Zeburâman: Zebura Shiti no gyakushû
Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Kankurô Kudô
Sequel to: Zebraman
Cast: Shô Aikawa, Riisa Naka, Masahiro Inoue, Tsuyoshi Abe
Part of: /slash Filmfestival

Plot:
15 years after the events in Zebraman, and Zebraman is missing – and has been for quite a while. Tokyo has been renamed Zebra City and has been taken over by a totalitarian regime that has established Zebra Time: twice a day for five minutes, the Zebra police can do pretty much anything they want and crime is pretty much legal. Then Zebraman (Shô Aikawa) returns, but without his memory. He is apalled by the general state of Tokyo, but he also feels a strange connection to Zebra Queen (Riisa Naka), a pop star and the daughter of the ruler of Tokyo.

More often than not, sequels are a disappointing affair. In this case, Zebraman 2 is by far the superior film. It’s comparatively darker than the first movie (though it’s still funny), has the better plot and villain.

I have to admit I was most impressed with Riisa Naka and her character, the Zebra Queen. She makes for a great villain and her love story with Niimi (Tsuyoshi Abe) was surprisingly touching [completely ridiculous, but still kinda sweet and also definitely hot. Those two have chemistry with each other like woah]. Also, there is this coolness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4svHeqM-QQo

I thought that the ending didn’t really do her character justice. She should have gotten more drama, but it’s a small thing I can live with.

But it’s not only the Zebra Queen that makes this the better film. The worldbuilding is a fascinating continuation of part one. The way Zebraman’s name is abused by the government was really interesting, I thought and probably worthy of a film that took itself more seriously.

What else can I say? I just loved every second of it.

Summarising: Probably one of my favorite superhero movies ever.