DVD Review - Power Rangers Ninja Steel: The Complete Season

Lionsgate; Not Rated; 8 hours 15 minutes

The Power Rangers franchise is celebrating it's 25th year with a special Super Ninja Steel anniversary episode which will air on Nickelodeon on Monday night. In the meantime, fans can spend their time watching the Power Rangers: Ninja Steel: The Complete Season  DVD, which was just released last week from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

Adapted from the Japanese Shuriken Sentai Ninninger series, Power Rangers Ninja Steel centers around an the most popular intergalactic game show called Galaxy Warriors, which the participants must battle to prove who is the greatest warrior. The reigning champion Galvanax arrives on Earth in search of the mythical Ninja Nexus Prism, which will give him the power to be invisible. To protect his two sons, Master Dane Romero split the Nexas Star into six separate stars, which were made from the Nexus metal, and he sacrifices himself. Galvanax wasn't completely defeated that day, as his minions Madame Odius and Ripcon captured Master Romero's youngest son, Brody.

Fast forward ten years,  when the Ninja Nexus Prism, which contains the Ninja Power Stars, appears on Galvanax's ship. A teenage Brody, an alien friend Mick Kanic, and a robot named Redbot escape with the Prism to Earth, where they crash land near the town of Summer Cove. Galavanax sends his best warriors to retrieve Ninja Power Stars, but it's too late!

The Prism gives Brody one of the Ninja Power Stars, which gives him the power to become the Ninja Steel Red Ranger. Four random teenagers are given their own stars as well. Preston Tien becomes the Ninja Steel Blue Ranger; Calvin Maxwell becomes the Ninja Steel Yellow Ranger; Hayley Foster becomes the Ninja Steel White Rangers; and Sarah Thompson becomes the Ninja Steel Pink Ranger.

Later, in the season a sixth Ranger is introduced - Levi Weston, who becomes the Ninja Steel Gold Ranger. Together, the Rangers battle Galvanax, his warrior contestants and minions to save Earth from being destroyed.

Power Rangers Ninja Steel: The Complete Season contains all 22 episodes from the twenty-fourth season on a 3-disc set, including the Halloween and Christmas specials. There are no special features or bonus extras. However, it does comes come with an excerpt from the upcoming Boom! Studios artist tribute book!

Final Thoughts

Like many Power Rangers fans, I was wondering when or if the first season of Power Rangers Ninja Steel was ever going to be released on DVD. With the franchise being purchased by Hasbro earlier this year, I was bit surprised the first season was even released at all. Unlike some of the previous "complete seasons" which were missing the holiday specials, the Halloween and Christmas episodes are included with this release. Lionsgate Home Entertainment must be listening to the fans!

The slipcover and DVD artwork features a beautiful design, which I'm guessing will be featured in the Power Rangers Artist Tribute book.

The new cast is pretty decent; what I mean is that they are actually trying to act! The Galaxy Warriors game show plot is really silly, but this is a series for children, so you just have to ignore some of the show's flaws. The teenagers actually attend high school in this season, which was one of the biggest complaints I had with the past seasons.

Overall, I enjoyed watching the Power Rangers Ninja Steel: The Complete Season DVD. Yes, it's campy, but it's the Power Rangers. It's supposed to be cheesy and fun!

*I received a complimentary review copy from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. All opinions are my own.