MASKED RIDER KUUGA

Credits:
I don't read Japanese damn it!

RoundsEnt.com has recently started a new division importing VCD's. As many of you know, a Video Compact Disc is designed to bring VHS quality picture together with CD quality sound at an ultra-low pricetag specifically for Asian markets primarily but will play on pretty much any home PC in the world.

You get what you pay for.

No multiple voice tracks, or various subtitles in different languages other than those of the disc's origin, or any other frills those of us accustomed to DVD expect. At the very least, imported VCD's are an extremely cost effective way of tracking down films that won't receive a domestic commercial release in any foreseeable future.

This is how I tracked down a copy of Battle Royal.

While the disc for MASKED RIDER KUUGA is Chinese, with both Cantonese and Mandarin subtitles playing simultaneously, the viewing material is straight from Japan. This first disc in this series presents two episodes of a television show that fans of Ultra Man or Power Rangers should easily become familiar with. A reluctant hero gain powers through a special suit to do battle with an endless horde of monsters trying to lay siege to Tokyo.

Other than that, I can't tell you much. The Japanese language classes I studied in college ended at the first year. Other than "tabe masen ka" (have you eaten), my understanding of the language was ousted by b-movie overload years ago. Since there were no English subtitles I couldn't follow who was who, or find an overall plot.

Please someone tell me if I'm wrong, but my guess is that our hero Kuuga was a delivery boy who happened across an archeological site where he gain possession of his magic belt. There's a lovely archeological student who plays the possible love interest, and a cop who plays the sidekick/friend.

Fans of the genre won't need these details to follow the visual nature of the story telling. The majority of what takes place on screen is all action. I figure that for every 2 minutes of plot, there's 5+ minutes of guys in rubber suits breaking bad with the kung-fu and kicking the hell out of each other.

The action's why people watch these movies to begin with, isn't it? The action is non-stop, it's also family friendly, if you have a nephew like mine who likes this sort of thing, gifts of MASKED RIDER KUUGA should give him some bragging rights at school over the Dragon Ball junkies.

Distributed in the U.S. through Rounds Entertainment