By Joseph Walter
The film met with some controversy during production, with the hardcore fanbase lamenting character designs and supposed plot points. Most of that stuff didn't cause me concern, but I admit to being somewhat apprehensive about the final product.
Now that the film is finally out, I decided to tackle it head-on.
For those who don't know, the premise is that an ancient alien named Zordon has chosen a team of "teenagers with attitude" to take up the mantle of the "Power Rangers," a super-powered fighting force that commands colossal assault vehicles known as Zords, in order to combat an ancient alien menace known as Rita Repulsa. And that's pretty much it for both the initial series and the plot of this film.
As a moviegoer, tried to view it both objectively and as a Power Rangers fan, so I could give this review the best of both worlds. In the end, most of my criticisms stem from the fan side of me, but I think those same complaints will also tick-off some of the casual nostalgia-hounds that go to see it as well.
But that said, is it good? Honestly? Yeah, it kinda is.
Knowing that this is a reboot, I expected and understood that the final product was not going to be a 1:1 translation of the wacky television program, but I kinda help but be disappointed in some aspects that were seemingly glazed over. That said, I bet if I was a less-involved fan, or even just a completely casual movie-goer, I probably would have loved it entirely.
So, after the break, I guess it's time to tackle the good, the bad, and the fan-wank stuff.
May the Power Protect Me! (Also, there will be minor, not plot-relevant relevant spoilers, so may the Power protect you, too, if you're sensitive to such things.)