Official On-Going DBZ 2013 Movie Thread: "Battle of Gods"

[Marco Polo]

(like how most of the "Demon Kings" in the series weren't actual demons).

Hm? Well, Gyumao was just a big tall dude as far as we know, but Piccolo was a demon (a being born from pure evil) before and only later became non-demony, Dabra really was king of the Demon World, Lucifer was a demon. These guys aren't all the same type of demonic being, but that doesn't mean they aren't all demons. Oh, and Pilaf starts calling himself "Daimao" in the wedding dress filler arc, apparently just to sound cool (technically Pilaf is a "Monster-type Earthling", which pretty much amounts to saying he's an Earthling who doesn't fit into the other categories of Earthling).

Alright maybe not most of them. But Gyumao and Pilaf did indeed call themselves Demon Kings, while Oolong was called a Demon by the residents of Aru Village, and Babidi-controlled Vegeta was called Demon Prince Vegeta in the GT Perfect File. Basically, we don't know yet if "Super Saiyan God" is an actual deity or just a fancy title.

[worldmonsters]

I wouldn't say it's about family either. The Friendship/Family theme is very rare in Dragon Ball.

Rare? It's seeded throughout the entirety of Dragon Ball. The whole thing starts with Goku and Bulma befriending each other and befriending others along the way, especially their enemies. This has been pointed out before but most of Goku's enemies eventually become his friends. Starting with Bulma, going all the way through to Kid Buu. He befriends most of them in one way or another. Not only that, but a vast majority of actions in the series are because of friendship. Why did they go to Namek? To wish their friends back. Why go after Piccolo Daimao? He killed Krillin, Goku's best friend. Why does Piccolo sacrifice himself for Gohan? Because he was his first friend. Why does Goku wish to stay dead after Gohan killed Cell? For the sake of his own friends. The thumbs up Goku and Vegeta give eachother at the end of the fight with Kid Buu. Majin Buu befriending Mr Satan. Goku befriending Android 8. Goku and Krillin fighting at the Tenkaichi Budokai.

And then there's family. This only starts once the characters have settled down and the Z-part of the series begins. Even though I previously talked about Gohan and Piccolo being friends, they might as well be family. Vegeta knocks his son out after he hugs him and then proceeds to kill himself to save his family. Vegeta and his relation to Future Trunks. Don't forget the moment Goten sees his dad for the first time. And of course the constant struggle of a mother isn't just comedy relief, it's a family issue. Goku not being a good role model, I think he got that from his dad :p But that's also a family theme.

Apart from that there a numerous other themes that run throughout the series. Aspiration to become the strongest is of course very prevalent. But sacrifice and loss, loyalty, forgiveness, bettering oneself are also themes that return every now and again.

Of course it has awesome fights on top of that, which is of course the first reason why you'd watch the show. But even a show like this is layered. Mature viewers like Mike, Julian and Herms and the others that run the site, people behind Team Four Star, these guys understand that it's not about "who is the strongest". Of course it's fun to discuss, though :p It doesn't really concern me if Super Saiyan 3 Goku is stronger than Ultimate Gohan. And you know why? It doesn't concern Toriyama either. He's like "Oh, I'm writing a story and I'm writing awesome action and adventure with characters that I love". Toriyama, as we all know, wrote Dragon Ball by the seat of his pants and so inconsistencies pop up all over the place, but that's okay, because of the characters. It's fun to discuss how comparatively one seems stronger than the other in the manga, but don't loose yourself in it. This is why there's a divide between people that want fights and action and blood and gore, and the people that want something like the JSAT special where the characters are just doing fun things and interacting with each other.

Sorry for the long, kind of unrelated post, but I had to get it off my chest that I believe that Dragon Ball is in fact completely and UTTERLY about friendship instead of fighting. The fighting is just there to make it awesome But the friendship is there to make it last.

[FindKenshi]

Yea reading spoilers isn't actually the same as seeing it play out on screen. If anything it can make you more interested. "oh, that happens? I wonder how that comes to pass. I wonder how X character reacts when it happens? I wonder what the music and setting are like in that scene.." Really spoilers just raise anticipation for seeing the movie

[DBZGTKOSDH]

Friendship is still not that big in DB. It only has "let's become friends!", "let's avenge our friends", and "let's bring back our friends!". There isn't anything deeper than that.
But as for the fighting, the main characters are part of a fighting race, they are addicted to getting stronger, they find various different ways to get stronger, and everyone that isn't strong enough to fight becomes unimportant.

[worldmonsters]

Friendship is still not that big in DB. It only has "let's become friends!", "let's avenge our friends", and "let's bring back our friends!". There isn't anything deeper than that.
But as for the fighting, the main characters are part of a fighting race, they are addicted to getting stronger, they find various different ways to get stronger, and everyone that isn't strong enough to fight becomes unimportant.

It doesn't really go that deep, you're right about that. But the addiction to getting stronger doesn't go any deeper than friendship does. And you're wrong about people that aren't strong enough become unimportant. The weakest of them all Mr Satan, actually becomes MORE important as the story goes on. Apart from that Dende's pretty weak, and he survives doomsday on planet Earth. Piccolo isn't really that strong, but he's still very much around. Yamcha, Krillin and Tenshinhan may be weak, but they weren't unimportant to the story in the cell saga. Or Krillin's crush on Android 18 was pretty important when it happened. After that I think Yamcha did the least and Krillin and Tenshinhan did a few things, not a lot, but that doesn't make them unimportant. When I look at Yamcha, Krillin and Tenshinhan being beaten by Cell Juniors I think that's actually pretty damned important for Gohan. Launch is another story, she was kind of a bad character from the start :p I'll definitely give you Chaozu, though, his role in the story was pretty much over after he blew himself up. Still though, with a cast that's pretty big not everyone can keep an important role.

So, yeah, I don't really know what you want to say... unimportant is in the eye of the beholder I think.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

The cases you mentioned are some of the rare cases. What does Kuririn, Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, Kame-sennin, Mr. Popo, or #18 do in Boo arc? Absolutely nothing. Almost everyone that is weak ends up as a background character in the end.

[worldmonsters]

The cases you mentioned are some of the rare cases. What does Kuririn, Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, Kame-sennin, Mr. Popo, or #18 do in Boo arc? Absolutely nothing. Almost everyone that is weak ends up as a background character in the end.

Okay, yeah fair. But my point was that the main theme of Dragon Ball more leans towards friendship than towards fighting. The fighting is something that's for entertainment and the theme is friendship. Of course the "I wanna get stronger" thing is also a theme. But still the fighting is only to make it awesome, it's not the core of the show.

[Olympian]

The cases you mentioned are some of the rare cases. What does Kuririn, Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, Kame-sennin, Mr. Popo, or #18 do in Boo arc? Absolutely nothing. Almost everyone that is weak ends up as a background character in the end.

They still help search the Dragon Balls. And that`s like, the last arc of all, when even Piccolo was finally outclassed.

[worldmonsters]

The cases you mentioned are some of the rare cases. What does Kuririn, Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, Kame-sennin, Mr. Popo, or #18 do in Boo arc? Absolutely nothing. Almost everyone that is weak ends up as a background character in the end.

They still help search the Dragon Balls. And that`s like, the last arc of all, when even Piccolo was finally outclassed.

Thanks :p and as a side note, I really wished they had a little more interesting filler on that. We ony see them find one or two balls.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

Okay, yeah fair. But my point was that the main theme of Dragon Ball more leans towards friendship than towards fighting. The fighting is something that's for entertainment and the theme is friendship. Of course the "I wanna get stronger" thing is also a theme. But still the fighting is only to make it awesome, it's not the core of the show.

Still, I disagree. Compared to other series where friendship is the main theme (like Naruto), friendship in Dragon Ball doesn't compare. Fighting is the core of the show IMO (but not the stupid battle powers).

They still help search the Dragon Balls. And that`s like, the last arc of all, when even Piccolo was finally outclassed.

Like they had a huge important adventure, for an important wish. Even the whole Dragon Ball hunting turned into a background event.

[worldmonsters]

Okay, yeah fair. But my point was that the main theme of Dragon Ball more leans towards friendship than towards fighting. The fighting is something that's for entertainment and the theme is friendship. Of course the "I wanna get stronger" thing is also a theme. But still the fighting is only to make it awesome, it's not the core of the show.

Still, I disagree. Compared to other series where friendship is the main theme (like Naruto), friendship in Dragon Ball doesn't compare. Fighting is the core of the show IMO (but not the stupid battle powers).

Okay, well that's fine we have opinions for a reason. I'm glad we can at least agree on the battle powers thing :p Friends?

[alakazam^]

They still help search the Dragon Balls. And that`s like, the last arc of all, when even Piccolo was finally outclassed.

Like they had a huge important adventure, for an important wish. Even the whole Dragon Ball hunting turned into a background event.

Most of them had important roles throughout DB and Z, so I'm sure they can rest in the last arc.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

Friends?

No way, you disagree! Joking.

[FindKenshi]

I'm seeing a trend here.

[dprez]

It depends, but spoilers usually bother me, a lot.

For this though, it sparks my curiosity when I hear new stuff. I get a little more excited, and the anticipation builds. Like for instance, "Super Saiyan God" sounds so badass, I can't wait to see it!

It's because it's DBZ, and everyone here is so pumped for the awesome overflowing of epic Dragon Ball newness, we can't help but to join in.

[worldmonsters]

Friends?

No way, you disagree! Joking.

Hehe :p



Maybe, a new thread for Kei's movie going experience which you just shouldn't go to :p And Kei can tell whether he liked it or not in here with a minimum of spoilers? So if you really don't want any spoilers, just don't go to Kei's new thread? That sounds satisfy everyone, right?

[Saiga]

I wonder if I'm at all a rare case in that reading spoilers for something just makes me even MORE excited and eager to see/read/hear/experience it for myself.

I don't think you're actually a rare case, I remember reading something recently about how it's common for spoilers to do just that for people. It was something like this.

[Draken]

Reading spoilers won't preclude me from paying my fair share to see the movie when the opportunity eventually presents itself. Who here didn't read spoilers before actually seeing things like the Buu saga or whatnot? Who didn't read CH's spoilers of the manga volumes long before we got a chance to read the manga?

Spoilers of distant overseas materials is sort of part of the US Dragonball fan's culture. I hope we get plenty
I'll still watch the movie ofc and buy it legitly or even .. purchase a ticket.. if it's in theaters in the US. Dear sweet Kami.. I hope it makes it to theaters.

The idea of watching a DBZ movie in theaters seems like an absolute blast to me.

I actually carefully weighed my options to be able to go over to Japan and see it that way. Since I'm military, I could have stayed at on-station lodging, even if I'm there on unofficial leave travel etc. . but I'd have to fly commercial, and after discovering the cost of that, plus no one I know was willing to be part of this adventure, and I really don't want to attempt this alone.. plus once I even GOT to Japan what assurance do I have that I'd even be able to get a ticket? I can't imagine it being easy to get tickets to this thing as an American tourist.

Totally agreed, I don't remember the last time I saw a movie or whatnot without first reading a summary of it . Helps quell some fears about plot, makes the plot more clear when watching it, and etc.

[TheMightyOzaru]

Wait is someone here gonna see this movie in 2 days?

Kei is, yes. He got a ticket off of someone he met at the Hoko×Tate audition.

(Also, I realize the thread is moving quickly, but this isn't that many pages back...)

Awesome! I hope Kei can give away spoilers .

[DBZ Mick]

I'll spoil myself, it makes me more excited.

Like when I just got into the Dragonball franchise and bought myself one of those Beckett Magazines that had the huge character guide. Reading those got me really exciting for what I was going to get myself into.