Saban's Power Rangers

The third film in the Power Rangers franchise and the first of a rebooted series to the original show from the 1990s. Produced by Haim Saban, the creator of the original show and owner to the overall franchise, this film is a more serious take to the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers show that started it all. Instead of centering around five teenagers with attitude specifically chosen to fight the forces of evil as Power Rangers, this movie expands and takes liberties to some of the mythology on which it's based on by having the five teens be outcasts, each with their own problems, who just happen to find the objects that lead them to become Rangers and fight a reawakened Rita Repulsa. All in all Saban's Power Rangers is a lot of fun, with really great moments, but there are some negatives to go with the positives. The way the characters are developed and how they each deal with their insecurities is done so spot on, especially by the acting and chemistry by the five leads, you forget how bland the characters were in the original show. I never had a problem with the suits as one has to improve when going from a simple show to a big budget movie and they have a perfect blend of practical and CG. The more serious tone is fitting as I believe that the franchise has potential to be taken seriously the same way that many other things were given their dues like Batman or animated films as a whole. However, it does try to be too hard in trying to be darker by putting more swearing and some jokes you expect from Michael Bay. Elizabeth Banks is great as Rita, though the fact that Goldar is treated like any other monster from the show instead of her strongest general is a slap in the face to the show. The absolute worst thing about the film is the numerous times they mention Krispy Kreme due to the object Rita wants is buried underneath one and they say the name way too many times. In the end, Saban's Power Rangers is a fun superhero ride with some flaws but with so many references to the various incarnations, takes a long time for the Rangers to get their suits but the fight sequences are amazing, and though too dark at times still has time to be playful and exiting. Over all: 88%
2017 top list so far:
1. Logan
2. The Lego Batman Movie
3. Saban's Power Rangers
4. Kong: Skull Island
5. Split
6. Beauty and the Beast 2017

Pop Culture Guy episode 24: Split and The Lego Batman Movie reviews

Beauty and the Beast 2017

Disney's 2017 live action remake of their own 1991 Beauty and the Beast animated adaptation of the 18th century fairy tale has Emma Watson star as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast. The story follows the same premise as the story, animated film, and most adaptations of the fairy tale with Belle being imprisoned by the Beast in his castle, learning he's not a monster but a man with a curse, and eventually falling in love with and breaking the Beast's curse. As I had not seen the 1991 animated film, yet, I can't say about the similarities and differences between them. However, the film is good with Watson's and Stevens's portrayals as the title characters are great, the effects and performances for the servants turned objects are really good, and the chemistry between Luke Evans and Josh Gad is funny and playful. There are still some drawbacks, such as the songs, though great they are, come too soon after another ends with the Beauty and the Beast song being played too often in the end, the effects of the Beast don't always look that great, not expanding more on the events that led to the curse, and the comedy being too goofy in many moments. Over all: 78%
2017 top list so far:
1. Logan
2. The Lego Batman Movie
3. Kong: Skull Island
4. Split
5. Beauty and the Beast 2017

Kong: Skull Island

Kong: Skull Island is a reboot of the King Kong franchise and serves as the second installment of Legendary's MonsterVerse that started with 2014s Godzilla. Taking place in the 1970s, near the end of the Vietnam War and about forty years before the events of the 2014 Godzilla, the film sees a small  band of US soldiers and scientists exploring Skull Island only to be attacked by King Kong and must now try to survive in an island filled with creatures of various sizes that could kill them. The film is a fun example of a b-movie esque monster film where most of the screen is filled with monsters fighting each other and the human survivors just trying to survive. Skull Island does a great job in being its own film while also making great references to what the MonsterVerse has done before and what will do in the future. Kong in this version is way bigger than other iterations, being as big as a mountain, but also being seen less as a dumb monster breaking everything and more of protector of Skull Island with a purpose. While some of the human characters are at times forgettable, bland, and even stereotypical, the performances of actors like Samuel L, Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman, and Tom Hiddleston were great with John C. Reilly giving the movie most of its humor. One of the biggest changes this movie makes to the Kong mythology is the creatures throughout the island are more fantastical rather than ordinary dinosaurs which is a great change of pace so as to connect more to the type of creatures you saw throughout the Godzilla films. Something that's very grating is how short the scenes are between the big monster fights and thus can feel tiring. Over all: 85%
2017 top list so far:
1. Logan
2. The Lego Batman Movie
3. Kong: Skull Island
4. Split

Justice League/Power Rangers #3

The third issue of the crossover has the Justice League and Power Rangers fighting monsters all over the world created by Zedd and Braniac. Both of the villains send out specially made robot soldiers that take the Rangers' powers and reform their Zords into their own personal machines. This issue ends with both teams figuring out how to go to the Rangers' universe to stop the partnership of their enemies. Justice League/Power Rangers #3 is the best in the series so far as it shows how well the Rangers and the League can fight side by side against giant monstrous octopuses. The scenes involving the robots taking the Rangers' powers is both scary and amazing at the same time. What happens all throughout this issue is nothing short of fantastic and gets me exited for the second half of comics. Over all: 100%
Top list so far:
1. Deadpool Killustrated
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6
3. Civil War: Choosing Sides Vol. 1 #1
4. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4
5. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3
6. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2
7. An Innocent Guy
8. Batman: The Killing Joke
9. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
10. Batman: The Long Halloween
11. Justice League/Power Rangers #3
12. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 2016 Annual #1
13. Justice League/Power Rangers #1
14. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
15. Crisis on Infinite Earths
16. Justice League/Power Rangers #2
17. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5
18. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
19. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
20. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
21. The Dark Knight Returns
22. Old Man Logan
23. Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War
24. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
25. The Comic Cavalcade: Archives Volume 1
26. Civil War
27. The New Mutants #98

Justice League/Power Rangers #2

Beginning right where the first issue ended, Justice League/Power Rangers #2 has the Rangers confronting several other members of the Justice League and believing them to be Zedd's monsters before everyone realizes they're all on the same side. All the while, Zedd himself ends up meeting with Braniac who form an alliance so as to destroy Angel Grove. Having the great things from both franchises, you get to see the Rangers using their Zords to fight heroes like Green Lantern and Cyborg as the DC heroes use their powers to defend themselves like Flash phasing through and subduing some of them. The scenes involving Zedd and Braniac are the most fun as you get to see Zedd use his own bombs to grow himself when he lands in one of Braniac's shrunken cities, and when they form their alliance this foreshadows what could happen to the Rangers' home at the beginning. One of the problems so far is that a bit of the dialogue feels a bit off, though that could just be me getting used to two wildly different franchises meeting each other. Over all: 99%
Top list so far:
1. Deadpool Killustrated
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6
3. Civil War: Choosing Sides Vol. 1 #1
4. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4
5. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3
6. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2
7. An Innocent Guy
8. Batman: The Killing Joke
9. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
10. Batman: The Long Halloween
11. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 2016 Annual #1
12. Justice League/Power Rangers #1
13. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
14. Crisis on Infinite Earths
15. Justice League/Power Rangers #2
16. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5
17. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
18. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
19. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
20. The Dark Knight Returns
21. Old Man Logan
22. Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War
23. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
24. The Comic Cavalcade: Archives Volume 1
25. Civil War
26. The New Mutants #98

Pop Culture Guy episode 23: Revised Overall Ratings of 2016 Films

Logan

Hugh Jackman plays Wolverine, the role that made him famous, one last time after 17 years and nine movies in Logan. Logan is a very deep look into a world where there are barely any mutants left in the world, Professor Xavier is unable to fully control his powers due to neurological problem, and Logan's healing factor barely working and dying due to his adamantium skeleton poisoning him. Wanting to initially live in peace, Wolverine and Xavier must help a young girl, actually a female clone of Logan, escape from a group that wants to use her and other child mutants as weapons. Seeing as this would be Jackman's last time as Logan and the last film with Wolverine for a long while, it's only fitting that the film had to be rated R. It's a very visceral film that feels less like a typical superhero film but more something akin to a drama about a dying man wanting to do something meaningful in his life. The performances that both Jackman and Patrick Stewart, as Xavier, give out are just as award worthy as any other Oscar nominated performance. This film is both fun and emotional, especially in how it ends when compared to many superhero films that have been made recently. One of the best things about this film is newcomer Dafne Keen's performance as Laura, the young clone of Logan known as X-23, who brings a depth of vulnerability and rage one does not usually expect from such a young girl. Even if it doesn't, Logan is so different and so emotional that it should be considered for numerous Oscar nominations. Over all: 100%
2017 top list so far:
1. Logan
2. The Lego Batman Movie
3. Split