WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
And now for something completely different! As a favor to a valued friend at work, comes a review via DVD from a new genre to this particular reviewer: anime. While familiar in general scope with the series, but having never watched any of it (while also being told to completely avoid the live-action film!), OneFilmFan takes on the newest feature length offering in the popular world of Dragonball with “Dragonball Z: Battle of Gods”.
Directed by Masahiro Hosoda and written by original series author Akira Toriyama, the story brings us back into the world of Super Saiyan Goku (voiced by Sean Schemmel), who has ultimately saved the universe from every enemy that has arisen, thanks to his own growing powers and the assistance of his friends. With a era of peace being enjoyed, Goku has chosen to remain in training, away from his fellow fighters. However, Beerus the God of Destruction (voiced by Jason Douglas) has awoken from a short slumber (39 years!) and thanks to a dream envisioning a potentially worthy opponent to fight, the Super Saiyan God, decides to head to Earth and seek this being out. Arriving with his primary right hand, Whis (voiced by Ian Sinclair), and interrupting a birthday gathering with other Z-Fighters and families, including Bulma (voiced by Monica Rial) and her husband Vegeta (voiced by Christopher Sabat), Beerus makes his presence very known and soon events spiral out of control. Only an ancient revelation and the combination of power can give the planet a chance to survive, and Goku is put to the test yet again, as even with a new level of power granted, mastery of it and the effects of it challenge him physically and mentally, as the battle for Earth starts again.
Not being truly familiar with the background of the characters, the whole story behind their adventures to date, and much less not ever having really sat down and watched any anime, one could easily dismiss this film as an exercise in futility. This said, looking beyond those facts to the film itself as part of the anime genre, this was admittedly a whimsical, fun, playfully silly, yet strangely engaging and fantastical film. The animation stylings are actually quite vivid, and therefore visually carries you through the video-game tone and feel effectively. The purposefully exaggerated dialogue, while again at times bordering on flat-out cheesiness, also manages to pull the viewer along and one cannot help but laugh at the overall comedic format that is present and intended here. You can only try and picture the actors in the studio performing the voices and wonder what their expressions and movements behind the mikes must look like! The action sequences are “choreographed”, as expected, with much bravado and wild abandon. Yet still, it keeps ones eyes glued to the screen. Serious when it needs to be but more consistently over-the-top humor-wise, this reviewer cannot completely say that a new fan has been born out of this viewing experience. But, there is no denying that it is understandable how the anime genre attracts its loyal following and seeing as they had been waiting for 17 years for this to arrive, we would have to say the film was worth their wait!
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
