Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie
Encyclopedia
Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie is a 1997 American superhero action
science fantasy
film directed by David Winning
and Shuki Levy
. It is set in the Power Rangers
universe, serving as a bridge between Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers Turbo. The film was produced by Saban Entertainment and, like the previous film
, distributed by 20th Century Fox
.
The film was released on March 28, 1997. In its opening weekend, the film played on 2,113 screens, and pulled in $
3,301,135, finishing in seventh place domestically. It ultimately grossed $8,363,899 theatrically in the U.S. and $9,615,840 worldwide.
Unlike Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
, this film takes place within the continuity of the television series. The first episode of Power Rangers Turbo takes place after the movie. Additionally, unlike the first movie, the appearance was closer to the television show. The Ranger suits were spandex rather than the armor-like suits of the first movie, and the Zords and Megazord were also costumes rather than computer-generated animation. Certain sets and costumes from the movie, such as the Power Chamber set, the Alpha costume, and the Maligore costume were also used in the television show (with the latter being modified and reused as Dark Specter in Power Rangers in Space
).
and Alpha 5
and prevent Divatox from obtaining his key to the Island of Muranthias with which she hopes to free the powerful demon lord Maligore and rule the galaxy. He lands in Africa
, where he is weakened by Earth's ultraviolet
rays. Meanwhile, Rocky, Tommy and Adam are training for a tournament to keep the Angel Grove Youth Center from being closed, but Rocky becomes impatient and makes a bad move, falling and hurting his back badly. Justin, a young friend of the Rangers and one of the children who take part in the Youth Center is particularly devastated by this and goes to visit Rocky in the hospital. However, the Rangers come to visit Rocky and Zordon contacts them. They teleport out, inadvertently revealing their identities to Justin.
Zordon sends Tommy and Kat to Africa to find and retrieve Larigot, though the harsh environment and an encounter with a python
causes Kat to injure herself, it does not deter their mission and they eventually find him roaming with a pack of chimps. Meanwhile, Divatox becomes frustrated with her idiot mutant nephew Elgar who had kidnapped Bulk and Skull as her sacrifices to Maligore, despite the fact that the sacrifices must represent strong purity and strength, neither of which are traits the two possess. As such, they had been brain scrambled and stand on the verge of insanity; despite this, Divatox spots two humans diving off the coast that meet her needs perfectly, which turn out to be former Power Rangers Jason Lee Scott and Kimberly Hart. As Larigot recovers, he receives a telepathic transmission from Divatox via Larigot's wife Yara and their baby Batel, who were kidnapped by Divatox. She threatens them harm unless Larigot turns himself over to her willingly, and as insurance that the Rangers won't interfere, she offers Jason and Kimberly in exchange for letting Larigot surrender. Larigot agrees to this, but Elgar tricks the Rangers by casting dummies in the place of Jason and Kimberly, as Divatox needs them elsewhere.
To give chase without being detected, Zordon and Alpha give the Rangers new Turbo powers, Turbo Zords and a ship they are sent to find that would be completely undetectable by Divatox's sonar. Justin joins them as a surprise, becoming the youngest Power Ranger and taking Rocky's place. However Divatox's scanners still detect the humans aboard their vessel and she sends her Putripods to deal with them, but they manage to fend off the beasts and use the keys to their powers to traverse the dimensional barrier that Divatox crossed using Larigot's key and get to the island. Meanwhile, Jason, Kimberly, Bulk and Skull work up a plan to escape Divatox's submarine; all but Jason manage to escape, but Kimberly is later captured by the Malakhian natives who inhabit the island and reunited with Jason under Divatox's capture. The Rangers arrive at the island and morph to save Jason and Kim, but they are held off long enough for the pair to be lowered into a pit of lava within the island's volcano and become evil slaves to Maligore. After a struggling fight between Divatox's minions as well as Jason and Kim, Larigot and Yara revert the two back to normal, but Divatox throws Elgar into the lava, allowing Maligore to climb out. The Rangers fight Maligore, who, in his outrage, erupts into a giant. The Rangers summon their Zords and with the Turbo Megazord, they are able to defeat him. They then offer to take Jason, Kimberly, and a mentally repaired Bulk and Skull back to Angel Grove via the massive robot. Upon seeing Larigot and his family however, Bulk and Skull panic and faint. Divatox swears revenge against the Rangers for destroying Maligore, but is forced to flee the island when the volcano erupts.
Back on Earth, Jason joins Adam and Tommy in the tournament and they win first place, assuring the shelter will remain open for the children of Angel Grove. In the post credits, the Rangers gather around Larigot and his family, bidding them farewell.
Tommy Oliver
: The Red Turbo Ranger, played by Jason David Frank
.
Adam Park
: The Green Turbo Ranger, played by Johnny Yong Bosch
.
Katherine Hillard
: The Pink Turbo Ranger, played by Catherine Sutherland
.
Tanya Sloan
: The Yellow Turbo Ranger, played by Nakia Burrise
.
Justin Stewart
: The Blue Turbo Ranger, played by Blake Foster
.
Supporting Characters/Former Rangers
Jason Lee Scott
: The original Red Power Ranger and the second Gold Zeo Ranger, played by Austin St. John
.
Kimberly Hart
: The original Pink Power Ranger, played by Amy Jo Johnson
.
Rocky DeSantos
: The second Red Power Ranger and Zeo Ranger III, played by Steve Cardenas
.
The movie features a cameo appearance by Rita Repulsa
and Lord Zedd
, where Rita is called by Divatox in hopes of advice to use against the Rangers. The characters would eventually come face to face with each other in Power Rangers in Spaces premiere episode for the first and only time.
. Kevin Thomas wrote a positive review in the The Los Angeles Times saying the filmmakers have brought much panache and sophistication to the making of this fantasy adventure extolling the good old-fashioned virtues of spirit and courage embodied by the Power Rangers and that "Turbo" is a solid follow-up. Other reviews were a mixture of positive and negative, however, the film has more of a cult following in the UK
.
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
science fantasy
Science fantasy
Science fantasy is a mixed genre within speculative fiction drawing elements from both science fiction and fantasy. Although in some terms of its portrayal in recent media products it can be defined as instead of being a mixed genre of science fiction and fantasy it is instead a mixing of the...
film directed by David Winning
David Winning
David Winning is a Canadian and American dual Citizen film and television director, screenwriter, producer, editor, and occasional actor. Although Winning has worked in numerous film and TV genres, his name is most commonly associated with science fiction, thrillers and drama.-Biography:Winning...
and Shuki Levy
Shuki Levy
Shuki Levy is a music composer and television writer, director, and executive producer. Levy's best known work is soundtrack compositions for children's television programs of the 1980s, such as Inspector Gadget, The Mysterious Cities of Gold, M.A.S.K., Dinosaucers, Dragon Quest, He-Man and the...
. It is set in the Power Rangers
Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...
universe, serving as a bridge between Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers Turbo. The film was produced by Saban Entertainment and, like the previous film
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie is a 1995 American superhero action fantasy based on the television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on Fox Kids. It featured the characters and actors from the series itself, and used the zords from Ninja Sentai Kakuranger...
, distributed by 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
.
The film was released on March 28, 1997. In its opening weekend, the film played on 2,113 screens, and pulled in $
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
3,301,135, finishing in seventh place domestically. It ultimately grossed $8,363,899 theatrically in the U.S. and $9,615,840 worldwide.
Unlike Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie is a 1995 American superhero action fantasy based on the television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on Fox Kids. It featured the characters and actors from the series itself, and used the zords from Ninja Sentai Kakuranger...
, this film takes place within the continuity of the television series. The first episode of Power Rangers Turbo takes place after the movie. Additionally, unlike the first movie, the appearance was closer to the television show. The Ranger suits were spandex rather than the armor-like suits of the first movie, and the Zords and Megazord were also costumes rather than computer-generated animation. Certain sets and costumes from the movie, such as the Power Chamber set, the Alpha costume, and the Maligore costume were also used in the television show (with the latter being modified and reused as Dark Specter in Power Rangers in Space
Power Rangers in Space
Power Rangers in Space is a television show that aired in 1998 as the sixth season and fourth installment of the Power Rangers franchise...
).
Plot
A powerful wizard from a distant planet named Larigot barely escapes the clutches of the evil space pirate Divatox and heads to Earth where he hopes to find his friends ZordonZordon
Zordon is a powerful wizard and mentor to the Power Rangers franchise, appearing in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series and many of its subsequent incarnations....
and Alpha 5
Alpha 5
Alpha 5 is a fictional robot on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series. On Alpha's chest is a yellow stylized lightning bolt similar to the Power Rangers' lightning bolt symbol, but inverted. His head is in the shape of a golden flying saucer with a visor that flashes when he is speaking...
and prevent Divatox from obtaining his key to the Island of Muranthias with which she hopes to free the powerful demon lord Maligore and rule the galaxy. He lands in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, where he is weakened by Earth's ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
rays. Meanwhile, Rocky, Tommy and Adam are training for a tournament to keep the Angel Grove Youth Center from being closed, but Rocky becomes impatient and makes a bad move, falling and hurting his back badly. Justin, a young friend of the Rangers and one of the children who take part in the Youth Center is particularly devastated by this and goes to visit Rocky in the hospital. However, the Rangers come to visit Rocky and Zordon contacts them. They teleport out, inadvertently revealing their identities to Justin.
Zordon sends Tommy and Kat to Africa to find and retrieve Larigot, though the harsh environment and an encounter with a python
Python
The Pythonidae, commonly known simply as pythons, from the Greek word python-πυθων, are a family of non-venomous snakes found in Africa, Asia and Australia. Among its members are some of the largest snakes in the world...
causes Kat to injure herself, it does not deter their mission and they eventually find him roaming with a pack of chimps. Meanwhile, Divatox becomes frustrated with her idiot mutant nephew Elgar who had kidnapped Bulk and Skull as her sacrifices to Maligore, despite the fact that the sacrifices must represent strong purity and strength, neither of which are traits the two possess. As such, they had been brain scrambled and stand on the verge of insanity; despite this, Divatox spots two humans diving off the coast that meet her needs perfectly, which turn out to be former Power Rangers Jason Lee Scott and Kimberly Hart. As Larigot recovers, he receives a telepathic transmission from Divatox via Larigot's wife Yara and their baby Batel, who were kidnapped by Divatox. She threatens them harm unless Larigot turns himself over to her willingly, and as insurance that the Rangers won't interfere, she offers Jason and Kimberly in exchange for letting Larigot surrender. Larigot agrees to this, but Elgar tricks the Rangers by casting dummies in the place of Jason and Kimberly, as Divatox needs them elsewhere.
To give chase without being detected, Zordon and Alpha give the Rangers new Turbo powers, Turbo Zords and a ship they are sent to find that would be completely undetectable by Divatox's sonar. Justin joins them as a surprise, becoming the youngest Power Ranger and taking Rocky's place. However Divatox's scanners still detect the humans aboard their vessel and she sends her Putripods to deal with them, but they manage to fend off the beasts and use the keys to their powers to traverse the dimensional barrier that Divatox crossed using Larigot's key and get to the island. Meanwhile, Jason, Kimberly, Bulk and Skull work up a plan to escape Divatox's submarine; all but Jason manage to escape, but Kimberly is later captured by the Malakhian natives who inhabit the island and reunited with Jason under Divatox's capture. The Rangers arrive at the island and morph to save Jason and Kim, but they are held off long enough for the pair to be lowered into a pit of lava within the island's volcano and become evil slaves to Maligore. After a struggling fight between Divatox's minions as well as Jason and Kim, Larigot and Yara revert the two back to normal, but Divatox throws Elgar into the lava, allowing Maligore to climb out. The Rangers fight Maligore, who, in his outrage, erupts into a giant. The Rangers summon their Zords and with the Turbo Megazord, they are able to defeat him. They then offer to take Jason, Kimberly, and a mentally repaired Bulk and Skull back to Angel Grove via the massive robot. Upon seeing Larigot and his family however, Bulk and Skull panic and faint. Divatox swears revenge against the Rangers for destroying Maligore, but is forced to flee the island when the volcano erupts.
Back on Earth, Jason joins Adam and Tommy in the tournament and they win first place, assuring the shelter will remain open for the children of Angel Grove. In the post credits, the Rangers gather around Larigot and his family, bidding them farewell.
Characters
Main Characters (Turbo Rangers)Tommy Oliver
Tommy Oliver
Dr. Thomas "Tommy" Oliver is a fictional character from the universe of the American children's television franchise Power Rangers. He is a main character in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series, as well as four of its successive incarnations Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, Power Rangers Zeo,...
: The Red Turbo Ranger, played by Jason David Frank
Jason David Frank
Jason David Frank is an American actor, martial artist and professional mixed martial arts fighter, best known for playing Tommy Oliver in Power Rangers.- Early life :...
.
Adam Park
Adam Park
Adam Park is a fictional major character from the universe of the American television series franchise Power Rangers, played by Johnny Yong Bosch. He is a main character in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series, as well as three of its successive incarnations Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers,...
: The Green Turbo Ranger, played by Johnny Yong Bosch
Johnny Yong Bosch
Johnny Yong Bosch is an American actor, voice actor, martial artist, and musician.He may be best known for portraying Adam Park in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and being the English voice of Ichigo Kurosaki in the hit anime series Bleach, Vash the Stampede in Trigun and Lelouch Lamperouge in Code...
.
Katherine Hillard
Katherine Hillard
Katherine 'Kat' Hillard is a fictional character in the Power Rangers franchise. She was played by Australian-American actress Catherine Sutherland in adult form, and by Julia Jordan in child form...
: The Pink Turbo Ranger, played by Catherine Sutherland
Catherine Sutherland
Catherine Jane Sutherland/Catherine J Chilson is an Australian actress best known for playing Katherine "Kat" Hillard, the Pink Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Power Rangers: Zeo, and Power Rangers: Turbo from 1995–1997, joining the TV series in the third season and leaving in 5th...
.
Tanya Sloan
Tanya Sloan
Tanya Sloan, originally named Kenya Sloan, is a fictional character and hero in the Power Rangers universe, appearing in the television series Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers Turbo. She is played by Nakia Burrise and is introduced as living with an African tribe...
: The Yellow Turbo Ranger, played by Nakia Burrise
Nakia Burrise
Nakia Burrise is an American singer and actress known for her role as Tanya Sloan on the television series Power Rangers from 1996-1997....
.
Justin Stewart
Justin Stewart
Justin Stewart is a fictional character in the Power Rangers universe. He first appeared in Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, and served as the Blue Ranger throughout the subsequent television series, Power Rangers Turbo...
: The Blue Turbo Ranger, played by Blake Foster
Blake Foster
Blake Anthony Foster is an American actor and martial artist.Foster was born in Northridge, California, the son of Patricia and John Foster.Foster was the Huggies baby at the age of sixteen months in 1986...
.
Supporting Characters/Former Rangers
Jason Lee Scott
Jason Lee Scott
Jason Lee Scott is a fictional character in the Power Rangers franchise, played by actor Austin St. John. Jason is best remembered as the original Red Ranger from the first entry of the franchise, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, as well as the leader of the original team of Power Rangers...
: The original Red Power Ranger and the second Gold Zeo Ranger, played by Austin St. John
Austin St. John
Austin St. John is a former American actor and martial artist known for his role in the popular Power Rangers children's television series as Jason Lee Scott, the original Red Ranger and first leader of the Power Rangers. He is an emergency medical technician and firefighter.-Personal life:St...
.
Kimberly Hart
Kimberly Hart
Kimberly Ann Hart is a fictional character in the Power Rangers universe. She was played by actress Amy Jo Johnson during the first three seasons of the show, plus on the two feature films of the franchise. Kimberly is best remembered as the first Pink Ranger from the first entry of the franchise...
: The original Pink Power Ranger, played by Amy Jo Johnson
Amy Jo Johnson
Amy Jo Johnson is an American actress, singer, songwriter and musician.She is best known for her roles in the televison series as the constable Jules Callaghan in the Canadian CTV television series Flashpoint, the famous jockey Tina Sharp in the ABC Family's original show Wildfire, the rookie cop...
.
Rocky DeSantos
Rocky DeSantos
Rocky DeSantos is a fictional character in the Power Rangers universe. In the second season of the television show Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, he joined the team as the second Red Ranger...
: The second Red Power Ranger and Zeo Ranger III, played by Steve Cardenas
Steve Cardenas
Stephen Antonio Cardenas is a former Mexican-American actor and martial artist, perhaps most noted for playing Rocky DeSantos in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series....
.
- ZordonZordonZordon is a powerful wizard and mentor to the Power Rangers franchise, appearing in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series and many of its subsequent incarnations....
- Alpha 5Alpha 5Alpha 5 is a fictional robot on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series. On Alpha's chest is a yellow stylized lightning bolt similar to the Power Rangers' lightning bolt symbol, but inverted. His head is in the shape of a golden flying saucer with a visor that flashes when he is speaking...
- Lerigot
- Bulk and SkullBulk and SkullBulk and Skull are fictional characters in the Power Rangers universe. They appeared as permanent cast members from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers until Power Rangers in Space...
Villains
- Divatox
- Maligore
- Elgar
- Rygog
The movie features a cameo appearance by Rita Repulsa
Rita Repulsa
Rita Repulsa is a fictional character from the television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. She is based on the Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger villain Witch Bandora...
and Lord Zedd
Lord Zedd
Lord Zedd is a fictional villain from the TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers who was introduced at the beginning of the show's second season. Unlike Rita Repulsa, the show's original villain, Zedd was a character made specifically for Power Rangers without any prior counterpart in the Japanese...
, where Rita is called by Divatox in hopes of advice to use against the Rangers. The characters would eventually come face to face with each other in Power Rangers in Spaces premiere episode for the first and only time.
Reception
The film has been given mostly negative reviews with a 18% Rotten rating from Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
. Kevin Thomas wrote a positive review in the The Los Angeles Times saying the filmmakers have brought much panache and sophistication to the making of this fantasy adventure extolling the good old-fashioned virtues of spirit and courage embodied by the Power Rangers and that "Turbo" is a solid follow-up. Other reviews were a mixture of positive and negative, however, the film has more of a cult following in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.