Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Quality (or lack of) of Power Rangers Show, Merchandise and more

I hear the excuse "it's a kid's show" when a question is asked about something head scratching in Power Rangers. But just because it is aimed towards Children, doesn't mean it has to be lacking in quality or be so obviously cheap. Also included are things that don't match from toys to show. Most kid franchises have mistakes like that, products change from image to actual product but some have been flawless for years. So here is a list and some criticisms of not only Saban era but also Disney era, so it is all twenty years of Power Rangers. This will be one long post, so be sure to press "Read more" for more!

Rita Repulsa
Purple Rita as I've mentioned before, not a lot of people may not know about, was in merchandise (stuff doll, squeeze light) and also the costume in the 1995 Live Tour. Her costume was clearly brown on the show. Going back to the brown costumed Rita, her American costume was clearly not made of the same material as the original Japanese costume Bandora used in Zyuranger. The American costume was used for background shots in the first season and then worn by new actress Carla Perez in season 2, 3 and so on. Even in the movie, which it was worn by Julia Cortez, the costume looked cheap. The original Bandora costume looked mystical and worn in. But the American costume looked very simple and new-looking, not like a thousand old witch wore it. Well who is to complain about quality when it comes to Rita, since the first episode it was Barbara Goodson dubbing over the voice of legendary Japanese actress (the late) Machiko Soga. That set the tone for the whole show that they had to dub over footage and not get a new actress.
Check here for more on Rita.

Tommy's Floppy Shield
I have previously called it 'Fluffy shield' because that is what I called it as a kid. I was 11 when MMPR started and for me it was obvious that his shield changed from large and floppy to tight and foam in the Sentai footage. It is one of the biggest things talked about when it comes to the Green Ranger. In Dino Thunder and recent MMPR box set DVD photos, he has the tight foam shield of Dragonranger but has a silver stripe on his helmet. Most likely Saban Brands inherited the Disney silver stripe helmet and didn't get back the original green one or it got lost way before Disney obtained the franchise. 

Power coins on chest
During the MMPR tenure, they had these Power Coin symbols on their chests in toys, books, clothes and other merchandise, even the recent adult T-shirts. On the show, they clearly do not have them. In the movie, they did get them but they have been an eternal mystery, we never got an explanation as to why that was done. Other things that do not match the show in merchandise was occasional use of a skirt on a Yellow Ranger that did not have one and the Quantum Ranger being a darker shade than Red and having two vectors on his helmet and chest. Also the recent mistake on a PR20th painting mural with Quantum having the Red Ranger's suit instead of his own.

What is in a name?
There is a lack of names for zords or arsenal in the Disney Era. In the Disney Era, it was common that certain items got no name at all. This makes it extremely difficult when you have a database website that names each and every little thing. In Jungle Fury, the Rhino Steel Megazord got changed to Rhino Pride Megazord from time to time. But having names incorrect was also done in Saban era. For example, Dragonzord in Battle Mode got changed to Mega Dragonzord from time to time on the show (The current ACG cards calls it "Battle Mode Dragon Megazord" which was never uttered on the show). Also in the episode "A Different Drum," the Power Weapons got called different things: Cosmic Cannon, Mighty Mace, Dino Daggers, and Battle Bow. In Lost Galaxy, the Strataforce Megazord and Centaurus Megazord got their names swapped from time to time. Also names do not quite match from toy to show which is understandable because toy companies and programs might not agree as there is copyright issues and a name might not be ready yet.

Here is a list of items that changed from toy to show:
Turbo - Visceron = Hammeron (toy)
 Wild Force - Ultimus Megazord (never appeared on the show but there was a toy and CCG 2009 card and they varied in appearance)
Mystic Force - Phoenix Unizord = Steerdergon Fury Megazord (toy)
Hidaic = Evil Space Alien (toy)
Operation Overdrive - Chiller = Evil Space Alien (toy)
Jungle Fury - Dai Shi = Evil Space Alien (toy)
Camile = Melle (toy)
RPM - Valvemax Megazord = Velocimax Megazord (toy)

 
Also, there is Sentai names that slip into Power Rangers with the recent Gosei cards which my buddy MorphinLegacy is tired of hearing people gripe about. For more on names that slipped in PR, click here. Also, things that lacked names was the villain toys. Names would be different or just have generic "Evil Space Alien" even if it wasn't an alien like Dai Shi and a Hidac.

This will be one long post, so be sure to press "Read more" for more!

Power Rangers Monolopy and Trivial Pursuit (with Questions from members of Power Force!)

Here are press photos of the two new board games from Milton Bradley such as Power Rangers 20 Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit. They will be coming out soon, I do not know the date.
 Power Rangers Monolopy

They had 5 tokens already and wanted fans to pick the 6th and Goldar was chosen.

Here is one signed by Haim Saban

Trivial Pursuit
Months ago, members of Power Force were requested to come up with questions of selected Power Ranger seasons they gave us. There were 6 styles of questions and they split us 20 into four groups that had 5 or 4 seasons, including the movies and Aquitar Ranger mini series. We were requested too many questions in a very small time frame without promise of pay and only a promise of a free game and credit. This stirred some controversy among Power Force because it was not considered to be fair. Saban Brands then e-mailed us telling us that they made an egregious mistake and assign us less amount than before. I turned in my questions and our names (usernames) will appear in the credits. For those worried about the truth behind the answers, they assured us that they have fact checkers of course. I hope you guys can pick one up and enjoy it!

 From USAopoly's Twitter

For the Press Release and more, check Fury Diamond's Blog:
http://blog.samuraicast.com/power-rangers-monopoly-and-trivial-pursuit-games/

Monday, February 11, 2013

Power Rangers Action Card Game #2: Guardians of Justice

Fury Diamond got this new info from the Bandai Rep. I like the name by the way. So this will include In Space, Lost Galaxy, Lightspeed Rescue, SPD, Ninja Storm, and Mystic Force; so that means that Aquitar, Zeo, Turbo, Time Force, Wild Force, Dino Thunder, Operation Overdrive and Jungle Fury are left. I am aware that some of the pictures I put below are Gokaiger Dice-O cards but they are the only ones I found.

Series 2: Guardians of Justice
This will be 115 cards only available in booster packs. 
Starter Decks will release every other set, so they won't be released for this one.  


New Seasons:
S.P.D.


Ninja Storm
Lightspeed Rescue

In Space

Lost Galaxy

Mystic Force

  
Returning Seasons: 
Megaforce

Super Samurai

RPM


New Villains Cards:
 Rita
Ecliptor
 Diabolico 
http://www.megaforcecast.com/products/acg-series-2-cards.php

Power Rangers Action Card Game Series 2 "Guardians of Justice" are set to be available in stores on April 2013.

Poll Results: Megaforce Ranger Keys/ACG Cards


 What do you think of the new look of Powerrangers.com? 
Awesome!
  155 (72%)
 
Okay
  54 (25%)
 
Bad
  4 (1%)

 Based on the first episode of Megaforce, which Ranger do you like so far? 
Troy
  96 (43%)
 
Jake
  101 (45%)
 
Noah
  81 (36%)
 
Emma
  86 (38%)
 
Gia
  88 (39%)

 
What do you think about the quality of the Ranger Key-like statues in the Megaforce Base?
Cool
  114 (56%)
 
Good
  66 (32%)
 
Nice Try, Bad execution
  59 (29%)
 
So-So
  37 (18%)
 
Bad
  21 (10%)
 
Don't Mind
  33 (16%)

 Do you like that there is only 8 set of Ranger Keys repeated twice in the base? 
Yes
  63 (34%)
 
No
  119 (65%)

 
Do you like that all the Yellow Ranger statues have skirt lines? What do you think of the choices of Ranger Key statues in Megaforce? 
Yes
  121 (66%)
 
No
  62 (33%)

 
MMPR, Turbo, Lost Galaxy, Lightspeed, Time Force, Mystic, PROO and Samurai?
Excellent
  87 (47%)
 
So-So
  72 (39%)
 
Bad
  26 (14%)
 
Don't Care
  37 (20%)
 
Doesn't Matter
  43 (23%)

 Which Power Rangers ACG cards have you obtained so far? (Power Up modes fit under the same Ranger)
 
[I put RPM Gold and Silver, assuming they would be there but they are not included in "Rise of the Heroes"]
Red Samurai
  50 (37%)
 
Blue Samurai
  44 (33%)
 
Pink Samurai
  46 (34%)
 
Yellow Samurai
  43 (32%)
 
Green Samurai
  44 (33%)
 
Gold Samurai
  44 (33%)
 
Samurai Villain
  42 (31%)
 
Samurai Zords
  45 (33%)
 
Red RPM
  41 (30%)
 
Yellow RPM
  39 (29%)
 
Blue RPM
  44 (33%)
 
Green RPM
  38 (28%)
 
Black RPM
  41 (30%)
 
Gold RPM
  34 (25%)
 
Silver RPM
  35 (26%)
 
RPM Zords
  40 (30%)
 
MM Red
  46 (34%)
 
MM Blue
  39 (29%)
 
MM Pink
  42 (31%)
 
MM Yellow
  37 (27%)
 
MM Black
  39 (29%)
 
MM Green
  38 (28%)
 
MM White
  45 (33%)
 
MM Zords
  39 (29%)
 
Megaforce Red
  65 (48%)
 
Megaforce Blue
  54 (40%)
 
Megaforce Pink
  52 (39%)
 
Megaforce Black
  49 (36%)
 
Megaforce Yellow
  49 (36%)
 
Robo Knight
  46 (34%)
 
Megaforce Zords
  60 (45%)
 
Other Villains
  44 (33%)
 
Other Cards
  64 (48%)

Power Rangers in NYC and Good Morning America

UPDATED 2/11/13 9:30PM EST
 
 For those who do not know, it is Megaforce Monday and it was kicked off by having the five Megaforce Rangers doing moves and dancing on Good Morning America. I recorded it, tried uploading it to the computer but the disc failed. :( Costumed Rangers are in New York for the Toy Fair and there is a bus of 20 Red Rangers and there are indeed 20 Red Rangers inside, including the female Red Ranger.

Fans had to re-tweet to Power Rangers' Twitter account to win a 31" Red Megaforce Ranger.
http://powerrangers.com/power-re-tweet.php



Pictures from the Twitter and Instagrams of Power Rangers and the guys in the suits.







This is the box to the new Power Rangers Monopoly. This one is signed by Haim Saban.


Check out all the pics at my brother from another mother MorphinLegacy's blog: