Since remakes have swept the nation lately, it is easy to have mixed emotions when a childhood favorite is being remade for modern times.
Will they destroy the legacy of the show? Or will it be so thrilling it takes us back in time, just for a moment, as we embrace our inner childhood spirit?
Crowds of children, teens, adults and families lined up, eager to watch the modern take on Saban’s Power Rangers.
It has been nearly 25 years since the first launch of the popular franchise in 1993, and now the Lionsgate film is in theaters worldwide.
The story takes place in the fictional town of Angel’s Grove, California, where destiny chooses five misfit teenagers to work together with an ultimate goal to save the world.
Yes, that may sound cheesy and very similar to every other superhero movie out there. I found myself very skeptical of the essence of the story, especially after the beginning scene taking place with an alien war 65 million years ago. But the film quickly switched to modern time, and I found myself captivated by the storyline and characters.
The film focuses on five rebellious teens who don’t fit in or can’t seem to live up to their parents’ standards.
Darce Montgomery takes the lead role as Jason Lee Scott, a popular football player who is constantly a disappointment after pulling pranks. Scott later becomes the Red Ranger.
Naomi Scott plays Kimberly Hart, the popular girl who makes a bad decision when it comes to trusting her friends. Hart becomes the Pink Ranger.
Ludi Lin plays Zack Taylor, the outgoing, carefree Black Ranger who doesn’t think about the outcome of his actions.
RJ Cyler plays Billy Cranston the overcompulsive brainiac who is the cause of the Power Rangers. He later becomes the Blue Ranger.
Becky G takes on the controversial role of Trini Kwan, the extreme outcast of the group who has a few secrets of her own. She plays the Yellow Ranger.
Although this is a superhero movie, I was impressed with how the film dove into the characters personally, understanding who they were and how to overcome their problems.
The story plays out controversy, humor and sacrifice as the Rangers work together to fight off the evil Rita Repulsa, played by Elizabeth Banks, who is on a mission to build her army.
The PG-13 rating is accurate and should really be considered by parents before taking their younger children to the theater. At times, I found myself stunned by the alarming graphics and content of the story.
With that being said, the transition of the storyline did make it easy for all ages to enjoy. There are multiple humorous scenes, mostly thanks to Cyler whose character Billy Cranston soon became everyone’s favorite.
Although there were small children and teenagers in the theater, the film seemed to target the 20 to 30-year-old group who used to watch the ‘90s classic.