Why I Hate the Power Rangers and Loving It

It took many years but I have finally come to terms with Power Rangers. Originally I regarded it as a joke and insult to the original version still being broadcasting in Japan known as Super Sentai. What made it worse for me was my two boys fell in love with the show. Forcing me to listen to countless stories about the shows episodes and toys they wanted to buy. But now I am beginning to understand it in a better light.

A little history:

Zyuden Sentai Kyoryugers

Ressha Sentai ToQger marks their entry as the 38^th Super Sentai show just starting up this February 2014. Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger has just finished there series run as the 37^th Sentai show with the traditional two Super Sentai movies shown in the movie theaters. Plus the usual specials, music CD’s and the live action stage shows. The theme of the Kyoryuger’s is dinosaurs as ToQgers are trains.

My kids became fans of the Power Rangers during the Power Rangers series call Jungle Fury. The American version of the Sentai show called Juken Sentai Gekiranger. Were as Gekirangers was set inside a martial arts school, a pizza parlor was the headquarters for Jungle Fury as the owner built their equipment in the upstairs loft in-between making pizzas for the customers.

My kids continued to watch the Power Rangers as I eventually found a few links to watch the original Japanese version with subtitles. I didn’t think my kids would like it but they ended up loving the Japanese version so much that they stopped watching Power Rangers. Their response was that Power Rangers looked stupid.

The nail in the coffin was Power Rangers RPM. A Terminator theme as the machines had taken over the world except for a small human colony. The Japanese version of Engine Sentai Go-onger theme was humans and machines from another world working together to stop an invasion into the human world.

Bandai makes all the toys for both Super Sentai and Power Rangers. We have been buying all the Japanese toys from Go-onger to the new series ToQgers.  They are larger, made of metal and stronger plastics making them well-built and more durable. These toys make the Power Ranger toys look in comparison to a McDonald’s kid’s meal toy. 

For some reason Bandai made sure every Power Ranger toy set have motorcycles. Even if no one in the show drove one.  That might change as the Kyoryugers use motorcycles that were basically comprised of two dinosaur transformers.

The current Power Ranger show is called Power Rangers Megaforce loosely based on Tensou Sentai Goseiger. In the Japanese version the Goseigers are Angels from Heaven who guard the Earth. The Power Ranger version is five teenagers chosen to fight the invading forces. The second season of Megaforce is called Power Rangers Super Megaforce based on Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger.

In the Japanese movie Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle, all the Super Sentai unites to stop the invading army called Zangyack. They lose all their powers which are transformed into keys that a group of space pirates called Gokaigers find and use them for their purpose.

Saban is skipping over Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters to make Power Rangers Dino Charge based on the Sentai show Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger. In Kyoryugers the ones that killed the dinosaurs are unfrozen and threaten to kill the Earth as originally planned. A group of people are chosen for their bravery by the dinosaurs to stop the bad guys. The last two episodes of the series was really an emotional ride that I doubt the Power Rangers would not dare show on American TV.

Episode 37 part 1 was, in my opinion, taken from the movie called ‘Legend of the 8 Samurai’ starring Hiroyuki Sanada. An actor you may remember from the 2013 movie ‘The Wolverine’ and the Syfy show called Helix. In it eight people were chosen to protect a princess. In doing so all but one died in holding back the invading armies so the Princess could escape.

 And in Kyoryugers each one is helping the rest get into the fortress to stop it from destroying the planet. And not everyone walks away from it alive. What sets this show apart from the future Power Ranger version is that two and eventually one more of the Kyoryugers are spirits. And to fully protect the Earth they have to destroy Hell in order to keep the bad guys from resurrecting. A story line from a country that has less than 1% Christianity in it.  But will never be broadcast in a country founded on the freedom of religion.

But what helped me to begin tolerating Power Rangers was due to a 1969 movie called ‘Support Your Local Sheriff!’ staring James Garner. A Western comedy that more than inspired Mel Brooks when he made 1974 movie ‘Blazing Saddles’. But the sequel to ‘Support Your Local Sheriff’ was called ‘Support Your Local Gunfighter’. Using the same actors from the first movie and based on the 1961 Japanese movie ‘Yojimbo’.

American remakes of Japanese movies and TV shows have opened up for more people to experience Japanese entertainment and culture.  With Power Rangers my boys were able to connect to current TV shows in Japan such as Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Garo as well as many of the Japanese animation shows that are yet shown or unlikely in being shown here in America.

And as I look back on TV shows and movies that I grew up watching; many of which originated from Japan has showed me that my negative attitude towards Power Rangers is hurting more than helping. As bad as it may be, it is causing kids and adults to research more on these shows and to explore more quality entertainment outside of America. Whether it is coming from Japan or other nations has taught me that Hollywood is running dry on TV and movie ideas for American audiences.

Many shows are simply being changed in character names and language to appear as if was originally from America. But in fact Hollywood has been plagiarizing for decades with blessings of the original creators or not. Dragonball Evolution is one example. As is the DreamWorks movie ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ which is loosely based on an old Japanese cartoon called ‘Vicky the Viking’. As ‘Vic the Viking’, a German live action version, is one of the few movies to truly honor the original Japanese works. But Disney’s The Lion King plagiarized nearly frame by frame from Kimba the White Lion and still refuses to admit it.

The list goes on and on but from an old Western movie I have opened up to loving the Power Rangers for what it is. And in the process has caused my two boys to delve deep into other cultures and lifestyles. They are joining others in breaking down stereotypes and dissolving racial and bigotry thoughts and actions that many older generations still cling to. I just wish they would stop using the same opening song for every freaking Power Ranger show.

10 minutes and 30 seconds into the movie below is when Goseigers and Gokaiger meet for the first time. Just before they start fighting each other. Roll call is at the 50 minute mark.

Ressha Sentai ToQger ( last 10 minutes of the 1st episode)