Review | Power Rangers: Super Samurai- The Super Powered Black Box & Super Showdown

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Plot: What’s it about?Video: How does it look?Audio: How does it sound?Supplements: What are the extras?

Plot: What’s it about?

The battle between the Samurai Rangers and the evil Master Xandred is about to hit a new level, as Xandred unleashes his most powerful Nighlok monsters so far. Xandred seeks to take control of the world and while mankind lacks the firepower to defend itself, the Samurai Rangers are up to the task. As dedicated as the Rangers are to this task, even they have been pushed to their limits, so they need a new edge in battle. That edge could come from the mysterious Black Box, which Mentor Ji and Gold Ranger Antonio have been trying to unlock the secrets of. If the mysteries of the Black Box can be solved, the Rangers will be given a new kind of power and boosted into Super Samurai. This will enhance their powers even more, especially when the power symbols and Megazords are combined. But can the Black Box be put to use in time and even if so, will it be enough to overcome Xandred’s imposing monster armies?

These are the first two volumes of Power Rangers: Super Samurai, each with four episodes of action packed adventures. While I am partial to the original Power Rangers, Super Samurai is a solid series. Each volume contains a larger story arc which plays out against the bigger picture of Xandred’s advances. So the episodes aren’t one-offs like you might expect and that means the stories can have a little depth at times. The main reason Super Samurai shines is the action, with the kind of frenetic, over the top battles you would expect from this franchise. The various monsters are cool too, with unusual looks and some fun abilities that make for fun fight scenes in all the episodes. The samurai inspired new weapons and costumes look quite cool as well. I do wish these were released in larger volumes than four episodes, but it is what it is. So for fans of Power Rangers, Super Samurai is one of the better installments and both of these volumes offer solid entertainment.

Video: How does it look?

The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. These episodes look terrific, with crystal clear visuals and bright, bold colors. The detail level is strong for DVD, but the real spotlight is on the show’s vivid color use. The various costumes really stand out, as well as the enchanted weapons. A colorful, sharp presentation, not much else we could demand here.

Audio: How does it sound?

I was pleased to find Dolby Digital 5.1 audio here, as the show really benefits from the added presence. The battles are enhanced of course, but the music also has a rich sound in this treatment. But the dialogue and other lower key elements are still well handled, so they’re never overpowered. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks.