‘Saban’s Power Rangers’ Blu-ray Review: A Predictably Corny TV Series Remake

“Every superhero needs his theme music,” as Kanye West says in his 2010 hit single “Power,” and this applies to every sci-fi saga about supernatural warriors who come to save the day from a seemingly unstoppable threat.

Blu-Ray Review: Saban’s Power Rangers

Saban’s Power Rangers — distributed by Lionsgate — certainly has its own theme music, and it appears to be cliche. Director Dean Israelite brings to the big screen a re-imagining of the classic 1990s action figure toys and television series “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” and this version centers around five troubled high schoolers who band together to save their small town called Angel Grove from a ruthless villain named Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks). 

Guided by a virtual being named Zordon (Bryan Cranston) — the leader of an older Power Rangers generation — the unlikely quintet of angst-filled adolescents set off to discover their true abilities and stop Rita from annihilating the village they love. The group is composed of Jason the Red Ranger (Dacre Montgomery), Kimberly the Pink Ranger (Naomi Scott), Billy the Blue Ranger (RJ Cyler), Zack the Black Ranger (Ludi Lin) and Trini the Yellow Ranger (Becky G). 

RJ Cyler & Becky G on ‘Power Rangers,’ Autism… by Uinterview

Though it can certainly be appreciated that the five Rangers are adapted to exhibit personalities and general traits more relevant to contemporary times – so much so that one of the heroes is implied to be bisexual to mark the first LGBT superhero – the protagonists are not as developed as one might hope. Instead, the action and special effects overtake substance, a trend many fantasy films nowadays seem to follow. The visuals are colorful and explosive, thought not exactly entrancing and at time seem over-the-top.

Banks definitely manages to portray a convincingly creepy antagonist in this slightly-more-gritty adaptation of the children’s TV series. However, the five Rangers all seem to give rather corny performances as the warriors who obliterate the evil forces bent on destroying their home.

The soundtrack is surprisingly well-suited to the plot of the film, however. It features a pleasant mix of slow tracks like a cover of “Stand by Me” performed by Bootstraps, and faster tunes like Fitz and the Tantrums’ “Handclap” and West’s “Power.” Even the original franchise’s theme song “Go Go Power Rangers” briefly plays during the final battle sequence! The frequent changes in lighting and camerawork (both angle and speed) are also noteworthy.

Blu-Ray and DVD bonus features include a never-before-heard audio commentary with Israelite and writer John Gatins, in addition to a nine-part documentary that includes commentary from the cast, crew and even from the creator of the Power Ranger, Haim Saban. This documentary, “The Power of the Present” takes viewers behind the scenes of the film and discusses the casting, training, special effects and creation of the Power Rangers universe.

Also included in the extra material are deleted, alternate and extended scenes and outtakes, as well as the theatrical trailer for the film.

Nevertheless, the script ultimately comes off as hackneyed and leaves viewers wondering whether there will ever be more superhero films with plots that are a bit more sophisticated and that tie into modern-day world issues. (the way 2016’s Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War did, for example) This adaptation of the original Power Rangers simply proves that you need more than just an eclectic taste in music, shiny costumes and grandiose, prop-filled fight scenes in order to make a truly entertaining sci-fi action flick.