Earlier this week an awesome short hit the web, something that was totally unexpected and totally beyond belief – Power/Rangers. The short film is something you would expect from Hollywood with its Halo/Transformers intro as equivalent of a Michael Bay movie. Starring Battlestar Galactica’s Katee Sackhoff as former Pink Ranger Kimberly Hart and Dawson’s Creek’s James Van Der Beek as former Red Ranger it has already got a decent cast to get the ball rolling.

Producer Adi Shankar and filmed by “Blank Space” director Joseph Kahn, they have come up with is completely plausible as we see dark future where the Machine Empire has taken over and is killing off the Rangers one by one. To survive the Red Ranger has already defected to the baddies, and now hunts his fellow pals. The film is violent and gritty as we see heads getting blown off and Power Rangers being gunned down. This isn’t the children’s series people grew up with.

The problem with Power/Rangers is the popularity it gained in such a short while, sometimes these fan parodies can get away with being on the internet but after landing on Saban’s radar, they wanted it pulled. You can see why as it doesn’t exactly fit in with there child-friendly versions of the original series. Several days after being released Power/Rangers was pulled, but the internet fought back as fans supported the short. After a while it was back online – albeit with disclaimers all over it showing it’s not affiliated with Saban.

It wasn’t just Saban who had something to say about the film as the previous rangers also chimed in. The former Green and White ranger, Jason David Frank, was not a fan:

I know there’s a lot of fans out there that love it and all that stuff, but I’m just a PG-13 guy. The cuss words, the drugs, all this other stuff — it doesn’t fly with me. The problem is, [the Power Rangers] are still connected with adults and kids. The ‘Super Megaforce’ and ‘Power Ranges Dino Charge’ are still on Nickelodeon, and so you can’t take a brand like this and reboot it so dark and gritty. This still is a kids’ brand.

 What about his teammates? The Black Ranger, Walter Jones, posted this:

I wont be posting the video of the Power Rangers deboot video because I still have fans that are kids. I will say… I thought it was very well done and entertaining. I am looking forward to other interpretations of this amazing show. I am blessed to have had the pleasure of helping to create here in the states! It’s Morphing Time!!

And then the Pink ranger, Amy Jo Johnson:

Okay… so you’ve ALL probably seen this already. BUT just wanted to share. Personally I think it’s kind of awesome. BUT don’t tell Saban that!! I might get sued. [wink emoticon] And it’s clearly NOT for KIDS!!

Whatever people think though, Power/Ranger is an awesome spin-off of the original series. It is certainly something Lionsgate, the studio behind the Hunger Games, will have to think about when they create their Power Rangers movie.

Anyway check out the video below!