Well before starting this review i would like to say that there are some technical aspects that i am going to intentionally avoid, you may ask why and the answer to that is simple. The Dragonball Series has been a part of my childhood , it made me love anime's and if it wasn't for this i would have never watched other amazing anime's such Death Note, Code Geass, Naruto, Bleach etc. Simply put Dragonball is the series that made me understand anime in general and judging it from a technical view point is simply not fair, So when i first received the news that a new DragonballZ movie is going to be released and is actually going to be canon , my excitement went through the roof. I did not want to lose the chance of seeing the premier and was willing to go to any logical limits for it and let me tell you it was worth it. The movie is everything a classic Dragon Ball fan like myself wanted, the classic planet destructing battles, overpowered villains with ridiculously edgy personality and Goku once again doing whatever it takes to beat the stronger opponent. The animation and visuals are as good as ever and the voice acting is also very consistent with the original ones, the sound was used very cleverly and suits the whole Japanese classic theme very well. The story is also very intriguing and oozes a certain sense of adrenaline throughout the whole movie and the ending was something i didn't expect(at least from a Dragonball movie), I was like wait that can't be right and It took me a while to understand why the ending is being played out the way it was , until i heard some of the last lines/dialogs. Those last few lines made me realize that this ending just opened up a ton of new possibilities for future Dragonball series and movies, i can only hope that this movie succeeds worldwide and that success will provide enough motivation for Akira Toriyoma to get going again, so we can all enjoy another era of Dragonball !
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verndougall12 October 2013Dragonball Z hasn't had any installments, or fan hype like this in a long while. To be honest, after finishing GT, I grew skeptic to view this, but could not contain my excitement. One key factor to this success, was the factor, of visuals, and the nostalgia one could receive in watching this. It holds much promise, and even gives reason to debates on a possible future series with our resident Z-Fighters.
The colors, the voices, I witnessed them in Japanese, but in due time of dubbing, I will gladly see this again. Easily compared to an action flick, with a decent story, it is true to what this series represents. Inner strength. -
hkauteur21 August 2013Dragonball Z: Battle of the Gods takes place several years after the titanic battle with Majin Buu. Bills, the God of Destruction, hearing that a Saiyan has defeated Freeza, awakens from a long slumber. Bills tracks down Son Goku and challenges him to a fight...
I read Dragonball Z as a manga. I didn't watch the series as an anime nor does the anime bring any justice to the story. Anybody who jokes that the fights in the Dragonball Z anime go on forever, I actually agree with you. But also I respectfully refer you to the manga. I never got around to seeing Dragonball GT because Akira Toriyama didn't write it, which it is precisely why I am both excited and unsure when I heard about this movie. Imagine if J.K. Rowling added an extra chapter between the ending and the epilogue in Harry Potter, how would the fans feel? What could a new Dragonball Z movie possibly mean? Is Toriyama going to continue and end the saga again? Or is it a mere trip down memory lane? Most of all, which one would I prefer? I am of two minds.
Dragonball Z: Battle of the Gods is two thirds nostalgic fan service and one third story expansion. The Z Warriors all return but unfortunately do not have much to do besides Goku and Vegeta. Every character gets to have their little moment, but these moments are all exactly pitch-perfect to their characterizations. Their interplay is what makes it fun. Vegeta does some things that I would never dream of, and he ends up being the most engaging character. In the end, it all hangs on Goku to solve the conflicts singlehandedly and for that he comes off more bland without assistance.
There's never an impending sense of threat, partly because the story automatically connects to the epilogue of Dragonball Z. Bills the Destroyer is no Frieza or Cell. There's nothing as dramatic as Krillin's death on planet Namek or a young Gohan falling onto Vegeta in monkey form. But it's an unfair comparison as there is no time to properly build Bills up as a proper villain with any personal vendetta involved. Bills is threatening only because he is physically powerful. Toriyama is aware of his limitations and does what he can.
To Toriyama's credit, Battle of the Gods properly expands the Dragonball universe with its new villain and establishes a higher realm of power and Goku achieves a new ability at the end. I would have liked more exploration on Goku's newfound ability and how it works. But again, it's glossed over from the lack of screen time. There's no time for a huge arc, Goku isn't allowed to fall immeasurably, rise and come back as immensely as we all want to see. Nor is there enough of time to kill any of the Z Warriors and resurrect them at the end. That would only be feasible if Toriyama revamped the series, but that doesn't seem to be the plan.
Before the movie started, I scanned the theater audience. I was surprised to see there were many 40-year-old parents bringing 10-year-old kids, and only a moderate amount of people in their late 20's like me that would have properly caught the Dragonball trend in the mid-90's. The film's first act contains a comedic set piece that runs for ten minutes and it's here where the film won me over. It made me self-conscious at first when the children started filling the theater with laughter. They were laughing at every single gag and the thing was I was laughing as well. And in laughing, it sparked memories. I'm remembered how funny Dragonball used to be. The first 4 issues of the comic book were immensely perverted and it acted as an early version of sex ed. In that moment, I let go. Yes, the Z Warriors don't have much to do, but their little character moments had me cackling like a fiend. Yes, Bills the Destroyer is no Frieza or Cell but I love that that there's a new villain for Goku to fight. Yes, there's no real impending sense of threat but I totally forgot about that and immersed myself into this world again. I didn't care anymore. Every time a character transformed into Super Saiyan or every time two opposing ki blasts had a tug-of-war, my mouth still dropped in sheer awe. I was transformed back into the 10 year-old chubby boy who was aching to buy the next Dragonball manga at the local newsstand, wishing that I can fly and fire Kamehameha blasts at school bullies.
So, is this movie mostly fan service? Yes, my laughing and overall enjoyment is more deeply rooted in the series than the children in the audience. If they wanted to get into Dragonball Z, they probably shouldn't start with this installment. In the end, does it really matter that film is fan service? No, because I would have enjoyed it equally as a kid anyways. -
hucy0074 June 2013Finally for all these days it came true, A new Dragon Ball Z Movie came up.I was so happy to hear the news for the first time, guess what? i was the one who requested and added this page to IMDb just to let the world know about the movie more and share its information as IMDb is the best for it.I love the Akira Toriyama's story in this, the battles so intense, loved watching it :D and the way story lines ended, seems as in Future we could see more of Dragon Ball Z, hoping for a new Series just like before and i am hearing rumors that there will be one? i believe there should be one as now we know there is 7 other Universe in it, wow hoping that there will be few more people like Goku who are just as or more powerful than him, Akira PLEASE WE WANT MORE!!!
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michaelkioken4 November 2013In my opinion, the movie lacked a solid plot. All it was was a good comedy and some power ups. Bills was funny and cool and the SSJ god was OK...but it lacked the serious tone. No threat. That's just me. I was very disappointed. The action looked great in HD though. Dragon Ball may have had a lot of comedy, and like I said, I loved the comedy, but there was also a dark tone in DB. Villains actually wanted to KILL and DOMINATE/DESTROY the world. Bills, did not. I believe that Bills should have been introduced in a Martial Arts Tournament, like Supreme Kai was.
Yes, this opens the door for a new DBZ season, but honestly, Bills should not have been labeled as a "villain" in this. He simply isn't. All of the power, and he gets mad over food? Come now. Where is the unadulterated evil from Freeza? The intelligence and sadistic love for killing from Cell? The world dominance drive of the Red Ribbon Army? The simply crazy villain, like Buu? Where is the drive?
I feel Dragon Ball Z (in general) has a lot to improve on, so far as plot goes. No doubt, Goku has survived long enough due to fans alone. But there is so much potential for DBZ to go even darker. Like "History Of Trunks". In that special, everyone died and STAYED dead. It felt so real, rather then over using the Dragon Balls. You could feel Trunk's pain. or when Goku transformed at the sight of Krillin being slaughtered? I believe a darker plot, only makes the fighting, the transformations, and the justice, only more satisfying.
All in All, the movie could have had so much more to it, but it was simply to childish to me, and felt more like an OVA or Special, rather than an epic movie. Again, the visuals look great, and most parts are funny, but the p.l.o.t needed work. 6/10 from an honest fan since 1998. I hope the next movie will go better and REALLY go back to DB's roots (like King Piccolo, Freeza, Dr. Gero, Cell, and Buu. Broly Anyone?) -
mrmachetemr16 September 2013This movie isn't about plot, if you start to watch it hoping for a good plot you better stop here. This is a trip, a trip in the past, we see almost everyone of the Z-fighters here. The movie is actually funny and Bill isn't a villain, he is simply e bored god, so don't expect majin buu bada*s character here. However the movie ends will an explanation from bill which leaves the DB adventures yet to continue or at least I hope so...
In few words if you are a fan and watched everything that came out in from this series you will love what this movie offers, otherwise it will seem just a plot less movie! -
pedrolazaro1021 September 2013Vegeta doing cute to grace the enemy, being submissive to Goku and fighting at the level of Yamcha. The movie humiliates cheapens the image of Vegeta. In relation to Goku, what we see is less explicit, but in same gravity: The hero makes soft body against the enemy. Give up struggling with their own powers and does not seek to increase its strength to defeat the opponent (not on its own merits).
Early in the film, we see that the Bill finds out the name Goku finding that he killed Freeza. This is wrong. Who killed Freeza was Trunks. But okay, let us go. After the first clash with Goku, Bill goes to the Earth and the rhythm of the film falls drastically. Begin the humiliations with Vegeta, fully unnecessary, and a line of comedy with Pilaf and his henchmen in the middle a party with everyone gathered.
After some time, begin the "fights " in the Z warriors more seem stupid, retarded, weak. Gohan can not do anything against the bill (but Vegeta, the same power level, did it - does not make sense). After, Goku arrives with all pose for... ask the enemy go away or leave it over there (!). Completely contrary to what Goku normally would do.
It is this part that most lack the creativity and tendentiousness takes account of the plot: It is discovered that the way to create "super 'sayan' god " you need to gather 6 'sayajin' (bias 1 - the same number 'sayajin' of which has on earth) and cause them to hold hands to pure energy to flow into the warrior of pure heart and good morals (2 bias - is a way practically made for Goku). Clap clap clap. That's it. Join hands and make Goku stay suddenly strong, 'saiyans' of Earth!
Goku begins to fight against Bill, but, as if that were not enough, even Goku in this form, the struggle is not funny. Nothing happens, practically. Only a few exchanges of punches and ready. It becomes ridiculous. Until one point, the characters reach the limit atmosphere with the space! And breathe in good shape!! Absurd cluelessness production. Verisimilitude be damned.
After that, the fight does not end, Bill said something about 12 universes and 12 gods of destruction (he is one of them), which is an expensive link to a new line of movies or anime series. And there yes. The movie ends and begins the best part! The credits at the end show several pages of the manga from the beginning to the end in the sound of "Chala chala red" (the one song that everyone knows). Congratulations to staff by the idea of putting it in the credits. -
gabkoost18 September 2013After having seen so many DBZ movies i wasn't expecting much out of it.
Nevertheless, as an adult hardcore fan of the Anime than rocked my youth, i feel compelled to watch every single one.
And i am glad that i did.
Most of previous movies didn't made a lot of sense to me. My main problem was in the fact that chronologically things didn't had up or where confusing. And this only made think that they were making movies just to profit of it.
Regardless of that, this time, i felt the history well placed and full of meaning. Some light facts were also revealed from older Sayan history.
The plot was indeed interesting and was not only about some lost Sayan coming to earth looking for a fight.
I used to criticize the pace of the history on other movies. They usually go to fast and we are often taken from peace time to world destruction warning in 5 minutes.
This time, even if the length of the movie does not allow a deeper build to the history, the transition a lot more smooth.
I'll give it a 9 because is probably the best movie ever from the DBZ saga. I only disliked the fact that, like almost every sequel from any genre, they felt compelled to give us a glimpse of almost every character in DBZ saga.
Even the most irrelevant living being had to show up. In my opinion this is utter useless and transforms a legit story in some kind of parody.
Anyway, it's definitely a great addition for DBZ fans. If you are too young to have followed DB or have been living in Jupiter's moon for the last 20 years and do not know the saga, this is not for you.
Otherwise enjoy the show!! -
beto_dbz7 October 2013First of all, I have to say I grew up watching Dragon Ball and I've been very excited about every new release that is announced. Unfortunately, nothing has proved to be as entertaining, epic and magical as the original DB and DBZ; including this movie.
Battle of Gods is indeed, a nice present to all Dragonball fans (especially after DB: Evolution). It has many of the elements that made the series great: the battles, the transformations, the jokes and funny moments, and the great characters we all love. To me, this would'd been enough material to produce an awesome movie with a decent budget and a good script. However, it seems the movie focused more on the funny side and we ended up with a light and trivial film. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the movie, but I expected more from the title of it.
I never felt the safety of the planet or even the life of a character was truly compromised. There wasn't even an imminent danger to prevent or fight against. And even if there was, the reasons that seem to motivate the main "villain" to do so, seemed pathetic, insignificant.
I also think the production quality was mediocre. There are times where 2d and 3d try to blend in but in my opinion it doesn't look good. In long or full shots you see character faces drawn incomplete. Cities and backgrounds felt lifeless and drawn without much detail. I'm not asking for animation quality equal to a Hollywood production but I've seen other anime movies which look stunning.
I'm trying to be objective so don't hate me for pointing this things out and sounding so negative. I love Dragon Ball but I won't be satisfied with anything they throw at me with its name on it.
In conclusion, as much as I like DB, I don't feel this film was good enough. -
riuisenshi-238-37617314 February 2015I'm quite honestly surprised by all the positive reviews this is getting. This movie was extremely disappointing to me. Let's cover all of the failings of this movie. Presented in the order I think of them:
1. Was Kaio-sama's (Japanese) voice actor stoned during recording? He was not able to convey even the slightest bit of fear or panic.
2. What was even the point of Pilaf and co in the movie? They did not affect the plot one tiny bit, and yet we spend an almost unbearably unfunny 10 minutes with them in an 85 minute movie.
3. I dunno who killed the real Vegeta before this movie started and replaced him with this singing, dancing, acting-loving-toward-Bulma clown, but he's the true villain of the movie.
4. Speaking of villains, Beerus was just lame. Stop me if you've heard this before. A mystical villain who is awoken from a long slumber, doesn't play by the same rule set as the main cast, who is all-powerful, but childish and capricious, doesn't think much of wiping out the entire planet, but is convinced not to and is only appeased by yummy foods or the chance to fight a strong opponent. MAJIN BUU MUCH?
5. The ever-increasing uselessness of non-Goku characters is a well known meme in this show, but seriously, they cranked it up to 11 this time.
6. I've never seen a group of people less concerned about their planet being blown up in my life. If they can't muster up the effort to care that the entire human race is about to be wiped out, why should I?
7. I'll admit, I'm a huge Gohan/Videl fan. The announcement of Videl's pregnancy was one of the parts of the movie I was looking forward to. The scene was nice, but Gohan's reaction struck me as weird. It left me wanting more.
8. How did Shenlong know about the Super Saiyan God? He was created by Kami, and recreated by Dende. Neither of whom knew anything about the Super Saiyan God. Shenlong's power (and by extension, his knowledge) can not exceed that of his creator. Further, how would he have learned of something that happened on the other side of the galaxy millenia before he was created?
9. Goku was pretty out of character for his fight with Beerus. First of all, he showed absolutely no concern for fighting a GOD OF DESTRUCTION in the middle of a DENSELY POPULATED CITY.
Then we find his only motivation for fighting was that he wanted to be stronger than Beerus. The fact that Beerus wants to kill the entire planet, including Goku's whole family, only occurs to him in a throwaway scene while pushing against the giant fireball.
Finally, Goku gives up. The entire story of Dragon Ball is about Goku persevering through struggle, breaking all barriers and overcoming all challenges to protect those he cares about. And he just gives up? Seriously?
There are more, but I think this hits the highlights. -
AndWon7 August 2014I went into this movie not expecting much. I was a huge fan of the cartoon growing up, but it'd been so long I had no clue what I was getting myself into at the theater yesterday. I went with my youngest brother who inherited my DBZ VHS tapes so many years ago.
I really don't even know where to start with the things I loved in this movie. They showed you pretty much everything in the Z Universe in the span of 1 hr 30 minutes. It honestly felt like I got to catch up with friends I haven't seen in over 10 years, totally bizarre but lovable, quirky friends. This movie floored me.
The thing I love most about DBZ is that on the surface its an anime for bros, but underneath its deep, introspective, and full of symbols. The show is brimming with positivity and heart and sets incredible examples for any child growing up in the world.
When there is a fight and it's seemingly dragging on forever, the show is encouraging the viewer to think deeply. Goku, although daft and possibly insane, always makes the right decision in the end. Most times, his enemies become his allies, out of shear respect for the person he is, regardless of his power. On the surface there is nothing subtle about DBZ, but underneath there is a blueprint for life. Battle of the Gods captured that perfectly.
One thing I really liked about this movie was it was very self aware. You saw many regular people's reactions to what they would be thinking if the Z fighters really existed (mostly befuddlement), plus there were 4th wall breaking aspects littered throughout, which I always appreciate.
Yes, this movie was total fanfare, but still the most heartwarming movie experience I've had in a long time. I'm honored to have been able to see this film on the big screen, even if the sound wasn't made for that venue.
Loved it, just wish Gohan had put up more of a fight against Beerus, as he was the most powerful fighter at the end of Z and my favorite character. He definitely had his moments though in the film. I don't want to spoil anything.
10/10; I was a true fan of the DBZ cartoon and this movie made my week. Toriyama still knows what he's doing! -
0U15 February 2020This was a great movie! It had really great action scenes and there was surprisingly a ton of hilarious humor and gags in this movie! I never thought a DBZ movie could be so funny! I love this movie!
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jonahcoleman2317 November 2014As a lifetime DBZ fan, I enjoyed the movie. It was cool to see a new movie with the same old characters. That being said I had plenty of issues with the movie.
1. Voices. I understand that you might not be able to get the same old voice actors but aren't we at a point where you can synthesize a voice? Hearing the old same voices in characters like Goku, Krillin, and Gohan was gratifying and reminded me of the original DBZ episodes that I loved. However some of the voices like Bulma for instance were just so different it didn't feel like the same character.
2. Fighting. The fights were done in a completely different style than the previous movies and shows. It felt less fluid and less reminiscent of classic DBZ.
There are other small issues I had but overall those two are my main complaints.
Overall I did enjoy the movie, but it could have been far better. -
andres8915 September 2013How are people praising this movie? it has awful writing, awful pacing, and an awful ending. I think nostalgia is getting in the way of good judgment. It clearly shows that they were making things up along the way since most of this stuff makes no sense. The animation is OK for the most part but some of the 3D stuff just does not work. Bills is considered to be a villain but he's hardly threatening at all. How are we supposed to be scared of him when he acts so petty and childish while he's on earth with the Z fighters? Who are once again, just like in GT, all rendered absolutely useless. Kinda like the writers of this movie.
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rant876 August 2014Going into this movie, having been a fan of DBZ for probably 15 years, I had mixed emotions. All of the DBZ movies of the past were really rough and never felt like they were as good as the show itself.
That being said, this movie blew me away.
It had everything. From old characters popping into the storyline to a new villain who is nothing like anyone who Goku has ever faced before - in power AND personality...all while being shrouded in mystery.
Its rare when you can watch a movie that can give you such emotions. I know I might just be a nerd, but....wow did I feel so much while watching this. When Vegeta stepped in to defend Bulmas honor (might be a spoiler but REALLY vague), I was like shaking...and this is just one specific example. Not only did the intensity of the movie spark emotions, but the humor. The movie could be sub classified as a comedy. There were about 15 occasions during the movie where the whole theater was cracking up - and I along with them (considering movies usually don't make me laugh, that's pretty awesome) Right down to the end..where they left an INFINITELY large room for future episodes/movies, it was perfect.
If you don't see this movie - you're missing out. -
peacech232 October 2013I believed: Since for the past few years, people like to make crossover/ comparison between the heroes from manga, anime or video games, "Who is the strongest superhero on EARTH or UNIVERSE". & the answer simply drop to DBZ - Son GokU. The strongest superhero in Universe. Indirectly cause unpleasant (or u may called it butthurt) to other manga, comic & superhero die-hard fans.
To make it Clear: DBZ BOG illustrated that bside Goku, there have another well powerful being, & they were totally difference level compared to GOku - the Saiya tribe.
"Finally, I'll tell you something good....This is the 7th Universe. I am the 7th God of Destruction. There are 12 Universes in total. Don't you think there were would be, many more powerful being?"- Lord Bills
Well, u may enjoy the fighting scene & hilarious jokes from Vegeta in this film. -
jamescampbell896322 September 2013OK, so I was soooooo excited about this film and have been waiting for a good 6 months for it to come out on DVD!! One word.......disappointed.
The plot has potential but compared to the execution of previous DB and DBZ films its shocking (not as bad as Bio Broly though). I can see what they were trying to do but it came across a wee tad wet, spending far to long on fillers and not enough on the fighting!!
OK so im now probably going to annoy a few people but oh well! why the hell did they use so much CGI?????? it looks shocking all I could think of was " this feels like I'm playing DBZ BURST LIMIT" which isn't what I really want whilst trying to watch the first film from the Dragon Ball franchise for god only knows how long! The way that they brought Goku up to the level of ssjg was good although I don't think it was needed, push ssj 3 and he could have done it.
Right so now for a few good points so its left the option for a million more episodes and films...... BIT OF A SPOILER!!!!!!
Vegita's brother on another planet and that there are 12 universes with bills only being the god of destruction for the 7th!
OK so its only really them two but they leave the spectrum wide open for future films :)
On a close then..... I don't hate it, I can't its DBZ wished it was better but thats something I cant change all in all I would watch it again but at a push. -
Yes, listen to Brandon Christie: Only the Main F#$king character is fully utilized and that's a problem. Idiot!
This movie was surprisingly deep and well balanced. I really don't like every other DBZ movie mostly because they don't have anything to serve for the main characters and arcs, this is the first time where that changes for the better. All the characters have their shining moments in this, either be it badass or completely hilarious just in old tradition of Dragon Ball!
I loved this movie and I'd recommend it to anyone tired of the old DBZ formula and are looking for something fresh and new. Toriyama's SSG design was fantastic, and Bills is up there with Broly as one of the more interesting villains! -
brandonchristie8215 September 2013Do not listen to user Mark Connor. Only Vegeta and Goku are properly utilized, mainly Goku. To me, the plot wasn't all that interesting and the enemy never seemed like a threat. Bills, the enemy, the God of Destruction, never had intentions of blowing up Earth, making Goku have zero motive to fight him. The only person who had a motive to him was Vegeta. There is only one paced fight scene throughout the entire movie and it ends awfully quickly. The animation and CGI, however, are flawless, despite some minor inconsistencies. This isn't the best DBZ movie, no where close in my opinion, but it is still a lot of fun. It is more reminiscent of Dragon Ball than Dragon Ball Z. If you're expecting a deep and profound movie, you will be disappointed, however, the film still is a great nostalgic trip.
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DirectCruzer21 September 2013Akira Toriyama makes his return to the Dragon Ball franchise with this new, animated feature-length film; Battle of Gods.
Battle of Gods takes place chronologically after the Majin Buu Saga, and the thirty-five minute special, Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!! The original Japanese cast returns, giving their usual great performances. With Bills voice actor, Kōichi Yamadera, standing above the rest. Throughout the movie there isn't much background music, making the scenes with music much more powerful. An example of this is when Goku transforms into the Super Saiyan God for the first time.
With a high budget and modern technology, the animation in Battle of Gods doesn't disappoint. Though at times during wide shots, the animation was noticeably much weaker. However, where the animation really shines is during the fight scenes between Bills, Goku, and the other Z-fighters.
Now for the story of this movie, Akira Toriyama goes back to his roots. Giving fans the fun, yet serious at times Dragon Ball we've all come to love over the years. With Bills and Whis making great additions to the character cast. Even though Goku's the main character, Bills definitely steals the show with his great dialogue, and strong personality.
Quick warning. If you're a DBZ fan (English Dub), and you enjoyed the other movies with mindless action and uninteresting villains, then this movie isn't for you. If you're someone who truly understands what Dragon Ball is, then this movie will be perfect for you.
Also, if you're an older fan looking for something to get you back into Dragon Ball, then I highly recommend you watch this movie.
In conclusion, Battle of Gods is a great sequel that retains the essence of Dragon Ball with a touch of modern flavor that any true fan will appreciate.
9/10 -
Shad_Critic10 July 2015When I first heard of Dragon Ball Z Battle Of Gods, it was like a dream come true. As a Dragon Ball Z fan, I'd love to see a new movie. The first time I heard the title "Battle Of Gods", I was expecting Goku to fight literal Gods. Then when I saw the movie, Goku only fought one god so... It wasn't what I expected. But I still loved the movie.
As for the story, it was practically okay. They kinda overdid the 3D battle scenes which makes the 2D version of the movie a little ugly. Bills' (or Beerus) character is very underdeveloped which is a let down. But all in all It's a lovable Dragon Ball movie. I'm still waiting for Resurrection Of F and I'll immediately do a review of that.
In conclusion, Dragon Ball Z Battle Of Gods is practically a good movie. It has small problems but I'll let it slide for now. -
FreedomFighter0830 November 2014I need to post this review to correct the other ones giving this movie high score and explaining how amazing it was, no let me tell you die hard dbz fans how disappointing this movie was: There was no "dbz-feeling" in this movie, i'm very disappointed. I was so excited for this movie because there haven't been any dbz movies for a long time and since the series got finished, dragonball universe has been for a long time. I was hoping for this movie to revive it for a bit at least but no, that's sad. An unnecessary movie if you ask me. I wanted dragonball characters struggling for survival, fighting together, facing an overwhelming threat like an army, I wanted to see fusion, this movie lacked dramatic effect and emotional scenes and moments, it wasn't epic in any way, more like a comedy with unserious fighting scenes. Dragonball is about sacrifice and transformation and die for those you love, the seriousness of Dragonball wasn't in this movie,
Examples of these moments:
-Epicness -Dramatic transformation -Goku transformed because of Frieza killing Kuririn. -The moment Gohan transforms because he's crying for Cell killing the android -Father and Son kamehameha -Vegeta's sacrifice -Piccolo Fusion -Kid Gohan crying at Piccolos dying moments. -Goku and Vegeta fusion -Future trunks crying for future Gohan and transforms. -People getting killed -Tears -A build up reaching a climax -and so much more.
Gave this movie 3/10, why? Because it's more focus on the comedy side of Dragonball instead of the serious, dramatic and epicness of Dragonball just like I described. -
DBZ: Battle of the Gods is a totally hoot with really nice animation, really cool battle scenes, fun & lively characters, and a ton of cameos and references for fans of the series to enjoy. If you like DBZ, you should really like this! After being asleep for several decades, Beerus, the God of Destruction, awakens and remembers a prophecy about finding a powerful challenger in the form of a "Super Saiyan God". Eager to face a foe who could provide with a challenge or amusement, Beerus sets off in search of such a person, which puts Goku, Vegeta and their families & friends in his cross-hairs...
Aside from the fantastical, frenetic action this series is known for, this most fun the Dragon Ball franchise has seen in a loooonnngg time. Thanks to series creator Akira Toriyama bring involved, there's a lot of humor and personality that was lacking in previous movies and even the later part of the manga & TV Show. Even minor characters are given some personality and spot on dialog.
Here's the catch: You have to be a fan of Dragon Ball Z--a big one at that--to fully enjoy it. There are cameos, references and even in-jokes--with no explanation at that--that only fans who know almost everything about the series will get. Some characters even show up for the sole purpose of showing up and play no role whatsoever. Non-fans need not apply here and casual fans may want to brush up on their DB history.
So if you're a fan of DBZ, chances are likely you'll have a pretty good time here. Though you might need to jog your memory a little first. -
Pjtaylor-96-1380447 December 2019There's perhaps less action in 'Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods (2013)' than you'd expect, with the majority of its run-time actually being dedicated to oddball comedy instead of fantastical fighting. For the most part, this works. It introduces a bevy of fan-favourite characters and exploits their past exploits, essentially, to invoke audience nostalgia. I've only seen a few episodes of the source show's first season but I do have a rudimentary understanding of its various 'sagas' and have played several spin-off video-games. I like the vast, colourful universe, even if I don't wholly understand it. The movie makes no real effort to fill in its audience, aside from including a brief and rudimentary prologue that isn't really relevant to its narrative in any meaningful way. Because of this, it feels like an extended episode of TV as opposed to a proper feature film. This is compounded by the fact that the story is relatively small and that the stakes, which are certainly big enough, never quite feel actionable. The 'destroyer god' antagonist isn't so much a villain as an opponent, which is fine but makes for a sort of quaint dynamic between him and the main hero. It is interesting that the most powerful being in the universe, whom apparently destroys entire planets on a whim, is essentially as relatable as the protagonist. He's likeable enough and provides plenty of comedic relief. Although this diminishes the movie's main threat, it also enhances its comedic dynamics. The thing isn't particularly funny, but it's light-hearted and good-natured. When the action does arrive, it's basically as spectacular as you'd expect. The camera whirls as it tries to keep up with the fighters, who often crash through the earth when receiving particularly powerful blows, and the animation creates the impression of an impossibly fast pace without sacrificing the impact of its most devastating blows. The action all stems from the series' long-standing character motivation of training to reach new levels of power. It makes for a unique experience that's rather unpredictable in the grand scheme of things. It's typically enjoyable despite its missteps, which include an uneven pace and a couple of slightly strange subplots. It's a decent animated action flick that proper fans will probably get more out of than I do. 6/10
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ace97115 September 2013OK just to make it clear, the guys who reviewed it and gave it a 9 out of 10, aren't DBZ fans at all.
I've loved that manga since early 90's, as a teenager, and loved all OVA (first broly being the best of them all) . I brought in a friend that is a huge fan too, relaxed, closed curtains, watched the movie... and we waited ; we waited for the story to skip the poor jokes and so on. Until I realised it was exactly designed the same way the previous Tarble anime was, poor humour, poor enemy's design, motivation, etc.
The realisation is OK, but I really can't believe Akira Toriyama took part into that , and if so, I would be ultimately disappointed. How can people consider that to be a dragon ball movie, when there is only kawai fan service? Bills, is an absolutely empty shell character, the story is for kids. If you're over 10 , you might really be upset about this being called Dragon Ball. Only time we probably enjoyed was the overall 5-10 minutes fighting sequence, and that was really to say that something was still kind of brought back from the old DBZ and updated with today's technical improvements.
So to summarize : if you're a real hardcore DBZ fan (meaning you didn't even wasted your time watching GT, as I did) , you'd better skip this movie, even if I know curiosity will prevail, but don't' have huge expectations, this is simply the WORST dragon ball movie I've ever seen. My buddy asked me seriously if that was a dragon ball parody movie or if it was real... Please Toei guys and Toriyama san , if you read that, please never do that again to your real fans. You just dealt a fatal blow to that magic manga that dragon ball is , and I'm not sure I'd go for a next movie if it's so bad. You have been warned guys.