#47 We just watched this on Netflix streaming: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

The Film: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

Months ago I reviewed the first Teenage Mutant Ninja turles movie, which is kind of of masterpiece in its own way. But TMNT was always my older brother’s thing, maybe even a few years old than him. TMNT hit at the end of the eighties and beginning of the 90s when I was still a toddler. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was definitely more my thing — I remember recording episodes before I went to my baby sitters in the morning (I was around 7 or 8). 

Regardless, I was really, really into the Power Rangers. Like, insanely into them. I had all the action figures, the tapes, all the little bullshit things they sell you – I had them all. I’ve since rewatched the series on T.V. (they’re reissuing the series as brand new, just with a few different graphics) and it does NOT stand the test of time, however the movie sort of does.

Why to watch it: It still holds up.

The production values of the T.V. series were always a problem — they looked like shit. The power rangers were always an attempt to combine Kaiju (guy in a monster suit) and group fighting programs like the Ninja Turtles. Often the shows looked like cobbled together messes with long “monster-in-a-suit” segments. Man the show is bad. However, the movie has good production values, decent acting, and a decent villain.

All the suits look a little better, Lord Zedd actually looks kind of scary, and Ivan Oozes makeup is actually kind of cool.

Pay attention to this: Content for kids.

There really isn’t much to pay attention to besides the fact that the movie represents kind of the last American live-action series that captured the imagination of our youth. And I’m not saying that as a “oh, back then things were better’ way, because they weren’t. What I am saying is since then much of what is shown on T.V. for kids is bad Japanese Anime, poorly adapted from Japan for kids.

Ironically, or maybe not, Power Rangers was a rip-off from Japan as well, but it seemed to create its own, singular nineties identity. Now all the cartoons and shows are weird and bizarre Pokemon rip offs. There isn’t anything really like The Rangers or Ninja Turtles. Everything is Japanese now, but that isn’t bad — it is weird is what is.

Like, how did those type of shows take over the market almost entirely? The one shining achievement of modern kids shows is The Last Airbender, which is a masterpiece.  Anyway, there really isn’t too much to say about this one besides Amy Jo Johnson is hot (she’s been in a nude scene since) and it is a really fun watch for fans —  everyone else might want to stay away from this one.

-Collin