Mighty Morphin Power
Rangers: The Movie is the first American spinoff movie based on the 90s
television show of the same name. Imported from Japan, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers the show was an adaptation using stock
footage from the Japanese show Super
Sentai alongside new American footage. This movie was the first time that
no stock footage was used from Super
Sentai and was an all-American production. It tells the story of six
teenagers with superpowers who must combat an ancient foe named Ivan Ooze as he
attempts to kill their mentor and take over the world. This film was directed
by Bryan Spicer and stars Jason David Frank, Steve Cardenas, Karan Ashley,
Johnny Yong Bosch, Amy Jo Johnson, David Yost, and Paul Freeman.
This movie is spectacularly bad but still holds a very
special place in my heart because of the role it played for me as a kid. I
certainly was a fan of the Power Rangers growing up and this movie was a big part
of that. Taking those nostalgia goggles off, however, this movie is really, really bad but still adequately fun and humorous to remain watchable.
Beginning with the positives, this film is relentlessly fun.
Despite lots of bad, the movie is always pressing forward and consistently
provides glimmers of fun that create joy and elation in the minds of audience
members. Whether it is a cool stunt, an enemy flying across the room and
exploding into a puddle of ooze, or an absurdly over the top and stupid line, the movie has no shortage of moments to keep you engaged and with a smile on
your face. Paul Freeman as the villainous Ivan Ooze provides a lot of this
material and is constantly engaging whenever he is on screen despite being
patently ridiculous as a character.
Additionally, I think the film has a great sense of
self-awareness that will make you a little more forgiving of certain flaws.
Almost nothing in this film is played completely seriously and that really
works to the film’s benefit. As a child you can certainly watch this and get
invested on a deeper level but as an adult the ability to have a little fun at
your own expense gives this a continuous sense of fun.
The last real positive I want to throw out is about the
soundtrack. This has a fun 80s and 90s soundtrack that was continuously
engaging throughout the film. You couldn’t help but bouncing along to it
positively and it helped to really enhance scenes in the film as it was never
overbearing. This is a really under-appreciated thing in films and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers utilized
this element extremely effectively.
But now, we hit the problems. Basically no one can act. The
action is poor and frequently laughable. There are many moments and things that
don’t make any sense. The visual effects are, to be nice, atrocious. The side
characters are virtually unwatchable. The sound effects are extremely overused
in an infuriatingly obnoxious way. The list goes on ad nauseam.
The fact is that this isn’t a good film. Outside of being
self-aware and being adequately fun you can’t really say anything else about it
is good. As I mentioned, the performances are awful. Paul Freeman’s Ivan Ooze
is ok but everyone else is completely flat and Razzie worthy on their best
days. Further, none of them are particularly good at the stunts. Even when they
are shamelessly substituted for their stunt doubles the action doesn’t
adequately improve. The wire work looks ridiculous and nothing in this was
adequately realistic to get me emotionally invested as a viewer into the scenes
when I should have been.
On top of the physical action, the visual effects action
also doesn’t work. These mid-90s visual effects do not hold up in the
slightest. Whether it is the occasional moments when they use miniatures or the
frequent computer effects none of it works. They lack a texture and depth
needed to feel real and the lack of feeling real completely separates you from
what is going on on-screen.
Finally, the film just really doesn’t make sense. There are
so many moments, plot elements, and otherwise that come up in the film and
leave you scratching your head. Some are just strange, some defy the laws of
physics, and some make your jaw drop in wonderment over how this film got made.
It really doesn’t work. I can’t emphasize that enough.
Overall, Mighty
Morphin Power Rangers is an awful
film. However, it is an awful film that is simultaneously kind of fun which makes
it a mildly enjoyable experience. I also can’t emphasize enough that I get a
great degree of personal nostalgic enjoyment from this. It was something I
really liked as a kid so I can definitely watch it with a smile on my face
looking back a great days gone by. That does not save it for everyone though
and will not save it from an ugly score here though.
Ryan’s Score: 2/10
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