South Seas Adventure: Neoranga is a 26-episode-long series
that aired on Japan's WOWOW satellite TV service in 1998. King Kong
is a classic film made in the U.S. in 1926. The author loves both works, but
does one have an edge over the other? Let's go to the tale of the tape:
Title Character |
King Kong, the baddest movie monster of them all. He was a
king in his own land, but taken prisoner in chains to New York.
Edge: King of the Monsters |
Neoranga, not exactly the old god that everybody remembers.
He's part technology, part metaphysical; at least that means no bad
breath. |
Girl Power |
Fay Wray was stunning, but sheer numbers overwhelm. |
Three beautiful sisters.
Edge: quantity |
South Seas Locale |
Monster Island, if the wildlife don't get ya, the
natives'll feed you to their god. |
Visitors are welcome, but start spying, and you'll get your
body torn to bits. Oh yeah, don't bring your pet whale either...
Edge: hospitality |
Mecha |
Those bi-planes have machine guns mounted on the side.
That's, um, pretty cool. |
What Japanese Defense Force would be complete without a
crack team of mobile suit operators (over-enthusiastic pilot included)?
Edge: technology |
Urban Destruction |
It's must've taken a heck of a long time to fix the Empire
State Building, and that big hole he made in the ground. |
Neoranga doesn't slip, at least, not when he's plowing
through the ocean, or an international airport, or a highway, or a small
army...
Edge: endurance |
Ending |
Well, it's only a movie, so it's gotta end sometime,
right?
Edge: closure |
Hmm, 26 episodes, but only room for 8 today, oh well... |
Hmm... 2 to 4. Looks like the Kong loses this match. But don't
worry, I'm sure the next Hollywood fool who does a remake will make sure
he's cooler than Neoranga.
If you are wondering why the opening is so short, the real reason is
because it ain't the real opening. The producers of Neoranga left the
opening out until episode 5, so for the first four episodes they used a
simple stamp-like title.
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