[Kurona]

I would definitely agree about the design choices. There's nothing wrong with going for a different aesthetic and direction, of course, but the designs were very clearly motivated by the same 'grittier, realistic, super serious' take on the much more colourful and fun source material that is present in other big movie franchises like Transformers and the MCU.

In general I feel there's a sort of stigma in western society against embracing the ridiculous, embracing the fun -- it's why I was very much drawn to things like Sentai and Kamen Rider in the first place, because not only are they unafraid of going over the top but they're very clearly enthusiastic about doing it, and almost all their big-budget movies and other media never stray from that.

I do like many things about the Lionsgate movie, but this kind of stigma and trend is certainly what I felt hurt it the most. Not that they tackled serious issues; not that they went for teen drama; not even that there was a larger focus than usual on the non-action elements -- but that it was felt they couldn't co-exist alongside spandex suits, a silly space witch & her band of misfits, and simplistic robot dinosaurs that combine into prehistoric optimus prime with a lightning sword.

You can still be very silly and over-the-top and have a lot of fun while still dealing with serious topics and issues -- and if I may indulge in my opinions, I think that's actually one of the best ways to do it. How can you ask someone to smile if you're not willing to laugh?