Category: Movie Review

Admittedly Tree of Might was my intro to the DBZ movies and it’s a fair place to start. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of Dragonball Z: The Dead Zone and Dragonball Z: The World’s Strongest , these were the early years of DBZ.

Much like the story of Dragonball Z ( The Saiyan Saga) , a band of aliens come to Earth, only this time pirates. Gohan and Krillin save a young dragon from a massive forest fire and they set off to find the Dragonballs to undo the fire. Meanwhile a band of space pirates sets down, led by Turles, who plans on destroying the world to grow the Tree of Might. The fruit from the tree grants incredible tree, but the tree itself feeds off of the world it’s planted on until it dies. The Z fighters face the pirates but are no match for Turles, who looks exactly like Goku. Can Goku beat his doppelganger and save the world?

Of the original 3 movies, I’d say Tree is the best. You get to see all the Z fighters in action which is pretty cool. The fight against Turles has some decently brutal moments and the story is pretty solid. If you are a fan of the series, I’d definitely check it out and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

So, you ever want to see the one and only Goku fight a giant ass robot with an insane huge human brain in it? Well, if you have, then here’s a movie for you.

A scientist named Dr. Kochin is out searching for the Dragonballs, while Gohan and Oolong just so happen to be. Kochin’s wish: to shatter the mountain of ice encasing his master, the cybernetic behemoth Dr Wheelo who plan on transplanting his massive brain into the world’s strongest body. Kochin sends his freakish trio of Bio-men to at first attack Master Roshi, who was originally the world’s strongest. After being defeated, Kochin turns him over. Next goes Piccolo. Finally Goku, Krillin, and Gohan are lured there to save there friends, but can they stop Wheelo?

I have to admit, with the exception of Bio-Broly, this is my least favorite of the DBZ movies. The plot is meh. Wheelo and Kochin aren’t too memorable as villains,  but the Bio-men were pretty cool. I kind of had to laugh, when taken over there eyes turn bright pink and they look high as hell. Honestly, the movie is pretty forgettable and it’s fair to skip. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

 

Like many anime, Dragonball Z has more than it’s fair share of movies ranging from awesome to crap. Dead Zone is the first and takes place around the Saiyan saga. While most aren’t cannon, many fit well enough into cannon they can be said to be. Dead Zone is actually cannon and starts the story of Garlic Jr.

Goku and his family are hanging around, living there lives when Goku comes home from fishing one day to find Chi-chi knocked out and Gohan gone. he was taken hostage because of the Dragonball on his hat and because he fought back. Goku tracks him down with Krillin at his side only to find it’s a group of monstrous warriors lead by Garlic Jr, the son of an ancient enemy of Kami’s and by extension Piccolo who jumps in after getting attacked. Garlic Jr seems to be on the ropes until he transforms and unleashes the power of the Dead Zone which destroyed his father, but help comes from a unlikely force…

Dead Zone isn’t terrible but isn’t great. The action isn’t really special but the fight between Kami and Garlic Jr is pretty cool. The story is fairly basic and is a pretty quick watch. Gohan has a moment at the end, that does play a part in things to come later which is pretty cool. In the end, Dead Zone is fine and worth a watch for the hardcore DBZ fans. May the gaming gods bring you glory.