This is not the Power Rangers you grew up with. The Power Rangers just experienced a reboot of their movie franchise. This is interesting because up till now, both the television series and the movie series based on those TV shows, was definitely PG, PG-13 at the most. This new Power Rangers is darker, but not grittier, like so many other film reboots seem to be. What is cool about this reboot is the history we learn about the Power Rangers (I stopped watching the TV show after the original team transitioned off).
First, I am going to do my best to not spoil the whole freaking movie but, well, some stuff has to be spoiled or this would be a pretty vanilla review. My review will stop around the first hour of the two hour and five minute movie. This should give you plenty of surprises.
We meet the rangers, all teenagers that attend high school together in Angel Grove - just like the original. Jason is a little mischievous, so are Billy and Kimberly. While they do their best to not start off as slow and annoying like many other films, there are more than a few slow moments to contend with - nothing long enough for a bathroom break though.
In the movie it is also explained how Rita and Zordon know each other - Zordon was previously an iteration of the Red Ranger and Rita was previously the Green Ranger (anyone that remembers Power Rangers lore will remember this being different historically - thank goodness this is a "reboot"). Zordon allows himself to be killed in an attempt to end Rita Repulsa as well - unfortunately, that doesn't happen. Zordon dies and Rita is only weakened in that heroic last effort.
Alpha-5 is able to transport Zordon's essence to the ship that is buried on Earth, this is how Zordon becomes a giant face on a wall guiding the Power Rangers along their quest.
Zordon explains to the rangers over many scenes the dire situation they face against Rita, who is working to raise Goldar to dig up the crystal that is buried in Angel Grove. With this crystal, Rita can destroy all life on the planet. Not a good thing.
That brings me to the Power Rangers themselves. They find that it is not so easy to carry the colored suits into battle. Alpha-5, at the behest of Zordon, trains the new rangers in "The Pit". After many unsuccessful training days in this pit, the rangers are still not able to morph. Alpha-5 shows them their goal, the Zords. The Zords took their design from the most powerful creatures on the planet when they landed (65 million years ago), dinosaurs.
That is where we are at the end of the first hour of the movie.
As far as a reboot, this is a good one. I liked it more than other reboots I have sat through, not just because I was a huge fan of the original Power Rangers team (the one these new characters are based on). Elizabeth Banks (my main draw to the movie) portrays a truly evil Rita Repulsa quite well. Even if you were not a fan of the original, and are mature, then check out Power Rangers - it is a decent action drama and definitely worth the price of entry. Now, will we see a sequel anytime soon?