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A group of high-school kids, who are infused with unique superpowers, harness their abilities in order to save the world.
“It’s Morphin Time!” Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we can move on to what else makes this exciting film worth watching over and over again. From the beginning scenes, various painful scenarios involving quirky kids who just can’t seem to get it right with the world, seem to defy the laws of attraction by having a common denominator which seals their fate. The detention room at Angel Grove High has become the breeding ground for a few determined students who are slow to realize they must feed off each other’s exorbitant energy in order to resolve their own transgressions.
As survival instincts kick in throughout the classroom and into the real world, the plot begins to thicken and reminds us that, just a couple of decades earlier, we were intrigued by another group of Power Rangers that were a tad less youthful, albeit a tad more quick to jump headfirst into the action. As the group of five comes together and earns their rightful status, each of the personalities gains strength and resilience in pursuit of their higher purpose. The Red Ranger, Jason Lee Scott (Dacre Montgomery), Pink Ranger, Kimberly Hart (Naomi Scott), Blue Ranger, Billy Cranston (R J Cyler), Black Ranger, Zack Taylor (Ludi Lin), and Yellow Ranger, Becky G. (Trini Kwan), morphing into the Ranger they were destined to be in order to protect Angel Grove from an alien threat.
Director Dean Israelite, definitely did his homework by first taking into consideration the loyal following of “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” fans from 1995 that would expect nothing less than a script that wouldn’t deviate too far from the original, yet have new enough material with technological enhancements that would encompass a sci-fi generation of old school bullies and socially challenged nerds. He did an exemplary job of selecting these new and improved Rangers, by casting actors who were most like the characters in their real lives. This commonsense approach seems to have paid off for the entire crew as well as those of us who have pleasant memories of the Red, Black, Blue, White, or Yellow Power Ranger we could most likely identify with.
Truth be told, although it appears that the Power Rangers are back with a vengeance, the film has been so carefully updated, that it almost seems no time has passed since we were rooting for our beloved Power Rangers to prevail against Rita Repulsa’s (Elizabeth Banks) crew. While there may not be as much hand to hand combat as there was in the past, there is a general expectancy to kick generational metal and take names. Saban’s “Power Rangers” doesn’t disappoint in this area. While the plot develops around wit vs. will, some basic life lessons are single-handedly dealt with that provide for a solid path that should help to keep our youth of today on the straight and narrow, or at least serve as a springboard in that general direction. Without comparing the two, pound for pound, Saban’s “Power Rangers” is an exciting film on its own merit and provides a storyline that is humorous, adventurous, and relatable to all ages. Don’t get so caught up in the crosshairs, that you miss the valuable messages that are relative today and outshine any comparison to the past. Whether you like it or not, “It’s Morphin Time,” once again! Don’t miss it!
In theaters Friday, March 24th
