2. It Feels Like A Cash-in
Right now, Hollywood is a state of strip-mining the past for brands that people all over the world know. And Power Rangers is one of those brands. But the question is why make this movie now? And the answer is that Hollywood has nearly tapped out 1980s nostalgia. Now its time to tap into 90s nostalgia, since the kids of that era are now aging towards the middle of the ultra-profitable 14-34 demographic. This is especially obvious when Lionsgate admits the movie is a reboot of the first Power Rangers series. Of all 20 shows, its the one most recognizable to people who were alive in the 1990s, giving it the most nostalgia value. Tapping into that nostalgia vein through the use of the iconic imagery of that series (prehistoric animal themed robots/vehicles, the simple color scheme of the good guys, and the strange, intimidating Lord Zedd) gives Lionsgate some easy marketing fodder. But the other thing Power Rangers seeks to cash-in on is the super hero/science fiction/fantasy spectacle trend in Hollywood films. With Marvel making tons of money on the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC doing pretty well with Batman movies, its not surprising that Lionsgate wants to get in on that action. And with a multi-ethnic cast, like the original Power Rangers, they have a possible edge in terms of international demographic appeal. Either way you look at it, its impossible to avoid feeling like this movie exists solely to make money.