Thoughts on Movie 12

[Captain Sauza]

Super Janemba was what Buu should have been, imo. Just way more awesome than the pink bubblegum monster.

[Tokusentai]

tbh i hated it. The villain was a really lame rehash of Buu (Fat and Super Buu), only with an even less impressive or interesting backstory; literal evil possessed some no name oni? and Gogeta was extremely lame, far inferior to Gotenks and Vegito and curbstomp/one-shots are the worst kind of fights. The Hell gimmick would have been cool if they did anything other than lol Gohan kicks Freezas ass in 1 second. I would have much preferred Goku and Pikkon VS Broly, even. xD
....okay maybe not, but still.

[Drayenko]

I've always found this movie to be really enjoyable overall. We get two fusions, SSJ3 and I love the scenes with Mr. Satan.

Yes, the ending could, perhaps, have been better (longer) but I think it makes sense, considering the difference in power between Gogeta and Janemba.

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

To that end, I remember a DBZ movie marathon I ran with a few friends last year who had never seen any of them. I gained a startling appreciation for Gogeta's handling when one of my 21-2ish year old fellows gave it an awestruck answer akin to "DAMN. He just ENDED him. Disintegrated!" As far as making an impact in no time flat, Gogeta did it.

[Polyphase Avatron]

I like the fact that it has Pikkon in it

[Son_Gohan]

Movie 12 was able to find the right balance for the original series' goofs and was serious when it needed to be. Ideally what Battle of the Gods should've been. Having Gogeta take the no-bullshit approach and ending it quickly creates a far better contrast from his Potara counterpart.

[Eternal Super Saiyan]

I thought the main climactic moments were rushed.

When you see someone become stronger than previously or transform, its too QUICK! SSJ2 Gohan in Bojack movie, literally a few punches and its done. Vegeta gives Goku his power in Broly, one punch, and done. SSJ Goku in the first Cooler movie, punch in the face and knee to the gut, then he just STANDS there. Then we got Gogeta in Fusion Reborn. He's shown for only 30 seconds and then the movie is over.

There was hardly any thrill in the movies. I like the build up, though. Like when the bad guy is taking his time with the characters.

My favorite parts of the movies are actually the comedic scenes. The action needs to be beefed up.

[TJVY]

Is anyone else bothered that Cell doesn't appear in this film, or is it just me?

Fun film nonetheless.

[Lord Beerus]

I loved Fusion Reborn. Great animation, great fights, great character interactions, a really unique villain and of course the grand introduction of Gogeta. The only movies I would place above Fusion Reborn, is Wrath Of The Dragon and BOG. It's just a shame Fusion Reborn had zero plot.

[Ajay]

This film gets a lot of attention but I find it extremely dull. I feel as though the main draw is for Gogeta, but for what reason, I have no idea. His presence is minuscule, and what little time he does have, is very unexciting. Yeah, it's a cool looking form, as is Janenba, but they have nothing to them whatsoever. It's one of the worst cases of 'DBZ Movie Syndrome' of them all. Zero introduction, zero depth, zero development - it all relies on spectacle and I just don't find that entertaining at all.

If you really want to go down that route, you should be looking at Movie #9 for how to do it right. That balances a wonderful tournament with great character interaction, alongside some humour with Mr Satan, all while throwing a load of Space Pirates at you for no real reason. It's fantastic, though!

I'd definitely like to better understand why people enjoy this. I just can't find any real worth in it, personally .

[Chuquita]

The details of my reason have changed over the years, but my main draw to Movie 12 has always been the Gokû and Vegeta interactions. I could not get enough of that as a newbie, and having it in a really nice art style to boot was icing on the cake.

I never watched Movie 12 for the plot, it was always for the "Gokû and Vegeta have a mini adventure of sorts.".

[SPRSYJN]

This film gets a lot of attention but I find it extremely dull. I feel as though the main draw is for Gogeta, but for what reason, I have no idea. His presence is minuscule, and what little time he does have, is very unexciting. Yeah, it's a cool looking form, as is Janenba, but they have nothing to them whatsoever. It's one of the worst cases of 'DBZ Movie Syndrome' of them all. Zero introduction, zero depth, zero development - it all relies on spectacle and I just don't find that entertaining at all.

If you really want to go down that route, you should be looking at Movie #9 for how to do it right. That balances a wonderful tournament with great character interaction, alongside some humour with Mr Satan, all while throwing a load of Space Pirates at you for no real reason. It's fantastic, though!

I'd definitely like to better understand why people enjoy this. I just can't find any real worth in it, personally .

I dont look at any of the original films with much criticism. I consider the fact that of these "movies" were shown in theaters paired up with other non-DBZ movies to form double and triple features. Knowing these movies (like Fusion Reborn) only run about the length of two uninterrupted series episodes while establishing and relinquishing a conflict within the brief runtime, makes it easy for me to enjoy the films with a grain of salt. XD

The Janemba movie is a good romp. Definitely not the best movie, but it's great fun with a nice payoff getting to see Goku and Vegeta fusion dance at the end to save the day, The art, scenery, sound design, action, acting, animation, are all great. It's not my favorite, and it's a movie not concerned with leaving the audience with any lasting impressions. I believe the creators of the DBZ features made the first handful of movies with that sort of idea in mind, and I'll leave those movies do so!

I agree with you, though. #9 is a great film, but even that movie has its share of characters introduced with shallow development. The longest DBZ movie (excluding Battle of Gods) decided to take their time and expand on the backstory of the antagonists, and as a result created one of the most popular characters found within the film universe. Though, not my personal favorite...

The movies truly are a mixed bag. Some films appeal to some but not others. It's funny when you've got an idea in your head about why a particular feature is your favorite, only to find someone else online shooting it down with extreme prejudice based on the same ideas that you found enjoyable and profound. Personally, and I know it's probably a small club, but I find Every Dragonball and Dragonball Z film to be totally enjoyable and epic.

[soulnova]

The details of my reason have changed over the years, but my main draw to Movie 12 has always been the Gokû and Vegeta interactions. I could not get enough of that as a newbie, and having it in a really nice art style to boot was icing on the cake.

I never watched Movie 12 for the plot, it was always for the "Gokû and Vegeta have a mini adventure of sorts.".

Pretty much this. Also, Vegeta showed a lot of his emotions in the movie. I loved that. Specially with all the awkwardness leading up to the Fusion.

[Faustus]

Movie 12 overall gets a bucket-load of points from me for executing the standard Z-movie formula to damn-near perfection (contrast Movie 13, which I love rather for deviating from it in interesting ways) and just being all-around excellent in every department from animation and soundtrack to action choreography and character design. As others have noted, the Goku-Vegeta banter is solid gold; Janemba boasts a rather wide arsenal of abilities (as opposed to the usual generic beams); the distorted Hell, accordingly, makes for a fantastic, diverse surrealist setting fitting for such wacky antics as Paikuhan cursing at the top of his lungs at a giant jellybean or Veku tripping all over himself and farting in Janemba's face before posing dramatically thinking he's hot shit; and Goku is 100% in-character throughout - quite a rare feat for Toei.

[Faustus]

Sorry for double-posting! Just noticed Ajay's post and wanted to reply, to maybe give a little more as to why what I described above is more than enough to keep me satisfied.

On the topic of “substance” (introduction, depth, development) -

The attempts of most Z films, BoG excluded, at any sort of depth or fleshing-out almost always turn out weak and superficial at best - which, given the time constraints, isn’t at all surprising. Much as I do enjoy Movie 9, if mostly for the long-missed tournament setting and the gorgeous color palette, Bojack and his gang are nothing villains, and the whole Gohan-Trunks-Vegeta-plus-Piccolo-get-their-asses-wrecked scenario and dismal city setting where most of this battle actually takes place are each rather tired by this point. If you’re looking for any original development, or any type of real “substance”, Movie 13 is probably your best, if only, candidate.

Movie 12 rather refreshingly, I think, sweeps away the superficial pretense of “substance” entertained by the majority of previous films - dispenses with the drawn-out exposition, the tediously overwrought goal-expositing villain introductions and characterizations which, in the final account, have them amount to no more than tissue-thin facsimiles of their in-series counterparts, or hulking humanoid monster-trucks! Instead, Movie 12 is shameless, and by the same token a bit more honest, about what it’s doing - Janemba is unambiguously and unabashedly Boo; Goku even draws this connection for us quite explicitly in dialogue.

It just gets us to the meat of it right away, too - a freak accident, chaos in the afterlife, chaos on earth, quick, quick, quick! - and lets us sink our teeth in almost immediately. We all know what we’re really here for, what more than which a Dragon Ball film of such short length (what, 45 minutes…?) scarcely allows for anyway - pure fun. Why waste time dilly-dallying? Let us have it, and all the more of it!

Just my two cents.

[Marlowe89]

It's personally my second-favorite DBZ film, right under Battle of Gods.

In contrast, movie 9 is probably one of my least favorite DBZ films in spite of the praise it usually gets from the fanbase.

[jamiljamtheman]

I like it in that it's ENTERTAINING...because it's just so weird...
but as an actual movie I don't think it's that great x) It's got great action scenes and plenty of fun moments, which is why I like watching it, but the plot is virtually nonexistent and downright silly (which, DragonBall excels at being silly, so that's not the problem). I dunno, it just feels like things randomly happen just for the sake of weird scenes in this film. Boy has accident with evil energy. That's the plot.

Why does Janemba make otherworld look like candy land? It's cool, but it just comes out of nowhere
Gogeta is so heavily talked about and yet he gets about 3 minutes in this movie.
Janemba is just friggin weird man. There's no explanation for why he is how he is. He's like Buu but shows little intelligence, and then he transforms for no reason other than the movie needs to go on longer.
I mean so many things just happen for no reason in this movie. It's absolutely senseless, which is why I don't think it's a very good film. But, what it does do is succeed at being so outlandish that it's a heck of a good time to watch.

Also, I love that Frieza dies so quickly. That made me laugh a lot. Also Goten and Trunks vs. Hitler. Again, why? But who cares, that is some hilarious and cool stuff xD

[SPRSYJN]

In contrast, movie 9 is probably one of my least favorite DBZ films in spite of the praise it usually gets from the fanbase.

Care to elaborate why? I'm curious!

[Captain Sauza]

One of my favorites. It was funny seeing Freeza get blown to bits by Great Saiyaman with one punch and all the other villains fleeing in response. Janemba's sword-wielding form is also really kickass.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

I liked the basic concept. Goku and Vegeta were great. Everything else was okay. I would have preferred if we got to see more Gogeta and what he is like personality wise and how different he is to Vegetto etc. Earns a solid 6/10.