Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always!

 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. Netflix Movie. Directed by Charlie Haskell, written by Becca Barnes and Alwyn Dale. Your cast, Walter Jones, David Yost, Steve Cardenas, Catherine Sutherland, Charlie Kersh, Karan Ashley, Johnny Yong Bosch, Richard Steven Horvitz, Barbara Goodson, Ryan Cooper and Daniel Watterson.

Billy The Blue Ranger is in a battle with Rita (whos spirit is now in a robot) and her Putties. She ask him why he went into this battle alone and the other Rangers show up. And Rita is going to end Billy with the powers of her staff. Shooting a mega fireball at him, Trini (Yellow Ranger) jumps between him and the fireball taking the blast and dying. Zach (Black Ranger) and Billy go to Trinis home to tell her daughter Minh but she over hears them. 

A year has passed and Minh has been training to fight Rita and her army. Zach and Minh are going to the cemetery to meet with the other Rangers to show respect for Trini and finds Rita ambushing the other Rangers with her upgraded Robo monsters Minotaur and Snizzard. Rita states how predictable it was of them knowing they were going to be there one year to the day later. While fighting her upgraded monsters Jason (Red Ranger), Tommy (Green Ranger) and Kimberly (Pink Ranger) are captured by Snizzards ability and given to Rita. Zach and Billy realize they can't defeat them there and decide to retreat to make a new plan. Taking Minh back home. Minh blames Billy telling him if it wasn't for him Trini would still be alive.

Zach, Billy and Minh go to Cranston Tech special facility which was built inside the Command Center. Upon getting there they are greeted by Alpha 9. And Rita has a plan to get them to come back out by putting Putties in every city/state/country to draw the Ranger back out as she needs their powers to boost her machine. After seeing what she is doing Alpha 9 puts out a message for all Rangers everywhere for Bandora Protocol. After receiving the messages Kat (Pink Ranger) and Rocky (Red Ranger) show up to help out. They go to Angel Grove to help citizens from the Putties and then Minotaur and Snizzard show up. During the fight Alpha 9 notices that Minotaur has a "Ranger Tracker" meaning as long as they are morphed he can find them. So he tells all Rangers to power down so they can't be tracked. 

They get back to the command center to come up with a plan to get to Bandora Palace because they know that is where Rita is and she has the other Rangers there. While doing this they notice that in one of the screens Minh as went to the Juice Bar by herself thinking she can morph using her moms Morpher but it doesn't work. Zach and Rocky show up and take out the Putties and then take Minh back to the Command Center. Where Billy has come up with a plan on how to keep Ritas monsters out of the way. Zach has a heartfelt talk with Minh about what it means to be a Ranger and how Billy was trying to bring Zordon back who was like a father to them. Instead Rita came through taking over the body form of Alpha 8. Rocky, Kat and Billy go to a junkyard and attract Minotaur and Snizzard. They Morph to get them to come after them and then hit a button. They use a electromagnet because they are made of steel to keep them there. 

Once again back at the Command Center Billy tells them how they can get into Ritas fortress is this invisibility tech he created for Aisha (Yellow Ranger) and Adam (Black Ranger). So they agree and use it. Zach tells Minh to stay there and Alpha 9 will keep her company. After they teleport Minh grabs one and her moms Morpher and leaves the Command Center. She decides on her own the two monsters deserve to die and she is the one to do it. But when she gets there Rita is waiting for her. The Rangers took out the Putty guards and try to figure out what the machine Rita built was for. Billy figures out they can't save the other Rangers until they destroy Snizzard and it is to portal to her original self. Rita shows up with her monsters and Minh. Rita explained that she will tell her younger self who Zordon was going choose for Rangers and kill them before he could. A fight begins as Billy fires at Snizzard.  and Rita hits Minh with a ball from her staff. Minh has visions of her mom (Fantastic tribute to Thuy) and now knows what it means to be a Ranger and can morph. Rita throw Snizzard out onto the planet and makes him grow. While distracted Billy uses his Power Lance and stabs Rita.

Thinking Rita is dead Billy and Minh go after Snizzard using the Zords while the others finish off Minotaur. Rocky, Kat and Zach join them to finish off Snizzard. The Rangers notice that Rita has opened the portal. They get back in her Palace, Minh throws her Power Daggers to pin Rita while Billy and Rocky remove the captured Rangers and Kat shoots the machine causing it to explode. Zach finishes off Rita by shooting her with his Power Axe Blaster. They return to the Command Center where Aisha and Adam are. They tell Billy they would love for him to join them. Billy says he as other adventures to do first. Rocky and Kat go back to their lives but say Once a Ranger Always a Ranger. Billy, Zach and Minh show up to the Juice Bar where Zach says I wonder if they still have Ernies recipes. After getting the smoothies Minh tells them she had visions that included how much Trini loved them. And then they start sharing stories with Minh. 

I loved this movie. Only bummers were no Austin St John, Jason David Frank and no Amy Jo Johnson. Jason passed away not long after they started filming. Amy Jo Johnson stated multiple reason why she didn't want to do the movie including not wearing spandex in her 50's and not being able to spend a month in New Zealand. Others speculated it was do to a low offer. Also missing from the movie, Paul Schrier 2 and Jason Narvy (Bulk and Skull) both are still doing some form of acting to this day. Sadly Richard Genelle (Ernie) passed away in 2008 and Michiko Soga (Original Rita) passed away 2006. Rest in Piece to all that have passed from the Power Rangers franchise.

Overall I give this movie a 3.5 out of 5. Missing some characters, only 55 minutes long (Could have made it an house and a half!) And not leaving it open to the possibility of maybe another one if it is a hit are the only down falls for me. If you like this review please click on the Follow for this blog page, Share this blog page and comment! Comment a movie you would live for me to review or comment your favorite Power Rangers moment!