DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: **1/2 (out of 5 stars) STARRING James Napier as CONNER Kevin Duhaney as ETHAN Emma Lahana as KIRA Latham Gaines as MESOGOG Mirama Smith as ELSA Jason David Frank as DR. TOMMY OLIVER Rated Y7 Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment Directed by: Charlie Haskell, Paul Grinder and Andrew Merrifield Back to DVD Review Home |  |
The adventures of the Dino Thunder Power Rangers continues in volumes two and three of the series. Originally an early-morning television show on ABC Family, these episodes have been packaged in DVD sets.
The first volume was released in the spring and provided the first three episodes of the series. The third episode ended in a cliffhanger with Dr. Tommy Oliver (Jason David Frank) being captured by Mesogog’s Tyrannodrones.
Now, these new Power Rangers DVDs continue the story. The biggest difference you’ll probably notice is that each of these DVDs contain five episodes of the show instead of three. The reason for fewer episodes on the first disc was because it had two bonus episodes from the Ninja Storm series, which was about as comprehensible as a Pokemon episode.
Volumes 2 and 3 take a cast that was rather rough and hadn’t quite gelled and turns them into the Power Rangers that we all know and love. Volume 2 opens with the three new rangers, Conner (James Napier), Ethan (Kevin Duhaney) and Kira (Emma Lahana) preparing to save Dr. Oliver. However, because this is the 500th Power Rangers episode, they take some time out to rehash the entire franchise for the viewing public.
What starts as a retrospective type show used on “Three’s Company” when it was a slow week quickly becomes a hilarious look into the past. Not only are you treated to a 30-second history of each of the incarnations of Power Rangers, but you are also treated to a follicle retrospective of actor Jason David Frank’s hairstyle.
What’s nice about this retrospective is that I actually started to get into the formula itself. Each group of Power Rangers have a theme (e.g., Turbo, Ninja or Wild Animals). Let’s say that the next incarnation will be the Condiment Power Rangers. Well, some evil villain comes along and either calls up or creates a new evil Power Ranger (say, the Horseradish Ranger). When the Power Rangers are almost beaten down, they are able to call up the power of the ultimate Power Ranger to save the say (maybe, say, the Ketchup Ranger).
After this recap, we get to the point of rescuing Dr. Oliver, and we see him take up his spandex suit again to become the new Black Ranger. There are a handful of stand-alone shows on this disc, complete with insane rubber monsters (including a goat-jackrabbit hybrid that shoots explosive pomegranates out of its nose). This all leads up to Vol. 3, where we call up the evil White Ranger, who is intent on destroying the other Power Rangers.
By the time I was finished watching all ten episodes on these discs, I found myself laughing out loud and just reveling in the silliness of the show. Kids still love the Power Rangers because it’s fun to play martial arts. The Power Rangers are this generation’s Three Stooges. Performed in the wacky tradition of “Infra Man” and Godzilla hero Jet Jaguar, they are nothing but pure fun.
What? Were you expecting a strong plot?
Because you get five episodes instead of three, there are no other bonus episodes. The only special features on the disc include Ninja Moves on each volume (like you’re gonna learn great martial arts from a kids show) and virtual trading cards that weren’t featured on the first disc.
If you’re keeping count, the ten episodes on Volumes 2 and 3 put the total count at thirteen. Don’t worry. The rest of the episodes will be out on two new volumes in December. And they’re already getting a new team together for next season.
Specifications: Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Fullscreen (1.33:1). English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.
