Power Rangers Samurai DVD A Good Bridge Between Series

Courtesy: Lionsgate

The most recent installment in Saban’s long-running Power Rangers franchise—Power Rangers Samurai—recently wrapped up its season with the rangers taking down Xandred once and for all.  Meanwhile Skull and his son Spike are re-united, leaving Bulk behind and the rangers all going their own way.  With the Samurai Rangers’ duties done, the question was raised would there be another series to carry on the Power Rangers franchise.  The answer:  Yes.  But before that, fans of the Samurai Rangers were given one last adventure from the previous team of Rangers.  That adventure is the new straight to DVD feature, Clash of the Red Rangers: The Movie.

Clash of the Red Rangers: The Movie is for all intents and purposes a space filler between one Power Rangers series and the next.  This forty-five minute story not only offers audiences one more adventure from the Samurai rangers, but even includes a former Ranger from the RPM universe.  Given, on the surface, the RPM Ranger’s story seems out of place considering the timing of this new release and the end of Power Rangers RPM.   But one must also take into consideration that the two series existed within their own universe, much like the various incarnations of different comic books (E.g. Batman, Batman & Robin, Wolverine, The Uncanny X-Men, etc.)  So taking this into account, it makes suspension of disbelief more possible.  In turn, it makes this essentially extended TV episode more bearable.

Clash of the Red Rangers: The Movie is less a movie and more an extended TV episode.  But even if one considers it a movie, unlike other movies taken from TV series, it actually hasn’t lost any of the action for which it was known during its run on TV.  All the explosions and fight scenes are there.  And since it hadn’t happened in some time, it was interesting to see Saban do another crossover episode.  The last time that Saban had done such was in the Power Rangers Dino series.  That series saw the return of Tommy (Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers) as the head of his own team of Rangers.  The Rangers’ zords in this series were even throwbacks to the very first of the Power Rangers series.  So while it wasn’t directly a crossover, it is the closest that the franchise had come to a crossover before this DVD release.

This new DVD release from Saban is interesting because it presents the first crossover storyline from the Power Rangers franchise in some time.  That crossover story arc also makes this an interesting release in that for the first time in the Power Rangers franchise, it openly answers the question of how there could be so many different teams of Rangers around the world.  This franchise has evolved in so many directions since the days of the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.  It’s this kind of evolution that can cause comic book fans to become confused and even frustrated.  So the very acknowledgement that there are different dimensions to the Power Rangers universe helps to justify each franchise, if only a little bit at best.  In the simplest of terms, what this has done is it has hopefully put the kibosh on that eternal question raised by so many fan boys.  And in turn, it makes the latest series in the franchise, Megaforce, that much more appreciated, especially being that it directly throws back to the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.  Keeping all of that in mind, Clash of the Red Rangers: The Movie may not be the best of the Power Rangers features ever written.  But it does explain some previously unexplained issues and in turn makes previous Power Rangers series worth another look.  For that, it in itself is worth at least one watch.

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Samurai Rangers Rise To The Challenge Again In New DVD

 

Courtesy: Lionsgate/Saban Brands

Lionsgate released two new volumes of adventures from the Samurai Power Rangers this week.  The second of the new volumes offers audiences four more adventures loaded with action and important life lessons that young audiences will enjoy.  Power Rangers Super Samurai: Rise of the Bullzooka teaches yet again the lesson of believing in one’s own self.  It also teaches the equally important lesson of never giving up in even the most difficult of situations.  The set’s second episode, “The Strange Case of the Munchies” is actually a valuable inclusion to this set as it not only teaches about believing in one’s self, but also of taking care of one’s self by not eating too much.  It takes on the subject of the obesity epidemic without being too preachy.  And as with previous releases, audiences also get the lesson of teamwork in the set’s third episode, “A Sticky Situation.”  This time, the lesson is taught when Mike and Kevin have to learn to work together, even when they face off against their latest Nighlok foe.  It all leads up to another confrontation between Jayden and Deker.  It is just one more in a rivalry that will later reach its peak for the two later in the season.

Fans of this latest team of Rangers will undoubtedly enjoy this new set of adventures for both the action and the life lessons that were more subtly tied in to each episode.  Also helping make the episodes more enjoyable is the continued inclusion of comic relief from Bulk and his nephew, Spike.  Long-time fans of the Power Rangers franchise will recall that Spike is the son of Bulk’s old friend Eugene “Skull” Skulovich.  The chemistry between Bulk and Spike harkens back to the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers franchise just as much as the adventures themselves.  Before this season came along, the last time anyone had seen or heard from Bulk (Paul Schrier) was in a cameo role in Power Rangers Wild Force.  While Spike isn’t Skull, the pairing of Bulk and Spike still brings about the same hilarious physical comedy that Bulk and Skull offered audiences during the original run of the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.  Add in a little romance on the part of Spike (spike develops a crush on Mia, not knowing she’s also the Pink Ranger) and both boys and girls will have their own entertainment here.

While this latest set of adventures only boasts four episodes, all four episodes will offer audiences of the latest Rangers squad plenty of entertainment.  The comedy element instilled by Bulk and Spike plays its own role in the success of the episodes.  The stylistic link between the stories of the original Power Rangers franchise and this latest installment is another connection that will entertain both long-time fans and younger, newer fans.  The life lessons included in each story are another standard of the Power Rangers franchise as a whole.  It makes for one more element that both long-time fans and newer fans will appreciate.  Altogether, they combine to make one more set that any Power Rangers fan will enjoy.  Power Rangers Super Samurai: Rise of the Bullzooka is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered online via the Lionsgate store at http://www.lionsgateshop.com/product.asp?Id=27841&TitleParentId=8042. 

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The Rangers Return With More Lessons, Adventures In New Set

Courtesy: Lionsgate

The Power Rangers are back once again.  Thanks to Lionsgate and Saban, fans of the latest team of Rangers get to experience four more action packed adventures from Power Rangers Samurai.  In the latest set of adventures, the Rangers face one of their most difficult challenges yet.  The whole thing starts when Kevin is put under a mind control spell by a new Nighlok monster.  It just so happens that the monster also has control of the Rangers’ Tigerzord.  Making things worse is that there’s already some tension among the team because of Master Ji’s evaluation of Kevin and Jayden.  While the Rangers are able to overcome this hurdle, things don’t get any easier as Mike has to face his own doubts after not being given the Beetle disc.  This causes problems when the team faces off against a new Nighlok monster.  It in turn leads to a conflict between Mike and the rest of the Rangers. But after a heart to heart between Mike and Master Ji, things turn around for Mike.  Having overcome so much adversity, the Rangers face one final challenge in a two-part episode that will test Jayden like never before.

It goes without saying that the Rangers come out on top in each of the four episodes in this new single-disc collection.  And just as with previous incarnations of the famed Power Rangers franchise, these new episodes teach the lessons of believing in oneself and of the value of teamwork.  These are lessons of which today’s younger viewers to be reminded. 

The continued lessons alone make the episodes in this new release valuable in their own right.  But anyone who has grown up with the Power Rangers franchise will see a number of similarities between this new team of Rangers and those having gone before.  Many of the zords are very similar in style to previous zords.  And even the Rangers’ own weapons are similar to those of previous teams.  They have simply been given a little bit of a twist to update them.  This will create in older audiences a sense of nostalgia.  And even for those who are new to the Power Rangers universe, these episodes make for a good starting point.  Older audiences can teach the younger audiences about the similarities to the older Rangers’ series, and in turn show where the show has come from.  Power Rangers Samurai: A Team Divided is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered online via the Lionsgate store at http://www.lionsgateshop.com/product.asp?Id=27840&TitleParentId=8041.

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Lionsgate Brings Fans More Morphin’ Fun For Halloween In New DVD

Courtesy: Lionsgate

Safety is one of the biggest concerns each year on Halloween.  Safety for adults and children alike is a big concern.  That being the case, so many families might be looking for ways to celebrate with family and kid friendly Halloween parties in the safety and comfort of their own homes.  With those parties come family and kid friendly specials.  Lots of specials are released each year.  And now, another one has been released for all the fans young and old of Saban’s hit Power Rangers franchise.  Out in stores today is the single disc Halloween themed compilation, “Power Rangers Samurai:  Monster Bash.”  The new single disc compilation contains a special Halloween themed episode from Power Rangers:  Samurai, along with two bonus episodes from the classic original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers for fans of that original incarnation of the long running franchise.

The main episode included in this trio of Halloween themed Power Rangers episode sees a bunch of the monsters beaten by the Samurai Power Rangers gathering for a Halloween party.  While they’re there, all the vanquished Nighlok monsters share their stories of how they almost beat the Samurai Power Rangers.  Meanwhile, the evil Lord Xandred is moping on his ship because he hadn’t been invited to the party.  Thing is that he’s reminded later in the episode that the gathering is of Nighlok monsters that were dead.  Fans of Warner Brothers’ classic television series, Batman:  The Animated Series will recognize this story style as that show ran a similar clip show in the episode, “Almost Got Him.”

“Party Monsters” is a good episode for younger Power Rangers audiences.  Parents of the new Power Rangers fans will enjoy this three episode compilation too, as it also includes two bonus episodes from the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers series.  In the first of the two bonus episodes, Kimberly has to face off against Bulk’s sidekick, Skull in a game show.  The two are vying for a new car.  It just so happens that the game show is a Halloween themed game show.  Kimberly and the Rangers have to leave the show early as they have to face Rita’s Pumpkin Rapper monster.  With Tommy’s help, the Rangers are able to defeat the Pumpkin Rapper.  And in the end, things don’t turn out too well for Bulk and Skull (whose real name is revealed in this episode, too).  Audiences will have to see for themselves what happens to them when they check out this DVD.

In the second of this compilation’s bonus classic episodes, the Power Rangers are setting up for a big costume party at the Angel Grove Gym and Juice Bar.  Along with the party, there will be a costume contest.  So Rita takes full advantage of that.  She sends a Frankenstein monster to the party to infiltrate it and get the Rangers.  But the monster is mistaken for just another party-goer.  That is until Billy secretly trails him to a cave where Rita’s henchmen are making a new kind of super putty patroller.  He ends up having to face Rita’s monster before escaping and going back to tell the other Rangers about what he’s seen.  The Rangers end up having to call in the Megazord to face the Frankenstein monster.  But it’s not until Tommy comes in with the Dragonzord and combines it with the Megazord that the Rangers are finally able to finish off the monster.  After defeating the monster, the Rangers go back to the party, and find out a surprise as to who wins the costume contest.  Of course, again, audiences will have to find out who won for themselves when they check out this DVD.  “Power Rangers Samurai:  Monster Bash” is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered online via the Lionsgate store at http://www.lionsgateshop.com.

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Stine & Co. Offer Even More Scares And Screams In The Haunting Hour Volume Two

Courtesy: Shout! Factory

R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour is back with even more frights in the second volume of episodes that’s sure to send chills p the spines of viewers young and old alike.  In the second volume of episodes, one young boy’s fascination with E.T.’s becomes all too real and all too dangerous when he comes face to face with two aliens who are hungry for humans.  Also, when a cemetery is dug up to make way for a mini-mall, the spirits of the deceased rise, leading a young woman to have to search for her brother.  And a young man learns the dangers of playing too many video games the hard way when he’s given a game by a mysterious figure.  That’s and more is in Volume Two of R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour.

Young middle school student Walt and his friend Tim are both avid believers in the existence of extra terrestrials in the episode, “Alien Candy.”  So when the mysterious Bonnie and Greg suddenly introduce themselves to Walt one day and their secrets, he gets wrapped up what the pair tells him to do.  That is until they appear in his bedroom out of nowhere one night and reveal that they’re in reality a pair of flesh hungry aliens from outer space!  Luckily for Walt, “Bonnie” and “Greg” are allergic to redheads.  So instead, they go after Tim.  Realizing this, Walt sets out to save Tim, who at first doesn’t believe Walt, until it’s almost too late.  When Tim and Walt are chased through the school, the chase climaxes with a showdown in the school’s cafeteria kitchen.  In the end “Bonnie” and “Greg” are defeated.  But that’s not the end of the story.  Stine and company offer a rather “tantalizing” twist ending to this episode that viewers will have to see for themselves to believe.  It will also leave some asking themselves, do they believe?

Those wanting a ghost story get one in this volume in the episode, “Ghostly Stare.”  When brother and sister Mark and Lauren sneak out to a cemetery that is being dug up to make way for a new mini-mall, things get more than a little spooky.  Mark falls into one of the empty graves while Lauren is etching the name from one of the gravestones.  She has no clue that Mark had fallen in the grave.  So when she goes back home later, she thinks that the thing with her is Mark.  But later that night, a ghostly encounter reveals that what followed her home was the spirit of one of the individuals whose body had been dug up.  So Lauren has to go back to the cemetery to find Mark before dawn.  Otherwise, the spirit that took Mark’s place would take his place permanently.  Luckily, Mark comes to and gets out of the grave just in time.  It’s not over yet, as the show’s writers give audiences a creepy little twist when Mark gets back home.  It’s sort of like the old adage…never judge a book by its cover…..

In another of this volume’s spooky episodes, a young teenage boy named Kelly learns the hard way the dangers of playing too many video games.  Kelly and his friend Gary are playing a video game one day when Gary’s mom calls him.  Kelly is left alone, when a message from the mysterious Major Mayhem pops up, egging him on to meet him the next day.  So he does.  Kelly receives a game called “Zee-town.”  “Zee-town” is a game in which players must fight zombies to win.  Gary and Kelly soon discover after turning on the game, that they have actually been pulled into the game.  Eventually Kelly comes face to face with Major Mayhem (played by Brandon Jay McLaren).  Some audiences may remember McLaren from his role as Jack Landors/Red Ranger from Saban’s Power Rangers SPD.  Thinking everything is great after beating Major Mayhem, Kelly soon learns that while he beat Major Mayhem, he might not have won in the bigger picture, leading to yet another nice twist ending.

Whether it be episodes teaching lessons about getting away from video games, or spooky tales about waking the dead, or what’s really out there, The Haunting Hour Volume Two has lots of scares and screams for audiences of any age, including a pair of episodes not mentioned here.  And it’s available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered direct via Shout! Factory’s online store at http://www.shoutfactorystore.com.       

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New Power Rangers Compilation More Super Powered Fun For Audiences

Courtesy: Lionsgate/Saban

Good news Power Rangers fans.  Lionsgate and Saban released two brand new DVD compilations of Power Rangers Samurai episodes this week.  The first of the pair saw the new team of rangers get its Super Samurai powers, and learn how to use them.  The adventures get even bigger in the second set, “Power Rangers Super Samurai:  Super Showdown Volume 2.  In the second volume of the pair, the rangers have to tame the new Bullzord with the help of their friend, Cody.  And in another adventure, the rangers have to save Master Ji and Antonio when they’re kidnapped by the Nighlok Eyescar.  Those adventures and another pair are included on “Power Rangers Super Samurai:  Super Showdown Volume 2.”

One of the most important developments for the Samurai Rangers so far was the acquisition of the Bullzord.  The reason is that it was such a powerful zord.  As the story in the aptly titled episode notes, the Bullzord was so powerful when it was originally created, that its creators had to keep it locked up, as it couldn’t be tamed.  But when the rangers’ young friend, Cody, releases the Bullzord, the rangers have to help tame it.  As if taming the Bullzord wasn’t tough enough, the rangers also had to deal with the Nighlok, Crustor.  Crustor’s after the Bullzord, too.  In his attempt to take control of the Bullzord, Crustor goes after Cody, who has its discs.  Jayden has to stop Crustor and protect Cody, who is finally able to tame the Bullzord.  Once the Bullzord is tamed, Jayden sends Cody back to his dad and uses it to finish off Crustor.  After defeating Crustor, the rangers go back to check on Cody and his dad who are both okay.

The challenge of taming the Bullzord wasn’t the only tough moment for the Samurai Rangers.  In “The Rescue” the team has to free Master Ji and Antonio after they’re kidnapped by the Nighlok Eyescar.  Luckily for the rangers, when they are captured, Antonio leaves a trail of twine a la Hansel and Gretel for the rangers to follow.  This leads to a brief funny moment, when Mia makes a joke about the trail just having to lead down a dark and creepy tunnel.  It’s almost like she was speaking through the viewers, joking about how cliché it was.  That in itself made for a few laughs.  The rangers follow the trail through the tunnel, when they encounter a group of Moogers.  The rangers manage to defeat the Moogers and get to the end of the tunnel where they discover Antonio and Master Ji are being held by Eyescar and a huge horde of Moogers.  The rangers regroup get the edge with an aerial attack that clears enough Moogers for the team to release Antonio and Master Ji.  The rescue couldn’t come at a better time, as Eyescar goes mega size.  The rangers assemble the Samurai Megazord and finish him off once and for all.

These two adventures are just half of the enjoyment that fans of the new Power Rangers team will get on the new Super Showdown Volume 2 compilation.  There are two more episodes included in this set that fans will also enjoy.  Fans can check both of those episodes, along with the pair noted here now.  The compilation is available in stores and online.  It can be ordered direct from Lionsgate at http://www.lionsgateshop.com.

Power Rangers Power Up With New DVD

Courtesy: Lionsgate

The Power Rangers is one of the most iconic children’s television programs in the history of modern television.  American audiences got their first taste of the Power Rangers way back in 1993.  Now nearly two decades since that first series aired, young audiences are still being treated to the adventures of the Power Rangers.  The latest team of rangers is known as the Power Rangers Samurai.  This team of rangers has to face off against the evil Master Xandred and his hordes.  In one of the latest volumes of adventures from the Power Rangers Samurai, the rangers acquire their Super Samurai powers in their fight against Xandred.  In another of the volume’s adventures, the rangers’ souls are transferred into inanimate objects, while the essence of those objects is transferred into the rangers.  It’s up to the Green and Yellow ranger to save the rest of the team.  That and more are in “Power Rangers Samurai:  The Super Powered Black Box Volume 1.”

In the first episode included in “The Super Powered Black Box Volume 1”, the Arachnitor has returned from its exile.  At first, Xandred is none too happy with this news.  But he changes his mind in considering that it could be very useful thanks to its new mutation.  Meanwhile, the rangers have started planning what to do.  When they track down the monster, they try to morph, but can’t thanks to evil magic barriers that have been put up.  Just when it seems that the rangers won’t be able to defeat the Arachnitor, Antonio comes with the legendary Super Powered Black Box that allows the rangers to become Super Samurai.  With their newly discovered powers, the rangers are able to defeat the creature both at their size and when it grows and they have to use their zords against it.

In “Trading Places”, the Nighlok creature Switchbeast has come to “help” Xandred defeat the rangers on the orders of his master, who is revealed later in another episode.  Switchbeast is switching people’s souls with the essence of inanimate objects, causing them to take on the form of the objects in question, so to speak.  It just so happens that the rangers are right where Switchbeast is as he’s “switching” everybody out.  Only two of the rangers are left untouched by Switchbeast.  So it’s up to Mike to use the black box and unleash his Super Samurai powers and defeat Switchbeast.  Mike tricks Switchbeast, leading it to switch places with a soccer ball.  Mike’s trick works, allowing him to release the souls of all of Switchbeast’s victims.  Things aren’t over there, though.  When Switchbeast goes mega-size, Mike has to take control of the zords and defeat Switchbeast.  Mike defeats the creature and gets everything back to normal.  But not without a friendly match between Mike and one of the other rangers at the episode’s finale.

“Trading Places” and “Super Samurai” are only half of the episodes included in the “Super Powered Black Box” compilation.  There are still two other episodes that audiences can enjoy now.  The DVD is available in stores now and online.  It can be ordered directly from Lionsgate online at http://www.lionsgateshop.com.

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