TV DVD Review: "Power Rangers Megaforce, No. 1: Ultimate Team Power"

Rated: TV-Y7 for fantasy violence
Starring: Andrew M. Gray, Ciara Hanna, John Mark Loudermilk, Christina Masterson, and Azim Rizk
Released: February 2013 (original TV premieres) / September 3, 2013 (DVD)

Synopsis: Our planet was a peaceful place...until evil insectoid aliens started to invade! Five teenagers--Gia, Troy, Noah, Emma, and Jake--are recruited by Gosei to save Earth from utter destruction; together, they are the Power Rangers! With the help of futuristic weapons and their own martial arts skills, they are determined to keep the peace...but, with giant bugs bent on their demise, even the Rangers' combined powers may not be enough to save the world.
As seen on Nickelodeon.

The Good: I've been watching quite a bit of Saban's superhero franchise lately, and this is by far the newest incarnation I've watched even somewhat dutifully.  I found the four episodes on this disc to be riveting, white-knuckle thrill rides.  Even though we all know who will win, it's still a crazy ride.  The Rangers also use critical thinking skills to defeat enemies, and some other positive elements are present; one about believing in yourself really spoke to me.  As for the special effects, they're the best I've seen in any incarnation of the series, especially when compared to the original Mighty Morphin era.  Some throwback elements to the original series are also fun.

The Bad: I only have two complaints, but one of them is a big one.  First off, the fight sequences are rather intense for a kids' show.  Violence has always been a concern with this series, but, it's easily the most brutal in any version of it I've seen.  Also--and of less importance--I don't know why Lionsgate chose to release the season in four-episode discs; that makes it harder to find in its entirety.

Content Concerns:

• Sex: Flirting. 4/5
• Nudity: Slight cleavage; girl in short shorts. 4/5
• Language: Slight name-calling. 4/5
• Violence: The action is very intense in these four episodes; the Rangers and various bad guys hit, kick, shoot, blast, etc., each other rather relentlessly.  No blood or gore is seen, but innocent people become involved, and some of the villains blow up buildings. 2/5
• Drugs: None. 5/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: Along with the violence, some of the villains are scary-looking, and come off like terrorists as times. 1/5
• Other: One villain uses sneezing as a weapon, which is a bit disgusting. 4/5

Conclusion: As a twenty-seven-year-old kid at heart, I enjoyed these four episodes...but, I'm not sure I'd show them to young children.  Sure, for me, it was a bit of escapist fun, but discerning parents may think otherwise.  If your kid is a Power Rangers fan, you might want to screen these episodes before letting him or her watch them.  For older fans like me, though, this is a treat!

Score: 4.5/5