TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
Big spoilers!
Kamen Rider Gotchard: The Future Daybreak might be one of my favorite Kamen Rider or Sentai movies. It’s a great movie because unlike many others, the stakes here are actually high and there is actually a connection to the series itself. Often times, the movies have very thin connections to the weekly series. But The Future Daybreak‘s interconnectedness with the series helps to elevate its story and impact.
The Future Daybreak expands on the stories introduced in-series as an army from the future rampages in the present, requiring Houtarou and Rinne to travel through a time-space portal where they meet Kamen Rider Gotchard Daybreak.
Daybreak’s identity is finally revealed as future Houtarou from an alternate timeline fighting an empowered Gurion. Houtarou and Rinne learn what has happened in this alternate world and meet old friends (and some, now foes) as they try to find a way to stop the influx of Dreads back in the present where their friends are doing their best to hold down the fort.
Future Houtarou, meanwhile, learns how to deal with the trauma and loss that he has experienced in this alternate world. All while remembering the important lessons and personal philosophy that used to empower him in the past.
The Future Daybreak successfully draws upon all the developments from the series including the character growth, the relationships and dynamic between them. The movie is able to seamlessly intertwine with the regular series while still being able to be a standalone story. One that fits well within the world of the series without feeling forced or disconnected.
That is definitely not always the case when it comes to summer or winter movies and even post-series movies and specials too. But The Future Daybreak is thankfully different in that sense.
The movie wonderfully reiterates the themes of the series. That of looking forward to reach for your dreams and how the bonds and connections you form with others can help you moving toward that dream.
The movie packs its one-hour runtime with many memorable, emotional and impactful moments. All grounded in the strong foundation the series had built over, at this point, 40+ episodes.
This is also one of the few times that its one-hour runtime is definitely too short for the potential the story of this movie has. Like the series itself, the potential to go deeper into many of the ideas introduced is held back by the runtime and number of episodes. But even then, what results is still a strong, well-written story and a talented cast and crew that brings it to vivid life.
Kamen Rider Gotchard: The Future Daybreak perfectly fits in with the series’ successful run. A reminder of what made the series itself so good and one of the most well-executed seasons. Emotional, exciting and fun; all the pieces come together for this great film.
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Yeah, Future Daybreak helps the story, and is helped by the main story. Still its funny that Gotchard is so about the specials/movies are canon.