For many children of the ’90s, Jason David Frank is an incredibly nostalgic name. The beloved action star defined the era’s iconic “Power Rangers” craze and even went on to participate undefeated within the UFC later in his career. Above all else, the actor loved his fans and desperately wanted to create a project that could satisfy both them and himself. Frank tragically passed away on November 19, 2022, but not before leaving a lasting impact on both the genre and his treasured fanbase.
“The Legend of the White Dragon,” his last film, will release on August 28th and is a true testament to everything the cherished actor stood for. The incredible project combines the action Frank demonstrated throughout his career while interjecting some truly incredible emotional acting. The movie obviously benefits from nostalgia, but is equally capable of pleasing audiences who are completely unfamiliar with the Power Rangers mythos.
Frank Brings More than Just His Martial Arts Mastery to the Big Screen
Obviously, Frank is a talented martial artist. He demonstrated his skills throughout several iconic seasons of “Power Rangers” as well as in the actual ring. Frank is actually an accomplished UFC fighter, with an undefeated career. There aren’t many actors who can actually fight the way they do in movies, but Frank was easily just as talented off the screen.
His abilities helped take “The Legend of the White Dragon”‘s action sequences to the next level, especially when combined with the equally impressive skills of the iconic Mark Dacascos, fellow “Power Rangers” alumnus Jason Flaunt, David Ramsey and Ciara Hanna. Writer and director Aaron Schoenke, who also plays Jai Katua in the film, truly did an identically incredible job contending with Frank and the rest of the cast. The actor and director is no stranger to stunt work, but to compete with people with decades of experience like Frank and Dacascos is a feat in itself.
That said, both Schoenke and Frank bring far more than their fisticuffs to the feature film. Both actors demonstrate some of the greatest emotional acting of their careers, generating truly visceral moments which leave a lasting impact. Frank even shares scenes with the critically acclaimed Michael Madsen, who has collaborated with Quentin Tarantino, where neither actor outshines the other.
This performance is a testament to both their skill as actors and the amazing writing of Schoenke and his incredible collaborator, Alex Kellerman. Kellerman is mostly known for his comedic writing, aside from a thrilling episode of “Dexter: Original Sin,” but clearly brought his A-Game with the upcoming title. The epic scoring and in-depth sound design, done by co-director Sean Schoenke, are also integral parts of the film.
Ultimately, the styles of Kellerman and Schoenke brilliantly meld together to create an absolutely unforgettable product. The duo could easily become “The Daniels” of writing independent film. They might not share the same first name, but they clearly share the same unique collaborative energy which brought the original directing team their success. After watching “The Legend of the White Dragon,” there’s no doubt audiences will be eagerly waiting for the pair’s next project.
The Movie is the Perfect Send-Off to the Beloved Actor
“The Legend of the White Dragon” is truly the perfect send-off to the beloved “Power Rangers” alumnus. In many ways, this comes across as a film Jason always dreamed of making. It has the essence of the childhood show he participated in for so many years, while contributing authentic emotion the actor never got a chance to demonstrate.
To most, Frank was an flawless icon, but he was just a regular person like everyone else. Through playing disgraced hero Erik Reed, The childhood hero reveals a side of himself that he could never deliver with his previous roles. In many ways, it felt as if Frank was trying to reveal himself authentically through the film. The actor may have tragically passed away, but he truly got to share himself fully with fans through this incredible final project.
GettyThe movie tackles mental health in an engaging but thoughtful way. It combines epic action sequences with very real life lessons about moving on and self forgiveness in a way only the original Green Ranger could deliver. In some ways, the project feels less like a move and more like one final lesson Frank is providing for his adoring fanbase.
Ultimately, “The Legend of the White Dragon” is a fantastic film that is enhanced by nostalgia, but isn’t reliant on it. It features some of the greatest martial arts choreography of any independent film as well as incredible acting from one of the ’90s most cherished stars. Ultimately, the film is a must watch for any fan of sci-fi who keeps in touch with their inner child. It is truly the film Frank always wanted to make and it finally comes to theatres, August 28th.
