Revamping an older franchise is a scary thing with many different expectations. Fans of the original movies want something different yet similar in many ways. Sometimes, films change a vast amount of characteristics from its source material and completely overhaul it; sometimes, they simply revamp the style of its surroundings. “Power Rangers” is a movie that follows the latter.

“Power Rangers” was released globally on March 24, 2017, and stars Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Rebecca Marie Gomez, Ludi Lin, Bill Hader, Bryan Cranston, and Elizabeth Banks. “Power Rangers” remains close to home and is a movie simply for its past fans. Although it presents itself as a new movie and attempts to open itself to newer audiences, it’s meant solely for past fans of the franchise.

The film opens by basically copying the past adaptations’ openers: five teenagers find mystical items that grant them powers as well as suits, weapons, and giant robots. The five main characters are Jason, Kimberly, Billy, Trini, and Zack. The only issue to be had with these characters is their development.

However, the best part of this film is the relationship between these very different characters. They feel so genuine and work way well together on screen. Their relationships are enough to bring audiences back in. While the story is rushed, the actors make up for it with their compatibility. Honestly, they work as a team, and the movie covers so much ground. Each character has some background, and while some of them might need more, it works. Billy and Jason are possibly the best things about this film as their relationship grows adjacent to that of the others. The only character who needed more development was Zack.

Zack is the one flaw of this movie, as his character is rushed. He’s the guy who just so happens to be there. He gets screentime and a few jokes, but there is no story surrounding who he is. All there is to know about him is his relationship with his dying mother. He and his mother share their cultural background, as Zack states that prior to the film’s story that he was “just another kid.” This basically means that he had to leave his life behind to care for his mother, but with time, she had an effect on him that was truly amazing.

Other characters consist of Bryan Cranston’s Zordon, Bill Hader’s Alpha-5, and Elizabeth Bank’s Rita Repulsa. Each of these characters has a chance to shine, and each one’s casting was done well. Bill Hader was entertaining to watch as Alpha-5 by giving fans the original Alpha, but in a slightly more mature manner. Over the course of the movie, the rangers are seen as just kids – which they are. While they are defenders of the planet, they make childish mistakes.

It’s unfortunate there are no real cliffhangers or suspenseful moments. There is no need to really go into depth about the story because there really isn’t one. It goes like this: the power rangers must defend Earth from the evil Rita in order to save the earth from destruction. They do just that. If you’ve seen the show, you know how this ends. But, it does go without saying that the film does a great job of retooling the show. The characters are awesome, the designs are cool, the suits are astounding, and the zords look amazing as well.

“Power Rangers” is a fairly decent film which deserves a seven out of ten. The aspects that it lacks should be included in a potential sequel, like Zack’s origins. “Power Rangers” isn’t action movie galore, but it’s a great film to pass the time. If you’re a fan of the franchise’s earlier installments, then you’ll enjoy Dean Israelite’s take on the Mighty Morphin’ Five.