SPOILER FREELet me start by saying growing up as a child during the 90's, The original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers show became a huge part of my childhood and helped mold me into the fanboy I am today of the Power Rangers team. The original show was cheesy but larger than life when you're watching it from a kids perspective. Although the show went through many different changes after Mighty going from Power Rangers Zeo, to Power Rangers Turbo, Power Rangers In Space, and Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy, I enjoyed them all and kept watching with great anticipation until I outgrew the show and moved on with my life. At first when I heard that they were making a new Power Rangers movie that's a reboot of the series, I was highly skeptical at first feeling that the filmmakers couldn't get it right in today's world. As hokey and silly the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie was, I enjoyed it as a child and still find it entertaining today given how awesome of a villain Ivan Ooze is. Going into this movie, I realized that the only way a Power Rangers movie would work in today's culture, is if it doesn't take itself too seriously, pays respect to the past, while retelling the story for a newer generation. In other words it needed to do its own thing while acknowledging the past. Now that I have seen Power Rangers, I can proudly say that the filmmakers not only achieved all those feats, but exceeded expectations by surprising audiences with the films quality.
Power Rangers despite what audiences may think going into it (Believe me, I had the same fears and anxieties towards it leading up to its release), is not just surprisingly good, it's awesome. This film knows what the audience wants, and gives it to them while reestablishing the core storyline of the Rangers, and bringing in familiar characters or newer people with the same names of the original trilogy such as Jason, Billy, Zack, etc. The characters that do reappear from the show that leave the most impact on the audience nostalgic wise, is Rita Repulsa played brilliantly and surprisingly well by Elizabeth Banks, the Rangers lovable and reliable droid Alpha, whose a newer and more upgraded version of the droid that was present in the original show, and Zordon played this time by Breaking Bads Bryan Cranston. Cranston's casting as Zordon is not only perfect but he gives the Rangers a leader, who expects them to work hard for the task he's laying down with them, but also genuinely cares about the team and wants them to succeed. This Zordon is more Stern than the previous as he puts the Rangers to work for their chance to don the suits, and the payoff is highly rewarding when that moment comes. One of the more important things about the new Rangers movie, is the need for the audience to become connected with and care about the new Rangers team. If audiences can't find a connection with the the new Rangers then the action, the suits, and potential set up for the new series of movies is all pointless. Luckily that's not the case here as audiences not only become connected with the Rangers as regular teenagers, but totally buy into them being their own team that's destined to carry on the Power Rangers legacy. The casting of each different Ranger is perfect with the Blue Ranger played by RJ Cyler, stealing the show along with Red Ranger played by Dacre Montgomery. The Pink Ranger played by Naomi Scott is a strong and effective female character in this film, that will capture the attention of young teenage boys much like how Amy Joe Johnson did for the original Power Rangers show in the same role. The Yellow Ranger played by Becky G is also a strong female character, that has a revelation that provides a fitting change for the main characters as these versions of the Rangers team are designed to fit into today's demographic of teenagers. What makes Power Rangers 2017 a striking reboot of the series, is how much care the filmmakers take with retelling the story by placing heavier emphasis on storytelling and character development rather than the action. Almost two thirds of the film are devoted to establishing the characters and the main plot of the Power Rangers coming together as a team with the third act being the payoff seeing the whole gang working together as the new powerhouse team with their impressive Zords. At first I was highly pessimistic of how the new Megazord looked as I grew up loving the original designs from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers show, but the newer Megazord grew on me once I got to catch a glance of it on the big screen. It's bigger, it's more realistic, and its a brute force against the monsters that enable it to be used. Technology wise, the visual effects are stunning along with the cinematography and Tron like score that kicks in once the team assumes their roles as being the new Rangers. If there's one criticism that can be drawn towards the main monster in the film, it's that while he looks visually spot on with how he appeared in the original show, his facial features could've been more enhanced ( SPOILER Goldar). Power Rangers 2017 is a combination of The Breakfast Club in regards to showing how the team formed as one as well as their attempts to adapt to their new abilities while living out normal High School lives, Chronicle 2012 in how these young teens discover a force of great power, that gives them abilities they never knew existed and opportunity to do something amazing with them, and the original Power Rangers in maintaining the cheese factor of the show, while taking a more darker and mature approach to it. In an era where everything is more serious, darker, and bleak, a more upgraded and mature approach to the Power Rangers timeline is more than welcome, especially if it gives audiences a shock of their childhood nostalgia and has a sense of fun popcorn entertainment to it. Examples of true moments where the movie works in regards to evoking strong nostalgic emotions, are seeing the Rangers walking together in their full-blown outfits for the first time along with the 1995 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie theme playing in the background at one point, giving the audience goosebumps while making them cheer, and seeing the Megazord go toe to toe with the films main monster. While audiences know beforehand that they can never expect to get the feel of the 1990s show ever again as that was two decades prior to this new reincarnation, the new reboot does the most admirable service of paying have to the past while bringing the story into the new generation and appears to have much fun doing so.
Overall Power Rangers 2017 is very much the reboot that die hard fans of the original television show are looking for. This movies greatest asset is the amount of heart it possesses as well as it's courage to make the action take a backseat to solid storytelling and character development thats essential to making the new Rangers team work. No matter how impressive explosions and the Megazord look, if the audience doesn't care about the characters then it's all pointless and boring. Thankfully here, that's not the case as these characters not only hold your attention but you actually care about them and find them relatable. Where many reboots try but fail to revive their series, Power Rangers succeeds in the most wonderful way which is to make the audience feel the way they did two decades prior watching them on FOX. Power Rangers is a great continuation of the franchise that will not only please older fans but win over newer ones. This movies full of charm, wit, excitement, genuine thrills, and a powerful dose of nostalgia that will have audiences thinking about the new Rangers long after the credits finish. One surely hopes that the new Rangers franchise gets off the ground and continues with a sequel because the new team has so much more story and adventures awaiting them and they deserve to have their chance to shine. The only other request I would've asked the filmmakers is including more cameos from the original Rangers team like the original Red Ranger actor playing the father of the new Red Ranger and the original Billy playing a teacher or professor at the kids High School. Whereas Paul Feigs Ghostbusters 2016 had nearly all of the original cast making cameos in the reboot, it wouldve been equally fitting to see the original Rangers actors do the same here. If you haven't seen the new Power Rangers movie, do yourself a favor and go check it out. You will not be disappointed. In a year thus far of strong quality films, Power Rangers is a nice surprise as well as being a reminder that not everything has to be 100 percent serious and dark but can still be mature, fun, and badass at the same time. Rangers is a must see
8.5 out of 10
fuck off cunt
ReplyDelete