Power Rangers (2017)

Well everyone, one of my old Community College friends asked me to go see the new “Power Rangers” movie, which came out last month. Since I had a hard time trying to find parking, we missed the first few minutes of the movie, and since I had to use the bathroom, we asked for our tickets to be readmitted for a later showing. Seeing how this is technically a superhero movie, I wasn’t really looking forward to seeing this. I probably would have best left it as a DVD rental, but since my friend asked if I could go with him, I couldn’t say no. I went into this movie with really low expectations because, if you read my review on the two 90s adaptations, I thought this movie was going to be mediocre at most, seeing how that’s the rating it’s been getting on Rotten Tomatoes. However, enough of that, let’s get on with the review.

Marjorie Baumgarten started her review out by saying, “These indomitable, color-coded superhero teens are back on the big screen, starring actors who are too young to have been alive for the last hurrah of the film series in the mid-Nineties yet a smidge too old to pass as genuine high-schoolers.” However, seeing how relatable, tolerable kids that star along with high-profile actors like Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston and Bill Hader, they make this new installment of the film series of a TV series that was inspired by the Japanese “Super Sentai” a surprisingly enjoyable, if completely predictable, film.

The story can be told by fans of the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” TV show, which was the American version of “Super Sentai.” Those who know nothing about it will think it makes no sense. 65 million years ago, Zordon (Bryan Cranston) who apparently was in a couple of episodes of the show, hid the Zeo Crystal, “the source of all life,” from Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks, who apparently likes to eat gold). Asleep for those years, the crystal is now found by a group of high school kids who are gifted these superpowers from the stone, but have to learn to “morph” before learning the crystal’s hidden powers. For a good majority of the film, they undergo training. The Power Rangers have always been a diverse group of different personalities, and this film is no exception. Red Ranger Jason Scott, played by Dacre Montgomery is his school’s quarterback that has problems with the police. Kimberly Hart, an improving bully and former cheerleader, played by the hot English actress Naomi Scott, is the Pink Ranger. Blue Ranger Billy Cranston, played by RJ Cyler, is autistic, but says that he is “on the spectrum.” Black Ranger Zack Taylor, played by Ludi Lin, is an Asian-American boy taking care of his mother on bed rest (Fiona Fu). Finally, we have Trini Kwan; a misunderstood girl who is lesbian, played by the hot rapper Becky G, and is also the Yellow Ranger. (Baumgarten credited, “Kudos to the filmmakers for creating the multicultural mix of black, Asian, Latina, and female Rangers, a move which is, nevertheless, undercut by making the white, male quarterback the leader of the group.”)

For a good part of the film, we learn about these kids (three of them are first seen in detention) and see them get trained by Zordon, who now has his face on the Command Center’s wall (looking like one of those old toys that kids used to put their faces and hands on to make a needle copy of), and Zordon’s robot companion Alpha 5, voiced by Bill Hader. The final action is put into the film’s final act. “Power Rangers” feels like a mixture of “The Breakfast Club,” “Transformers,” “The Walking Dead,” and different superheroes like “Spider-Man,” “The Avengers” and “Man of Steel.” The film actually makes a couple of references to Michael Bay’s “Transformers” series. The attacks ruins the student’s hometown of Angel Grove (which we have seen in “The Avengers” and “Man of Steel”) as they learn to work together and bring their Zords together to make the MegaZord with their metallic suits to beat Rita Repulsa, who walks through the streets looking with her rock giant Goldar, voiced by Fred Tatasciore, for gold to eat, along with the Zeo Crystal, that Billy says is inside a Krispy Kreme (product placement anyone?). Baumgarten credited, “The donut chain’s product placement pays off handsomely in the end. From now on, I fear I will always subliminally think of Krispy Kremes as harbors for the crystalline source of life. Alas, all that shines there is glazed sugar.”

As I have already stated, I wasn’t surprised that I felt this film was just average. It’s a mediocre, enjoyable film, but that’s about it. However, I will say that this is the “Power Rangers” film that I wouldn’t mind seeing again, as opposed to the 90s movies. As an old school “Power Rangers” fan who grew up watching the original show in the 90s all the way up to “Wild Force,” I remember eagerly waiting to come back home from school every day just to watch this show. In the end, if you want to watch this film, go ahead, but I don’t recommend it, seeing how I just thought this was ok. There is a lot of good stuff in the film, but it wasn’t enough for me to give it a higher rating. I just give it a “Go, Go Power Mediocrity.”

No surprise that they are planning sequels to this film. They are actually going to make this into a six-film franchise. I would imagine that in the next film they introduce Tommy since in the mid-credits scene (spoilers) the detention teacher, played by John Stewart, is giving attendance, and Tommy is not at his seat, except for his green jacket. Also, Jason David Frank and Amy Jo Johnson make a quick cameo in this movie.

Thanks for joining in on my review of this film. Stay tuned to see what I have in store for everybody in April.