DRAGON BALL Z: BATTLE OF GODS:
A SPIRIT BOMB BLAST OF GOOD OLD
SUPER SAIYAN FUN AND EXCITEMENT!
By Nico Beland
Movie Review: *** 1/2 out of 4
FUNIMATION
ENTERTAINMENT, TOEI ANIMATION, AND 20TH CENTURY FOX
Super
Saiyan Goku battling the villainous Lord Beerus in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods
STAND BY FOR
DRAGON BALL Z!
The enormously popular anime franchise, Dragon Ball Z makes a theatrical return
in the new limited released full-length anime feature film, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, and no,
it’s nothing like that awful 2009 live-action film, Dragonball: Evolution, this new film features the same animation
from the original anime series, the same English voice cast we all know and
love, and more of the characters from the Dragon Ball
universe, no live-action, no CG animation, although there is some computer
animation during some of the battles, but it works and feels like a movie
rather than an episode of the series stretched out to movie length.
Everyone’s favorite characters from the series return
such as Super Saiyan, Goku, Vegeta, Goku’s wife, Chi-Chi, Goku and Chi-Chi’s
first son, Gohan, Gohan’s wife, Videl, Krillin, Piccolo, Android 18, Vegeta’s
wife, Bulma, Goku and Chi-Chi’s youngest son, Goten, Vegeta and Bulma’s son,
Trunks, Mr. Satan (Hercule), Master Roshi, everyone’s favorite pink puffball,
Majin Buu, and many other familiar faces.
Some time after the events of the Dragon Ball Z series and the defeat of Majin Buu, Goku,
Vegeta, and the rest of the Saiyans are celebrating Bulma’s birthday. However, a villainous feline from another planet, who goes by the
name of Lord Beerus (voiced by Jason Douglas) has discovered a prophecy about
the legendary “Super Saiyan God” and travels to Earth, with his aide, Whis
(voiced by Ian Sinclair) to find the Super Saiyans (Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Goten,
and Trunks). He tells them about the Super Saiyan God legend and informs them
that if they fail to unleash the Super Saiyan God’s power, he will destroy the
world.
Of course, Goku and the rest of the Saiyans aren’t going
to let that happen, and with the support of their loyal friends and family
members, they will do whatever it takes to put an end to Beerus and unlock the
power of the Super Saiyan God.
Overall, Dragon Ball
Z: Battle of Gods is a very welcoming return of the popular Dragon Ball Z
phenomenon and a necessary theatrical film release, especially after the widely
panned, Dragonball: Evolution. It’s
pretty much everything that Dragonball:
Evolution should have been, but wasn’t.
One of the major
problems I had with Dragonball: Evolution,
besides the lack of understanding its source material, was that it was too
family-friendly and nowhere near as edgy as the original anime. Battle of Gods however delivers intense Super Saiyan action scenes throughout, had the same animation, characters, and
voice talent from the anime, some mild profanity (Though nothing severe), and moments of goofy humor that felt natural and not like that nonsense from Evolution, it’s Dragon Ball
Z on the big screen.
It’s a shame the movie only has a limited release in
theaters because this is sure to please long-time fans of the Dragon Ball franchise and make them
forget about the awfulness that came out five years ago. Hopefully this will
lead to more theatrical Dragon Ball Z
movies in the future, I wouldn’t mind if this became a film series, just as
long as it stays true to its source material and doesn’t make any changes with
its animation and overall presentation.
It’s very refreshing to see a film release of a cartoon
and an anime on the big screen again with the same animation and characters as
the original show, especially after all those half-ass live-action and CG
adaptations we’re all familiar with. So, if you’re a Dragon Ball fan and have access to a theater that’s showing the
film, this is something you don’t want to miss, Super Saiyan action on the big
screen, what more can you ask for?
KAMEHAMEHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!
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