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Gekijouban Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost ( 劇場版仮面ライダー555<ファイズ> 『パラダイス・ロスト』 ) Ishimori Productions/Asatsu DK/TV Asahi/Bandai Visual/Toei Co. Ltd., 2003 Not available in the U.S. Directed by Ryuta Tasaki (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Kamen Rider Ryuki) Based on Kamen Rider by the late Shotaro Ishinomori (1938-1998) (Cyborg 009, Android Kikaider)Running Time: 81 minutes Not Rated (Suggested TV-14). Contains graphic violence. Cast Kento Handa as Takumi Inui/Kamen Rider 555 Faiz/Wolf Orphenoch Masayuki Izumi (1980-2015) as Yuji Kiba/Horse Orphenoch/Kamen Rider 000 Orga Yuria Haga as Mari Sonoda Peter Ho as Leo/Kamen Rider 315 Psyga Ken Mizorogi as Keitaro Kikuchi Yoshika Kato as Yuka Osada/Crane Orphenoch Mitsuru Karahashi as Naoya Kaido/Snake Orphenoch Kohei Murakami as Masato Kusaka/Kamen Rider 913 Kaixa Katsuyuki Murai as Kyouji Murakami Hitomi Kurihara as SMART Lady Mei Kurokawa as Mina Mokomichi Hayami as Mizuhara Synopsis In the near future, the world is ruled by the Smart Brain Corporation and its genetic creations known as Orphenochs, and the once prominent human race is nearing extinction. Takumi Inui (a.k.a. Kamen Rider Faiz), was once regarded as the savior of mankind until he was captured by Smart Brain's Riotroopers and presumed dead. Since then, human rebel groups have staged attacks on Smart Brain's complex in an attempt to steal the top-secret "King Belt," but with no success. Kiba, Kaido and Osada - three Orphenochs who sympathize the human race, attempt to ease the tension between both races, but their peace meeting is interrupted by Smart Brain's troops and their newest warrior Kamen Rider Psyga. Takumi, who had lived in secrecy over the past few years, regains his memory and once again becomes Kamen Rider Faiz to settle a score with Smart Brain once and for all. Lowdown If you're expecting a continuation of the Kamen Rider 555 series, you will be disappointed, as it has nothing to do with that continuity. Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost is an alternate retelling in the same way we compare the Escaflowne movie to the TV series. Paradise Lost has a much darker atmosphere than its TV counterpart. It's also more action-packed and more dramatic. All the major characters of the TV series are here; most of them with the same characteristics - Mari still cuts hair, Takumi still can't stand hot drinks, and SMART Lady is as kawaii as ever. Other regular characters have undergone changes that are rather disturbing - Murakami, the evil Smart Brain executive, has been reduced to a head in a glass jar. Unfortunately, many of the series' characters have been reduced to rather minor roles. Kusaka/Kamen Rider Kaixa only has five minutes of air time before he gets killed by Leo/Kamen Rider Psyga (played by American-born Hong Kong actor/singer Peter Ho, who speaks English throughout the entire film). Kamen Rider Delta is nowhere to be seen in the movie at all. The CG special effects are several steps above those seen in the TV series, but many elements still look fake and cheesy, especially when Faiz and his transforming bike Autovajin battle the massive Elasmotherium Orphenoch in the Smart Brain Super Arena. On the other hand, the new Rider designs are nothing short of awesome - especially Orga and Faiz Blaster Form. In short, Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost is loads of fun for fans of tokusatsu. Even the Ishinomori purists who refuse to watch the current generation Kamen Rider titles should check this film out. Rating: B+ Reference Anime News Network