Everyone has their own recollection of the Power Rangers. Over the past 20 years (I’m so old) there have been numerous shows and movies. Even kids growing up today grow up with their own version in the form of Power Rangers Dino Charge. Putting aside nostalgia can be difficult when you see a movie made about a treasured childhood memory.
And in this case, you kind of have to, because this is definitely not the Power Rangers I grew up with. Who knows, maybe that’s for the better. I’m sure not going to hold up the early-90s cheese fest I love as some beacon of excellent television.
Meant as a reboot and re-imagining of the original show, Power Rangers retains many of the familiar elements you remember. The trailer introduces us to each of the teenagers donning the suits (and pokes good fun at the Black Ranger suit). Bryan Cranston’s Zordon also appears. A drastically different Rita Repulsa shows up to wreck stuff. It’s not like the trailer is totally unrecognizable to those who haven’t watched since they were kids.
What might throw you is the edginess? No doubt this trailer presents a darker, grittier Power Rangers than the usual goofiness. Call it the benefit of better movie effects, which is not be a bad thing, but everything’s a little more grounded in realism. Drug jokes, two Rangers making out, and mild cursing also suggest a more “mature” direction for the series.
Still, you know what you’re getting here. Five teenage superheroes in bright suits will beat the crap out of aliens in entertaining ways. It will make little sense. Enjoy, Power Ranger fans. And let us know what you think of the trailer in the comment section.
Power Rangers is set for release on March 24, 2017. It stars Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Becky G, Ludi Lin, Bill Hader, Bryan Cranston and Elizabeth Banks.