DBZ: Dead Zone (Movie 1) Review

 Dragonball Z: Dead Zone Review 

(Movie 1)

Director: Daisuke Nishio

Year: 1989

Since starting my reviewing I’ve wanted to go through some my Dragonball Z collection, and start giving my opinions. My first one was Cooler’s Revenge because I couldn’t watch anything before I reviewed, and I’ve watched Cooler’s Revenge enough to give you scene by scene details. But now that I can watch movies again, I watched Dead Zone, and will not review that. I was once in a Pawn shop, and I saw two steel book Dragonball Z movie combos. One was Dead Zone and World’s Strongest, the other Bardock and Trunks. I already had Trunks, and scene Bardock, so I went with the other. When I watched Dead Zone I was surprised it was a lot different than what I expected. I know about zero Dragonball Z movies can actually fit within the storylines, but this one is probably the closest. This one takes place before Dragonball Z actually starts, and the only thing that didn’t fit within storyline was that Krillen and the others knew who Gohan was. But lets start with some character performances. First off, this is probably one of Goku’s smallest roles in the movie series. I like that he’s just along for the ride, rather than the star guy who takes stage at the end. I also like how in this he is just after the kidnapped Gohan, rather than his usual motives of "protect the Earth.” And of course Piccolo in this is just straight awesome, like every movie. Piccolo starts with getting his ass kicked, but once the fighting gets going, and he stars using some of the best writing in the movie, he makes possibly best performance. And of course there are the henchmen. The henchmen are actually loyal in this movie, you definitely feel can tell they’re not hired guns, but I would prefer to know why they help Garlic Jr. Most of the movies use recycled character ideas, but they actually are a little different, even if stupidly named. They also help make this vampire like theme the movie develops. The theme is a little darker than most, but just a tad. Right when you think its going to get dark somebody makes a joke, or it does something quirky. The theme I like, I know dark is the wrong word, but its seems a little scattered. But back to the characters, speaking of which Garlic Jr. Garlic Jr. is one of the few movie characters whose back-story seems to have to be more unknowing. He seems to be mad, and a genius at the same time. He has the ability to go from his little body, up to a giant steroid freak. Garlic’s relationship with Kami is also a thing I like. Kami has his by far best movie role in this one (for obvious reasons) But his back-story fits well for Garlic, and even though its short as hell I like their fight. Kami and Garlic Jr. make for good enemies. Also did anybody notice Krillen’s entrance? That was probably the highlight of his life, and then Piccolo walks in a ruins it, then after that, he literally gets peed on… when the character’s power levels are still in the hundreds, that’s suppose to be Krillen’s time to shine, why is he getting pissed on? Oh yeah, because he’s Krillen. But then their was the breakthrough performance Gohan. In this, it seemed Gohan was more like Kid Gohan, as he didn’t seem as winy, and the voice actress seemed to be talking more like after Gohan’s training. Then Gohan manages to do something no Dragonball Z character has done before… trip balls on drugs. Yes, little Gohan does drugs, and its funny as it is to us as it is Gohan. (Yeah for children on drugs!) Also as some may know, DBZ was suppose to end on the cell saga, and end of this movie seemed to just say, it started, then ended, with Gohan. (See spoilers for more) As far the movie goes, its nice, even though it has a few flaws thrown in there. It also feels more like a Dragon Ball Z special, rather than a movie. I think just a little more character development for Garlic and his boys would have helped, and also I really don’t think the opening minutes really did the rest of the movie justice. (The beginning didn’t suck, but it was just scatter plotted, and the movie doesn’t really start until the fighting starts, then it gets real. In the end the Dead Zone did start a very entertaining chain of movies, but maybe after awhile that just made more room to improve, and made this one seem just a little insignificant. But don’t get me wrong, the Dead Zone is still one the DBZ movies on the better side.

Dragon Ball Z: The Dead Zone gets a 7/10

Spoilers: First off, I would like to say Piccolo’s fight with that one henchmen, that was one of my favorite moments. In the beginning, both Ox and Chi-chi get beat up, I like they were included in the story, and Goku actually had the fight brought to him differently than usual. But the most memorable part in the movie was probably Gohan’s first glimpse of his inner strength. Technically that was the first time in the timeline, and since this takes place before DBZ, and that this was the first movie, I feel that is the signal for the beginning of what happens in the end of DBZ, where Gohan controls his power. (Or at least where Toriyama wanted it to end) Also I like that Garlic Jr. actually obtained immortality, as we got to know what that was like, because Vegeta and Frieza never did.

Badges

DBZ: The Dead Zone gets THE CHARACTER BADGE