SOUNDTRACK REVIEW: Mighy Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie by Graeme Revell

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie

At some point or another  - if you’re young enough – you may have watched the hit TV show Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.  I don’t mean the lame evolution spin-offs since the original first season.  You remember the time you stood with your friends pretending to be in peril and said the then-famous phrase “It’s morphin’ time!”  After some argument and debate, all of you decided who was ultimately to be the red or green ranger.  Yes, the show was a hit among the youth of then so much that FOX released the big screen version Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie followed by a sequel (Power Rangers Turbo).  Graeme Revell was hired to score the first film.  The result was Revell’s orchestral gem.  Known for his electronic scores to box office bombs, Revell hasn’t recently done a score worth standing out with the exception of his orchestral score to the popular war game Call of Duty 2. 

“Ivan Ooze” introduces the villain theme in a comical fashion bearing in mind that it is a kid film.  The ranger theme appears in “The Great Power.”  It’s in this track that Revell manages to surprise with wonderful symphonic layers spanning over the theme: sweeping strings, timpani clashes and horn swells.  “The Tengu’s Attack” is the first action track of the bunch employing the suspect action recipe – that of swashbuckling, orchestral composing.  Much of the rest of the score has a “magical” feel to it since the film is about everyday teens blessed with special powers.  And since the film is an adventure, there are adventure tracks in the bunch like “Dulcea to the Rescue,” “Jurassic Ride,” and “The Monolith.”  (Oh, keep in ear out for the future motif for The Saint in “Jurassic Ride.”) 

Perhaps the two most standout cues are “Summoning the Ninjetti” and “Leap to Our Doom.”  “Summoning the Ninjetti” reprises the heroic theme bursting with string swells and choral “ahs.”  “Leap to Our Doom” is just that – a choral and symphonic countdown to doom.  The heroic theme closes the album in “Zordon is Saved” ending a fantastic orchestral adventure that’s hard to come by these days.  At little over 30 minutes long, the score doesn’t overwhelm or under whelm.  As Goldilocks would put, “It’s just right.”  

This score comes to show what Revell is capable of doing but seems hesitant to do since he’s in love with his electronics.  Even non-fans of the composer’s work would appreciate this adventure score penned in epic fashion with complex orchestral layers and powerful choral works.  A delightful surprise this was and quite the treasure find it is.   

My rating: 4 stars