Sleeping giants resurrect
Bakang Israel | Friday March 31, 2017 15:59
This franchise used to be a hit back in the late 1990s at a time when TV was being dominated other than favourites Viper, The A-team, Knight Rider and MacGyver and Tazan. This 2017 blockbuster is a reboot (a new film altogether with new setting) and became the third film of the Power Rangers film franchise, and features the original characters of the Power Rangers television series, portrayed by a new cast. Power Rangers 2017 is the successor of two films from the franchise precisely, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1995 & 1997) respectively. Well this film is in the same scope as today’s modern superhero franchises like Avengers, Transformers and x-Men, heroes uniting against a common threat. However in this one fun floods cinema when ‘Power Rangers’ takes enthusiast on a journey following five ordinary high school children who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove and the world is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat.
Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late. This film is a rebrand of the old, so relatively every aspect was new from the cast to the production team. The bad side of doing so in movies is the fact that sometimes the movie gets negative reception due to lack of star power in comparison to films like Avengers that boasts with super actors like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner all in one act. In the case of Power Rangers, lack of star power is sometimes good for mystery and the element of surprise from breakout actors. Nonetheless, this action prides itself with Professor Heisenberg from blockbuster Breaking Bad TV series being a catalyst again.
Action
For neutrals like yours truly who never had the chance to watch Power Rangers during its dominant years this was the moment of truth, and the new experience turned out lukewarm. The expectation overrode the action itself. The film has low quality cinematography. For a $100 million dollar production budget film the quality is below par. Enthusiasts craved the high standards from related films like Transformers crafted by the CGI magician director Michael Bay.
Perhaps it would have been fruitful if Power Rangers director Dean Israelite made the film in 3D. Complementary to that also, the spirit of the special effects in this film is a beat dull. If you happen to have watched Max Steel (2016) there is not much of a difference between the two with even with the costuming. The rangers suit up the same way as steel. The film however also is a carbon copy of other franchises in terms of creativity, the antagonist incorporations were reminiscent of X-Men Days of the future past with giant metallic human slayers. Amongst a number of instrumental key factors, Power Rangers was let down by the lack of established superstars. Most of the cast are breakout stars. The likes of Rj Cyler are new generation stars who emerged recently in the same year as Jason Mitchel (Straight Outta Compton) and Corey Hawkings (Kong: Skull Island). One other highlight about Power Rangers is its emotional element, though it is an action-oriented film, this fiction storyline has some meaningful messages wrapped between the lines. The film taps into themes of juvenile delinquency, dysfunctional family, power, friendship and confidence that have the protagonists embroiled in conflict with the society around them.
For instance, there is this particular action sequence in the film that had Jason Scott (Red Ranger/Dacre Montgomery) and his rangers team struggling to utilise their powers due to their mutual disorder, up until later when they showed that they would do anything to save one another showing a great bond. That coincided with life in general, as for one to succeed in life you have to get along well with others. Lastly the film had a few flashes of brilliance as it was creepy with creatures from other galaxies like villain Rita Repulsa who was even weirder feasting on gold to revitalise.
Reception
Meanwhile on the market, according to box office Power Rangers landed safely in cinemas as it stormed to peak of the chart premiering in at second place this week with opening weekend sales of US$40 million. In its first week the movie has raked in $61 million worldwide. This is fairly good but average because we understand it is very difficult to lay down a foundation for a blockbuster franchise. Only Deadpool did well in that regard last year.
Top five movies in the world this week.
1. Beauty and the Beast
2. Power Rangers
3. Kong: Skull Island
4. Life
5. Logan
Ratings
The experience was not that gratifying. It failed to score most ticks 5.7/10.
Movie: Power Rangers
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Duration: 2 hours 04 mins
Age Restriction: 13
Release Date: March 24, 2017
Director: Dean Israelite
Main Stars: Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, Rj Cyler