Kamen Rider: The First

Plot

One year prior, two terminally ill hospital patients are given a chance to live by the terrorist organization Sacred Hegemony of Cycle Kindred Evolutional Realm, otherwise known as "Shocker", who relocate them to their island base to convert them into the

In the present, Shocker Inhumanoid Bat kidnaps college student Takeshi Hongo to convert and

As a result of Hongo's treason, Major Agent Elderly Gentleman has converted the second Hopper and sent him to eliminate their former soldier. While Hongo defeats Spider, Asuka meets a figure who has an uncanny resemblance to Yano, revealing his name as Hayato Ichimonji; instead of killing Hongo, leading to Shocker branding him a traitor as well.

When Bat attempts to kidnap Asuka and turn her into an Inhumanoid, an enraged Ichimonji turns on Shocker and joins forces with Hongo to defeat Bat, Cobra, and Snake at Shocker's base, though Elderly Gentleman and the other Major Agents escape to plan their revenge.

Cast and characters

The crew of The First also features many returning faces. Director

Differences between film and television

• The movie has a great deal of elements from the original television series that spread across from the beginning to end, although several of these conflict with the film's timing. Hongo Takeshi originally had to ride his motorcycle at high speeds to power his typhoon belt and transform into his Rider form while Ichimonji Hayato was able to power the Typhoon by arm movements. Although Hongo was able to do the same eventually, the movie version can do it from the beginning.
• The Riders' henshin movement is also different from the actual series. In the series, Hongo and Ichimonji perform a series of stylish hand-waving, then jump into the air to complete the transformation. In this movie, they simply open up their leather jackets (or polo shirt, in one of Ichimonji's cases), revealing the Typhoon Belt (and their body armor), then snap on their helmets and faceplates on their heads to transform. These movements are implemented later in the movie, but are mostly just showy poses that have no connection to their transformation.
• Dr. Shinigami appears from the very beginning of the movie, although in the original series, he appeared after the defeat of Colonel Zol, the first Shocker general.
• The character of Hayato Ichimonji was completely rewritten. In the television series, Ichimonji was a photographer who was kidnapped to become Shocker's new Kamen Rider, although he was rescued by Takeshi Hongo before he could be brainwashed; the two were allies from the beginning. In the film, Ichimonji was originally Katsuhiko Yano, the lover of Asuka Midorikawa. Katsuhiko was killed by Spider, and Hongo/Hopper was framed for it. Katsuhiko's corpse was recovered and turned into a cyborg similar to Hongo. His brain was altered to believe he was a man named Hayato Ichimonji in competition for Asuka's affection. Ichimonji originally served as Hongo's enemy, and later a hesitant ally. He disappears at the end of the movie, leaving his helmet on the road.
• Asuka Midorikawa shares the same last name as one of Hongo's professors who had worked for Shocker, Professor Midorikawa. In the original series, it is Professor Midorikawa who saves Hongo before he can be subjected to brain surgery by providing the distraction to allow Hongo to escape, only to ultimately be murdered by the Spider. Asuka also shares a similarity with Professor Midorikawa's daughter, Ruriko; both had witnessed the death of their respected loved ones (Professor Midorikawa for Ruriko, who was her father, and Katsuhiko Yano for Asuka, who was her fiancé) with their own eyes and originally thought that Hongo was to blame for it. The both of them ultimately found out the truth and forgave Hongo.
• The mysterious Great Leader of Shocker is noticeably absent from the film but made a cameo in the film sequel, Kamen Rider The Next, while Dr Shinigami and the other commanders will not appear.

Songs

Opening theme