FUNimation Dragon Box Z #1 (In-Hands) Discussion

SSJSteve · Post by **SSJSteve** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:36 pm

IGN have a review of the first Dragon Ball Z Dragon Box.

Dragon Ball Z: Dragon Box One DVD Review

At this point, is there anything particularly useful to say about Dragon Ball Z? This Dragon Box is at least the fourth home video version of the series released in the United States. Economically, the show is still significant – the Dragon Ball cash cow is the reason Funimation hasn't died like a fistful of other American anime publishers. Artistically, though… well, if it's worth saying, it's probably already been said.

The back-cover copy explains that this box set is "the essential edition for Dragon Ball Z purists." That's not a bad way of talking around the real reason fans will buy it: because Funimation screwed up the last time.

Besides the rejiggered aspect ratio, these discs offer beautiful picture quality. The source material has been thoroughly scrubbed to get rid of dust, nicks, scratches, and whatever other imperfections. Besides a bit of graininess from time to time, there aren't any flaws worth speaking of.

That's not the full review I just picked some parts out, you can read the full review here.

Overall IGN gave the first Dragon Box 7/10.

KillerCory · Post by **KillerCory** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:42 pm

7/10...

I'm disgusted.

.:PoetikaL:. · Post by **.:PoetikaL:.** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:44 pm

In the IGN comments:

Detvongsa wrote:I actually loved the American BGM. I thought it added real weight to the scenes. The Japanese music is so mellow, it makes me wonder how it could ever be proper music for an action show.

Sanzee wrote:@Detvongsa
I couldn't agree more. The american music is far superior to the Japanese.

It made me giggle.

KillerCory · Post by **KillerCory** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:44 pm

Video was given an 8 which I don't understand.

I do understand why extras was low.

Sprite Satan · Post by **Sprite Satan** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:48 pm

KillerCory wrote:Video was given an 8 which I don't understand.

I do understand why extras was low.

8 is damn high when you consider that IGN are scoring from a general DVD standpoint and not a Dragon Ball Z anime standpoint.

And 8/10 makes an excellent score anyway.

Innagadadavida · Post by **Innagadadavida** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:51 pm

The Review wrote:Dragon Ball has never had a subtle sense of humor, and it definitely doesn't have one hear. But that doesn't mean it isn't pretty funny sometimes.

Is that the wrong "here?" Also, how does that make any sense? "Dragon Ball has never had a subtle sense of humor." Okay, so it has an obvious sense of humor. "it definitely doesn't have one hear." Okay, so it still has an obvious sense of humor. "But that doesn't mean it isn't pretty funny sometimes." Okay, so because it has a sense of humor, and it still does, that doesn't mean it isn't pretty funny?

Does IGN normally have better reviews?

Hao_Kaiser · Post by **Hao_Kaiser** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:31 pm

I don't know why everyone is up in arms over the set getting a 7/10.

That's actually not that bad, especially when you consider that IGN isn't an anime site, let alone a DragonBall site, and the reviewer probably doesn't know the significance behind this particular release.

It's a review for a casual audience. I guarantee that no one who knows anything about this release was waiting for an IGN review to persuade them about whether or not they should buy it.

russ869 · Post by **russ869** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:24 pm

VegettoEX wrote:Stealing one of jjgp1112's images from earlier, just so you can see what people are actually talking about and saying they prefer.

CORRECT ASPECT RATIO (640x480)
http://www.daizex.com/misc_stuff/stretched_normal.jpg

FORCED-STRETCHED WIDESCREEN (854x480)
http://www.daizex.com/misc_stuff/stretched_wide.jpg

A lot of TVs have some weird option called "justified stretching" or something that makes it so the picture is stretched less towards the center of the screen, but more towards the edges of the screen. So a character who is centered in the middle of the frame won't look quite as stretch as that does. Not that I ever actually use this option, or would recommend anyone use it.

Hujio wrote:Yeah, did you do the math on that? Cause that would totally screw the sets up. And if there were 4 discs in each DVD book, then they'd be thicker, offsetting the thickness of the Dragon Book. I'd imagine they want every set to be the same size.

Why do they need every set to be the same size? Doesn't seem necessary at all.

Raki · Post by **Raki** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:34 pm

My opinion on the Dragonbox release is the only one that matters.

NeptuneKai · Post by **NeptuneKai** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:42 pm

I raged, good show IGN.

Metalwario64 · Post by **Metalwario64** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:17 pm

Innagadadavida wrote:Does IGN normally have better reviews?

They are simply not professional, especially given that they've been known to steal images and artwork from fan-sites over the years. They also hardly ever do their research when it comes to their reviews, and they really need to use a spell check and/or take some grammar lessons.

I've stopped looking at "professional" online reviews ever since the whole Gamespot firing Jeff Gerstmann due to the fact that he didn't give a game a perfect score.

jjgp1112 · Post by **jjgp1112** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:20 pm

I don't see why you guys are surprised that it got a 7. At the end of the day, it's still a regular ol' DVD release.

penguintruth · Post by **penguintruth** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:29 pm

.:PoetikaL:. wrote:In the IGN comments:

Detvongsa wrote:I actually loved the American BGM. I thought it added real weight to the scenes. The Japanese music is so mellow, it makes me wonder how it could ever be proper music for an action show.

Sanzee wrote:@Detvongsa
I couldn't agree more. The american music is far superior to the Japanese.
It made me giggle.

The Japanese music is "mellow"? That big, sweeping orchestral music in the action scenes that makes them seem like big, epic battles is "mellow"?

I see IGN comments are a lot like YouTube comments.

jjgp1112 · Post by **jjgp1112** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:34 pm

penguintruth wrote:
.:PoetikaL:. wrote:In the IGN comments:

Detvongsa wrote:I actually loved the American BGM. I thought it added real weight to the scenes. The Japanese music is so mellow, it makes me wonder how it could ever be proper music for an action show.

Sanzee wrote:@Detvongsa
I couldn't agree more. The american music is far superior to the Japanese.
It made me giggle.
The Japanese music is "mellow"? That big, sweeping orchestral music in the action scenes that makes them seem like big, epic battles is "mellow"?

I see IGN comments are a lot like YouTube comments.

Yeah, they're so dumb for not seeing it the same way as you

penguintruth · Post by **penguintruth** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:35 pm

jjgp1112 wrote:Yeah, they're so dumb for not seeing it the same way as you

Just as long as we agree.

fps_anth · Post by **fps_anth** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:53 pm

Can't spell ignorant without IGN!

Also, can't get a high score out of them without a cash settlement.

Raki · Post by **Raki** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:38 pm

jjgp1112 wrote:I don't see why you guys are surprised that it got a 7. At the end of the day, it's still a regular ol' DVD release.

You and I both know it isn't.

jjgp1112 · Post by **jjgp1112** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:44 pm

Raki wrote:
jjgp1112 wrote:I don't see why you guys are surprised that it got a 7. At the end of the day, it's still a regular ol' DVD release.
You and I both know it isn't.

Yeah, if you're a Dragon Ball fan. But to the rest of the DVD world, it's just a plain ol' boxset. Having stuff like Next episode previews and Japanese terms in the booklet means nothing to the rest of the world.

If you guys are expecting people outside of the Dragon Ball world to put this release on a pedestal, don't, because you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Raki · Post by **Raki** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:46 pm

jjgp1112 wrote:
Raki wrote:
jjgp1112 wrote:I don't see why you guys are surprised that it got a 7. At the end of the day, it's still a regular ol' DVD release.
You and I both know it isn't.
Yeah, if you're a Dragon Ball fan. But to the rest of the DVD world, it's just a plain ol' boxset. Having stuff like Next episode previews and Japanese terms in the booklet means nothing in terms of a regular DVD release.

So the upcoming Seasons 1 and 2 release of the 1950s Zorro series means nothing? Even I recognize the importance of certain DVD releases even though I may or may not be a fan of the said franchise.

B · Post by B » Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:42 pm

The guy was reviewing the product as-is. Aside from clear opinionated remarks, I don't really see the need for comments such as "disgusted."

Stop being pro-DBOX and acting dumb please.