Season 9, Episode 24: Movie Madness, Part 1

"Movie Madness, Part 1"
Episode 24
Air Date: July 21, 2001

Well, it's been VERY strong season so far with great characterizations, wonderful character arcs, awesome actions and well planned out plots!  But lets just take a break from the seriousness of the overall storyline of the season and embrace the silliness that Power Rangers can't help but embrace each year.  "Movie Madness" is a two parter that's really just an excuse for the cast and crew to have fun with the endless parodying of various movie genres.  Though honestly, I wished they would have used these episodes to explore the fun of the time travel theme of the season. Maybe have all 6 rangers separated and stranded in different time periods; having to navigate through that time and finding their way back home to defeat Ransik who's about to take over Silver Hills.  BUT....the writers chose this, mostly because Vernon Wells, who played Ransik, had an extensive filmography and wanting to just make fun of it. But anyway, the episode begins with Wes and Trip watching an old west movie to Jen's irritation.  Jesus, they are really going hard with the cliches right off the bat!!! O_O "You Lilly liveried varmints!" lol Turns out they are shooting a movie down the street from the Clock tower....a "Frankie Chang" movie (get it??) which makes Jen really excited since she's one of his biggest fans!  I just love when we arrive at the movie set and learn of each of the ranger's personal favorite film genre.  Since when have you guys had time to watch a particular genre of movies so much where you already know which one is your fave???  But it is cute seeing Jen fangirl over Frankie.

Anyway, when one of the stuntmen get hurt, Wes decides to put himself out there and sell himself to the director; to which is decides he can.  Ummm....I'm pretty certain that's NOT how that works! -_-  But Power Rangers!  Anyway, after Frankie nearly kills Wes, the rangers figure out something is seriously up when even the director won't stop.  Turns out the set is a trap for the rangers as the director reveals himself to be a mutant named Cinecon and the rest of the crew as well as actors are just Cyclobots. Poor Jen! :(  Before the rangers can attack, he immediately transport them to individual movie dimensions.  Lucas liking Samurai movies, becomes the star of one, Katie becomes a star in some low budget Hollywood musical (I mean....the songs are kind of.....god awful and basic much!? O_o),  Jen becomes an action star in one of those hilariously American dubbed Kung Fu movies and Wes as well as Trip arrive in a western town.  Each movie dimension is well designed I guess, with Lucas' looking the most authentic to the movie genre they are trying to capture.  But I got to say, Eric getting trapped in a jungle movie is. freakin'. PRICELESS!!! And my goodness is Daniel Southworth has a very gorgeous...uhh..."frame"! 0_0 :)

Anyway, once the rangers are trapped there, of course, Circuit tries to track them down but can't.  Meanwhile, Nadira wants to be in one of Cinecon's movies because apparently, she isn't shallow and wants something more than just wealth...yeah. RIGHT!!! -_-  So after Ransik threatens Cinecon to put Nadira in one of his movies, Nadira gets a role in the western as she forces a group of black hatted cow boys to go after Wes and Trip because they stole her daddy's boots....you can't make this stuff up!!! lol  While Wes gets his ass kicked, he tells Trip to try and contact Circuit. Trip manages to get through to the real world and tell Circuit where they are but the episode ends with each ranger still trapped in their own individual movie dimension as Nadira plans to destroy Wes with a group of Cyclobots.  Meh....not a bad episode, but I was mostly bored throughout.  On to Part 2!

Final Morph: D-