Clash of the Red Rangers Movie Review

Clash of the Red Rangers (2011)

Written by: James W. Bates

Directed by: Jonathan Tzachor

Starring: Alex Heartman, Eka Darville (voice of Scott), Najee De-Tiege, Hector David Jr.

So you're probably wondering why I'm putting my review of Clash here.  Well even tho it aired alongside Season 1, it's set in Season 2 given the villains there and where the rangers are in the story. I would have placed it early reviewing Season 2 but I decided to just get the season out of the way before doing the specials and the TV movie.  All things considered, Clash of the Red Rangers isn't exactly terrible but it's not exactly this epic superhero crossover flick that it promoted itself as.  It does some things right and actually explores how two different sets of rangers with alternate themes could fight over how each of them do things.  First, it's really nice that the writers established RPM's existence in the timeline....which isn't the main universe we've been following but an alternate universe.  Hmmmm, not bothered by this at all and considering the approach, not to mention the universe of RPM seems a bit more drastic in tone than the usual PR universe so I like this idea.  It finally explains why previous teams weren't involved with protecting Corinth, not to mention confirms they didn't all die during the Venjix; making them the only rangers left in the main universe.  Anyway, the film opens within the RPM world where Scott in one of the megazords (can't remember which one sorry!) facing off against one of Venjix's generals/monsters, Professor Cog, who manages to defeat Scott in a signature cowboy draw....yeah! O_o But before he goes, in typical comic book villain fashion, he exposes his plan of going to alternate universe where he will find the key to destroy Cornith as well as the RPM Rangers.

We then transition to where the rangers are in the middle of being after yet another Nighlok.  They do their thing and destroy it...just as Professor Cog and a group of Grinders arrive on a train that enters a station.  Yeah, so random train can just travel between alternate universes like someone on their way to work apparently! Ehhhwww Power Rangers! O_o Anyway, it's cool seeing the Grinders again and I love how the writers left them just the way they were in RPM, creepy robotic sounds and all! So the rangers are enjoying sometime off as Professor Cog realizes there are rangers in this world too but heads to the Netherworld anyway to make a deal with Master Xandred.  While the rangers are nearly crushed by some random car, they see a group of Grinders attacking people and wonder what they are before morphing and fighting them.  Meanwhile, Cog arrives on Xandred's ship to make a deal with him that involves him giving Cog some Sanzu water to poison the water supply of Cornith in exchange of getting ride of the Samurai Rangers for him.  All plans considered, it's actually a great trade and the best plan Xandred has come up with so....  Back in the city, as the rangers realize their weapons are barely a match for the Grinders, someone else has arrived from the alternate universe to go after Cog and it's our boy Scott in all his glory.  Of course, the writers of Samurai ruin this moment by having Emily say "Jayden" when the rangers see Scott....uhhhh....Jayden is right there next to you morphed! OMG! -_-

Anyway, Scott handles the Grinders and after defeating them, he introduces himself as Ranger Red from his universe and why he's here.  Jayden and the other guys are skeptical while the girls are clearly falling for him and eagerly bring him back to the Shiba House.  I really glad the writers managed to get Eka Darville back to voice Scott in-suit and while we don't get to see him in human form, the reason for it makes sense considering how the toxic air after Venjix's takeover is lethal and being in an alternate universe makes him extremely apprehensive if it's not safe for him to breath the air there either. Meanwhile, Cog plans to use some "hynobolts" he will use against the red rangers to make them want to fight each other to distract him from his plans.  Also, Serrator has rallied up an major army of Moogers led by General Gut, a Nighlok who will lead Xandred's army into a major attack on the city. Wish we knew the name of the city but whatever! -_- Anyway, soon Antonio is attacked by some Moogers and Scott just takes Mentor's motorcycle to go after the disturbance! More stupid "Jayden" proclamations when it's clearly NOT Jayden by Antonio!  Seriously, beside them both being Red Rangers, there is nothing about their suits that are similar! Does he LOOK like a Samurai!?  Jesus, they made these characters so dumb and irrational! -_-

Anyway, as Professor Cog is assisted by Nighlok sent to aid him, Sergeant Tread, the other rangers arrive with Scott and do battle with them and the Grinders.  Cog soon hits Jayden and Scott with the hynobolts; leaving the other rangers to try to protect them from him. In the middle of the fight, Cog opens a portal to the RPM world where the other 5 rangers get sucked into; leaving just Scott and Jayden behind to stop him. He then sends them flying over the pier into the water.  Back in the Netherworld,  Cog is ordering the Grinders to ship the Sanzu water through a portal to his world while Jayden and Scott regroup.  They have a nice moment of getting to know each other better considering the situation they are now in.  Xandred orders his army to prepare for attack as most of the rangers are now in another dimension; leaving the city pretty much defenseless with only the two Reds standing in his way.  Back at the Shiba House, Jayden and Scott can't help but to bicker like crazy; which forces Mentor to realize something is up with them. As the attack begins, Scott quickly takes Mentor's cycle again while Jayden summons a horse with his symbol power.  It's a cool race sequence there to show how both rangers are at odds with advanced technology vs ancient mystical customs aka car based weaponry vs Samurai magic.  It is entertaining seeing the two CLASH over that and it makes the final battle set up really interesting.

When both of them arrive, they are more interested in fighting each other than themselves, even using the Moogers as shields as they fight each other which is hilarious.  But it turns out it was all a rouse and that the hypnobolts were magically extracted by Mentor Ji, who has a Samuraizer of his own??? Huh???? Anyway, Scott and Jayden get down to business combining forces with Jayden using the Super Samurai mode while giving Scott the Shark disc to enter Shark mode.  Doesn't look quite as dumb as you'd expect! Nice! Ohhh and two are riding a Mustang during this....WOW! O_O Anyway, during the fight, the vortex reopens as the other Samurai Rangers returned.  Emily even tells Scott his team said high.  I would DIE to see a flip version of this movie with Dr. K and the RPM Rangers reacting to the Samurai Rangers.  Omg! The insults and look that Dr. K alone would give them! Ha! :)  Anyway, the returning rangers aid the two Red Rangers; managing to defeat Sergeant Tread and Professor Cog for good.  Next is Gut and his army, as all 7 form a plan before charging into battle.  It's a tough match but Jayden manages to go head to head with Gut and uses the Shark mode to wipe out the rest of the army.  Soooo goofy yet badass!  Hmmm! The other 5 Samurai Rangers aid in destroying Gut but he just grows, leading to a Megazord battle.  While Gut is too much for them at first, the rangers use the Shark disc to initiate the Samurai Shark Megazord to destroy him for good.

The movie ends with Scott saying goodbye to the rangers as well as making amends with Jayden by their different styles and how effective they were as a team.  Then...out of no where, Scott mentions that he sees the way Emily looks at Mike.....Since. WHEN!?? They has barely been any foreshadowing of these two showing any interest in each other outside of friendship so....I just......-_-  Anyway, not a bad movie! Had a lot of things that make the usual show so annoying and unwatchable but it also did some things right like establishing RPM's own universe, managing to keep Scott feeling like Scott, having a nice plot about the different themes of two different red rangers, had a decent villain in Cog and even Gut and had some good action so, it could have been FAR worse. :)

"Clash of the Red Rangers: the Movie, the first Saban Brands film to spawn from his overtaking of the franchise he started is a pretty solid superhero flick for fans of the show as well as the targeted children demographic.  It manages to keep RPM's place in the franchise unscathed and not tainted by Samurai's confounding writing and irritating character traits. The action is strong enough to keep you engaged as well as the something entertaining interaction between both Red Rangers. :)"

Movie Verdict: C+