Maybe I got spoiled by watching a couple of solid Ultraman movies before this one, but Ultraman X: The Movie: Here He Comes! Our Ultraman just didn’t measure up. Nothing about it is out and out bad, but it lacks the punch of the last few entries. Those flicks at least had the benefit of snappy pacing and non-stop monster mashing. This one just feels padded (especially the opening) and the stuff that occurs in between the kaiju battles is disposable and forgettable. It also doesn’t help that the human hero gets separated from his “X” transformation cube (it looks like an iPhone in a bulky case), which means he can’t turn into Ultraman for a good chunk of the movie.
Things kick off with a recap of the Ultraman X TV show, which plays like a greatest hits compilation on fast forward. Then the plot begins. An asshole archeologist removes a sacred stone from a mountain, awakening a giant monster. It’s then up to Ultraman to stop it.
There’s some really silly shit here, and that’s coming from the guy who defended the use of a flute sword in Ultra Fight Victory. In one scene, a jet shoots cotton candy at the monsters. I’m sorry, I’ve got to draw the line somewhere. That’s some Paw Patrol level shit, if you ask me.
There’s also a comic relief alien doctor who helps the humans. I joked in my Ultraman Ginga S review that the villain was collecting Ultramen like Pokémon cards, but this guy actually turns the data he collects on other Ultramen into actual trading cards!
Things perk up a tad during the finale when the original Ultraman shows up to aid in the fight. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s lame having a little kid controlling Ultraman Tiga. Also, the arrival of the other Ultramen at the eleventh hour doesn’t give them a whole lot to do besides hastily fight a monster or two. They deserved more than extended cameos.
AKA: Ultraman X: Here He Comes! Our Ultraman. AKA: Ultraman X: The Movie. AKA: Ultraman X: The Movie: Here Comes! Our Ultraman.
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