Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie reboot?

[Old Guy]

If they ever decide to restart the PR franchise with a movie series, they can perfectly adapt the Green with Evil saga since the arc is already at movie length. They can even explore that plot in the first movie. Just add an extra 20-30 minutes to explore the origins of the Rangers.

[Mikintosh]

If they ever decide to restart the PR franchise with a movie series, they can perfectly adapt the Green with Evil saga since the arc is already at movie length. They can even explore that plot in the first movie. Just add an extra 20-30 minutes to explore the origins of the Rangers.

I dunno, that plot doesn't really work outside the context of an on-going TV show. It'd be like having the first Spider-Man movie being about him fighting an evil Spider-Man...it doesn't have enough resonance.

[Old Guy]

I dunno, that plot doesn't really work outside the context of an on-going TV show. It'd be like having the first Spider-Man movie being about him fighting an evil Spider-Man...it doesn't have enough resonance.

I highly disagree. You can't just introduce Tommy as a good guy. Everyone who grew up with MMPR knows that he started as the evil Ranger. You can't exclude that. If you do you're gonna disappoint everyone. It was through those episodes that everyone fell in love with the show. Before GWE the show just didn't connect. It had a cool concept but then you had episodes like the one where they faught a pig that just tempted you to change the channel. And then of course there were episodes where you did change the channel like the one where they go to a carnival and everyone is turned into cardboards. GWE changed all of that. The show was now dramatic and exciting. It glued you to the set. GWE is just too important to ignore. It has too much history with the viewers.

[Old Guy]

I appreciate that they had to make it look big budget

Maybe that was the problem. They tried to make it look big budget when it wasn't at all. Yes, they spent more money than on the TV show but for a movie released during the summer season it had a pretty small budget.

[sdp]

If they were to restart the movie franchise it'd be done in the style of Transformers/Gi Joe etc. It'd have to be around the time when the original fans are around the age original fans of Transformers are now, to play the nostalgia value for the older crowd and the kids appeal for the younger audience.

Of course the movie would not be based on the current season of PR, it'd be a reboot of the MMPR, the first movie would not likely introduce Tommy. It'd introduce the PR, Rita, how they get their powers etc. If its a success you can count they'd make a second movie and that the Green Ranger would be the main evil bad guy in the movie which by the end of the movie he'd redeem himself. The third movie to keep the viewers interest would bring Zedd into the picture and Tommy losing his green rangers powers and getting his white ranger powers, it'd also deal with all the rangers getting their thunderzords as well. Also I can see how maybe whoever plays the red ranger may want too much money for the third movie and they just decide to replace him and go ahead and replace whoever was playing Zack/Trini and adapt the power transfer for the third movie. By the third movie people would have grown tired of the franchise and story and what not and it'd get bad reviews making it the last movie in the franchise for a few years.

But the third movie ends perfectly that you could basically place the original MMPR movie in continuity since it'd meet all the factors! :sweat:

[underdog]

If they were to restart the movie franchise it'd be done in the style of Transformers/Gi Joe etc. It'd have to be around the time when the original fans are around the age original fans of Transformers are now, to play the nostalgia value for the older crowd and the kids appeal for the younger audience.

Of course the movie would not be based on the current season of PR, it'd be a reboot of the MMPR, the first movie would not likely introduce Tommy. It'd introduce the PR, Rita, how they get their powers etc. If its a success you can count they'd make a second movie and that the Green Ranger would be the main evil bad guy in the movie which by the end of the movie he'd redeem himself. The third movie to keep the viewers interest would bring Zedd into the picture and Tommy losing his green rangers powers and getting his white ranger powers, it'd also deal with all the rangers getting their thunderzords as well. Also I can see how maybe whoever plays the red ranger may want too much money for the third movie and they just decide to replace him and go ahead and replace whoever was playing Zack/Trini and adapt the power transfer for the third movie. By the third movie people would have grown tired of the franchise and story and what not and it'd get bad reviews making it the last movie in the franchise for a few years.

But the third movie ends perfectly that you could basically place the original MMPR movie in continuity since it'd meet all the factors! :sweat:

That summary actually sounds reasonable for a trilogy. Just like how Universal will be releasing Jurassic Park toys this winter, this re-release is probably a litmus test to see whether or not this franchise still has its legs. If the merchandise does decently, which I'm betting they will, I wouldn't be surprised if were to see something big during it's 20th anniversary. With Spielberg's Dreamworks newly signed distribution deal with Disney lasting the next few years, I would think he's looking for a new franchise to take over after leaving Transformers to Paramount - atleast a Power Ranger fan can imagine and hope.

Power Rangers does have enough nostalgia factor to become big again, it just really needs to roll on the right people who can ignite interest.

[Old Guy]

If they were to restart the movie franchise it'd be done in the style of Transformers/Gi Joe etc. It'd have to be around the time when the original fans are around the age original fans of Transformers are now, to play the nostalgia value for the older crowd and the kids appeal for the younger audience.

Of course the movie would not be based on the current season of PR, it'd be a reboot of the MMPR, the first movie would not likely introduce Tommy. It'd introduce the PR, Rita, how they get their powers etc. If its a success you can count they'd make a second movie and that the Green Ranger would be the main evil bad guy in the movie which by the end of the movie he'd redeem himself. The third movie to keep the viewers interest would bring Zedd into the picture and Tommy losing his green rangers powers and getting his white ranger powers, it'd also deal with all the rangers getting their thunderzords as well. Also I can see how maybe whoever plays the red ranger may want too much money for the third movie and they just decide to replace him and go ahead and replace whoever was playing Zack/Trini and adapt the power transfer for the third movie. By the third movie people would have grown tired of the franchise and story and what not and it'd get bad reviews making it the last movie in the franchise for a few years.

But the third movie ends perfectly that you could basically place the original MMPR movie in continuity since it'd meet all the factors! :sweat:

Realistically I think Tommy will be there from the getgo. He's too important of a character. Even if they wanted to wait for the sequel to introduce the Green Ranger they'd still have Tommy in the first movie. They would probably introduce him as the new kid in school who starts to develop a relationship with Kimberly and end the movie on a cliffhanger with him as the Green Ranger.

Also, the whole replacement thing is ridiculous and unrealistic. These days any studio that starts a franchise will automatically sign the actors to a 3-picture deal. It's common practice in the industry. So, whoever plays these characters will be there for all three movies. And if they leave it won't be over money.

[sdp]

Realistically I think Tommy will be there from the getgo. He's too important of a character. Even if they wanted to wait for the sequel to introduce the Green Ranger they'd still have Tommy in the first movie. They would probably introduce him as the new kid in school who starts to develop a relationship with Kimberly and end the movie on a cliffhanger with him as the Green Ranger.

Also, the whole replacement thing is ridiculous and unrealistic. These days any studio that starts a franchise will automatically sign the actors to a 3-picture deal. It's common practice in the industry. So, whoever plays these characters will be there for all three movies. And if they leave it won't be over money.

It wasn't common for Iron Man 2 for a recent example. And yeah its a bit unrealistic but not too ridiculous, it could happen. I mostly threw it in just to have the original movie in continuity ;)

And no the first movie has to introduce the villains, and the heroes, theres no way they'd introduce another ranger, it'd be way too much stuff. And what is very unrealistic is for the movie to end on a cliffhanger.

[Old Guy]

Tommy will be in the first movie, no matter what. He's too important. Plus, what's the point of excluding him when he'll be the center of attention in the sequels anyway? That's why it's best to do the Green with Evil plot from the getgo. Especially considering that the Green Ranger is part of the origin tale between Zordon and Rita. So, even if you excluded Tommy and the Green Ranger there will still be a reference to the dragonzord power coin. So, one way or another there will be a reference to the Green Ranger in the first movie. Which makes it a cliffhanger instead of foreshadowing because everyone knows where that's gonna lead to and they'll be anticpating it.

[underdog]

To me, the series started out with the recruitment of five teenagers with attitude, they should follow through with that ideal if they plan to stay true with its origins, the first movie should be a set-up in order to get things in motion. With the popularity of Tommy/the Green Ranger, a sequel titled Power Rangers: Green with Evil would center around him and would seem more logical... introducing him as the new-loner-eccentric kid at Angel Grove High, who becomes tangled into Rita's spell until his redemption by the end of the film. It would give fans something to look forward to when the studio tries to sell the sequel.

[Old Guy]

To me, the series started out with the recruitment of five teenagers with attitude, they should follow through with that ideal if they plan to stay true with its origins, the first movie should be a set-up in order to get things in motion. With the popularity of Tommy/the Green Ranger, a sequel titled Power Rangers: Green with Evil would center around him and would seem more logical... introducing him as the new-loner-eccentric kid at Angel Grove High, who becomes tangled into Rita's spell until his redemption by the end of the film. It would give fans something to look forward to when the studio tries to sell the sequel.

Even if they went that route, they would still introduce Tommy. Look at it this way, in the comics, Wolverine wasn't introduced till 10 years later. Yet every X-Men movie and TV show has him there from the getgo. It's the same with Tommy. Even if they don't get into the Green Ranger till the sequel they would still introduce his character in the first movie. Like I said, he'd be the new kid in school who starts a relationship with Kimberly and the movie ends with a cliffhanger. Like the movie could end with him getting kidnapped at the alley, Rita using her coin and spell to turn him into an Evil Ranger, and then him using the classic laugh as the movie fades to black and rolls credits.

[Storm Eagle]

I dunno, that plot doesn't really work outside the context of an on-going TV show. It'd be like having the first Spider-Man movie being about him fighting an evil Spider-Man...it doesn't have enough resonance.

Despite the good ideas people are coming up with, and with the popularity of "Green with Evil" (which even I thought was pretty cool), I'm not so sure it would really work either.


I highly disagree. You can't just introduce Tommy as a good guy. Everyone who grew up with MMPR knows that he started as the evil Ranger. You can't exclude that. If you do you're gonna disappoint everyone. It was through those episodes that everyone fell in love with the show. Before GWE the show just didn't connect. It had a cool concept but then you had episodes like the one where they fought a pig that just tempted you to change the channel. And then of course there were episodes where you did change the channel like the one where they go to a carnival and everyone is turned into cardboard. GWE changed all of that. The show was now dramatic and exciting. It glued you to the set. GWE is just too important to ignore. It has too much history with the viewers.

The one at the carnival was "No Clowning Around", and Trini's cousin Sylvia was the only person to get changed into a cardboard cutout. Also, there were some corny episode plots even after "Green with Evil".

[Old Guy]

Despite the good ideas people are coming up with, and with the popularity of "Green with Evil" (which even I thought was pretty cool), I'm not so sure it would really work either.

The Green with Evil saga introduced many of the PR cliches. The evil Ranger, the destruction of the command center, losing communication with Zordon, messing with Alpha 5, destroying the megazord, kidnapping a Ranger, etc. So, adapting GWE as a movie is a package of PR plot points with a bow on the top.

[Storm Eagle]

The Green with Evil saga introduced many of the PR cliches. The evil Ranger, the destruction of the command center, losing communication with Zordon, messing with Alpha 5, destroying the Megazord, kidnapping a Ranger, etc. So, adapting GWE as a movie is a package of PR plot points with a bow on the top.

I'm still with Mikintosh on this one.

[Mikintosh]

The Green with Evil saga introduced many of the PR cliches. The evil Ranger, the destruction of the command center, losing communication with Zordon, messing with Alpha 5, destroying the megazord, kidnapping a Ranger, etc. So, adapting GWE as a movie is a package of PR plot points with a bow on the top.

...Wouldn't that be a bad thing? "Green With Evil" only worked because it used all of those cliches for the first time (in "Power Rangers" anyway), and again the arc really only worked because there had been a dozen or so episodes beforehand for viewers to get used to the characters and premise of the show, so adding a new Ranger actually meant something.

[Andrew T. Hingson]

They might give a nod to Tommy in the first movie. Introduce him in some manner. Much like how Eddie Brock was possibly mentioned in one of the earlier Spider-Man movies (though they just said Eddie I think not Brock per say). I don't know if they'd introduce him as a full fledged character in the first movie but I could see them go that route. Especially with the popularity of the green ranger.

It would just be better not to do Green with Evil first. Rita should fail at least once before resorting to using the green ranger powers. And I'd prefer if they didn't start a MMPR movie franchise with the rangers already picked and established like how X-Men started with the X-Men already being a group and Wolverine ends up joining reluctantly.

[Old Guy]

I'd prefer if they didn't start a MMPR movie franchise with the rangers already picked and established like how X-Men started with the X-Men already being a group and Wolverine ends up joining reluctantly.

That's pretty much how it's gonna happen. lol. Tommy is the Wolverine of the Power Rangers. No studio is gonna do a PR movie without Tommy. Despite how much the fans object to it. If a PR movie is ever made it's gonna be for the nostalgia crowd and not the fans. And the nostalgia crowd wants Tommy.

[Mikintosh]

That's pretty much how it's gonna happen. lol. Tommy is the Wolverine of the Power Rangers. No studio is gonna do a PR movie without Tommy. Despite how much the fans object to it. If a PR movie is ever made it's gonna be for the nostalgia crowd and not the fans. And the nostalgia crowd wants Tommy.

Actually, if they were really going for the nostalgia crowd, they'd probably reunite the old cast (which would be fine by me) and make it as a TV movie; they'd lose those people's interest if they tried to recast them.

[Old Guy]

Actually, if they were really going for the nostalgia crowd, they'd probably reunite the old cast (which would be fine by me) and make it as a TV movie; they'd lose those people's interest if they tried to recast them.

I'm sure in 1988 someone said, "maybe they should re-cast Adam West as Batman." Seriously though, I don't think people would mind the roles being recast. Especially if it restarts/retells the franchise.

[Andrew T. Hingson]

Well gee with how you've been going around praising the first cast lately I'd figure you'd consider it a crime against fandom to recast them.

I think you're jumping to conclusions in saying no studio would do a PR movie without Tommy. You can't just assume what the producers, directors and executives opinions would be. Venom was the villian the casual audience wanted to see in Spider-Man and they didn't get him until the third movie. They'll want to build toward something and if they drop the green ranger card in the first movie they'll have barely anything to build towards.

The green ranger story mattered because after several failures Rita decided the only way to defeat the rangers was to use a ranger of her own. That's a pretty solid story but not one that you can just do first without building things up a bit.

Would you mind not acting like your opinions are facts OG?

[Mikintosh]

I'm sure in 1988 someone said, "maybe they should re-cast Adam West as Batman." Seriously though, I don't think people would mind the roles being recast. Especially if it restarts/retells the franchise.

Well, it's closer to saying today "maybe they should re-cast Michael Keaton as Batman", which is somewhat more plausible (not saying they should do it). All of the major MMPR actors are still around except for Thuy Trang (and they can simply bring Aisha back to take her place), and Jason David Frank especially was just in a PR production five years ago...it's not totally unreasonable, and having the original cast would lend such a project more gravity then if they just started over. Plus, they're reintroducing all of these old actors to audiences again through the MMPR relaunch next year, so there'd be continuity.

Look at me, talking as if this was actually happening... lol

[Andrew T. Hingson]

Yeah but the rangers aren't quite in the shape they use to be. Especially Austin St. John. I mean woah man... he let himself go.

[Mikintosh]

Yeah but the rangers aren't quite in the shape they use to be. Especially Austin St. John. I mean woah man... he let himself go.

Well, Austin St. John quit acting...that's why they give these guys a couple months before the shoot to get back into shape.

[Rolling Cloud]

So, adapting GWE as a movie is a package of PR plot points with a bow on the top.

You also have to make sure there's enough source footage first before saying it'll work as a movie.


and having the original cast would lend such a project more gravity then if they just started overI still doubt David Yost'd come back, though.

[Storm Eagle]

You also have to make sure there's enough source footage first before saying it'll work as a movie.

I still doubt David Yost'd come back, though.

He probably might not mind, since Saban isn't involved with PR anymore. He's actually still a tentative guest for Power Morphicon next year.

Let's say they did put out a PR movie involving all the original characters. Would we seriously want their original actors playing them? They characters would still have to be teenagers, right? I'm not sure they can even pass for teenagers anymore. Even so, they'd most likely have no choice BUT to recast, as one of the actors is no longer with us.

Also, someone brought up a trilogy idea. I wonder if the first movie would even do well enough to warrant a trilogy, no matter how it's made. Anyway, should PR get a revival some years down the line, who says they even need a movie to set it off anyway?

[Jacob T. Paschal]

If (and that's and 'if' the size of China) a movie was ever made, who in their right minds would cast the original cast against...as high school kids? Retired thirtysomethings? Sure, why not...the acting will still be atrocious...but...hey, if somebody gets and exec drunk enough to sign off on a hundred million dollars...it might make some dough...

[Storm Eagle]

If (and that's and 'if' the size of China) ...

Are you sure you don't want to try Russia? It's the biggest country after all.


a movie was ever made, who in their right minds would cast the original cast against...as high school kids? Retired thirtysomethings? Sure, why not...the acting will still be atrocious...but...hey, if somebody gets and exec drunk enough to sign off on a hundred million dollars...it might make some dough...

Man. Talk about a coincidence. I was just typing out my points and when I post them, your post ends up being the latest one.

[Marvin Tikvah]

If they ever did make MMPReboot for the big screen, they really wouldn't have a choice in recasting the actors or not. The original cast is too old at this point to portray teenagers, not to mention most of them don't even act anymore. There's a slim possibility they can rehire them for a "20 years later" mission, but then they'd have to explain why they're back, how they got those powers back, and where everyone else is considering the number of teams that exist within the PRU.

As for Tommy, he's completely unneccasary for an origins movie. His appearance may have jumpstarted the series popularity, but his appeal was through being a secret weapon on-par with the team. Assuming it would become a movie series, they can possibly hold him off for one or two films, but he'd definitely be involved since he's an important part of the series.

[MonkeyFunk]

I'm not entirely sure that PR has enough appeal as a concept to work as a blockbuster movie. I mean, I watched the series as a kid, and even then I wasn't entirely sure what they were supposed to be.

They fight evil in brightly-coloured costumes, so they're superheroes. Okay, so far so good.

But they're also ninjas. Ninja superheroes. O..kay, still with you I s'pose.

And they ride a giant robot.

And they have a dinosaur theme.

And their archenemy is a witch who lives on... the Moon, wasn't it?


I know this all starts to make sense if you look at the development of Super Sentai, but it's still just such a bizarre grab-bag. I think with other kids' franchises that became blockbusters, you've at least got a memorable central concept (cars that turn into robots!). But Power Rangers... what is Power Rangers, again?

[Jacob T. Paschal]

I'm not entirely sure that PR has enough appeal as a concept to work as a blockbuster movie. I mean, I watched the series as a kid, and even then I wasn't entirely sure what they were supposed to be.

They fight evil in brightly-coloured costumes, so they're superheroes. Okay, so far so good.

But they're also ninjas. Ninja superheroes. O..kay, still with you I s'pose.

And they ride a giant robot.

And they have a dinosaur theme.

And their archenemy is a witch who lives on... the Moon, wasn't it?


I know this all starts to make sense if you look at the development of Super Sentai, but it's still just such a bizarre grab-bag. I think with other kids' franchises that became blockbusters, you've at least got a memorable central concept (cars that turn into robots!). But Power Rangers... what is Power Rangers, again

Five teens...with attittude!!

Therefore, it should be a comedy...?

[sdp]

Its no different than Transformers or GI Joe, both were kids and unlike PR their respective cartoons were pretty terrible. If you can make a PG-13 movie out of those source materials you can with PR.

PR is about martial arts and giant freaking robots in the shape of dinosaurs, whats not to like? That was the appeal when I was a kid.

[Andrew T. Hingson]

Very true. Transformers was just as rediculous as Power Rangers back in the G1 and much of it's run with perhaps the only exception being Beast Wars but even then there were more serous PR series than MMPR such as Time Force and RPM.

Power Rangers doesn't really have to make sense either. If the play the nostalgia card well enough and also produce really cool toys for the kids you'll get plenty of butts in seats.

[Rolling Cloud]

They fight evil in brightly-coloured costumes, so they're superheroes. Okay, so far so good.

But they're also ninjas. Ninja superheroes. O..kay, still with you I s'pose.

And they ride a giant robot.

And they have a dinosaur theme.

And their archenemy is a witch who lives on... the Moon, wasn't it?

Uh, you do realize that point #2 wasn't in the same season as the rest, right?

[Andrew T. Hingson]

Uh, you do realize that point #2 wasn't in the same season as the rest, right?

Well I think that was more of a general... they're super heroes that practice martial arts actually.

[TheGunheart]

Actually, MonkeyFunk, for me that is the appeal of Super Sentai. The whole "it's got it all" mentality can be hit or miss, but when it hits.

Though my problem with the way its presented in Power Rangers is that, since they try to make it look like each season's rangers are "more powerful" than the last, then you start to see where the problem is. You mean to tell me that an advanced piece of police hardware is somehow superior to a ancient dinosaur god?

I actually wouldn't mind if a Power Ranger reboot movie went for a more "vanilla" theme, really, with original costumes and zord designs. They'd be unrecognizable in a movie anyway, so why not go all the way?

And I know I'm alone on this, but I think something in the style of the Speed Racer movie would be just perfect, with bright, stylized colors and over-the-top special effects.

Also, I'm in the crowd that wouldn't want Tommy in the first movie. While he became the Wolverine of the franchise, he started as a villain. Assuming they could get a trilogy out of it (doubtful, I know), the first movie would be the origin story, with forming Megazord as the movie's climax. Second would be Tommy's arc. Third would be the final showdown with Cyclopsis, with Titanus introduced either somewhere in the second or third movie.

[underdog]

And I know I'm alone on this, but I think something in the style of the Speed Racer movie would be just perfect, with bright, stylized colors and over-the-top special effects.


I was just thinking about the style the film should take. Unfortunately, though Speed Racer was a visually stunning film, I think a major reason why it didn't do well in the box office was because the thing just looked cartoony and juvenile for the general audience to be interested in. The Speed Racer film seemed just to be too much eye candy, little substance. It seemed like the Wachowski Brothers threw everything that they could think of, unfortunately nothing really stuck and there was little interest in it. If a Power Rangers movie were to arise, there really needs to be worthy character development in order to better appeal to the public, people are going want to see Jason, Zack, Trini, Billy and Kimberly (and Tomny in the sequel) so those actors would need to make a good impression and be appealing.

What Power Rangers has is that it has sustained a worthy place in pop culture, you've got yourself an audience who is already aquatinted with these spandex wearing, world saving superheroes for more than a decade. I believe they were the best selling action figure franchise for many years after MMPR.

I agree with the above posters, there's really no way the original cast would comeback to reprise their roles; cameos would be of better taste, and some sort of Easter Egg to pay tribute to Thuy Trang.

[TheGunheart]

I really found Speed Racer's characters to be adequate. The whole thing is probably my favorite action movie ever. And frankly, I think Speed's character development and Racer X's subplot were just fine for "substance". I think it might have actually done well had it not been put against Iron Man.

Power Rangers in general is pretty much a live-action cartoon, and I think a movie should embrace that quality rather than try and look like all the other contemporary superhero movies.

[MonkeyFunk]

Well I think that was more of a general... they're super heroes that practice martial arts actually.

Yeah, that's what I meant. They do martial arts, they dress kind of like kitschy ninjas... I interpreted them as ninja superheroes as a kid even before they became Ninja Rangers or whatever (I'm not sure I even saw that series, actually, my memory's pretty fuzzy about anything that happened after the dinosaur period)

It's true that Transformers and GI Joe weren't exactly the best put-together examples of source material you could find, but like I say I think the central concepts were stronger than PR's. You can boil them down to catchy pitches (robots that tun into cars, and fight evil robots who turn into cars! High-tech soldiers, who fight high-tech terrorists!), but with PR I'm struggling to get anything more succinct than "martial arts superheroes with robot dinosaurs, who fight a witch on the moon".

I think you could get something workable, but only if you start fiddling things in a way that'd tick off purists, much like the GI Joe movie did. Personally, if I were put in charge of a PR film, I think I'd nix the martial arts aspect and have the rangers piloting the individual Zords instead - move away from ninja superheroes and start presenting them as sci-fi pilots. The costumes could be functional somehow - spacesuits or something. Yeah, "teenagers piloting robots" - that seems a good enough pitch fo a Summer blockbuster :D

[TheGunheart]

I have to ask, how much Sentai knowledge do you actually have?

[underdog]

"martial arts superheroes with robot dinosaurs, who fight a witch on the moon:, isn't that what MMPR is all about? It's pretty plain and simple. It's not as farfetched as the ability of a man turning into sand in Spider-Man or robots being able to communicate easily with humans in Transformers. I think that's what made Power Rangers different and random, it was a mixed bag of things.

Personally, I think martial arts is part of the Power Rangers DNA, you really can't shove that aspect away. To take away that is like taking away the tanks and guns from GI Joe.

[MonkeyFunk]

I have to ask, how much Sentai knowledge do you actually have?

The original Japanese series? Never seen it, but I'd kind of like to, it looks... intriguing, to say the least. I'm sure all of the weirdness makes sense in the context of the series (the robots didn't get introduced until a few seasons in, didn't they?), but since we're talking about a movie reboot which'd introduce the franchise to a new audience (including people like me with no particular knowledge of the franchise) a la Bayformers it's a somewhat different animal.

The American series I watched as a kid up to a point (the main appeal to me was the weird monster designs, so I kind of lost interest with the Machine Empire stuff - the fact that they were all just robots got kind of boring), but I've never rewatched it so my memory's pretty fuzzy. Did they ever get to ride the individual Zords? I remember thinking those guys were kind of underused, they seemed to only really pop up to turn into Megazord.

[TheGunheart]

The original Japanese series? Never seen it, but I'd kind of like to, it looks... intriguing, to say the least. I'm sure all of the weirdness makes sense in the context of the series (the robots didn't get introduced until a few seasons in, didn't they?), but since we're talking about a movie reboot which'd introduce the franchise to a new audience (including people like me with no particular knowledge of the franchise) a la Bayformers it's a somewhat different animal.

The American series I watched as a kid up to a point (the main appeal to me was the weird monster designs, so I kind of lost interest with the Machine Empire stuff - the fact that they were all just robots got kind of boring), but I've never rewatched it so my memory's pretty fuzzy. Did they ever get to ride the individual Zords? I remember thinking those guys were kind of underused, they seemed to only really pop up to turn into Megazord.

Well, for the record, none of the Japanese Super Sentai series are related beyond the basic concept of a small group of costumed heroes. Battle Fever J, the third series and an attempt by Marvel to adapt Captain America for a Japanese audience, was the first to introduce a giant robot to the formula, and it's been that way ever since.

Hell, Zyuranger, who's footage was used for the first season of Power Rangers was actually a fantasy series about five rulers from an ancient, prehistoric fantasy world being awoken in present day to fight the witch who killed all the dinosaurs over the death of her son. And the zords were all gods that they took their orders from.

Here's a site with some info:

http://supersentai.com/database/1992_zyuranger/index.html

Frankly, I think the premise behind Go-ranger would fit the best in a movie, but since we're talking about Power Rangers, I think the best way is to take the same story from season 1 with Zordon and all, but change the designs to remove the dinosaur aspect and give it a more standardized theme.

[Mikintosh]

[QUOTE=PRdude;3411146Let's say they did put out a PR movie involving all the original characters. Would we seriously want their original actors playing them? They characters would still have to be teenagers, right? I'm not sure they can even pass for teenagers anymore. Even so, they'd most likely have no choice BUT to recast, as one of the actors is no longer with us.[/QUOTE]

Obviously if they brought back the original actors, it would not longer be a reboot but a sequel; the character would all have to be in the their 30s too.

[Robin2099]

Its no different than Transformers or GI Joe, both were kids and unlike PR their respective cartoons were pretty terrible. If you can make a PG-13 movie out of those source materials you can with PR.

This coming from the same person who said a PR movie couldn't be serious and adult because that's not what it was meant to be. Sorry, but GI Joe, Transformers, Thundercats and He-Man all lend themselves to PG-13 concepts. PR will always be stuck in that rut that it's just for kids.

[HellCat]

I think alot of the attempts to make PR 'adult' ruin it. You can have maturer themes and such but ultimately it's a campy kids show. Kamen Rider much more easily lends itself to being tried with an older audience. All the concepts I've seen for an 'adult' Power Rangers show come off as bad fanfics by people who are desperate to justify liking a kids show.

[TheGunheart]

I have to agree with you there. Sentai are at their best when they're fun. I actually was kind of appalled to hear that Power Rangers RPM had started to making jokes about the metaphoric visuals and the general premise behind the series, because to me it always feels like someone laughing at their own joke. To me, Sentai, and by extention Power Rangers, should just revil in their rediculasness and make no apologies.

BTW, what other attempts have been made to make PR more "adult", anyway?

[HellCat]

I have to agree with you there. Sentai are at their best when they're fun. I actually was kind of appalled to hear that Power Rangers RPM had started to making jokes about the metaphoric visuals and the general premise behind the series, because to me it always feels like someone laughing at their own joke. To me, Sentai, and by extention Power Rangers, should just revil in their rediculasness and make no apologies.

BTW, what other attempts have been made to make PR more "adult", anyway?

I'd say quite a few of the series from In Space onwards have tried it. Worked better for some than others. But in general, fan whining about wanting a prime time Power Rangers series...which remove all the elements that really make it Power Rangers in the first place.

[Storm Eagle]

Actually, MonkeyFunk, for me that is the appeal of Super Sentai. The whole "it's got it all" mentality can be hit or miss, but when it hits.

Though my problem with the way its presented in Power Rangers is that, since they try to make it look like each season's rangers are "more powerful" than the last, then you start to see where the problem is. You mean to tell me that an advanced piece of police hardware is somehow superior to a ancient dinosaur god?


They stopped doing that when seasons had their own group of rangers in their own setting. You know, starting with PRLG. Maybe even PRIS, since the Space Rangers were never really hyped up to be more powerful than the Turbo Rangers.


The original Japanese series? Never seen it, but I'd kind of like to, it looks... intriguing, to say the least. I'm sure all of the weirdness makes sense in the context of the series (the robots didn't get introduced until a few seasons in, didn't they?), but since we're talking about a movie reboot which'd introduce the franchise to a new audience (including people like me with no particular knowledge of the franchise) a la Bayformers it's a somewhat different animal.

The American series I watched as a kid up to a point (the main appeal to me was the weird monster designs, so I kind of lost interest with the Machine Empire stuff - the fact that they were all just robots got kind of boring), but I've never rewatched it so my memory's pretty fuzzy. Did they ever get to ride the individual Zords? I remember thinking those guys were kind of underused, they seemed to only really pop up to turn into Megazord.

In Zeo, they did ride their individual zords. We didn't see them use the Zeo Zords that way all that much. The Super Zeo Zords were used more that way.

I have to agree with you there. Sentai are at their best when they're fun. I actually was kind of appalled to hear that Power Rangers RPM had started to making jokes about the metaphoric visuals and the general premise behind the series, because to me it always feels like someone laughing at their own joke. To me, Sentai, and by extention Power Rangers, should just revil in their rediculasness and make no apologies.

BTW, what other attempts have been made to make PR more "adult", anyway?

HellCat was right about what he said, but one season that comes to mind is Lightspeed Rescue. A lot of people didn't like that one, and one of the reasons for that was "it took itself too seriously". Time Force was a serious season too, yet people loved it for that. Then once either Wild Force or Ninja Storm started, people thought that Power Rangers was Power Rangers again.

Hm. Now not only do I want to watch MMPR:TM again, but I'd also like to look at "Green with Evil" again. I think that was what made me want to follow PR on a regular basis when I caught it in reruns around April 1994.

[Old Guy]

I think you're jumping to conclusions in saying no studio would do a PR movie without Tommy. You can't just assume what the producers, directors and executives opinions would be. Venom was the villian the casual audience wanted to see in Spider-Man and they didn't get him until the third movie.

Yes, but Venom is a VILLAIN! It's different with villains. Tommy is not a villain per say. He was the new kid in school who was kidnapped and brainwashed into fighting the Power Rangers. And then he became a Power Ranger himself. You can't seriously compare the two. Also, Tommy is as important as the other five Rangers. Like I said, even if they waited till the second movie to introduce the Green Ranger they'd still have Tommy in the first movie. Actually, you want a good example? Harry Osborne. Wasn't Harry in two Spidey movies before becoming the Green Goblin II in the third movie? Exactly. So, why would Tommy be any different? He's a key character.



I still doubt David Yost'd come back, though.


He probably might not mind, since Saban isn't involved with PR anymore.

Just an FYI, but David Yost is like 40. He's the oldest in the cast. Do you really want a 40-year-old Power Ranger? And a bald one?!



They fight evil in brightly-coloured costumes, so they're superheroes. Okay, so far so good.

But they're also ninjas. Ninja superheroes. O..kay, still with you I s'pose.

And they ride a giant robot.

And they have a dinosaur theme.

And their archenemy is a witch who lives on... the Moon, wasn't it?

If PR is ever turned into a movie franchise, I'm sure they'll make A LOT of changes. For starters, the history of Rita and Zordon has to be better explained and explored. The way the Rangers are chosen can't be so...random! Go back to the pilot. It was incredibly random. They try to pass it off as if Zordon was keeping an eye on them or something but it still comes off random. Especially since they are transported into the command center like 5 minutes into the pilot. Then, of course, fix the mistakes that were made as a result of the stock footage. In the pilot they figure out how to be Power Rangers WAY too easily. It's like they transform and suddenly they know how to do everything. An origin movie has to be like Iron Man in the sense that they are testing out the equipment and making mistakes and what not. Finally, being a PR has to affect their everyday life. That's something that's rarely explored on the show. There's a few episodes here and there, but in general being a PR comes across as being easy. For example, why does Rita always attack in the middle of the afternoon? Why not during school hours or at 3AM?

[TheGunheart]

I actually rather it be more like Batman than Iron Man. I think the suits should provide some sort of muscle memory, along with Zordon possibly giving them instructions on the fly. It's not like there's all that much equipment to learn, anyway.

[Storm Eagle]

Just an FYI, but David Yost is like 40. He's the oldest in the cast. Do you really want a 40-year-old Power Ranger? And a bald one?!


Well that's the point I was trying to make. Also, unless there's some weird hormone thing going on (i.e.: Emmanuel Lewis, Gary Coleman), forty probably isn't a good age for an actor to play a ranger.

I wouldn't mind a bald guy being a ranger either, but just not an aged one.

[Marvin Tikvah]

Yes, but Venom is a VILLAIN! It's different with villains. Tommy is not a villain per say. He was the new kid in school who was kidnapped and brainwashed into fighting the Power Rangers. And then he became a Power Ranger himself. You can't seriously compare the two. Also, Tommy is as important as the other five Rangers. Like I said, even if they waited till the second movie to introduce the Green Ranger they'd still have Tommy in the first movie. Actually, you want a good example? Harry Osborne. Wasn't Harry in two Spidey movies before becoming the Green Goblin II in the third movie? Exactly. So, why would Tommy be any different? He's a key character.

But...that is a villain. He fought against them, regardless of whether it was his choice or not. just because he wasn't permanantly evil doesn't mean he wasn't at one point a villain.

I wouldn't mind if he had a minor appearance in the first movie, but considering he's original backstory had him as a new kid in town...


Just an FYI, but David Yost is like 40. He's the oldest in the cast. Do you really want a 40-year-old Power Ranger? And a bald one?!

Cruger, Udonna and R.J. were pretty old, yet still managed to make convincing Rangers.

[Storm Eagle]

Cruger, Udonna and R.J. were pretty old, yet still managed to make convincing Rangers.

They weren't meant to be teenagers though.

People here were talking about a PR movie that would act as a reboot, and use the original characters (Jason, Zack, Billy, Trini, Kimberly, Tommy). Those characters were teenagers in the beginning, but their actors have aged too much to play their characters when they were teenagers.

[Old Guy]

It's not like there's all that much equipment to learn, anyway.

I don't know if a megazord is that easy to operate.


But...that is a villain. He fought against them, regardless of whether it was his choice or not. just because he wasn't permanantly evil doesn't mean he wasn't at one point a villain.

You just said it. At one point. After that he was a Ranger himself and an important one.

[Tobias]

If they were going to do a new PR movie, I'd rather they do it as origin with the original five, and maybe give them some non stereoptypical personalities.

My problem with the first movie, and I noticed this while re-watching it a few years later, was that if you watched the movie without having seen the t.v. show... well, the Rangers have NO personality. With the exception of 'Practically Perfect in Every Way' Tommy, the Rangers were pretty much all interchangeable.

[Old Guy]

If they were going to do a new PR movie, I'd rather they do it as origin with the original five, and maybe give them some non stereoptypical personalities.

My problem with the first movie, and I noticed this while re-watching it a few years later, was that if you watched the movie without having seen the t.v. show... well, the Rangers have NO personality. With the exception of 'Practically Perfect in Every Way' Tommy, the Rangers were pretty much all interchangeable.

That's something the critics complained about at the time. Atleast with TMNT there was one. Leo, the leader. Ralph, the rebel. Mikey and Don as the goofballs. In MMPR: TM they were all the same. I guess it's not something they worried about since they knew kids watched the show and knew all the character's history what-not.

[Storm Eagle]

If they were going to do a new PR movie, I'd rather they do it as origin with the original five, and maybe give them some non stereoptypical personalities.

My problem with the first movie, and I noticed this while re-watching it a few years later, was that if you watched the movie without having seen the t.v. show... well, the Rangers have NO personality. With the exception of 'Practically Perfect in Every Way' Tommy, the Rangers were pretty much all interchangeable.

That reminds me of a criticism someone I know made about the movie, about how it supposedly represents everything that PR-haters think the show is.

MMPR:TM is a lifeless piece of a commercialism. It exists solely to make a quick buck and did not bother to throw in the conventions of the tv series that would make us think otherwise, such as storytelling and characterization.

Now granted the original Rangers weren't deep but they were at least functional archetypes. The Rangers in the movies weren't even that, all six of them became ciphers, spouting off one-liners. And we're not expected to care because, hey they have cool new outfits.

It was commercial garbage at it's worst. Just like what people that hate Power Rangers, think the show is. The movie validates their opinion and that's why I've always hated it.

That and the CGI Ninja Megazord is one of the fugliest things I've ever seen in my life.

I have no interest in more PR movies. At least not the kind that would probably be made. If there was ever going to be a new PR movie, it would just be a straight-to-video feature and would only be a glorified extended episode. I'll pass.

The type of PR movie I would want to see would be because it has a story to tell that wouldn't be functional in the tv series. Either because it handles darker material or because it focuses on a group of characters that are not featured in whatever the current season would be. But I doubt Disney would be interested in doing either one of those two.

[Tobias]

I don't think I'd want to see a *darker* Power Rangers movie, but when you have a movie where the Rangers are in costume for only TWO sequences, with the group being in their civilian identies for 90 percent of the film, you'd think they'd focus on their individual personalities and how they interact with each other.

As a kid, yeah, I LOVED the movie, in fact I saw it twice in the theater and couldn't wait to own the VHS, but when I got older and watched it again, I started seeing all the flaws in the film, especially the lack of them actually being in costume for more than 10 minutes of a 90 minute film.

[Mikintosh]

Just an FYI, but David Yost is like 40. He's the oldest in the cast. Do you really want a 40-year-old Power Ranger? And a bald one?!

Considering that just a couple years ago they had a Power Ranger who was a talking dog...

[The Penguin]

Welcome to the new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie reboot? thread. Created by moving the last 50-plus posts out of the MMPR Movie talkback that has nothing to do with that film. Please try to keep threads on topic. This line of discussion is now welcome to continue.

[Storm Eagle]

Considering that just a couple years ago they had a Power Ranger who was a talking dog...

Might this (http://forums.toonzone.net/showpost.php?p=3411529&postcount=53) point which was mentioned a bit earlier apply to your statement as well?

[Mikintosh]

Might this (http://forums.toonzone.net/showpost.php?p=3411529&postcount=53) point which was mentioned a bit earlier apply to your statement as well?

Yes, but that's assuming that any theoretical movie would in fact 1) be a reboot and 2) feature characters that were the same age at the originals, neither of which is necessary for the Power Rangers concept to work. You can have the Rangers in their 30s if the movie remains in continuity with the show and you simply have the show take place sixteen or so years after the first season.

It's unlikely they'd ever try a theatrical reboot of the show anyway because it's not like MMPR is a "classic story" in the way say Spider-Man or Star Trek are. Usually studios hold off for at least two decades before they approach a property in that way (which is why people talking in the Spider-Man threads about there being another reboot if Raimi hadn't signed on for Spider 4 was absurd).

[Old Guy]

it's not like MMPR is a "classic story"

Neither was G.I. Joe. ;)

[sdp]

I like how the thread spun-off from the re-mastering to the movie to a movie reboot. I mean had I taken the day off and see a thread of a reboot PR movie and its already 4 pages I would have thought it was announced.

[Mikintosh]

Neither was G.I. Joe. ;)

Ah, but see there they waited for the 80s nostalgia boom to finally reach its full potential (thank you, Transformers!) before they attempted that. 90s nostalgia isn't due in a major way for another 5-10 years, if pop culture goes the way it always has.

Not to mention that anything that dates back to the 1960s is now deemed classic, pretty much by law. :)


I like how the thread spun-off from the re-mastering to the movie to a movie reboot. I mean had I taken the day off and see a thread of a reboot PR movie and its already 4 pages I would have thought it was announced.

Yeah, I'm not sure why they aren't all contained in one big, sprawling thread titled "Power Rangers discussion", but then I'm not a mod.

[HellCat]

Power Rangers can be multi generational but it's not an 'ever green' franchise like Transformers (no Tommy jokes!). How PR and Sentai survive is basically by giving us a fresh motif and cast year upon year. Compare that to Transformers, where it's more the same core cast being tweaked every series and still being popular. Not that that's a good thing- most modern Transformers works are drowning in 'Gee Wun' nostalgia, constantly regurgitating the same ideas so that fanboys who fear change will keep buying.

I think where the formula breaks down is that Power Rangers in recent years hasn't done much to make the casts likeable. In the show's original run, who was behind the mask was a big part of things. We got to generally know the rangers as indviduals and it had weight if something happened to them or they left. The more recent seasons don't bother with this but sentai still does. Sure it'll use archetypes ("I'm the cocky young Red Ranger!") but ultimately it uses its year of run time to make you generally care about the characters. Power Rangers seems more disposable and tends to cut character development for cheap special effects scenes (I swear, that damn 'sent flying in slow motion...). There's no real attempt to add charm. RPM isn't perfect but it has gone to great lengths to focus on characters first, which is good. Power Rangers is a suprisingly complex stew and if you prepare it wrong then kids will lose interest.

[Old Guy]

Power Rangers is a suprisingly complex stew and if you prepare it wrong then kids will lose interest.

Sort of, I guess. The thing is that Power Rangers was too much a product of its time. One of the reasons why it became so popular in 1993 was because it featured so many things that were "hip" at the time. It had martial arts, which was a fad that TMNT started and the 3 Ninjas movies later picked up on. It had the dinosaur concept which got big around the time of Jurassic Park. And it had that `90s look and style that the TNBC shows like Saved by the Bell started and everyone copied. The Juice Bar was basically their version of The Max. So, there lies the problem. The show hasn't updated that much. Yeah, the dinosaur thing has been dropped and the `90's style is gone...but it's pretty much the same show. I know PR fans, PRdude in particular, HATE IT when I say that but it's true. The show just recycles the same ideas every season. So, for kids it just seems like a show that should have ended years ago. As well as one of those, "you've seen one and you've seen them all" type scenarios. It's not like other long-running shows like, say, Scooby-Doo where they've experimented with the formula. Some unsuccessfully, like the Scappy-Doo years, and some more successfully like the, "oh, look they're actually real this time" ones. You know?

[Mikintosh]

Sort of, I guess. The thing is that Power Rangers was too much a product of its time. One of the reasons why it became so popular in 1993 was because it featured so many things that were "hip" at the time. It had martial arts, which was a fad that TMNT started and the 3 Ninjas movies later picked up on. It had the dinosaur concept which got big around the time of Jurassic Park. And it had that `90s look and style that the TNBC shows like Saved by the Bell started and everyone copied. The Juice Bar was basically their version of The Max. So, there lies the problem. The show hasn't updated that much. Yeah, the dinosaur thing has been dropped and the `90's style is gone...but it's pretty much the same show. I know PR fans, PRdude in particular, HATE IT when I say that but it's true. The show just recycles the same ideas every season.

Watch an episode of MMPR and RPM next to each other and then tell me that they're even remotely similar other than the basic format of the show. The only things that have continued through the years are the martial arts, zords, and villains; every year they redid everything else (which could be considered both a good or a bad thing). The last season that resembled the original show was Turbo.

[sdp]

PR is a multi-generation evergreen property, if it wasn't it wouldn't have lasted 17 years. TMNT was described as an evergreen property and its done a whole lot less than PR. And yeah I'd compare PR to Transformers, every season of sentai is a tweaked version, you will always have a red ranger, like you'll always have optimus. You guys are trying to compare it when it was a fad, to now. Why not do the same with TMNT? It never became as big with its recent revival yet got plenty of seasons. I guess thats not a multi-generational appeal. Not to mention the original show became a fad was because of all the things it included that were "hip" at the time.

Scooby-Doo is a terrible example, the show has not changed its formula ever, and when it did (13 ghosts/get a clue) it did terrible. Also the Scrappy years were actually successful. PR changes its formula a lot more.

Pokemon has lasted for more than ten years, its not a fad anymore either, same thing.


And about the casts being unlikable I disagree, its because you're not a kid anymore and see seasons differently. I love the original cast but I'm not sure had the shoe started with a totally different cast it would have made a difference, it being the first cast I ever saw probably has a lot to do with it. I love the cast of SPD and that was the first season I saw after getting "back" into PR. to me the in space-DT casts are just "faces". I'm sure I like SPD's cast a lot because it was the first show I watched since getting back into PR, my like for each cast every year after that went down a little. As for previous years casts I really don't care for.

[Antiyonder]

http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=225298

Mod Note: First off all, I recommend this thread if you plan to carry over the discussions of Power Rangers not pertaining to a particular series or movie reboots. Second of all, keep discussions civil.

[Tommy Lawson]

PR is a multi-generation evergreen property, if it wasn't it wouldn't have lasted 17 years. TMNT was described as an evergreen property and its done a whole lot less than PR. And yeah I'd compare PR to Transformers, every season of sentai is a tweaked version, you will always have a red ranger, like you'll always have optimus. You guys are trying to compare it when it was a fad, to now. Why not do the same with TMNT? It never became as big with its recent revival yet got plenty of seasons. I guess thats not a multi-generational appeal. Not to mention the original show became a fad was because of all the things it included that were "hip" at the time.

It is very interesting you said this, considering that Nick just bought the TMNT rights (http://news.toonzone.net/articles/31520/nick-acquires-rights-for-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-new-tv-series-and-movie). To me, it does makes me wonder if Disney was interested in it, but passed on it, feeling that PR is the more successful brand, especially among toy sales, which is the biggest reason why PR got new seasons for 17 years. As I saw in two posts over at Rangerboard recently (posts 850 (http://www.rangerboard.com/showpost.php?p=3254915&postcount=850) and 851 (http://www.rangerboard.com/showpost.php?p=3254930&postcount=851)), the MMPR logo and the name "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" itself were based on mimicking the success of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and now with the property in Nickelodeon's control, if Disney wanted to compete with it, I have a feeling that something based on the show that replaced the TMNT's success in 1993 with a 4-word title just like it may be in order, which could mean a new movie.

[underdog]

I have a feeling that something based on the show that replaced the TMNT's success in 1993 with a 4-word title just like it may be in order, which could mean a new movie.

What four word title are you referring to? MMPR?

[Old Guy]

it does makes me wonder if Disney was interested in it, but passed on it, feeling that PR is the more successful brand, especially among toy sales, which is the biggest reason why PR got new seasons for 17 years.

TMNT is more successful than PR. They were relevant much longer, 6 years while PR was 4 years. TMNT has four theatrical movies, with a 5th in development, while PR only had two. And as far as toy sales are concerned...I really don't know. Care to post some figures?

[Marvin Tikvah]

I can't seem to find exact numbers, but there's this press release from Bandai from earlier this year:

http://www.grnrngr.com/toys/press/PowerRangersRPMFall2009Release.pdf

Specifically:


“A true testament to the brand’s continuous popularity, we’re excited to support the 17th season of Power Rangers with the all new Racing Performance Machines toy line,” said Danielle Armbrust, director of marketing, Bandai America Inc. “With over 100 million Power Rangers action figures sold to date, Bandai is leveraging its expertise in the action figure category to introduce a vehicle inspired lineup that appeals to collectors and new fans.”

[Old Guy]

"to date" means since 1993.

[Wolf Boy2]

Neither was G.I. Joe. ;)
Not a comic book reader, are you? GI Joe was one of Marvel's bestselling titles at one time and boasted a darn good storyline. If you follow the comics, there is hardly any comparison between PR and GI Joe. PR had no roots in the history of the Vietnam war or anything else vaguely resembling real life like GI Joe did.

[Mikintosh]

"to date" means since 1993.

If we're counting "four" TMNT movies, then that stretches back to 1990...

[Rolling Cloud]

"to date" means since 1993.

Actually,


to date Until now:
To date, only half of those invited have responded.

[Old Guy]

If we're counting "four" TMNT movies, then that stretches back to 1990...

In fairness, TMNT has actually had hit movies. All four movies opened at #1. That's right. Even the third one, which believe it or not, didn't flop at the box office. It broke even. And the first one grossed $202 million worldwide, making it the 9th most successful for the year. While neither of the two PR movies opened at #1. The first opened at #4. The second opened at #7. The first broke even and the second was a major flop.

[Tobias]

The sad thing is, that like the TMNT franchise, MMPR could have had a hit movie franchise if Fox had put a little more effort into it.

Yes, TMNT, like the MMPR movie, was only made to cash in on the popularity of the t.v. series. But the difference is that more thought and effort was put into the Ninja Turtles film.

New Line gave us a look into the origin, some good characterization, and some great fight scenes.

Fox gave us bad jokes, a lot of Tommy showing off, and no real characterization beyond the awsomeness that was Ivan Ooze. Not that MMPR was a bad movie, but it could have been SO MUCH MORE had Fox actually tried to give a good movie instead of mere cash-in.

If we ever got a reboot, I'd want some REAL effort put into the project. Give us real interactions between the characters; an actual look into the origin. It doesn't have to be an hour long opening, just a flashback or recap of how the Rangers were formed; some choreographed fight scenes where all the characters get to shine; and most importantly, when it comes to final fight with the big bad, make it actually be Lord Zedd. Ivan Ooze was awesome for a one shot villain, but for the first move, we needed Lord Zedd as the the big bad.

[Old Guy]

more thought and effort was put into the Ninja Turtles film.


New Line

New Line was just the distributor. The movie was made by famous Hong Kong producer Raymond Chow through his legandary company, Golden Harvest. This is why the movie turned out so good. No Hollywood studio was involved with the production.

TMNT II: Secret of the Ooze, now THAT'S a Hollywood movie. And you can tell the difference. Yes, Golden Harvest was still in charge but New Line wanted to avoid the criticism the first one got from parents. So, they forced them to tone it down. In the opening scene, the Turtles don't even use real weapons to fight.

[Mikintosh]

The sad thing is, that like the TMNT franchise, MMPR could have had a hit movie franchise if Fox had put a little more effort into it.

Yes, TMNT, like the MMPR movie, was only made to cash in on the popularity of the t.v. series. But the difference is that more thought and effort was put into the Ninja Turtles film.

New Line gave us a look into the origin, some good characterization, and some great fight scenes.

Fox gave us bad jokes, a lot of Tommy showing off, and no real characterization beyond the awsomeness that was Ivan Ooze. Not that MMPR was a bad movie, but it could have been SO MUCH MORE had Fox actually tried to give a good movie instead of mere cash-in.

If we ever got a reboot, I'd want some REAL effort put into the project. Give us real interactions between the characters; an actual look into the origin. It doesn't have to be an hour long opening, just a flashback or recap of how the Rangers were formed; some choreographed fight scenes where all the characters get to shine; and most importantly, when it comes to final fight with the big bad, make it actually be Lord Zedd. Ivan Ooze was awesome for a one shot villain, but for the first move, we needed Lord Zedd as the the big bad.

Zedd couldn't have been the big bad in the movie; they still needed him for the 3rd season of the show. And if you're doing a reboot, you'd need a longer origin than a short recap; heck, Spider-Man spent an entire movie just doing the origin.