Official On-Going DBZ 2015 Movie Thread: "Resurrection 'F'"

[fadeddreams5]

I don't think BoG set a high bar at all. But it did expand the universe and open up an entire blank slate to fill, so there's no reason this sequel shouldn't have blown it out of the water. =P

[Doctor.]

Something I realized.

Goku before being shot by..a ring? Was about to beat Freeza. Is this the first time a weaker person won the fight due to skill and experience over power?

Goku won because Freeza's power started decreasing because of his golden form. You can say Goku won because of "skill and experience", but then you'd have to do the same regarding Kid Boo when he won against SSJ3 Goku, and that just wouldn't be right.

[Beerus-sama]

Still working on my proper review, but I wrote up a load of general thoughts. They're not in any order or anything, but hopefully you'll get a general overview of how I felt, and maybe some extra info.

Spoiler:

- Pilaf bringing Freeza's eye to Sorbet and Tagoma is amazing. Their freaked out reaction as it opens to stare at them is wonderful.

- Maximum the Hormones' 'F' feels very out of place as it plays during Freeza's emergence from the tank. His revival is pretty cool, though. You can see his muscles growing back. It's pretty grim, but I guess it works in making the audience feel uncomfortable.

- It's very strange to see Freeza walking around in his first form. His wiggling tail is very creepy.

- As he announces he's going to train, he's surrounded by a very fierce aura. Lots of beautiful effects and sounds. Short but sweet.

- Jaco spends a majority of the time interacting with Bulma. Their dynamic is a highlight of the film. They're hilarious together.

- Jaco's drawing of Freeza is amazingly bad.

- Kuririn's bike chase is surprisingly cool. Tanaka's Kuririn is sounding a lot like Luffy, though.

- One Piece theme tune ringtone!!

- Physically seeing Kuririn with half a shaved head is very weird. 18 and Kuririn's interactions are pleasant. Her 'cool' or 'handsome' (kakkoii?) line as he flies off is cute.

- Bulma going off on Freeza is amazing. Jaco is absolutely mortified at her actions. I noticed that the Kanzenshuu summary says Kuririn tells her that Freeza has powered up, but unless I'm misremembering, it's Gohan who says that to her. I distinctly remember laughing at his 'sumimasen' since Bulma turns to Freeza is yells 'GOMENNASAIIIIII!!’ My Japanese isn't great so maybe I missed something.

- The mass battle is amazing. Kame Sen'nin's staff breaking after some fancy moves is hilarious. Jaco spinning around in circles firing off his gun only to stand up and strike a fancy pose is just perfect for his character.

- Duplicates in Freeza's CGI army are extremely obvious and very unsightly.

- Kuririn having a George of the Jungle moment and crashing into a tree is amazing. Gohan saving him afterwards is very cool. Don't think we've ever seen time slow down for everyone but the character in Dragon Ball?

- Piccolo crushing enemies with his weighted clothing is yet another comedy highlight. Lots of Toriyama-esque gags in this segment. Though maybe Yamamuro, going by that Imagine-Nation interview?

- Gohan seems to get the most screen time in the section. His transformation scene as he steps in for Piccolo against Shisami is great. Horrifying when Freeza kills him. Sumitomo's score really stands out in that part. Extremely dark.

- Goku and Vegeta fighting Whis is one of the best parts of the film. The animation combined with the setting is beautiful. Lots of flowers and trees, petals flying around. Really pretty stuff. I don't think we've seen proper 2 vs 1 fighting in the series for a while. Not with this amount of fluidity, at least.

- Whis making total fools of Goku and Vegeta is nice to see. Really makes you want to see Whis in action properly. Maybe in the third film? Feels like such a tease as is.

- Beerus destroying a planet by sneezing is perfect. As is his drooling over pizza.

- Beerus and Whis are totally drawn in by Bulma's sundae offering after the Oracle Fish tells them about the message. Very funny moment when they call her back and she starts shouting at them.

- Vegeta's hesitance to hold Goku's hand is great. He looks so embarrassed and pulls his hand away the second they arrive at the scene.

- Kame Sen'nin's bulky muscles seem to shrink in fear once Freeza transforms. Quite a funny bit.

- Lots of chanting in Sumitomo's score this time around.

- Jaco's reaction after Bulma points out the Saiyans is another great moment.

- Goku talks very low for a lot of the later parts of the film. Very serious side of the character that wasn't present in Battle of Gods. Quite cocky at times, too.

- Similarly, Vegeta is very serious and stern this time. Lots of power behind Horikawa's performance.

- Similar shot to Battle of Gods - http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/ ... 40-360.jpg - Goku stood against Freeza but against the clouds.

- Animation is a significant improvement over Battle of Gods. CGI aside, a lot of the film is very pretty. Despite Yamamuro's reluctance to actually move the camera, the movement within the static shots is highly detailed. It's like real kung fu in the air. I liked it, but I wished it felt more dynamic.

- Both transformations felt a bit underwhelming. Sumitomo's chanty music tries to spice things up a bit, but it lacks the power that we had in the series. Battle of Gods was fairly similar. I think the issue is that there's no real struggle behind them, they just kinda happen. They do look very cool, I'll give them that. I'm all for the Blueper Saiyan and Golden PokeFreeza.

- Freeza acknowledging Beerus was amusing but felt out of place. Shen Long's reaction felt strange in Battle of Gods, too. I understand they're trying to establish this character, but it's at the cost of making familiar characters act in a way we're not used to. In the middle of a fierce battle, it's a bit incongruous.

- Fighting on top of a volcano and underwater was cool. The latter especially as it reminded me of the original Freeza arc.

- Amazing music as Goku takes a direct punch to the face before one-inch punching Freeza. Scenes that follow this are very impressive. Very detailed throws and jabs. Fast paced, too, so they feel like they belong.

- Freeza's tantrum after being Kamehameha'd is indescribable. Nakao absolutely kills it. It's truly horrifying. I was actually a bit disappointed that he just falls to his knees afterwards. A proper last ditch fight after that would have been amazing. I guess it might have lessened Vegeta's moment, though.

- Goku being shot through the heart still took me by surprise even though I knew it was coming. Freeza beating the ever loving crap out of him afterwards is horrible. Nozawa absolutely nails the screams. They're truly painful in the best way.

- Again, Vegeta's transformation feels a bit lacklustre. Maybe because I knew it was coming? Either way, the beat down that follows is amazing. The ramped slow mo effect is very unusual, but I really appreciated it. It's nice to have a battle fought on the ground, for once.

- Beams of fire shooting out of the earth are a nice call-back to Namek.

- No real tension following this as the information about being able to restore planets is always in the back of your minds. Even if you didn't remember that from earlier in the film, it's Dragon Ball, you know how these things work. Would have preferred a tenser fight rather than relying on contrivances like this. If this was released in chronological order, then sure, but it doesn't work nearly as well with the information we have.

- Cheesy black and white rewind and the weird half CG/half animation Kamehameha saves the day. Feels a bit like an anti-climax.

- Funny character interaction at the end between Goku and Vegeta. Vegeta isn't happy about Goku stealing that kill. Nothing to open up new doors for a sequel. Feels like a neatly tied up Toei film ending.

- Freeza's post-credits 'noooooooo' is perfect.

Should have the full review wrapped up within the hour! It's a bit more critical that this might lead you to believe, though.

The movie sounds fun
I cant wait for Beerus drooling over pizza :3

Here's an album of images from the film's programme - http://imgur.com/a/1dFyu

It's mostly screenshots from the film and some character designs. I'll leave the profiles and interviews until the site gets around to translating them.

Thanks for the pictures
I love the screenshot of Beerus eating Pizza

I wonder what happened in the screenshot where Goku is with Beerus.

[Lord Beerus]

DRAGON BALL Z: REVIVAL OF ‘F’ – REVIEW

Spoiler:

For seventeen outings, Dragon Ball films have largely lacked a cinematic quality; often feeling like extended episodes or rather expensive OVAs. With only minor contributions from the original author, Akira Toriyama, these films have often strayed from his distinctive style. Though this has not lessened the overall quality of each product, it has created a tonal division between ‘Toei’ and ‘Toriyama’ creations.

For the series’ eighteenth instalment, Battle of Gods marked the first time Toriyama had taken active control over a film; penning the screenplay and conjuring up all new characters. The film was steeped in humour and character interaction, with much of the combat relegated to a 10-minute climactic finale.

2015’s Revival of ‘F’ is a rather stark contrast to its predecessor.

-

Speaking to V-Jump magazine back in July 2014, Toriyama explicitly stated that he “increased the amount of action scenes by a good deal”. It is unsurprising then, that Revival of ‘F’ spends little time on reintroductions; instead focusing on fast-tracking its audience into the major action sequences.

Within ten minutes, Freeza is resurrected and his aim to exact revenge on the Saiyans is made clear. After revealing that he has never once trained in his life, he makes plans to prepare for four months to bring himself up to a level that will allow him to execute his plan.

However, rather than focus on the specifics of Freeza’s training, the film opts to jump ahead four months and spend its short downtime focusing on newer characters.

Though this contrivance may irk the most detail-hungry fans, without it, the film’s structure would be adversely affected, leaving little time for Toriyama to shine through his wonderfully written character interaction.

In particular, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, the titular protagonist in Toriyama’s latest manga, takes to the stage; being the one to deliver the news that Freeza is coming.

Their interaction is especially hilarious and very much the mark of the author. In particular, the tail end of their first encounter involves Bulma attempting to summon Whis with a strawberry sundae before asking Jaco “Hey, how long until Freeza arrives?” in which he remarks “Uh, one hour”. Bulma, absolutely infuriated by his lack of urgency, calls him an idiot and storms off, leaving Jaco exceptionally confused.

These small back-and-forths are wonderful and serve to break the monotony of the many fight scenes throughout the film – a familiar tactic often used to keep a steady tone throughout the series.

-

As the actions cuts to Goku and Vegeta training with Whis, the audience is privy to the first of the hugely anticipated fight scenes. Lead animator and director of the film, Tadayoshi Yamamuro, shows off his distinctive, martial arts inspired choreography; a rather different approach from the usual flurry of punches and kicks associated with Dragon Ball.

Precise grapples and throws are beautifully realised and hark back to Yamamuro’s original efforts on the Dragon Ball Z TV series. This scene all comes together as Vegeta flies through a field of flowers, launching a sea of petals up into the air as they continue to fight. It is a truly breathtaking moment that sparks comparisons to the visuals often found in Chinese director, Zhang Yimou’s work.

-

Once-important characters being cast aside has been one of the many complaints heard throughout the fandom. With constant power-ups, it is unsurprising that some were shafted in favour of more contextually relevant ones. Fortunately, Revival of ‘F’ ignores these limitations in favour of giving each character a genuine chance to shine.

Gohan, Kuririn, Tenshinhan, Piccolo and, most surprisingly, Kame-Sen’nin face off in the highly advertised ‘1000-warrior battle’. Even Jaco decides to join in after some coercion from Bulma. This is entirely fan service, but it’s done exceptionally well.

While a great deal of the animation featured in this segment is wonderfully choreographed, Yamamuro seems to have utilised many static medium shots, leading to very flat, uninteresting compositions. Though this criticism may seem exceptionally picky to some, viewers who have become accustomed to more modern animation techniques may be left yearning for more.

Fortunately, this far from hampers the overall experience, as this battle contains a mix of the funniest, greatest, and most memorable moments that the film has to offer. From Jaco’s space gun takedowns to Piccolo crushing his enemies with his weighted gear, there’s little to be disappointed by.

In the climactic moments of the scene, Freeza gives us a hint (in one unmentionable act) of just how powerful he has become. In tandem with composer Norihito Sumitomo’s ominous score, Freeza’s presence is astounding. The maniacal space tyrant is wonderfully re-established by an exemplary performance from Ryusei Nakao. While his efforts in Dragon Ball Kai were rather lacklustre, he returns in top form, with voice cracks of rage and piercing screams that all underpin the arrogance that oozes from his regular speech.

-

Up to this point, Revival of ‘F’ is a true joy to watch; containing a perfect mix of humour and action that gels nicely with the tone found in Battle of Gods. However, once Goku and Vegeta teleport in for the final act, Freeza tranforms into his fourth form, as both the skies and tone of the movie darken.

While the film makes great efforts to incorporate humour throughout these scenes, it can often feel incongruous with the action that sandwiches it. Specifically, Freeza’s reaction to Beerus, while amusing, feels remarkably far away from the character the audience has seen so far. Though that’s clearly the point of the joke, it may break the immersion for fans of the character.

As the battle continues, the same highly choreographed fighting returns – albeit on a much larger scale.

It’s a shame that Yamamuro’s reluctance to move the camera so drastically alters the intensity of the battle. Often relying on long distance white flashes to convey the speed, the only time the camera really moves with the action is during some very unsightly CGI cuts. For a series so famous for its blistering battles, it’s a shame that it wasn’t possible to combine this beautiful martial arts choreography with some interesting camera work.

Appropriately and thankfully, following the two transformation sequences, there are some choice cuts that are truly deserving of genuine praise. They really help to solidify the point that this is a clash of two titans. Alongside some impressive sound design, the production staff should absolutely be commended.

This is especially true for a particular scene involving Vegeta, where the use of ramped slow motion really helps in drawing attention to the overwhelming power of the sound effects. It’s a true highlight of the film.

-

The biggest criticism for Toei’s homegrown Dragon Ball films is the lack of a fleshed out narrative; a bad guy appears during a time of peace, our characters do battle and the film ends. While interesting enemies and great action scenes make for an exciting experience, there’s generally very little substance.

Battle of Gods broke the mould of Toei’s films and left us with interesting new characters and extremely explorable themes. It had the mark of Toriyama plastered across it and was all the better for it.

Revival of ‘F’ is a fine film, but it wraps things up with an eye-rollingly obvious plot contrivance and Goku laughing into the screen as the credits roll. It’s a feeling that belongs at the end of a Toei film or an OVA. You absolutely enjoyed what you saw and there’s little to really fault with it, but it’s not a lasting feeling that you’ll remember for years to come.

One has to hope that this is a serious case of ‘middle-movie syndrome’. With such a high bar set by its predecessor, it would be a great shame to be known as a fluke. Here’s hoping a third film does away with regressive Dragon Ball and opens the progressive doors built by Battle of Gods.

3.5/5
(I'd consider Battle of Gods a rather high 4)

This is mostly spoiler free as I intend to publish this elsewhere. The dashes are just where images are supposed to go. Hope you enjoy!

Very good and fair review. Still looking forward to the movie greatly.

[Doctor.]

Did Freeza die when he blew up Earth?

[Saiyan007]

Did Freeza die when he blew up Earth?

IS Freeza suddenly weaker than he was back on Namek?

Why would he neither Vegeta or Freeza died when the planet blew up

[Doctor.]

Did Freeza die when he blew up Earth?

IS Freeza suddenly weaker than he was back on Namek?

Why would he neither Vegeta or Freeza died when the planet blew up

Vegeta died, though.

Freeza's attack was suicide, so I'd think he died.

[TheGmGoken]

Something I realized.

Goku before being shot by..a ring? Was about to beat Freeza. Is this the first time a weaker person won the fight due to skill and experience over power?

Goku won because Freeza's power started decreasing because of his golden form. You can say Goku won because of "skill and experience", but then you'd have to do the same regarding Kid Boo when he won against SSJ3 Goku, and that just wouldn't be right.

But Goku noticed this (so did Vegeta) and dragged out the fight.

[Gyt Kaliba]

I can't believe the ring thing is still this big of a deal to people. I just...I don't even see how it's a big enough inconsistency (hell, I don't even see how it's one to begin with) to draw this much ire. Are people really just that focused on power related things? I cannot even begin to describe my level of distaste that the power level system ever existed.

Did Freeza die when he blew up Earth?

????

Why would he neither Vegeta or Freeza died when the planet blew up

Well, this is the guy who was literally chopped into pieces on Namek, the planet explodes, and he floated in space for who knows how long before his father and cronies found him...Freeza is one heck of a hard guy to kill unless you just vaporize him. Which, now that I think about it, kind of fits with the escalation of how hard it is to put the main villain down that really starts cranking up in the 'Z' era.

1) Saiyans are naturally really tough, so Vegeta proves to be even more of a challenge than anyone expected, and not just because of his power.
2) Freeza seems to be able to survive some rather insane bodily damage with relative ease.
3) Cell has the Namekian regeneration on top of Freeza's durability.
4) Boo literally has to be entirely vaporized to really be beaten.

[Mewzard]

Even if Vegeta survived the blast, he wouldn't survive in the vacuum of space for very long (and his lack of a teleport means he'd die before making it to a planet with a breathable atmosphere/non vacuumous conditions).

Freeza should have survived though, weakened or not. He was far weaker and missing half of his body when he survived Namek exploding.

[KaiserNeko]

Something I realized.

Goku before being shot by..a ring? Was about to beat Freeza. Is this the first time a weaker person won the fight due to skill and experience over power?

Goku won because Freeza's power started decreasing because of his golden form. You can say Goku won because of "skill and experience", but then you'd have to do the same regarding Kid Boo when he won against SSJ3 Goku, and that just wouldn't be right.

Well, actually? The argument can be made there that skill did in fact win out with Goku VS. Freeza there. Goku was skilled and experienced enough to realize what was happening with Freeza, and would likely not let the same mistake happen to himself at that point. If Freeza had known about this failing, it's possible that he could have acted more aggressively and done more damage to Goku. Or perhaps not. Ultimately, that's up in the air, but you can say that Freeza lost to Goku because of their gulf in skill and experience as fighters.

Also: Why the hell is it a big deal that Sorbet had a ring that could pierce Goku with his guard down? It's just like Piccolo Jr. when he Goku was celebrating his victory. Whis makes it very clear that even weak attacks can still do tremendous damage when off your guard, because you're not focusing on keeping Ki on defense.

[Saiyan007]

Did Freeza die when he blew up Earth?

IS Freeza suddenly weaker than he was back on Namek?

Why would he neither Vegeta or Freeza died when the planet blew up

Vegeta died, though.

Freeza's attack was suicide, so I'd think he died.

Why would Vegeta die from an attack from 4th form Freeza in his God form when he tanked attacks from Golden Freeza who is >>>>>>>>>> 4th form

and a Freeza cut in half survived an attack from his final form at 50% so why would he die when he's in much better condition then he was on Namek?

[Doctor.]

Why would Vegeta die from an attack from 4th form Freeza in his God form when he tanked attacks from Golden Freeza who is >>>>>>>>>> 4th form

and a Freeza cut in half survived an attack from his final form at 50% so why would he die when he's in much better condition then he was on Namek?

Freeza's strength is irrelevant, lack of oxygen would kill him.

I don't know, that's why I asked. I assume Freeza's own blast would have killed him, not the planet explosion itself.

[Saiyan007]

Why would Vegeta die from an attack from 4th form Freeza in his God form when he tanked attacks from Golden Freeza who is >>>>>>>>>> 4th form

and a Freeza cut in half survived an attack from his final form at 50% so why would he die when he's in much better condition then he was on Namek?

Freeza's strength is irrelevant, lack of oxygen would kill him.

I don't know, that's why I asked. I assume Freeza's own blast would have killed him, not the planet explosion itself.

But it's not the planet's explosion that Killed Vegeta it's the lack of air,Vegeta isn't dying from an attack from fourth form Freeza when he can tank attacks from Golden Freeza

Whis says that Freeza likely survived becuase he can survive in space

Edit:

I can't believe the ring thing is still this big of a deal to people. I just...I don't even see how it's a big enough inconsistency (hell, I don't even see how it's one to begin with) to draw this much ire. Are people really just that focused on power related things? I cannot even begin to describe my level of distaste that the power level system ever existed.

It can be a problem because this film is implying that someone weaker than Zarbon can kill a SSJG because they have there guard down which makes no sense at all it's not like Goku has transformed back into base but he's smirking over Freeza at the time in his god form.

So the question arises in did Goku lower his power lvl billions of times for absolutely no reason when golden Freeza is still in front of him?

Goku may not be smart but this would be extremely out of character for him.

I just chalk it up to the ring is very strong to hurt a God

[Gyt Kaliba]

Why would Vegeta die from an attack from 4th form Freeza in his God form when he tanked attacks from Golden Freeza who is >>>>>>>>>> 4th form

and a Freeza cut in half survived an attack from his final form at 50% so why would he die when he's in much better condition then he was on Namek?

If there's no air to breath, among other differences with space, then Vegeta kinda can't keep living regardless. It's a matter of biology at that point rather than power.

Freeza though, I believe has been stated by people that have seen the film, is hinted to have survived the blast, though we don't actually get to see it. Which is kind of a shame I guess - it would have been kind of nice to see him gloating about his revenge's success. And possibly hilarious to see if he's privy to Whis's explanation of what's about to happen, and to fail to stop it from happening.

[Doctor.]

But it's not the planet's explosion that Killed Vegeta it's the lack of air,Vegeta isn't dying from an attack from fourth form Freeza when he can tank attacks from Golden Freeza

I didn't say that; I clearly said it would be the lack of oxygen.

[Saiyan007]

The main point being is that neither Vegeta or Freeza died from the planet explosion.

Lack of air killed Vegeta, humans can survive in space for 15 seconds before blacking out.We know Beerus and Whis talk to the others so i'm guessing Vegeta was slowly dying when they were talking

[baneofdemon22]

DRAGON BALL Z: REVIVAL OF ‘F’ – REVIEW

Spoiler:

For seventeen outings, Dragon Ball films have largely lacked a cinematic quality; often feeling like extended episodes or rather expensive OVAs. With only minor contributions from the original author, Akira Toriyama, these films have often strayed from his distinctive style. Though this has not lessened the overall quality of each product, it has created a tonal division between ‘Toei’ and ‘Toriyama’ creations.

For the series’ eighteenth instalment, Battle of Gods marked the first time Toriyama had taken active control over a film; penning the screenplay and conjuring up all new characters. The film was steeped in humour and character interaction, with much of the combat relegated to a 10-minute climactic finale.

2015’s Revival of ‘F’ is a rather stark contrast to its predecessor.

-

Speaking to V-Jump magazine back in July 2014, Toriyama explicitly stated that he “increased the amount of action scenes by a good deal”. It is unsurprising then, that Revival of ‘F’ spends little time on reintroductions; instead focusing on fast-tracking its audience into the major action sequences.

Within ten minutes, Freeza is resurrected and his aim to exact revenge on the Saiyans is made clear. After revealing that he has never once trained in his life, he makes plans to prepare for four months to bring himself up to a level that will allow him to execute his plan.

However, rather than focus on the specifics of Freeza’s training, the film opts to jump ahead four months and spend its short downtime focusing on newer characters.

Though this contrivance may irk the most detail-hungry fans, without it, the film’s structure would be adversely affected, leaving little time for Toriyama to shine through his wonderfully written character interaction.

In particular, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, the titular protagonist in Toriyama’s latest manga, takes to the stage; being the one to deliver the news that Freeza is coming.

Their interaction is especially hilarious and very much the mark of the author. In particular, the tail end of their first encounter involves Bulma attempting to summon Whis with a strawberry sundae before asking Jaco “Hey, how long until Freeza arrives?” in which he remarks “Uh, one hour”. Bulma, absolutely infuriated by his lack of urgency, calls him an idiot and storms off, leaving Jaco exceptionally confused.

These small back-and-forths are wonderful and serve to break the monotony of the many fight scenes throughout the film – a familiar tactic often used to keep a steady tone throughout the series.

-

As the actions cuts to Goku and Vegeta training with Whis, the audience is privy to the first of the hugely anticipated fight scenes. Lead animator and director of the film, Tadayoshi Yamamuro, shows off his distinctive, martial arts inspired choreography; a rather different approach from the usual flurry of punches and kicks associated with Dragon Ball.

Precise grapples and throws are beautifully realised and hark back to Yamamuro’s original efforts on the Dragon Ball Z TV series. This scene all comes together as Vegeta flies through a field of flowers, launching a sea of petals up into the air as they continue to fight. It is a truly breathtaking moment that sparks comparisons to the visuals often found in Chinese director, Zhang Yimou’s work.

-

Once-important characters being cast aside has been one of the many complaints heard throughout the fandom. With constant power-ups, it is unsurprising that some were shafted in favour of more contextually relevant ones. Fortunately, Revival of ‘F’ ignores these limitations in favour of giving each character a genuine chance to shine.

Gohan, Kuririn, Tenshinhan, Piccolo and, most surprisingly, Kame-Sen’nin face off in the highly advertised ‘1000-warrior battle’. Even Jaco decides to join in after some coercion from Bulma. This is entirely fan service, but it’s done exceptionally well.

While a great deal of the animation featured in this segment is wonderfully choreographed, Yamamuro seems to have utilised many static medium shots, leading to very flat, uninteresting compositions. Though this criticism may seem exceptionally picky to some, viewers who have become accustomed to more modern animation techniques may be left yearning for more.

Fortunately, this far from hampers the overall experience, as this battle contains a mix of the funniest, greatest, and most memorable moments that the film has to offer. From Jaco’s space gun takedowns to Piccolo crushing his enemies with his weighted gear, there’s little to be disappointed by.

In the climactic moments of the scene, Freeza gives us a hint (in one unmentionable act) of just how powerful he has become. In tandem with composer Norihito Sumitomo’s ominous score, Freeza’s presence is astounding. The maniacal space tyrant is wonderfully re-established by an exemplary performance from Ryusei Nakao. While his efforts in Dragon Ball Kai were rather lacklustre, he returns in top form, with voice cracks of rage and piercing screams that all underpin the arrogance that oozes from his regular speech.

-

Up to this point, Revival of ‘F’ is a true joy to watch; containing a perfect mix of humour and action that gels nicely with the tone found in Battle of Gods. However, once Goku and Vegeta teleport in for the final act, Freeza tranforms into his fourth form, as both the skies and tone of the movie darken.

While the film makes great efforts to incorporate humour throughout these scenes, it can often feel incongruous with the action that sandwiches it. Specifically, Freeza’s reaction to Beerus, while amusing, feels remarkably far away from the character the audience has seen so far. Though that’s clearly the point of the joke, it may break the immersion for fans of the character.

As the battle continues, the same highly choreographed fighting returns – albeit on a much larger scale.

It’s a shame that Yamamuro’s reluctance to move the camera so drastically alters the intensity of the battle. Often relying on long distance white flashes to convey the speed, the only time the camera really moves with the action is during some very unsightly CGI cuts. For a series so famous for its blistering battles, it’s a shame that it wasn’t possible to combine this beautiful martial arts choreography with some interesting camera work.

Appropriately and thankfully, following the two transformation sequences, there are some choice cuts that are truly deserving of genuine praise. They really help to solidify the point that this is a clash of two titans. Alongside some impressive sound design, the production staff should absolutely be commended.

This is especially true for a particular scene involving Vegeta, where the use of ramped slow motion really helps in drawing attention to the overwhelming power of the sound effects. It’s a true highlight of the film.

-

The biggest criticism for Toei’s homegrown Dragon Ball films is the lack of a fleshed out narrative; a bad guy appears during a time of peace, our characters do battle and the film ends. While interesting enemies and great action scenes make for an exciting experience, there’s generally very little substance.

Battle of Gods broke the mould of Toei’s films and left us with interesting new characters and extremely explorable themes. It had the mark of Toriyama plastered across it and was all the better for it.

Revival of ‘F’ is a fine film, but it wraps things up with an eye-rollingly obvious plot contrivance and Goku laughing into the screen as the credits roll. It’s a feeling that belongs at the end of a Toei film or an OVA. You absolutely enjoyed what you saw and there’s little to really fault with it, but it’s not a lasting feeling that you’ll remember for years to come.

One has to hope that this is a serious case of ‘middle-movie syndrome’. With such a high bar set by its predecessor, it would be a great shame to be known as a fluke. Here’s hoping a third film does away with regressive Dragon Ball and opens the progressive doors built by Battle of Gods.

3.5/5
(I'd consider Battle of Gods a rather high 4)

This is mostly spoiler free as I intend to publish this elsewhere. The dashes are just where images are supposed to go. Hope you enjoy!

Great review! So were you satisfied overall with Goku and Freeza's portrayals in the film? The reason why I'm asking is that I just put a full pre-order down for the Figuarts Goku and Freeza figures, because I didn't want them to go up in price or sell out by the time I actually get to watch the film. I'm hoping I'm not kicking myself for spending the $80!

[Doctor.]

Battle of Gods took the time establishing that the Godly realm is way above mortals and that Ki can't normally harm beings with Godly Ki, and then RF throws that out of the window with a ridiculous gap between two characters. No, that's not excusable, and yes it can and will be seen as a problem, whether you think of it as one or not.

[Piririn]

Vegeta may not have suffocated. If he'd survived the force of the explosion, Goku and Co. would've been able to sense his ki and save him from suffocating in space. It would've taken a few minutes for him to die, so there would've been enough time to add him to the bubble if he'd been alive. Less than three minutes pass from the explosion to Whis turning back time.

It may have been the lava and molten core of the planet that killed him. Freeza's body, though not as durable to blows, may be more resistant to temperature extremes than Vegeta's.