DB:The Path to Power good for a substitute for the original?

[UltimateHammerBro]

You will feel 100x more of a connection with the characters when you discover their back stories and how they all became friends.

That's true. IMO, many of the misconceptions about the series and the backlash that the original DB seems to get from certain parts of the fandom come from people who watched DBZ first with little or no idea of what the pre-Z story was about.

[Herms]

If you don't want to waste time watching all those episodes you could just read the manga.

Seconded. I know I'm kind of a tiresome bore on this topic, but the manga is the original (and best, in my opinion) version of the story. If you're looking for a version of the story that's faster than the anime adaptation, it seems to me the logical choice, rather than an adaptation of an adaptation.

Failing that, how about Advance(d) Adventure for the GBA? It's a damn fine game, and covers everything from the beginning of the series up to Piccolo Daimao.

[Lookerman]

I'mma repeat what everyone's said by this point and say it's not a good idea. Between the removal or plenty plot points and events (and adding the RR Army in place of Pilaf and co.), people would probably get lost. Your best bet would be to show them either the original Manga, or failing that, the first series. Then maybe show them this movie.

[Captain Space]

I second recommending the manga. It's a great adventure comic, though not at all what you'd expect if DBZ is mainly what you've seen. Plus a lot quicker than the anime.