30 Years Ago, My Dad Took Me To See Apollo 13 Instead Of Power Rangers. I Was Pissed Then, But Now I’m Grateful

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I remember back in the summer of 1995, a friend invited me to see Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie with him and his mother. I quickly asked my parents if I could go, but I was disappointed when my dad said “No.” He’d already purchased tickets to a different film called Apollo 13 (both movies came out the same weekend). I was really upset about missing out, and I definitely had a bad case of “FOMO” – I was the only kid I knew who wasn’t seeing the Power Rangers on the big screen.

Over time, I’ve realized my dad did the right thing, and I’m thankful he took me to see a truly great movie from the ‘90s. It featured a performance by Tom Hanks that I still remember, even after 30 years. Let me tell you the story…

As A 7-Year-Old Obsessed With Power Rangers, I Felt Justified In My Anger

I was seven years old then, and like most kids my age, I was completely hooked on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I had all the merchandise – the toys, the t-shirts, even a Power Rangers bedroom set – and I even owned that not-so-great game for the Sega Game Gear, so you could say I was a huge fan. When my dad refused to let me do something, I felt like my frustration was understandable. It felt even more justified when we went to the AMC at Mall St. Vincent and saw a big Power Rangers exhibit and lots of kids excited to see Angel Grove on the big screen.

Do you remember the part in Blank Check where Preston sees his friends having a thrilling rollercoaster experience, but he ends up choosing a simpler ride? That’s exactly how I felt while I was at the movies that Sunday.

But, As Is Typically The Case, My Dad Made The Right Decision

Let me tell you – my dad made a great choice taking me to see Apollo 13 instead of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie that day. Like pretty much always, he was right, and the movie was amazing. It’s funny to think that a dad in his mid-30s knew more about what would be a good movie than a 7-year-old, but he figured Ron Howard’s story about one of the most exciting survival missions in American history would be better than anything the Power Rangers were doing.

I Didn’t Fully Understand It At The Time, But This Helped Set Me On The Path To Where I Am Today

I didn’t fully grasp all the details of Apollo 13 when I first saw it, but my dad taking me to see what should have been the Best Picture winner really influenced my life. Now, thirty years later, I make a living writing about movies, I spend a lot of time researching space programs, and I’m still a huge fan of Tom Hanks’ work.

I probably would have found my way here eventually, but my dad introduced me to one of the greatest space films ever made. Still, I believe we were simply lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

I’ll always be thankful that my dad took me to see Apollo 13 a long time ago. And just so you know, I did eventually watch Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, but I’m happy I waited and rented it from Blockbuster instead.

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2025-10-05 16:10