The Power Rangers' duty is to protect life on Earth and the Zeo Crystal. However, the Green Ranger, Rita Repulsa, betrays them. The Red Ranger, Zordon, orders his assistant Alpha 5 to hide the Rangers' power source, the Power Coins. Alpha 5 orders a meteor strike that kills Zordon, sends Rita into the sea, and murders the dinosaurs.
Centuries later in a town called Angel Grove, disgraced footballer Jason Scott is placed under house arrest for a prank involving stealing a cow. In detention, he meets Billy Cranston and Kimberly Hart. Billy helps Jason deactivate his ankle monitor and they both head to an abandoned gold mine.
Billy detonates explosives to destroy some rock, attracting the attention of Jason, Kimberly (who was swimming in the lake prior to the explosion) and nearby teenagers Zack Taylor and Trini Kwan. They discover the Power Coins, each taking a different coloured coin. After being chased out of the mountain by security, their car is destroyed by a train. However, they wake up the following morning only to discover they are all significantly stronger than they were before the accident.
Meanwhile, Rita's body is found in a fishing boat. Upon awakening, she hunts pieces of gold to help raise her compatriot Goldar to locate the Zeo Crystal.
The five students discover a spaceship as they return to the mine.
They also encounter Alpha 5 and Zordon. They explain who Rita is and the purpose behind the original Rangers, warning them they only have 11 days to rescue Earth. Unconvinced of their destiny, the five teenagers leave until Zordon persuades Jason to convince the others to return, and the latter succeeds.
The five fail to learn how to morph immediately.
They train to fight virtual Putties, Rita's soldiers, but continue to struggle to morph. Alpha 5 introduces them to the Zords in an effort to inspire them. Zack crashes his Zord into the cave after taking it out for a rampage. Angry at Zack, Jason punches him. Billy morphs into the Blue Ranger as he tries to separate the two.
But it disappears once the fight ends. Disappointed at their lack of progress, Zordon dismisses them. However, Jason learns Zordon will return when the Morphing Grid opens up after a confrontation with the former Red Ranger. Despite feeling betrayed by Zordon, Jason later returns to a camp fire with the group in an effort to bond with them.
Later on, Rita attacks Trini in her bedroom and orders her to bring the Rangers to the docks. Yet Rita quickly defeats them. After threatening the lives of his friends, Billy reveals the location of the Zeo Crystal. Rita kills Billy and sets the others free. The Rangers plead with Zordon to save him, but he says he cannot help them. After confessing they would all trade their lives for Billy's, the Morphing Grid unlocks and Zordon revives Billy.
The Rangers are able to morph as the team is restored.
Rita attacks Angel Grove with Goldar and her army of Putties to locate the Zeo Crystal. The Rangers travel to Angel Grove in their Zords and destroy the Putties. Overwhelmed by Goldar's strength, he pushes the Zords into a pit. But the Zords combine, forming the Megazord. Rita merges with Goldar. The Rangers destroy Goldar. Rita refuses Jason's request to be prosecuted by Zordon and she suggests others will come for the Zeo Crystal. She leaps into space as her failed attack on the Megazord later finds her frozen in space. The Rangers are regarded as heroes.
'Huge justice to the original franchise'
For those of you who grew up with Power Rangers in the 1990s, this film does a huge justice to the original franchise.
Other critics have claimed the film fails to live-up to the cheesiness of the 90s show and cannot compare to the quality of other superhero films. I disagree. In fact, I think it gets the balance right. It shows us how difficult it is to be a teenager in a modern world of smartphones, social networking and broken homes in Skins-like fashion whilst allowing fans to be transported back into the originality of the 90s TV show. Action-packed and fast-paced, you won't get bored of this film. My only criticism would be that it took the teenagers a while to bond, but the rest of the story more than compensates for that.
Bryan Cranston provides the voice of Zordon and Elizabeth Banks plays Rita Repulsa.
The two most experienced actors on the film lead a relatively young cast of new actors that include Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger/Jason Scott, Naomi Scott as the Pink Ranger/Kimberly Hart, RJ Cyler as the Blue Ranger/Billy Cranston, Becky G as the Yellow Ranger/Trini and Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger/Zack. Jason is by far the best character. Dacre Montgomery provides the first human Rangers' leader with the charisma and inspiration needed from a leader. When time is running out and a team has no choice but to put aside their differences, Jason brings together the team and saves the world from Rita just in time.
'You will feel old'
I would recommend this film to friends, family and readers of this review.
It does not matter if you grew up with the original TV series in the 1990s, or even the most recent editions, this film manages to please people of all ages. However, it will make those who grew up with the original TV series feel old when they notice the original Tommy and Kimberly appear towards the end film using smartphones to take photos of the Megazord )considering smartphones weren't around then!). With the original theme tune featuring in the film as well, there is something for everyone in the recent Power Rangers film.
