POWER RANGERS
US, 2017, 124 minutes, Colour.
Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Ludy Lin, Becky G, Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston, Bill Hader, David Denman.
Directed by Dean Israelite.
An expensive action movie from 2017 but a very limited box office success. It was based on the past comics and television programs, Morphin Power Rangers. Judging by the opinions of many of the bloggers, it did not fulfil their hopes and did not relate to the original series as desired.
The target audience is younger. In fact, one of the basic plot factors in this film, recalcitrant young students in detention, was at the core of the plot of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, one of the most successful films at the box office in 2017 with the same target audience.
The film opens with some ancient history, a technical earth thousands of years earlier, a conflict between warriors and a usurper, Rita, who imprisoned her foe as well is all the Power Rangers. The headquarters on ships were buried.
Most of the film is set in a very contemporary present, youngsters who are often surly and rebellious, critical of adults, finding themselves in detention. One of them, African- American, Billy, is bullied but is defended by the hero (who has to undergo quite a transition from -·anger and surliness to leader and hero). Billy helps Jason to be free from his police control and goes up into the mountains into a mine, encountering another young rebel, as well as an Asian- American who is self-confidently self-assertive..
Billy is experimenting, digging, and unearths three ancient coins with bright colours. When another rebellious girl is met, the five find that they have superpowers, leaping over chasms, jumping into the deep, yet able to return to the ordinary days at home and at school – where Billy’s bully gets his comeuppance!
All of this takes more than an hour. Eventually, they come across a speaking robot (who explains that English is a dialect from his own ancient language), who introduces them to the imprisoned leader. They are given a certain amount of time to decide whether they will become Power Rangers or not, Jason having the greatest challenge but his being able to persuade the others to follow.
Most of the rest of the film is special effects, stunt work, many, many battles, Rita eventually entering into the contemporary world, threatening people, but, after quite a lengthy time, the power Rangers win and all, at least for the time being, is well with the universe.
Power Rangers did get six Teen Choices nominations. And for villain and hero’s voices, Elizabeth Banks and Bryan Cranston – and for the talking robot, Bill Hader.
The film can be seen as fairly expensive Saturday matinee material which might be too flip and easy for a more mindful group but is an extravagant show for more mindless action.
