For Mother's Day, Thrax wants to defend his mother Rita Repulsa's honor as she lost to Bandora a week ago. Bandora sends her son's ghost Kai, who has incredible powers. Who would win? Thrax or Kai?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Secret Identity Kept Secret
In Super Sentai and Power Rangers, we have known the secret identities of the heroes, the Rangers more than anything, but some remain a mystery. Maybe we were never meant to know. They just are, like Martian Manhunter, he just is.
ShurikengerShurikenger was Shurikenger. Everyone tried to discover his secret identity. He even took upon himself to take other people's images to trick the Hurricanger and his enemy. He had sacrificed his own identity to become Shurikenger, he once was a great ninja of the Hayate Way.
Aka RedWe never meant to know his identity, as he was a representative of all Red Warriors, through the 30 years of Super Sentai. He only appeared in Boukenger vs. Super Sentai. For more on him, click here.
Phantom RangerThe biggest mystery in Power Ranger-dom, the secret identity of the Phantom Ranger. Alex Dodd (Real name is Ali Afshar, who was pretty photogenic himself) provided his voice for eight episodes. Rumors go around that his identity was to be revealed in a third part of "Countdown to Destruction" but budget didn't allow for it. In a rumor that isn't well circulated or accepted, that he was supposed to be Zordon's son, it could be probable as he was said to be from Eltar. I think it is cool we never found out his identity. The UK Power Rangers Annual for 1998 contained the following biographical information on the Phantom Ranger: "This mysterious character embodies the spiritual essence of all Power Rangers, past and present. He arrives and departs in a strange apparition. He is part real, part ghost and never discloses his identity."
Related: Shadows of Aka Red
Multiple Yellow Rangers
UPDATED 5/4/10
Some Yellow Rangers have the trend of being able to replicate, multiply or make doubles of themselves. In Super Sentai, the majority of these techniques were performed by ninjas or using ninja magic. Not only Yellow Rangers have been able to do this, Ninja Red of Kakuranger has also been able to do so.
Some Yellow Rangers have the trend of being able to replicate, multiply or make doubles of themselves. In Super Sentai, the majority of these techniques were performed by ninjas or using ninja magic. Not only Yellow Rangers have been able to do this, Ninja Red of Kakuranger has also been able to do so.
Yellow MaskHaruka was raised in a family of ninjas and focused on her ninja training. She could multiply herself.
Tiger RangerBoy of Zyuranger could only multiply himself with ninja magic in Episode 35. This was not seen in Power Rangers probably because you could see the Japanese girl in the scene.
Hurricane YellowKouta could multiply himself. I think this was shown in Ninja Storm, I am not sure. The above image is from the movie.
Elizabeth 'Z' DelgadoWhen she was not morphed, Z could replicate herself. She needed no ninja magic, in fact, she was the only Power Ranger to ever show this technique when not morphed. That I can remember, she only did this un-morphed.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Red Herrings for the White Ranger and Gold Ranger
Red Herrings is an idiom. In novels, movies, and TV series, the purpose of it is divert the audience from the truth or real identity of someone. Here I will discuss the red herrings there for the identity of the White Ranger in MMPR and the Gold Ranger in Zeo.
THE WHITE RANGER
I knew about the White Ranger by June of 1994, in a video gaming magazine that announced the new toyline and showed a small pic of the White Ranger from helmet to vest (no legs). And the White Ranger was heavily promoted in kids magazines until he premiered. Even though the Red Herring format was used more heavily and obviously for the Gold Ranger, I believe there were Red Herrings for the White Ranger too, but in a very subtle manner.
Richy
Richy was introduced as a potential love interest for Trini, but I believe he was also a Red Herring for the White Ranger. Many could believe he was a new character introduced to slowly become the White Ranger. Now, it wasn't introduced that he was a martial artist until Tommy was already the White Ranger, specifically "White Light Part 2". Then he disappeared. I believe it was a complete misfire at a Red Herring. He appeared in 12 episodes, the first being "The Beetle Invasion" and the last being "Opposites Attract." He was played by Maurice Mendoza.
Curtis
I think Curtis wasn't a complete Red Herring but he really was a minor character and maybe he was designed to maybe potentially become a Ranger but it didn't really work out. He appeared in six episodes, first being "Green No More Part 1" and the last "Opposites Attract."
"?"
Brad Hawkins mentioned in his Interview with me that he has originally hired to play the new White Ranger. When I asked him what the name of the character was (if they had chosen a name by that time), all I could get from him was "yeah...i was supposed to play Jason David Frank's character....the white ranger...." But in all fairness, he is a busy guy and that isn't his world anymore. Maybe they didn't have a name. Maybe he doesn't remember the name. I hope by posting this, it calls him out again and maybe we can discover what the character's name was, the Ranger that Never Was.
THE GOLD RANGER
By Zeo, the Red Herring technique was used much more heavily and obviously. You'll see what I mean. Funny thing is that Brad Hawkins was hired to be the White Ranger and then became a VR Trooper when Jason Frank was brought in to be the White Ranger and in the end, Brad was the voiceover for the Gold Ranger (for seven episodes) before Trey of Triforia was introduced.
Billy
Billy was the biggest Red Herring of all. I mean, he was the most logical candidate to be a Ranger since he was once a Ranger. He also kept disappearing and the Rangers suspected something was going on. Unfortunately, when Trey tried transferring the powers, it couldn't go to Billy because he touched the exploding Command Center controls, it did not permit him to be a Ranger again. One can suppose that Billy kept disappearing to build the Turbo powers, but it was never confirmed on the show, some rumors indicate that was the idea. David Yost expressed afterwards he never had hard feelings for not being a Ranger again.
Skull
In one episode "Instrument of Destruction" of Zeo, it was alluded to that Skull could possibly be a contender to be a Ranger. Adam discovered he was a good organist. The Gold Ranger had not been introduced at the time yet, but it was the first episode to exclusively feature just Skull and fans on the internet already knew about the Gold Ranger and wondered if Skull was going to become a Ranger.
David Trueheart
Tommy found out he was a Native-American of a specific tribe and found out he had a brother (his real life brother who passed away in 2001). He was indeed a Red Herring for the Gold Ranger. I thought the guy Tommy was running through the Cogs to the Command Center was his brother but it turned out to be Jason. David was also established to have good fighting skills. Linkara (who has done the History of Power Rangers on the internet) also sited that they should have chosen David to replace Rocky, not Justin.
THE WHITE RANGER
I knew about the White Ranger by June of 1994, in a video gaming magazine that announced the new toyline and showed a small pic of the White Ranger from helmet to vest (no legs). And the White Ranger was heavily promoted in kids magazines until he premiered. Even though the Red Herring format was used more heavily and obviously for the Gold Ranger, I believe there were Red Herrings for the White Ranger too, but in a very subtle manner.
RichyRichy was introduced as a potential love interest for Trini, but I believe he was also a Red Herring for the White Ranger. Many could believe he was a new character introduced to slowly become the White Ranger. Now, it wasn't introduced that he was a martial artist until Tommy was already the White Ranger, specifically "White Light Part 2". Then he disappeared. I believe it was a complete misfire at a Red Herring. He appeared in 12 episodes, the first being "The Beetle Invasion" and the last being "Opposites Attract." He was played by Maurice Mendoza.
CurtisI think Curtis wasn't a complete Red Herring but he really was a minor character and maybe he was designed to maybe potentially become a Ranger but it didn't really work out. He appeared in six episodes, first being "Green No More Part 1" and the last "Opposites Attract."
"?"Brad Hawkins mentioned in his Interview with me that he has originally hired to play the new White Ranger. When I asked him what the name of the character was (if they had chosen a name by that time), all I could get from him was "yeah...i was supposed to play Jason David Frank's character....the white ranger...." But in all fairness, he is a busy guy and that isn't his world anymore. Maybe they didn't have a name. Maybe he doesn't remember the name. I hope by posting this, it calls him out again and maybe we can discover what the character's name was, the Ranger that Never Was.
THE GOLD RANGER
By Zeo, the Red Herring technique was used much more heavily and obviously. You'll see what I mean. Funny thing is that Brad Hawkins was hired to be the White Ranger and then became a VR Trooper when Jason Frank was brought in to be the White Ranger and in the end, Brad was the voiceover for the Gold Ranger (for seven episodes) before Trey of Triforia was introduced.
BillyBilly was the biggest Red Herring of all. I mean, he was the most logical candidate to be a Ranger since he was once a Ranger. He also kept disappearing and the Rangers suspected something was going on. Unfortunately, when Trey tried transferring the powers, it couldn't go to Billy because he touched the exploding Command Center controls, it did not permit him to be a Ranger again. One can suppose that Billy kept disappearing to build the Turbo powers, but it was never confirmed on the show, some rumors indicate that was the idea. David Yost expressed afterwards he never had hard feelings for not being a Ranger again.
SkullIn one episode "Instrument of Destruction" of Zeo, it was alluded to that Skull could possibly be a contender to be a Ranger. Adam discovered he was a good organist. The Gold Ranger had not been introduced at the time yet, but it was the first episode to exclusively feature just Skull and fans on the internet already knew about the Gold Ranger and wondered if Skull was going to become a Ranger.
David TrueheartTommy found out he was a Native-American of a specific tribe and found out he had a brother (his real life brother who passed away in 2001). He was indeed a Red Herring for the Gold Ranger. I thought the guy Tommy was running through the Cogs to the Command Center was his brother but it turned out to be Jason. David was also established to have good fighting skills. Linkara (who has done the History of Power Rangers on the internet) also sited that they should have chosen David to replace Rocky, not Justin.
Attractive Actors: Tim, Tom and Ted DiFilippo
Remember the Gold Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo? First, we didn't know his identity, his voice while he was morphed was Brad Hawkins (VR Troopers). Then it was revealed he was Trey of Triforia, which had three different forms. He was played by identical triplets Tim, Tom and Ted DiFilippo.
Tim DiFilippo played Trey of Heart, Ted DiFilippo played Trey of Wisdom and Tom DiFilippo played Trey of Courage.
Together as triplets they played triplets with their same names in "Step by Step" episode 'Macho Man;' "Boy Meets World" episode 'The Honeymoon is Over'; and only two of them were in Pamela Lee's MTV dating show "Singled Out." They did mention there was a third.
Tim Difillipo's picture from his facebook profile.Following pictures from AfterThePower:
They were in the movie Major League: Back to the Minors, Tim and Ted doubled up on one role as there were only twins.
Veteran Rangers that return for an Anniversary
Here are group of instances when past heroes came back to fight a new force. I am not counting Super Sentai World, I am talking about when one or two from each team come back, the individual, not the whole team.
Gaoranger vs. Super SentaiIn the teamup special that came out in August of 2001, three heroes from the past four years (not including a Timeranger) along with two from the past other decades. Go Yellow (1999), Ginga Blue (1998), Mega Pink (1997), Red Falcon from Liveman (1989), and Big One from JAKQ (1977). It was mostly like a clip show but each hero provided guidance to each Gaoranger. They fought an ancient Org, Rakushaasa. This was for the 25th anniversary.
"Forever Red"Power Rangers Wild Force
A special episode of Power Rangers in 2002, the first teamup of its kind. It happened in Sentai before, but those were short specials, you never saw the actor's faces. They fought against the Machine Empire and Serpentra but the suits were of the Beetleborgs as many of the Machine costumes were without repair. Many fans disliked that they used a bike to destroy Serpentra but it was the contract with Bandai America to promote the bike that lead to that decision. This was for the 10th anniversary.
Boukenger vs. Super SentaiFor the teamup special in 2006 instead of having Magiranger versus Boukenger, they did like Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai and brought a member or two from old teams back. Magi Yellow (2005), Magi Shine (2005), Deka Break (2004), Abare Black (2003), and Hurricane Blue (2002). There was no Red Ranger from past teams except for Aka Red, a special hero only for the special. Deka Break and Magi Shine were both sixth Rangers, Magi Shine appeared transformed in the end. They all fought against a new monster named Chornos and past villains. This was for the 30th anniversary.
"Once A Ranger Part 1 & 2"Power Rangers Operation Overdrive
In a two-parter in 2007, they did like Gaoranger and brought individual Rangers back from past seasons and one from the decade before. MMPR Black (1994-1995), Blue Wind Ranger (2003), Yellow Dino Ranger (2004), SPD Red (2005), and Mystic Green (2006). They chose different rangers than Boukenger, except for Blue, which was the same. Unlike Gaoranger and Boukenger, there were two females in this team. They fought against Thrax, son of Zedd and Rita. It was rumored that they wanted Jack in the team but because the actor Brandon Jay McLaren dated the Emma Lahana (Kira) and had recently broken up, he chose not to return. This was for the 15th anniversary.
I am sure we will get another teamup like this either this year or next year in Super Sentai. I hope they continue this tradition.
Who I think they will pick for the next anniversary team-up is Gosei Red, Shinken Pink, Go-On Green, and Geki Blue. I would pick Gosei Black, Shinken Pink, Go-On Silver, Geki Violet and female Shinken Red.
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