“Power Rangers”: Seasons 8-12 is yet another great set from Shout Factory with satisfactory audio and video transfers and, as far as I know, all the features captured on one disc. Now, it is quite expensive (it will be around $75 when released), so you really need to be a hardcore “PR” fan but to me, it’s worth it.
“Power Rangers”: Seasons 8-12 (2000-2005)
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Shout Factory | TVY7 – 2610 min. – $179.99 | November 12, 2013
MOVIE INFO:
Directed by: Various
Writer(s): Various
Cast (Lightspeed Rescue): Sean Cw Johnson, Alison MacInnis, Michael Chaturantabut, Sasha Williams, Keith Robinson, Rhett Fisher
Cast (Time Force): Jason Faunt, Erin Cahill, Michael Copon, Deborah Estelle Philips, Kevin Kleinberg, Daniel Southworth
Cast (Wild Force): Ricardo Medina Jr., Jack Guzman, Alyson Kiperman, Phillip Jeanmarie, Jessica Rey, Philip Andrew
Cast (Ninja Storm): Pua Magasiva, Glenn McMillan, Sally Martin, Adam Tuominen, Jorgito Vargas Jr., Jason Chan
Cast (Dino Thunder): James Napier, Kevin Duhaney, Emma Lahana, Jeffrey Parazzo, Jason David Frank
DISC INFO:
Features: Featurettes
Number of Discs: 26
Audio: English (Dolby Digital Stereo)
Video: Full Frame 1.33
Subtitles: NA
Region(s): 1
THE MOVIE – 3.0/5
“Power Rangers” certainly has quite the history going on 20+ seasons in a variety of fashions and a change in cast each time as well. This review will cover seasons 8-12 which will be new territory for me being mostly familiar with the original cast which ran from 1993 until 1996. The 5 seasons included in this set are, like its predecessors, are silly, vastly lacks any sort of a budget and the acting is, to be kind, mediocre. However, these seasons are still a lot of fun although they don’t hold a candle the first few seasons and original cast.
“Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue” (2000-01)
After five thousand years of incarceration, the evil Diabolico and his treacherous army of demons have escapes their imprisonment, and will stop at nothing to destroy the community of Mariner Bay and its innocent citizens. The new Power Rangers, empowered with top-secret technology, are the planet’s only hope. Chosen for their expert skills, this unique team of five – a firefighter, an aquatics professional and a martial artist, an accomplished aviator, an extreme sports enthusiast and a paramedic – is commissioned to defend Earth from the evil Diabolico and wage their battle from the safety of their high-tech underwater compound and weapons technology, the Lightspeed Aquabase.
“Power Rangers: Time Force” (2001-02)
In the distant future, a team of Power Rangers known as the Power Rangers Time Force act as a time-traveling police force capturing and freezing criminal mutants. When the notorious criminal mastermind Ransik stages a daring escape, he fells the Red Time Force Ranger Alex and takes the entire cryogenic prison full of dangerous, incarcerated mutants back in time with him to the year 2001. There he seeks to unleash a new wave of crime against our modern world, helpless against the vastly superior technology. In pursuit of Ransik, Pink Ranger Jen – grieving fiancée of Alex – leads a team of Time Force officers back in time to apprehend the escaped criminals. In modern time they ally themselves with Alex’s distant ancestor Wes, who’s shared DNA with his future descendant, allows him to take up the powers of the Red Time Force Ranger.
“Power Rangers: Wild Force” (2002-03)
An ancient evil has awakened from a time long forgotten. The only hope for the world is the floating island in the sky known as the Animarium – the remains of an ancient kingdom destroyed by the Orgs 3000 years ago. Living on the Animarium, giant beasts, known as Wild Zards, recruit five young heroes from the modern world and grant them the power to become Power Rangers.
To aid the Power Rangers in their battle to save the Earth from the evil Orgs, the Wild Zords descend from their habitat in the sky when the Rangers need them the most. With a virtual zoo of gigantic animals fighting by their sides, the Power Rangers Wild Force prove that when humans and animals work together to save the planet, nothing can stop them.
“Power Rangers: Ninja Storm” (2003-04)
Tori, Shane, and Dustin lead typical lives in Blue Bay Harbor but they have one thing in common – they are students at a secret ninja school under the teachings of a wise sensei. Their world changes when Lothor, a ninja master banished to space of his evil deeds, returns to Earth bend on revenge. Sensei gives “Wind Morphers” to the three kids that will transform them into Power Rangers to compete in this ultimate battle.
“Power Rangers: Dino Thunder” (2004-05)
On a remote island, a doctor and his assistant work on a secret project to create Dino Zords, creatures of incredible strength and intelligence. When the island is blown to pieces in a furious battle, the assistant discovers that the Dino Zords were created for evil. Barely escaping, the assistant now lives the quiet life of a high-school teacher. When he meets three teens, they become an unlikely new team of superheroes called the Power Rangers Dino Thunder… who defend the Earth against this new evil!
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2.25/5
Each season set is contained in a standard DVD case while the special features disc in a thin one. A booklet with episode listings and cast bios is also included. All of this is housed in a thick outer case.
The Voice of a Ranger (16:34) has past cast members talk about their experience on the ADR work.
Ranger Tales (24:59) finds the cast telling stories about getting the part and filming the different series.
Pure Titanium (7:41) covers the Titanium Ranger played by Rhett Fisher.
A Web of Fans (15:42) goes over the fandom for the franchise.
Return of the Ranger (3:50) – This short featurette is about the character Tommy Oliver played by Jason David Frank and his role in the series over the years.
Before it Began (“The Hidden Episode”) (7:40) is a preview for “Power Rangers: Space Patrol Delta” (Season 19).
Ninja Storm Katas is an interactive feature to learn different Kata moves.
Also includes are some Original Promos (1:53).
VIDEO – 2.75/5
Each “Power Rangers” season set is presented in 1.33 full frame aspect ratio and probably looks on par with how it aired on TV. It’s nothing overly impressive with plenty of pixilation and artifacting but the transfers seem relatively clean and bright.
AUDIO – 3.0/5
The episodes have been given standard Dolby Digital 2.0 audio tracks which are serviceable for dialogue but the music and action elements are flat. But like the video, you don’t really need much to enjoy the series.
OVERALL – 3.0/5
Overall, “Power Rangers”: Seasons 8-12 is yet another great set from Shout Factory with satisfactory audio and video transfers and, as far as I know, all the features captured on one disc. Now, it is quite expensive (it will be around $75 when released), so you really need to be a hardcore “PR” fan but to me, it’s worth it.
Published: 11/09/2013