 This article is about a movie in Kamen Rider, the original series.
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Kamen Rider vs. Shocker (仮面ライダー対ショッカー, Kamen Raidā Tai Shokkā, "Masked Rider vs. Shocker") is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero film set within the continuity of the original Kamen Rider series. In the film, Takeshi Hongo and Hayato Ichimonji must protect the daughter of a scientist who is being targeted by Shocker. The film was released in 1972 Spring as part of the Toei Manga Matsuri.
Synopsis[]
Professor Daidōji (大道寺博士, Daidōji Hakase) has developed a gravity machine called the GX Device. Unfortunately, Shocker wants it; so they attack the professor and destroy his laboratory, but come home empty-handed. Shocker's agents find out that the plans for the GX Device are with Daidouji's daughter, who is celebrating her birthday. Now the Kamen Riders, along with FBI agent Kazuya Taki, must protect Daidōji's daughter and prevent Shocker from obtaining the plans.
Plot[]
The film opens on a stormy night at the Daidoji Geophysics Research Laboratory, where research scientists are celebrating the completion of the artificial gravity device code named “G.X.”. The device can be used to alter Earth’s axis, but one researcher is concerned that the device can be used for evil purposes. As they prepare to test the G.X. device by inputting commands into the computer, the power goes out and Dr. Shinigami appears to congratulate Dr. Daidoji on his work. He then says that Shocker has plans for the device, killing Daidoji’s assistant when he tried to escape. The laboratory is then destroyed as Dr. Shinigami departs.
Shocker is planning to sink Japan into the Pacific with a replica of the GX device, as the artificial gravitational field will create massive tidal waves. Unfortunately, the Shocker scientists cannot execute the plan as an equation is missing from the input data. Daidoji had hid the equation from them beforehand and is currently running from them.
While driving, the professor finds what appeared to be his assistant Ano stumbling and passing out in the middle of the road, but it was actually a Shocker cyborg, Fly Man, who tricked him into revealing the location of the equation; in the possession of Daidoji’s daughter. Fly Man and a platoon of Shocker combatmen capture the professor and promise not to harm the girl if Dr. Daidoji gives them the equation. Agent Taki arrives just in time to rescue the professor and Hayato arrives seconds later revealing that the FBI decoded Shocker’s encrypted communications so they were ready to foil their plans to flood the world. Hayato fends off the grunts while Kazuya flees and escorts the professor to safety.
Fly Man then lures Hayato into a trap, as the revived Shocker cyborgs Sabotegron and Mogurang ambush him. Hayato changes into Rider 2 and battles them. But because he fought them before, Rider 2 quickly defeats them all.
Daidoji’s daughter Tamami is celebrating her birthday party with friends, including Goro. She is about to blow out the candles when suddenly the cake catches fire, Arigabari and Dokugander appear to try and kidnap the girl but Takeshi Hongo intercepts them and changes into Rider 1. He fights the villainous duo and shields Tamami from them, defeating Arigabari, but then he gets ambushed by Zanjioh. Rider 2 arrives and backs up his partner, but Zanjioh manages to escape with Tamami.
The Tachibana Racing Club crew are all waiting for them with Dr. Daidoji, but the duo and Kazuya return with an injured Goro and the bad news that they failed to stop Tamami’s kidnapping. The phone then rings, Dr. Shinigami is on the other end and gives his ransom demands; hand over the GX Equation at noon in Hell Valley tomorrow or he will kill Tamami.
Dr. Daidoji and Hayato arrive at Hell Valley and meet up with Dr. Shinigami, who demands Hayato walk towards him at the count of three for the exchange. Any sudden moves or signs of trickery and Shinigami will order his men to kill Tamami immediately. They make the exchange but naturally Shinigami betrays his promise and launches an ambush attack. Every Shocker cyborg the Double Riders have faced had been revived to kill them in an army assault. Hayato laughs to Shinigami’s confusion, revealing that he had a surprise of his own, Dr. Daidoji was actually Takeshi Hongo in disguise! They take Dr. Shinigami hostage and he is forced to order his army to stand down. This does not last long though as the flying type kaijins Pranodon and Guilgaras attacks from the air to free Shinigami, with them along with Egyptus and Jigoku-Thunder surrounding Hayato, Tamami and Takeshi. They fend off their attackers, Hayato takes Tamami to safety and the duo transform into the Double Riders.
The team run through a gauntlet of reconstructed plant cyborgs of Sarracenian, Kinokomorgue, Dokudahlian, and Torikabuto. The team Double Rider Kick them to death, while Kazuya takes Tamami away from the Shocker forces. Some Shocker Combatmen get in the way but they manage to get Tamami back to her father. Dr. Daidoji reveals he hid the GX equation in Tamami’s teddy bear he gave to her as a birthday gift, which she left behind at home. Zanjioh is at the Daidoji residence to try and steal the teddy bear, but Rider 1 manages to get it first and passes it to Rider 2. The Combatmen and Zanjioh try to get the bear, with the latter managing to swipe it. He then traps the two heroes in a ring of fire but they escape and knocked the bear away from him. After an intense fight, Zanjioh is destroyed by the Double Riders and the day is saved.
Continuity and Placement[]
- This movie was released in theaters on the same day episode 51 of Kamen Rider was broadcast on TV, and fits between episodes 51 and 52. Unicornos first appeared in episode 51 and Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider 2 leaves Japan for South America at the end of episode 52.
Characters[]
Kamen Riders[]
| Kamen Rider 1 | Takeshi Hongo |
| Kamen Rider 2 | Hayato Ichimonji |
Allies[]
Shocker Kaijin[]
- Zanjioh
- Revived Kaijin
- Revived Kaijin - Jigoku Valley's Kaijin Army
- Revived Kaijin - Jigoku Valley's ambush Kaijin Army: The following Kaijin appeared as members of the Kaijin Army, even announcing their names. However, after the initial ambush failed, they left and did not return later.
Cast[]
- Takeshi Hongo / Kamen Rider 1: Hiroshi Fujioka
- Hayato Ichimonji / Kamen Rider 2: Takeshi Sasaki
- Kazuya Taki: Jiro Chiba
- Dr. Shinigami: Hideyo Amamoto
- Yuri: Wakako Oki
- Emi: Emily Takami
- Mika: Yuko Sugibayashi
- Goro: Yasuharu Miura
- Odori Daido: Hajime Izu
- Ano's assistant: Hiroyuki Miya
- Tamami Daidoji: Hiroko Saito
- Goro's classmate: Mitsuomi Ishihara
Errors[]
- The limited release stream of the film on Toei Tokusatsu World had several issues with its English subtitles, including grammatical errors, brief moments of synchronization mistiming and one instance of dialogue being untranslated.
Notes[]
- This is the first instance of Takeshi using the iconic pose to transform into Kamen Rider 1. Unlike his later appearances, however, he merely shouts "Henshin!" instead of "Rider Henshin!". His transformation pose would not be used in the TV series until he returned to the show full-time in episode 53.
- This film depicts an original storyline rather than adapting several episodes from the series. All films released after this follow suit.
- Footage from this movie, depicting Takeshi Hongo and Hayato Ichimonji transforming, was reused in Five Riders vs. Kingdark (1974).
Digital Releases[]
- Kamen Rider vs. Shocker was originally released on VHS and Laserdisc on April 21, 2000.
- Kamen Rider: The Movie DVD Volume 1 features Go Go Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider vs. Shocker and Kamen Rider vs. Jigoku Taishi.[1]
- Kamen Rider: The Movie Blu-ray Volume 1 features Kamen Rider vs. Shocker, Kamen Rider vs. Jigoku Taishi, Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants & Five Riders vs. Kingdark.
- Kamen Rider vs. Shocker is included in the Kamen Rider THE MOVIE 1972-1988 4K Remaster Box.
