Kamen Rider Blade: Missing Ace (2004)

Messy but interesting Blade AU

*pulled from my LB review*

Some of the editing choices give a nice storytelling economy, guiding more expositional and lax scenes along at some light-hearted, comedic rhythms, re-establishing the characters in this alternate route in a brisk and entertaining manner. That said, the editing for trying to fit the story in the short timeframe and all still has lots of subplots just breezed over, and some of its ideas brushed aside, just bit off way more than it could chew with the time allotted.

Kenzaki's feelings of missing purpose without fighting the Undead which he doesn't prepare to reconcile beyond the film credits after the temporary conflict OF the film will surely pass, Mutsuki's PTSD and confused inner feelings, Amane's pubescent angst at missing Hajime and the latter having no real time to directly communicate with her and all, showing up right towards the end and then being sealed shortly thereafter, Shiori's wedding, the villain's motivations, the rapidfire red herrings that have no staying power to affect, etc. All of this brought up and never given time to breathe or properly address, lots of potential in the story laid bare but no time to fulfill it, making a bit of a haphazard mess.

In spite of that however, I do respect the ambition, but this should've been at least a 2 hour movie, could've been quite good if it got ample time to flesh out, maybe some sort of Blade alternate timeline mini-series, because it does all seem intriguing, and the movie still managed to be some snappy fun at the end of the day, still not too bad.

If the Blade series generally dragged and recycled plot lines and drama, this film suffers the opposite of being too short & quick to satisfy the litany of character subplots it raises, though for Blade and general KR fans this may provide adequate surface level action pleasure.

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