Ultraman: Rising Review – A Worthy Successor to the Franchise

Above the neon glow of Eternity City, a figure emerges from the clouds. His body gleams with power that could level skyscrapers, yet his massive hands move with gentle care. This is Ultraman, guardian of Tokyo for over half a century. While his name may be unknown to some, his impact can be felt across cultures—a symbol of hope defending the innocent from threats beyond imagination.

His latest adventure arrives with “Ultraman: Rising,”  transporting audiences to a world that is at once fantastical yet intimate. Here, the mantle is passed to a new hero as he juggles extraordinary responsibilities with everyday stresses. Ken Sato returns to Japan seeking purpose beyond fame, but discovers his true calling lies in protecting others, just as his father once did. To do so, he must learn to see threats through compassion instead of prejudice and find balance between power and vulnerability and solo acts and teamwork.

With breathtaking animation bringing Eternity City to life, “Ultraman: Rising” invites all to experience a story that rises above conventions. Its blend of humor, heart, and hijinks just might leave viewers feeling as if they can soar with the skyscrapers on the streets of a truly remarkable place.

Ken Sato’s Return to Heroism

Baseball star Ken Sato has it all: talent, fame, and an impressive career playing in the U.S. But within him lies a calling for greater responsibility. Ken is returning to his home of Tokyo to join the famed Yomiuri Giants baseball team and rekindle his relationship with his father, Professor Sato, the original guardian of Tokyo known as Ultraman. However, Ken’s move back home comes with conditions: he must inherit the mantle of Ultraman from his aging father and defend the city from formidable threats.

Balancing the pressures of the national pastime with his duties as Ultraman proves challenging. But Ken’s task is made all the more difficult after a chance encounter. While battling a rampaging kaiju, Ken comes across an abandoned egg. The egg hatches, revealing a baby kaiju inside. In an instant, the small creature imprints on Ken, seeing him as its caregiver. Ken realizes he must now look after much more than just the city; he must raise and protect this oversized infant.

As Ken struggles to meet the demands of a star athlete, revered superhero, and first-time parent to a fire-breathing monster child, darker forces begin to emerge. Dr. Onda, the leader of the government’s Kaiju defense agency, sees the baby not as a curious creature but as a means to an end. He wants to exploit the baby’s powers for warfare. When Dr. Onda makes attempts to capture the young kaiju, Ken must rise to meet his greatest challenge yet: keeping his new daughter safe while defending Tokyo from looming threats above and below.

Animation and Visual Flair

Ultraman: Rising unleashes a vivid animation style perfectly suited to its outsized material. While the human characters have a slightly exaggerated look, the true stars shine in the kaiju and robot action.

Towering monsters stomp through city streets, and it’s no small feat to bring these gargantuan brawls to colorful life. Creative directing puts us up close amidst the action rather than distancing us with small, detached figures. We feel the crushing weight and power with each bone-shaking step. Yet destruction is minimized, respecting innocent bystanders. It’s incredible to see the ingenious ways these wild beasts navigate narrow alleys and crowded plazas.

Ultraman enters the fray, immense and invincible. His sleek armor gleams under neon signs, imposing yet elegant, like a streamlined automobile. Elastic animations imbue each motion with potent strength, from piled-riving punches to rocket-fueled kicks that carve the air. You believe this hero could demolish skyscrapers yet pull his blows to dispatch threats, not destroy them.

Vibrant colors saturate every scene. Luminescent particle effects glow from within the beasts, outlining sinewy muscles. Ultra-energy beams dazzle in saturated hues. Even nighttime maintains clarity; lights are bright against the inky darkness.

From the first explosive step to the final triumphant pose, Ultraman: Rising brings its larger-than-life vision to stunning animated life. While the humans appear a bit cartoony, that feels like a small price for achieving such technical wonders in crafting this colossal world. The spectacle of beauty and brutality will leave you eager for more.

Balancing Bravado and Bonding

Ultraman: Rising excels by mixing two genres that could clash—superhero action and parenthood comedy. The film strikes a deft balance, delivering impressive fights and kaiju mayhem alongside heartfelt bonding between its reluctant hero and an unusual adoptive child.

Director Shannon Tindle handles the tone shift skillfully. Scenes of Ultraman squaring off against towering beasts transition smoothly to the baby Kaiju’s hijinks. Her antics generate plenty of laughs as our hero learns the challenges of caring for a fire-breathing infant. Yet Tindle infuses even these lighter moments with emotional resonance, portraying the bond developing between star and monster.

The film also treats its kaiju with a rare degree of compassion. Most stories cast giant creatures as mindless threats to be vanquished. Not so here. When explaining her views, one character notes that Kaiju are simply animals displaced from home. They lash out not from malice but from fear and confusion after finding themselves in an unfamiliar environment.

It’s a refreshingly nuanced take. Ultraman subdues the beasts nonviolently while seeking to return them safely to their natural habitat. Even the villain’s motivation, while misguided, stems from the loss suffered in a kaiju attack rather than simple bloodlust. This adds complexity while retaining kid-friendliness.

The baby kaiju becomes a symbol of threatened innocence requiring protection. Audiences can’t help but adore the strange yet adorable creature as it forges an unbreakable bond with its unlikely savior. Its perilous scenarios generate genuine suspense, and its milestones of growth bring satisfaction.

Through a balance of bravado and bonding, Ultraman: Rising presents action and heart in equal measure. The film brings nuance to issues of parenting, family, and humanity’s relationship with nature’s staggering yet misunderstood giants. Most of all, it shows how we can find common ground even with seeming “others” through empathy, compassion, and love.

Developing Bonds

Ultraman: Rising explores complex relationships at its core. Chief among them is baseball star Ken, and his troubled past informs his actions.

Ken grew up watching his father, Professor Sato, frequently rush off to battle monsters as Ultraman. This left Ken feeling abandoned and resentful towards the father, whom he saw more as a distant hero than a parent. A shadow hangs over their family too—the mysterious disappearance of Ken’s mother years ago.

These experiences left Ken seeking attention and approval. He throws himself fully into sports, finding purpose and praise on the field. But old wounds remain unhealed. Returning to Japan as Ultraman awakens these issues again. At first, Ken only views the role as another path to glory.

Yet caring for a strange new dependent—the adorable baby Kaiju Emi—shifts Ken’s perspective. Where he expected frustration, the joy and love he feels caring for Emi surprises him. Being a father opens Ken’s eyes to what his own must have experienced. Gradually, he understands his parents’ sacrifices in a new light.

Emi herself blossoms from a clumsy infant discovering her abilities into Ken’s ally and friend. Their bond proves even the unlikeliest of pairs can form strong connections. Even as Emi faces threats from those who’d see her as a weapon, her trust in Ken keeps them close.

Ken’s growth allows for a for a new understanding with Professor Sato too. Facing monsters alongside his father lets Ken appreciate the challenges of juggling heroic duties with parenting. Reconnecting with his mentor brings long-sought closure and a chance to repair their relationship.

Through unexpected relationships with Emi and mending fences with his father, Ultraman: Rising’s heart emerges. Its characters’ evolving bonds make for an emotional journey viewers are invested in. Their sincerity gives this fantastical story surprising depth and leaves us believing that with compassion, even the most divided of families can be whole again.

Opposing Forces

A key source of conflict in Ultraman: Rising comes from the contrasting views of the story’s main antagonist, Dr. Onda. As leader of the Kaiju Defense Force, Onda takes a far harsher approach than Ultraman towards the giant monsters threatening Tokyo.

Onda oversees a militarized operation, viewing each Kaiju encounter as a battle to be won at all costs. He sees the creatures only as dangerous threats, rather than the misunderstood animals Ultraman tries to protect. This stems from Onda’s own past, where he lost family in a kaiju attack years ago. The tragedy understandably fuels his desire to destroy the monsters by any means.

However, Onda’s beliefs directly oppose Ultraman and Ken Sato’s more compassionate methods. Where they try to resolve crises without harming the kaiju, Onda aggressively pursues eliminating them. This places the two groups at odds as they compete to handle Tokyo’s defenses.

Tensions grow higher once Ken adopts baby Kaiju Emi. Onda becomes fixated on capturing the young creature, convinced it possesses powers that could eradicate all kaiju. He cares little for Emi’s life or her bond with Ken. Onda thus emerges as a resolute and almost ruthlessly efficient villain, pushing Ultraman to the limit in protecting innocent lives on both sides of the conflict.

The differing philosophies of the Kaiju Defense Force and Ultraman introduce an engaging internal struggle to the usual external threats. It explores socially relevant themes of militarism versus nonviolence through their battles against the story’s spectacular monsters.

Legacy Meets New Generation

Ultraman: Rising succeeds as both an entry point for newcomers and a strong addition to the long-running franchise. For kids especially, this is a tremendously entertaining film packed with amazing visuals. Giant Kaiju battling Ultraman across Tokyo makes for non-stop excitement. Yet amidst the action, developers found time for meaningful character growth.

At its heart, this is a story about parental relationships. We see Ken struggle to connect with his own father while coming to understand the immense responsibility Professor Sato carries. Only by taking on that mantle himself does Ken gain new appreciation. His journey is made all the more meaningful through caring for baby Emi. She teaches Ken important lessons about compassion and putting others first.

This dynamic gives the movie surprising depth. Though fun and accessible for all, messages will resonate most with parents and their children. Perhaps they see pieces of their own experiences within Ken and Professor Sato’s bond. Or within the bond Ken forms with Emi, Both represent the dimensions of parenthood beautifully.

At the same time, longtime fans need not worry. Ultraman: Rising injects ample respect for precedents. Iconic characters, powers, and plotlines feel seamlessly incorporated. Nothing feels missed, whether you’re a novice or an expert. Even so, the story stands independently from prior knowledge. Newcomers can dive in without confusion.

With compelling characters, gorgeous animation, and pulse-pounding monster brawls, Ultraman: Rising is simply good entertainment. It delivers exactly what you’d hope for, whether you’re eight or eighty. For those seeking a fun action or comedy the whole family enjoys, this fits the bill perfectly. Ultraman’s legacy lives on in the best way.

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