Ah, the Power Rangers. The ultimate do-gooders. They always stand up for what's right and never get in trouble. They are role models for kids and adults alike. At least they used to be. This is Saban's Power Rangers.
In this reimagining of a childhood classic for many, the Power Rangers are back, but not quite you remember them. Yes, they are the five original teens and they are, in fact the Power Rangers. Yes, Zordon , Alpha, and the Megazord are here, as well. And, yes they must beat the crap out of Rita Repulsa her Putties. So, the basic framework for those childhood memories are there.
 |
| You have the teens and the new Alpha... |
 |
| ...as well as Zordon. |
 |
| Here come the Power Rangers. |
 |
| Rita's new look. |
 |
| The Megazord looks...interesting this time around. |
This movie, however, goes the complete opposite direction with EVERYTHING. The teens spend their days lounging in detention instead of Ernie's Juice Bar. They elude their parents and parole officers, instead of making fools of Bulk and Skull. Zordon is an asshole. And to top it all off, they don't know what they are doing. In other words, this is a total reimagining, from the floor up.
 |
| Well, it's time for Jason to break the law. |
 |
| "You just got knocked the F out." |
As you may have deduced now, these Power Rangers are in a darker, grittier world. There are guns and people get killed. These are things that the original Rangers (whom these kids are) didn't have to deal with on the TV show. Put another way, they Batmanified the Power Rangers.
 |
| Things start off dark... |
 |
| They break out the boomsticks... |
 |
| ...and shit gets real pretty fast. |
All in all, Saban's Power Rangers is a solid movie with the potential to become a nice series. This darkening of the Rangers and their world is an interesting twist. The Power Ranger tradition wall-to-wall action was kind of lacking, but that's to be expected in an origin story. What any potential sequel does after this is just as interesting. Check it out.
