Power Rangers - C+

Quick Hit: A movie that flips the script on what most superhero flicks are these days.

Ok, so where were we? Oh yes, Power Rangers. This time, it’s Saban’s Power Rangers. If people really expect us to call it that, they’re dumb. I can swallow the Mighty Morphin, but Saban’s Power Rangers? That doesn’t even deserve my italics. Ok. Moving on, deep breaths and all that.

Here we are. We’re given a modern take on the classic story of kids that are trained by an alien guy named Zordan that is voiced by Bryan Cranston. I mean, we’ve all been here before right?

Ok, so here’s what I really think of the movie. The movie did everything right for the first half of the movie. It gives us interesting characters to turn into our favorite primary colored heroes (more on that in a second). It gives us someone that is on the autism spectrum, something seriously underrepresented in movies. It gives us a character that is a lesbian, and an Asian that isn’t magically good at karate. I’m just saying that this is really, really different for a movie, and not just because of what it gives us in characters.

What it does is give us these characters without flaunting it on our faces. Along with that, it continually gives us dialogue that isn’t terrible. I think the fireside scene, despite the corny setting, is one of the best in the film, because it’s so very real.  It’s a beautiful bit of writing by John Gatins.

I also want to talk about the acting. All of these guys do varying degrees of a good job. You have your stand outs, like RJ Cyler (who was in that little movie Me and Earl and the Dying Girl),  and Ludi Lin, who I’ve never heard of before.  But the other members of the Rangers aren’t terrible. Even the two with the most stereotypical roles are decent at them. My favorite though was Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa. I know she is so campy that it’s ridiculous, but I couldn’t help but love it. She knows her role and embraces it.

Unfortunately, once the Power Rangers do appear, the movie just grinds down. The fighting is not really worth it. Goldar, who in the past has been presented as almost like one of the Evil Witches flying monkeys, is now a giant gold statue. Oh wait, no, he’s actually just a hunk of goo. Not even Ivan’s goo: gold goo. You barely get a look at the Zords properly, and the costumes. Gosh, they are just bad. I get they are trying to modernize things, and I understand that “dark and gritty” is all the rage. But after watching one Power Rangers film and going to another, you can see how washed out these really look. And why? It’s the same gripe I have with washing out Superman’s costume in Man of Steel. We’re talking about alien powers that magically morph people. Who cares if the colors are bright?

Seriously though. Goldar to Goldar... what happened?

The movie has some really good starting potential, but it dies in the second half. We’ll see where that takes them for the inevitable sequels. I’m giving this a “C+”.   

For more on this movie check out IMDB.