* This review contains spoilers for Power Rangers
I want to start off by saying that I did not grow up watching the Power Rangers. I attended the film with a friend who did, and she absolutely loved it.
I have to say, I was quite impressed by this picture.
My only knowledge of any Power Rangers content was the Nostalgia Critic's review of Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie. Thus, I went in with relatively low expectations, given that I didn't know anything about the story of the TV series.
That being said, when the film opened in a method similar to that of DC's Green Lantern, I was very afraid that this film would become the first negative review on the blog. Luckily, this was not the case.
The film clearly explains the origins of the characters who would ultimately become the Power Rangers. I was very happy to see that their ability to "morph" was not immediate, but rather required them to get to know and be connected with each other, leading to them gaining their abilities after giving everything to bring back Billy after Rita drowns him, a very bold and effective move in the narrative of the film. This led to interesting character development and, as an audience member, a genuine investment in the characters and what happens to them. In addition, the actors and actresses playing the kids are largely unknown, which means they gave it their all, and it shows in the quality of performance.
The character of Rita received a drastically needed update, and actually had a backstory that made her a tragic villain. Once a Power Ranger, Rita became consumed with desire for power, and now seeks to gain the power of a crystal that sustains life on Earth. yes, this is a rather ridiculous premise, but it makes more sense than the Allspark in Transformers, so I will let it slide.
The CGI in this picture is beautifully integrated into the reality. I was very impressed by the integrations of Goldar, Rita's creation to extract the crystal, and the zords. These effects flowed and felt very real, making for a fantastic climax fight. I also have to give a shout out to the Megazord, as it looked impressive as a massive robot, but had a design that made it unique from the giant robots of Real Steel, Transformers, Pacific Rim, and every other giant robot film in history. And again, the Megazord didn't just happen easily, but formed out of the bond of the group.
While the film does have a few cheesy moments, the film as a whole has something everybody can enjoy, whether you grew up with the original show or not. This is a hard feat to accomlish, but this film has done it.
If you can get to the theater and see it, it's an interesting film that may make you interested in the series as a whole. I know I am interested in watching more.
Let me know what you though of The Power Rangers in the comments below. Did you grow up with the series? If so, what did you think of the film?
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