Byron Lafayette
With the total number of episodes reaching 900 in 2022, the iconic Power Rangers franchise has spanned multiple shows, movies, and games. Most of us remember growing up watching the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers save the world and fight evil. It’s not unusual for franchises that are geared toward kids to sometimes be rebooted into a more adult version for the fans that have grown up. We have seen this with Batman, Superman, and other heroes. Well, in 2015 they got a gritty R-rated reboot in the form of a viral short film, Power/Rangers.
Produced by Adi Shankar and co-written by actor James Van Der Beek, this short film version of the iconic Power Rangers set the internet on fire, and was an instant hit, gaining over 25 million views as of 2023. This short film saw the Rangers engaged in ultraviolent battles with blood and gore, kinetic hand-to-hand combat, and (in the uncensored version) nudity.
The story follows the defeat of the Power Rangers by the Machine Empire, which is followed by a truce between Earth and the Empire. Rocky then defects to the Empire after feeling he was used as a child soldier, and the film picks up with him interrogating Kimberly the Pink Ranger. It is revealed that Rocky is looking for Tommy, as he is under the impression that Tommy has killed some of the other Rangers and is hunting the remainder down. We then see flashbacks to the deaths of the Rangers and the overall state of the world.
Needless to say, the short film was controversial, and there was even some talk on the internet that the short film may have ended up hurting the 2017 big-budget film reboot, as people now saw what was possible from the brand. The 2017 big-budget reboot of Power Rangers was slightly grittier than the old TV show, but still embraced the brand’s bright colors and campy humor; however, it was poorly received by critics and audiences, and the franchise stagnated.
Power/Rangers was cast with some top Hollywood talent. Headlining the film are James Van Der Beek (Dawson’s Creek), Katee Sackoff (Battlestar Galactica), and Will Yun Lee (The Good Doctor). The acting is never immersion-breaking and helps to sell the world that should be ridiculous, but in the hands of Adi Shankar, feels very realistic. Katee Sackoff was especially good as she played the duel role of Kimberly and Rita Repulsa, a shocking twist that I thought was very well done.
Power/Rangers was clearly made on a very low budget, however, the main part of Power/Rangers that shines brightly is its production values. The short film does a good job of hiding the lack of its budget, instead using its script to focus on other aspects of the narrative, such as its characters and the world that has been built around them. The Ranger suits are all textured and feel very realistic, and do not have a cheap look to them at all. The sets are mostly contained to warehouses and desert locations, yet allow the budget to get the most out of them. That being said, we do get some moments of big-budget action in the opening scenes with the Megazord in action and later some overhead shots of a city.
The world of Power/Rangers is perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of this gritty reboot. With most fan films we see a single location and one action sequence, for example, the many Star Wars fan films. There is nothing wrong with that, however, the emphasis is not on the story as much as on showing off the action or choreography. One highlight is the opening sequence set on a battlefield, Shankar uses basic graphics and a filter to give a basic outdoor setting an alien feel.
The film also addresses some interesting themes such as how the Rangers are basically child soldiers being used to fight others wars, and while it’s not the main focus of the short, it does create an interesting conversation: was what Zordon did recruiting kids ethical? What would be the emotional and psychological result of using kids to fight the battles we saw in Power Rangers? We see bits of this with the various Rangers as they deal with drug addiction and PTSD. The short film does not delve too deeply into this more sobering topic, but does leave enough on the table to make viewers think a bit about it.
The fight scenes, such as The Black Ranger fighting General Klank, play out not unlike a classic martial arts sequence. As we see Zack in a standoff with the General’s men, he uses the helmet as a weapon, then we see it fly back onto his head, as he ruthlessly and bloody dispatches all the general’s men with well-placed moves and gunshots. Klank, in a white suit, duel The Black Ranger one on one: it’s a fun choreographed action scene, as they trade punches and kicks, with Klank holding his own, until Zack manages to stab him in the neck. The scene concludes with a stylized shot of the red blood staining his white suit.
It’s a nice little fight scene, that showcases Will Yun Lee doing his own stunts, and showcases some of the famous Power Ranger martial arts, except this time presenting them in a more realistic and bloody way. A second memorable fight is between Rocky the former Red Ranger and Tommy who sees them both duel with swords in the film’s climatic moment. It’s well shot and exciting with some fun choreography.
Now many may be asking: Did we need a gritty blood-filled R-rated rendition of Power/Rangers or was it just an attempt by the filmmakers to gain attention?
Producer Adi Shankar was asked why he created this short film, and he said “I set out to make this film because I am a childhood fan of the Power Rangers. As children, our retinas are burned with iconic images and as we grow older these images come to represent crucial moments within the trajectories of our own lives.”
He also said “The crazy thing is that it was made for the people who grew up watching it, so season one and season two. And then being like, ‘Ah, and by the way, all these child shows are about weaponizing youth, It’s giving kids weapons and asking them to fight aliens and shit. It’s kinda weird. It’s part of our industrial-military complex. It was a social commentary on that, amalgamated with my love of Power Rangers season one and season two.
This version of Power/Rangers is made for fans who have grown up. The original program addressed issues that we all faced as children, and now Adi sought to perhaps make a modern version of Power Rangers that could address a world more like what we as adults face.”
It seemed to work, as the film is incredibly popular, with many calling for a film or TV series to be made. Even cast members of the original show, Amy Jo Johnson, Austin St. John, and Steve Cardenas praised the film.
At the end of the day, Power/Rangers is purely creator-driven, it showcases a unique vision of a world that many love, while reinventing that world to exist in a more realistic light, it’s not for kids at all, but is aimed at the adult fans of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. It’s well acted, well made, and asks some moral questions about power and how those in charge use those under them.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Power/Rangers and its grim dark universe. If you want to check out the complete short film click here. But first, maybe just make sure the kids are in bed for the night.
