Entertainment Weekly and Lionsgate Films
The first look of Lionsgate's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' suits have officially been released and, per the usual, the internet has exploded. Some are referencing the notable similarities of these suits to that of Iron Man. Others are pointing out the sexist differences between the male and female costumes. Some are happy to see the Power Rangers being taken seriously. So let's take a look at all these points of view and try and determine if they have any merit. I'll give you a hint, there's never a clear answer.
Iron Rangers
This is the most notable "problem" with the newly released suits. From the metallic look to the apparently glowing center chest piece there is a definite similarity to Iron Man. Is that a bad thing though? Take a look at the suits from the Power Rangers The Movie (1995).
The more armor-like suits from this 1995 film and the addition of guns gave the Rangers a more "professional" feel than the simplistic "cosplayers" of the TV show. When making a comparison of the cloth suits from the original TV show to the current picture one does notice a striking difference. However, comparing the picture to the '95 movie it is a much smoother jump.
The Sexism
People have pointed out how the pink and yellow ranger have definite female characteristics that are lacking in the male suits. Such as chest plates being more form fitted and having high heels. This one is also hard to refute. There is no apparent need to have these features on the female costume. The designers could have developed a more uni-sex costume to accommodate all the Rangers. However, once against looking at the 1995 movie, there were definite chest plates for the female rangers, although less pronounced.
Additionally, the original pink ranger sported a small skirt to distinguish her as a female.
"Mr. Unpopped," you may ask, "why doesn't the yellow ranger have a skirt then?" Good question. Well, some of you may know that Mighty Morphin Power Rangers took footage for their action sequences from a Japanese show called Super Sentai. In that show the yellow ranger was a male rather than a female. Thus the skirt was kept off.
Now, I'm not a female, so I have no right to say whether the new suits are sexist or not. That's why I'm going to stay out of saying whether they are or not. Instead I will state what production designer Andrew Menzies has said and then make a comment on that.
"It’s tricky finding a new language for a superhero costume. Ours is an alien costume that grows on them, that’s not man-made. You can’t win everyone over, but we are trying to appeal to a more mature audience and gain new fans."
If these suits are "organic" in some way, it only makes sense the the suit would form itself around the body. And since men and women have distinct differences in body types, it only makes sense that those differences would be apparent in their suits.
Once again, I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just saying that with what they were going for, it makes sense. Except for the high heels... that doesn't make sense.
Excitement
No matter what you think of the newly revealed Power Ranger suits, when you combine it with the picture release of Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa, there is no doubt that Lionsgate is finally taking this property seriously and wants to do something interesting.
Lionsgate Films
Conclusion
Regardless of how the suits look or what others are saying about the films potential, I'm still very excited. I realize I'm a little bias. I honestly can't remember a time when I wasn't actively watching Power Rangers at least weekly. It was a big part of my childhood. My only hope is that this movie will have some kind of success. That way Power Rangers will have an impact on not only my childhood, but on my adulthood as well.
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