Hey everyone! Hopefully with AP exams behind me, I'll have time to start these reviews again. However, I don't think I'll be doing episode by episode reviews consistently - they take a long time to write, and depending on how the episode was, I might not be in the right mood to write it. Though it may look like that I love ranting, it actually takes a lot of energy out of me, and even can negatively affect my health. This doesn't mean I'll never do them again - I'll write recaps for particularly memorable episodes, such as Arrow's season 5 episode 20, so watch out for that.
So, I've decided to expand on my blog and do general season recaps, such as my Shadowhunters ones, me talking more about my opinions than what actually happened in the episode, and, as the title of this post indicates, movie reviews! I'm extremely excited to cover Power Rangers as my first movie review, and apologize for it being very late.
From what I've heard, the movie differs from the original series as it focuses more on the origin stories of the characters, rather than cheesy special effects and action. Of course, there were nods to the original such as the use of the iconic Power Rangers theme song, and the Rangers' Zords. Though
I was never into the TV series as a child (sue me), so when the news first came out that Lionsgate was turning the show into a movie, I didn't really care. As my friends broke out their Ranger costumes and figures, I turned a blind eye. In fact, I wasn't even planning to see the movie at all until I saw people rave about the amazing representation the saga provided (and plan(ned) to provide in the future).
The movie centers around five high schoolers who are all misfits in some way or another. Through the discovery of colored coins, they morph into Power Rangers to save their town, Angel Grove. While the storyline itself may sound unoriginal and bland, the cast's chemistry and amazing, never-before-seen representation easily placed this movie on my top 5 list. In fact, I think this is the only movie where I've wholeheartedly loved every single main character.
Jason Scott, the Red Ranger and the leader, is the only white guy, but thankfully, the writers don't turn him into a stereotypical douche. He lands himself in detention for the rest of the year after a failed prank, losing his potential football scholarships for college. It must be fate, because on the first day, he stops a bully from breaking Billy Cranston's crayons,
Billy wants to explore the mines, and Jason drives him up in exchange for the minivan. Things don't go to plan, however, when Billy's device explodes the rock, and they find themselves on the run from the authorities along with Kimberly Hart, Zack Taylor, and Trini We Don't Know Her Last Name. Oh, did I mention that Kimberly is Indian, Zack is Chinese, and Trini is a gay Latina? Representation galore!
Though they're scared and uncertain, the team continues to return, bonding and developing their powers in the process. Their training must be put to the test when Rita Repulsa returns, seeking gold and the destruction of the world. Billy even dies for the cause, but luckily comes back to life after the morphing grid activates. The scene of Billy's death and the aftermath is one of the most poignant scenes of the movie, and proves to all the haters that Billy is the heart of the team. Packed with badass slo-mo shots, the Power Rangers successfully morph and turn their Zords (special dinosaur-like vehicles) into one big Megazord, bitch-slapping Rita off the Earth.
Much of this movie is literally powered by the magic of friendship, such as the fact that they couldn't morph because they didn't know and understand each other. While it may seem cheesy, it was actually particularly moving to see people from diverse backgrounds come together in a non-forced way to save the world. During the bonfire scene, each confess their deepest, darkest, secrets. Trini gets a realistic coming-out storyline, one I hope the writers will do justice in the future. Apparently, Lionsgate has five or six sequels planned, but not if the movie isn't successful. WATCH THE MOVIE, YOU IDIOTS!!!! SUPPORT DIVERSE, WELL-WRITTEN MOVIES!!!!! Zack's Chinese origin also gets screentime, such as when he speaks Mandarin to his sick mother. That personally meant so much to me, as I am Chinese and rarely get to see an East Asian superhero on screen, much less one of my specific ethnicity. Kimberly is the one who gets the least sympathy, as she became an outcast after sending her friend's nudes to her boyfriend. Luckily, the movie doesn't gloss over the shittiness of her actions, and Kimberly must face the consequences.
Coupled with Krispy Kreme-sponsored camera shots, a badass soundtrack, and a dancing Megazord, Power Rangers is a delight from beginning to end. There's a perfect mix of action and emotional plotlines, though I'm a little bit salty a lot of Zack's scenes were cut. The genuine love each member of the team has for each other shines through, and I know the cast is close in real life as well.
Power Rangers (2017) is a story about love and friendship, and learning that accepting differences and flaws can be a good thing. Five misfits proved their loyalty to each other and saved the world while they were at it. I truly hope this movie gets tons of sequels, and my babies can come back to me. I highly recommend watching it, and buying the DVD when it comes out in June. Go, go, Power Rangers!
Movie Rating: 8.9
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