Super Sentai Zyuranger: The Complete Series

Behold in its original form (no English-language dubbing even) the rambunctious live-action 1992-93 Japanese children's-TV fantasy-action series, from which mayhem f/x and costume-stunt scenes were borrowed—and additional material extensively reshot/rewritten—before being unleashed on the West as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Some may detect Shinto-religion underpinnings in this complete series set of 50 episodes, in which super-powered young princes and princesses (no schoolboy secret-identity stuff) are actually long-dormant "dinosaur rangers," spiritually bound to a pantheon of prehistoric animals/gods. All revive (the dinos in transforming-robot form) to battle the powerful, child-hating Witch Bandora ("Rita Repulsa" in the U.S. version) and her monster minions, who have returned to do mean stuff following 170 million years in space exile. The Zyurangers face off against an array of grotesque foes, many owing their origins to Greco-Roman mythology. The series also serves up odd nods here and there to Immanuel Velikovsky, golems, and popular Nippon theme parks. Juvenile collections should note that there is some PG-level swearing in the English subtitles. DVD extras include a panel discussion with the veteran Japanese performers. Recommended. Aud: P. (C. Cassady)