

JF #19 – 23 have been a metaphorical mixed bag (unlike Dax’s bag of lucky marbles). For me, the biggest problem is the sudden arrival of Dominic, the Rhino Ranger, and the events that surround him.

After that expert way in which RJ became the Wolf Ranger, it’s something of a shame that when the source material calls for the arrival of a fifth soldier, JF‘s writers weren’t able to ease him into the story with the same skill. One of the biggest problems with Dominic is that he does nothing to contribute to either the team dynamic or the overall storyline (unless you’re looking for Dominic/Jarrod or Dominic/RJ slash). Selfishly, I can’t help but feel that if Saban could find time to edit the suit footage in early episodes of Lost Galaxy to remove Gingaman ‘putties’ and insert new footage featuring the ‘sting wingers’ (or whatever they’re called) then in this age of computer wizardry and the amount of extra material already filmed for JF, they could have removed GekiChopper from the fights until the story called for Dominic to be probably been introduced and then gone back and used his in suit introduction episode…

…or alternately they could have introduced Dominic out-of-suit at an early point (which, to their credit, they tried to do with a Ridgemont High reference shortly after RJ became the Wolf Ranger but this appearance seems to have been later replaced by Dominic’s new introduction). I guess the budget and the fact that the series is only 25 episodes long is the argument against this.

Yet it’s also the fact that this series is roughly half the length of its sentai parent that makes the pacing in other aspects of JF work so well. The story arc never falters, continually moving forwards instead of getting stuck in side-stories and pointless episodes. Toei could have learnt a thing or two for Go-onger by watching this show.

The real WTF moment however comes at the end of #23, which I won’t spoil for those of you currently watching the series suffice to say I’m surprised and a little apprehensive of this turn of events. Check out the links below for pictures:

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5188/bscap681ck4.jpg
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/3910/bscap682lk5.jpg
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3308/bscap683ak0.jpg
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3069/bscap684oa8.jpg

What I’m dearly hoping is that JF will correct Geki‘s most significant fault. I’m hoping to see both Jarrod/大士 and Camille on the team for the final showdown against the megabosses.

If Disney fail to do this then it really will be a crime.

Operation Overdrive #3 Mini Review (SPOILERS)

Posted by utsukushuudreamer on

I’ve taken a shine to the New Wave of Power Rangers recently if only because it’s a nice change of pace. If anything, I can honestly say that Jungle Fever Fury has more of what I’m looking for in terms of a sentai show that a lot of Toei’s current output.

I’m sorry, Go-onger, I want you to be good for the sake of Aizawa Rina, but you really are the worst kind of inoffensive blandness.

…

So until Saki actually *does* something in Go-onger, we’re going to talk about Power Rangers.

KYAH!

Power Rangers Operation Overdrive #3

Not much to report on this front as most of the footage here comes straight from Bouken #1. I must admit I thought it strange, on first viewing, that whilst so much of Bouken #1 was in suit, Disney had failed to use the material…as it turns out, they were apparently just been saving it for this episode, which was 90% sentai footage with only the briefest Flurious and out of suit footage.

As an episode of an original series, this one fails on just about every level. The clash between the personalities of Masumi and Will (sidenote, the actor who portrays Will, Samuell Benta, is English as well, having previously appeared on ITV’s The Bill, apparently) and Natsuki and Ronny is painful to say the least. None of the reasoning behind Masumi’s motives is present in Will’s actions, instead we’re simply treated to another ‘there’s no “I” in team’ storyline whilst Ronny seems to undergo drastic ditiziness whenever she dons her spandex armour. This schizoid interaction is overcomplicated by the fact that the characters explain everything they’re doing to the audience. It’s tiresome and insulting, guys, don’t do it.

I went to great lengths last time to explain how much distaste I have for the choice of music in Boukenger but I haven’t mentioned the Operation Overdrive theme yet – let me correct that now: it’s awful. It’s the worst clash of random sounds and noises I have had the misfortune to hear since, well…since Transformers Armada‘s opening. I really hope the money they saved on comissioning an actual theme ‘song’ was well spent else where on the series.

Power Rangers Jungle Fury

To make up for the blandness of Overdrive, I feel the need to mention that JF is still a lot of fun. The predictable arrival of all the additional Power Animals animal robots is handled in a loveably silly fashion with a lot of decidedly ancient non-Chinese masters coming out of the woodwork and some major accent slipping.

I am your beloved...Count Olaf.

"I am your beloved...Count Olaf."

So far, the two new mech seem to be an elephant who appears to be the offspring of GaoElephant and the Goat Crusher karakuri ball from Hurricanger, and a bat, who may or may not be Top Galer’s adopted son.

I’m wondering now if the figure of the bat robot will be able to fit with my GaoKing and Sempuujin DX toys. (^_^)

Jungle Fury #1 – 2 Mini Review (SPOILER-ish)

Posted by utsukushuudreamer on

OMG!!

Adrian, it would appear that not only are Toei stalking you but Disney are in on the game too.

How’s this for a set up? The Rangers are sent to the Jungle Karma Pizza restaurant where they meet their new ally until the city is attacked by evil henchmen, at which point their best customer is forced to man the tills in an emergency situation.

You’ve got some Big Name Fans apparently, sir.

Having watched the first two episodes, I think it could have been a lot worse than it actually was. The three Rangers are fairly likeable and the storyline isn’t bad at all. There’s also a nice little Godzilla sound effect homage when the monster-of-the-week goes stomping through New Orleans the city.

My only real dissapointment with the show were the characters corresponding to Mele and Rio. ‘Mele’ in particular was a bit saddening as it appears the actress Disney chose to play her was a big fan of Frozen-era Madonna. They really should have cast Brenda Song as that character, then this series would have my undying love.

Bae, however, is awesome. I wasn’t convinced seeing as he doesn’t shut up through the entire mech fight sequence (which really did look high quality, props to Gekiranger for that) but, somewhere along the way, his constant commentary managed to win me over.

Mister Kev – I still have this on disc for you. If I post this tomorrow do you think it will reach you before you head out to Korea? Please tell me it will!

Ryuu – …sorry. (^_^);