Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Cheesy fantasy violence lacks real consequences.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this live-action adventure series -- which is marketed to the 5+ set but better suited for kids a year or two older -- is full of fantasy violence and martial arts fighting. The team of five Power Rangers must constantly battle to save the world from their evil nemesis -- and, apparently, the only way to stop evil is to kick and punch your way to peace. ... There's no real educational content, and very few lessons to be learned.

  • Passing lessons about teamwork, but no concrete educational value.
  • Teamwork is the only positive lesson among all the fantasy violence.
  • The group works as a team and has worthwhile goals -- but they rely too much on violence as a problem solver.
  • Frequent action scenes. Rangers kick, punch, and shoot laser guns to save the world from evil. Violence is the only means of conflict resolution.

What's the story?

Based on the Japanese children's television show Kyoryuu Sentai Zyu, MIGHTY MORPHIN' POWER RANGERS tells the story of five ordinary teens who are hand-picked by alien leader Zordon to become superheroes. Zordon provides the Rangers with the ability to morph into ninja warriors so they can save the universe from the evil Rita Repulsa and her hench-monsters. While there's plenty of hand-to-hand combat, the end of each episode leads to an ultimate showdown in which the Power Rangers head to their dinosaur mecha robot vehicles, combine to form as massive super mecha, and destroy the menace.


Is it any good?

 

Power Rangers is based on that flourishing formula of robots, martial arts, and sci-fi action that children -- especially boys -- find so intoxicating. While it has enjoyed years of success (including a massively profitable line of merchandise and numerous series incarnations), the series is still iffy due to its violent nature. Each episode does reinforce certain positive aspects such as the importance of teamwork and friendship, but these moments are brief, as the show's focus tends to be on action and fighting. Furthermore, the meager positive messages are overshadowed by the fact that this show serves as an outlet for a major marketing effort to sell toys and other Power Rangers merchandise.

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers isn't altogether bad for kids. But before they watch, young viewers should be old enough to understand the difference between real and fantasy violence. In the end, there are plenty of better TV choices for kids out there -- and even better ways for them to spend their free time.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the difference between fantasy violence and the consequences of violence in real life (using the Power Rangers as an example of how not to resolve real conflicts). How can people express anger with words instead of fists?

  • What are the differences between fantasy violence and real violence? Who should you go to for help if someone threatens to fight you?


This review was written by Andrea Graham
Adult
February 24, 2009
 
show the classic
I like Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers it a classic I thik you could show the classic

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Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
 

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Kid, 10 years old
June 25, 2011
 
Zzz......
More like Mighty Barfin' Power Rangers

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Teen, 17 years old
March 31, 2011
 
Good for 7 and up, not for 4-6
As much as I love this show, it does get a little to violent from time to time. I've seen parents of boys who have let them have action figures and DVDs of the spandexed superheroes. Yes, Power Rangers is for boys, but parents, wait till their about 7 to watch the show. When this began, the ratings went through the roof and toy stores were sold out of the junk.

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Teen, 17 years old
March 14, 2009
 
how long will be beforer RPM come on XD
Yes I like powerRanger the old and the new but I don,t went to waits for saturday and sunday when is it come out on XD

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Teen, 18 years old
February 27, 2009
 
This is the first show of power rangers and they a have come long way and yes I enjoy watching the show maybe not all the time but some time I mane power Ranger are Entertaining to watch but not all day one day at a time will do it

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Kid, 13 years old
April 11, 2011
 
Silly fighting kids' show but it sure is funny
Sure it features a lot fighting but it so fake even four year olds will notice that. There's no blood or gore just silly fighting and poor but hilarous one liners.

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Kid, 13 years old
May 3, 2010
 
A Great Action Show
It is currently my favourite tv show. Don't be worried about the action as it is never anything graphic and the Power Rangers never destroy their enemies. It is easily the best Power Rangers show out there.

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Teen, 16 years old
March 6, 2011
 
A personal favorite of mine.
Now why would any parent deny their kids the right to watch this show? It is the very essence of childhood. Giant robot fights, cheesy action sequences, two dimentional teenagers with attitude, what more can you ask for? That being said, I did not grow up with this show. Rather, I found the show as a teenager and started watching. I was 14 when I disovered Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and you know what? I love it! In today's world where everything is dark and edgy, it's nice to be able to lose yourself in a world where the biggest worry in the world is not nessisarily the monster attacking the city, but rather if your high school food festival will turn out alright. I love the villians, I love the heros, I love just about everything this show has to offer. Does it have problems? Sure, loads of them. But instead of other children's shows who ignore their lack of production value, Power Rangers embraces it, and it just makes it a ton of fun to watch. The bad acting, laughable dialouge, the cheesy monsters, it's all wonderful.

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Parent
February 24, 2011
 
Should have a rating on commercials for a kids network!
In today's society money is the main issue .how to market and make it. at any costs.wrong placement of commercials in wrong time slots to reel in profit. violence isn't the way by no means and shouldn't be taught our young children. after you can see the results on the news every night!how about letting the parents do the teaching instead of the T.V. just a deep thought of a father that loves his little 5 year old boy and doesn't want it to be filled with the wrong ideas of what to have on a commercial during dora the explorer.

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This review was written by Andrea Graham
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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