amarie24

Yeah, I was originally gonna go see that and Bumblebee on the same day, but I decided to pass on Bumblebee after watching a few YouTube clips and not being fully inspired. I'll probably get it from the Red Box another time. ;)

It was a struggle to get out of bed when my alarm went off that morning (it's been a struggle to get out of bed period, haha...hah). But I did it in time to get to the 12:30pm showing, since it's one of the last few days the movie will be in theaters.

And I grew up with Dragonball Z, just as I grew up with Sailor Moon-I was born in 1991 and Toonami was the shit and a staple, y'know? But I'd never before seen a Dragonball movie in theaters, let alone there would ever even be one playing in a theater near me. So it was a real treat when I googled possible showtimes out of curiosity and found that it was playing at the theater right down the street from my house. Yay!!

I liked it very much overall. The animation was a great combination of showing off today's available technology and paying great homage to all that makes the franchise's fight sequences so memorable and iconic.

So a few pointers on my thoughts on the movie (spoilers abound!):

-The fight scenes really were absolutely amazing. The initial setting of all that ice and glacier and snow working as a wonderful backdrop to the color and power and wonder of Goku, Vegeta, and Broly fighting...wow!

In fact, the fight scenes were so amazing that watching them made me a little bit nauseated from the constant swirling and shifting of the camera. It was kind of a good nauseated, though-a lot like what I'd imagine you'd feel during a roller coaster ride! I couldn't look away to save my life as I shoveled popcorn in my mouth and slurped on my cherry slushie.

-Broly is fine as hell.

-Gogeta is fine as hell.

-I'm not gonna lie: I actually love the fact that Vegeta didn't get nearly as pummeled as he traditionally does when he goes up first to fight. Not only did he barely get pummeled at all, but it was actually Goku that got freaking pummeled by Broly somethin' awful. Like, ya'll remember the Avengers movie (2011)? And that scene where Hulk handed Loki parts of his ass he didn't even know he had by smashing him over and over into the floor like a ragdoll at the Avenger's/Stark Tower?

Yeah. Broly does just that and more to poor Goku. My goodness gracious.

-Speaking of Goku! I'm not shy about saying that I really don't like Toriyama's canon that Goku is really only around to protect the Earth just because he loves fighting. I also don't like the canon that he doesn't really have an emotional connection to his friends & family, but just thinks of them all as really good friends.

It...doesn't mean that Goku is perfect-hell to the fuck no! But I do prefer the interpretation of Goku as someone who's a lovable dolt that may rush too quickly headlong into battle, but ultimately does it because he cares & he's a hero that will always help and protect those that don't even have a third of his power...like us lil earthlings.

Naw, the way they portrayed Goku first actively wanting to a go at Broly after seeing him fight Vegeta? And then seeing closely how Broly's aggression comes with a lot of pain and he doesn't really want to hurt anyone and so Goku instead shifts his focus to calming & soothing Broly? ("You can stop fighting. You don't have to listen to what others tell you to do.") Now that is the Goku I prefer and love.

That's the Goku that was one of the biggest, most beloved heroes of my childhood.

-Goku interrupting a trademark Dangerous Frieza Speech by asking him what a word means. Vegeta's face during that scene...Vegeta's face!! I lived!

-Broly is fine as hell.

-Gogeta is fine as hell.

-And...Goku? You done saw that Vegeta had to go all the way to Super Saiyan God to keep fighting off Broly. But when you decide it's your turn...your ass decides to start in your base form? Your base form? Really? Always witcho self acting all Brand New. Ain't shit changed even after 20 years.

-Vegeta with his wife Bulma and his wittle baby Bulla/Bra! Gah, it was so freakin' adorable! Like...do ya'll realize that at the end of the day Vegeta is just a stay-at-home-dad/house husband? When he's not training and scowling at a leaf blowing over the window, all he does is take care of his wife and kids all day? I love it!

-Beerus babysitting Bulla/Bra...'nuff said.

-Vegeta: "Where the hell did you come from?!"

-Goku and Vegeta's green & blue coats were so adorable!! I never knew I needed to see them wearing such coats!

- I absolutely love the new depiction of Goku's parents, Gine and Bardock. From my understanding, the introduction of Gine and the new interpretation of Bardock (he's been in the Dragonball mythos for a while-he even had his own movie back in the day) is based on a branch of Dragon ball called "Dragonball Minus". I've never heard of it before now, but it sounds pretty cool!

I loved Gine simply being included...although it's been...long fucking overdue for female saiyans to get their little bit of shine in the series.

I actually watched Bardock's movie a few years ago via YouTube and...didn't quite like or dislike him. I wanted him to pick up and cuddle wittle baby Goku and I don't care who the hell knows it either. I also thought his final stand against Frieza and the immediately subsequent annihilation of planet Vegeta was really sad.

But I actually liked this Bardock. I don't know if the voice actor was different, but I liked that his voice seemed softer and gentler. I liked the hug between him and Gine. I liked that Goku's send off from his native planet wasn't about his mission to eradicate all life on Earth, but was more Superman-esque in that his parents (well, really his daddy) correctly assumed what Frieza was about to do and wanted him out of harm's way. I like Bardock's promise to Gine and his son that if he was wrong about Frieza's intention, then he'd go out and rescue Goku...aww...

-Probably one of my absolute favorite parts: during his fight with Broly, the way Vegeta ascended from basic super saiyan form to super saiyan god form was so Magical Girl-esque. Like, there wasn't the usual screaming-and-power-posing seen in Dragonball. Naw, that boy done did a Sailor Moon on us and I loved it. Hell, I'd even tell him that to his face if I had the chance and I wouldn't feel not a lick of fear.

-And Broly...see, I also watched the original Dragonball Z: Broly movie and...ehhh. Didn't tug at the heart strings and the fight scenes were freakin' brutal. But this Broly? He absolutely tugged at my heart strings until they were taut.

This Broly is a victim of abuse by his father and also prolonged isolation. He's truly a Gentle Giant and a sweetie sweetie sweet pie to go along with that. The animation did a spectacular job of showing the acute pain Broly feels when he starts to lose control.

Even when he was calm and not losing control, he wasn't completely expressionless and lethargic (like his original incarnation), but rather exuding that Gentle Giant-ness.

-I wanted to hug Broly just as much as I've always wanted to hug Goku. (I...know I can't hug Vegeta unless my name is Bulma, Trunks, or Bulla/Bra. So I ain't never going there.)

-Broly is fine as hell.

-Gogeta is fine as hell.

-Broly slapping the ever loving shit out of Frieza was my and many other people's shit. It's the least of what Frieza deserves and it was wonderfully refreshing to watch it happen. I loved, I loved, I loved.

-And Gogeta then slapping the ever loving shit out of Broly not long after. Like...on one hand, you can't stop looking away because woah Gogeta is actually gaining and keeping the upper hand against such a seemingly unstoppable opponent! How new and refreshing in Dragonball!

But on the other hand, you be like...stop hurting Broly so much! He doesn't know what he's doing! He's just Hulking Out because he's been manipulated and abused! Try talking again, you fusion monster!!

It was also a fight sequence that I couldn't look away from, tho. Like...wow. Damn.

-Broly is fine as hell.

-Gogeta is fine as hell.

-And last, but most certainly not least before I end up talking forever: Cheelai/Chirai...she fucking drove the plot and I absolutely wish her and Broly the best friendship forever!! There are a lot of fans basically saying she's basically a green alien Bulma and I think that's just fine because you can never have too many Bulma's in the world.