Dean Israelite hasn’t been in the dark when it comes to the proliferation of films about superheroes, or youngsters who acquire magical powers. But he thinks there’s room for at least one more.
The director of the latest big-screen incarnation of Power Rangers said his film carves its own niche by making its tale of teenage outcasts who morph into powerful warriors with distinctly colored suits somehow feel more gritty and authentic.
“I wanted to shoot it in a way that felt completely real and grounded. I wanted this movie to feel different to the other superhero universes. I think Power Rangers can stand on its own,” Israelite said during the recent South by Southwest Film Festival. “I wanted ours to have its own unique visual style, and part of that style was making it feel like you were there in every moment, and the moments feel almost improvised and organic.”
Such an approach makes the latest attempted franchise starter distinct from previous versions of the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” whether it’s the two brightly colored movies from the 1990s or various cheesy incarnations that have aired on television.
For example, the new film uses original character names to appease fans, but features a more multicultural cast with one Ranger who’s autistic and another who’s gay.
“We’ve taken the characters very seriously, and we’ve tried to make the issues and the challenges that they’re facing feel really modern. It’s hard to be a teenager today,” Israelite said. “The movie is also about this inclusion. They’re all such disparate, disenfranchised teenagers from such different walks of life. Part of the movie is about these kids trying to go through all of these challenges and figure out not only who they are, but who their tribe is. That journey is kind of beautiful, and it’s very timely. I hope kids feel like they’re going to belong when they watch the movie.”
The story begins with the quintet of mischievous small-town California teens making a discovery at a nearby mountain, which contains buried treasure in the form of a spaceship that grants each of them superpowers. Only later do they discover their intended fate as a next generation of Power Rangers intended to save the world from an evil alien queen (Elizabeth Banks). Accepting their new responsibility is equally challenging.
“I wanted to make this movie feel like it was all about a metamorphosis,” Israelite said. “Part of that transformation is owning who they are, for better and for worse.”
Although there are plenty of action set pieces and visual effects, Israelite (Project Almanac) tried to emphasize the lessons of acceptance and camaraderie layered into the screenplay by John Gatins (Flight).
He tried to accomplish that in part during two weeks of rehearsal time with the young cast members that were focused about more than learning lines and developing characters.
The filmmaker said the young actors also were enthusiastic about the physical demands of their roles. Each of them worked with a personal trainer before they even arrived on set, and became really energized about performing their own stunts — to the extent they were allowed to do so.
“I was hoping they would start to have a relationship off-camera. By week three or four, they were like a gang. They were this tight group and stuck up for each other all the time. They are best friends,” he said. “There is something imperceptible that transmits on set, and then it is there in force on screen.”
