Power Rangers Movie Review

The following review came about when someone asked me how the Power Rangers movie was. - I answered.

It was really quite good. We had a blast. I’ll keep this a spoiler free as possible, though, you don’t really need to see the movie to know that the five of them find power coins, have some character development…try to morph…fail… do some more character development….morph and succeed….then they get some zords.

Visually…it was Marvel. Everything from the angles of the camera to the landings of the Power Rangers after their first morph looks as if it was ripped right from a Marvel film…I’m a huge Marvel fan so I’m not going to complain, further to the point, if you’re aware of the friendship between Halm Sabin and Stan Lee and the history of the development of Power Rangers in the 90’s (Power Rangers was almost going to be a Marvel franchise…Imagine them and the Avengers) . It would make a certain amount of sense that the film is taking Marvel’s visual style.

I think the aspect I enjoyed most and I’m so happy they did was that it was more about the five teenagers and their interactions and friendships with each other rather than just being superheroes. As this was origin story we got to see how their relationships formed and the dynamics between them. Jason and Billy pretty much hit off from the start, beginning a bromance that would transcend the ages. Kimberly and Trinni weren’t too sure of each other at first but they too became besties and Zac was a bit of moron…he didn’t release that nor did he recognise that he needed any of the others until he really fucked up and nearly killed all the rest of the rangers.

And then they bloody redeemed him but showing the other side of him (SPOILER SPOILER)
Zordon was a dick…a real dick.

But this is good.

One of the criticisms I had with the original series and its spins offs was that the tutor of the group is worshiped as if he or she was some kind of god. In this movie, he treated the other rangers like they were shit for a while. He wanted them to give him respect instantly. The rangers did not react well to that and it lead to some great confrontations between them all. I shall not tell you why he is so hard on them,

Alpha 5 was sassy as all hell and I loved that.

Goldar was amazing…this is what his character needed. No lines, just actions.

Because of the conflicts between them, there are times in the movie where it makes you doubt wither or not this is actually going to happen.

Then (SPOILER) died…

There were a few minor characters that really did help to build the word around them; The template cheerleaders, the long suffering teacher but one of note was the bully that Billy had to deal with. This character had the most purpose of the minors. His job was to show us how Billy is growing up and using his abilities, to play the role of the “fall-guy” and, to also give Jason a reason to interact with Billy for the first time.

Possible minor spoiler (maybe) on next line…

…Billy is autistic, and his condition was shown to us and dealt with in the best way possible further to that point, it also shows us how we should react when someone tells us that they are autistic or have other mental health issues and also says to those on the spectrum that they are just as valid as everyone else. Billy’s admission to Jason even helps to strengthen their romance more.
With that said, there were one or two cliché’s such as sporty jock desperate trying to win his father’s approval, Jock and Nerd becoming best friends and the outcast slowly but surely warming up to and trusting the group, but I can forgive those.

There is little that I didn’t like in the film as those small things are overshadowed by strong characters and a kick ass plot. However, I did feel that Rita’s character could have been built upon more. We were shown right at the start of the film that Rita was the green ranger and that Zordon was the red rangers which I’m so glad that we got to see. The scene which only about 2 minutes conduces with Rita betraying the other rangers and attempting to take the Zeo Crystal for herself, her justification, he wants to rule the universe. My criticism is that we are not told why she wants to rule. I would have very much liked that answer to be shown to us.

So overall, it’s a damn good movie.

The Book Thief - Movie Review

So, I was lucky enough to get my grubby little hands on a pair of preview tickets for the movie adaptation of Markus Zusak’s; The Book Thief.  Set in Germany before and during world war two, the Book Thief follows the story of a young girl named Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nélisse) who is adopted by Hans and Rosa Hubermann when her mother finds that she cannot cope after her brother passes away.

It’s rare for me find a movie where I do not have any negative criticism, I will try my best to avoid spoilers however I hold no guarantees.

The open shots are class; we see the German landscape in pure unrivalled beauty, which is carried along through the film resulting in a grand total of zero ugly scenes. Even the ones which towards the end which show the pain and devastation of the people caught in middle of war are beautiful.

The story is guaranteed to make you ball and cry yet it ends on the most happiest of notes. We see a life that was lived to it full. You end up rooting for every character, even Ludwig. You almost feel like you know them.

Sophie Nélisse’s performance was way beyond her years, she took the role and played with more gusto and respect than any audit actor, it was remarkably brave of her to take on such a strong character which I suspect many fans have taken to their heart.  Did I mention? She’s only 13. If Nélisse keeps this up, she will have the most amazing future ahead of her.

The same can be extended to her co-star Nico Liersch, his portrayal of Rudy Steiner was on such a level that if the current adult actors don’t watch there then they will be taken by Steiner, we saw emotions and power that the Hollywood elite would kill for. Liesel’s love interest is one of the few that has not made me want to throw up on the director, I was willing them, I wanted them to spend the rest of their lives together and go on amazing adventures.

Liesel adoptive parents are in a word, phenomenal. We are introduced to them early on in the film where we are greeted by the kind Hans who chooses to refer to Liesel as ‘her majesty’ and Rosa who is disappointed to find that only one child has arrived, not the two that she was expecting.  However as we progress through the film we see beyond Rosa’s cold exterior and see that inside she has the most warm and loving heart in the world. Emily Watson’s portrayal of Rosa is one the best examples of character development in film. Geoffrey Rush and Emma Watson gave a master class on pure acting.

I then found myself wanting to care for Max Vandenburg who just arrives on Hunermann’s doorstep almost unannounced, we are introduced to him about a quarter of the way into the movie where he forced to leave his mother and seek refuge at Hunermann’s. His love of words and stories bring Liesel together, one scene that really shows this is when Max asks Liesel to tell him what the weather is like outside, he then asks her to ‘tell’ him, if her eyes could see, what would they say?

Special mention should be given to John Williams who has produced let another legendary soundtrack, unlike his more well-known work such as Star Wars and anything directed by Steven Spielberg, John Williams kept it simple, the piano theme which works its way through the movie, practically tells the story on its own.

I left the cinema speechless, I am sad that I have wait until the 26th
before I can see this movie, I am also sad that The Book thief has not received as much promotion as it truly deserves. This is a story will most likely stay with you forever and everyone should see it at least once.