The good thing about nameless Freeza soldiers attacking Earth again is that the non-Saiyan characters can actually kick ass in this.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball Kai – DROPPED BALL Z
Pissing away all of the good will it built…
When I started churning out episodes of Otaku Evolution, my anime review video project, on a weekly basis, I fell behind doing text reviews for this site. The biggest victim of that wasn’t the reviews I always intended to start on Terror in Resonance or my occasional review of anime classics, but my weekly Dragon Ball Kai reviews. I’d reviewed over 100 episodes of Toei’s "manga cut" version of DBZ, from its shaky early days, to the highs of its Freeza and Artificial Human/Cell arc, to it’s current plot line involving Babidi and Majin Buu. By now, I’ve fallen so far behind, it would take quite an effort to catch up, but with a little elbow grease I could revive my Dragon Ball Kai reviews, right? I mean, it was Kai that restored my interest in the DB franchise back when news of its debut broke! It’s become an insistution of my blog, so why not?
Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods Theater Experience
"Great Flaming Dragon Balls! A Theatrical Experience!! Penguin Truth Enjoys A DBZ Dub!!!"
Last night, yours truly made a truly momentous decision. One that affected both his head and heart. Or really, my wallet, because my decision was to spend $10.50 to watch a movie I’d already seen, plus the bullshit price of impulse buy concessions, because like any American, I can’t even go an hour and a half without stuffing my face with butter and salt and washing it down with sugar water. The next time the person at the concession stand tells you that for fifty more cents you can get the large popcorn, you spit in their face and karate chop them in the throat, folks. An ocean of popcorn will just make you never want to see that snack ever again. There’s not enough napkins in the world to wipe that butter from your hands, it’s like digging into a fresh corpse and soaking yourself in a gaping bloody wound of…
Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 113 Review
Episode 113, "A Wicked Heart is Revived; Vegeta, the Prince of Destruction!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Gohan, now in the second full Super Saiyan stage, continues his fight with Dabura, but his struggling to finish it gets on Vegeta’s nerves. Dabura spits on Gohan’s glove, but the Saiyan discards it before his hand turns into stone. Dabura creates a sword and tries to cut Gohan, to no avail. Gohan destroys the blade. Vegeta becomes increasingly angry that the fight hasn’t ended, wanting to get to his fight with Goku. Dabura senses something within Vegeta and informs Babidi, who sends them back to the ship. Dabura leaves the arena and returns to Babidi. He tells him that Vegeta has a great wickedness in his heart which Babidi can exploit to revive Majin Buu. Babidi uses his magic to take control of Vegeta, transforming him into a more malevolent person by bringing out the evil in him, and at the same time, making him stronger. Babidi teleports the group to the Tenkaichi Budoukai, confusing the audience and Mr. Satan. A first it seems Vegeta is in Babidi’s thrall, but he only accepts the extra power so he can fight Goku. However, Babidi is satisfied that the release of power will probably revive Majin Buu.
Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 112 Review
Episode 112, "The Star Performer Takes the Stage! Take Down the Demon King!!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Dabura arrives on Stage 3 of Babidi’s ship, willing to take them all on. However, Gohan insists that he fight him alone, which insults the demon. Babidi uses his magic to send them to a new environment for the fight. Back at the tournament, 18 gets Mr. Satan in a headlock and offers him a deal: she’ll allow him to win if he gives her twice the amount of the prize money. Desperate to maintain his fame, Mr. Satan agrees to this arrangement. They fake an end to the fight that sees 18’s defeat and Mr. Satan remaining the champion. Bulma, Chi-Chi, and the others in the audience that know better are bewildered. In the air, Videl tells the little Saiyans about Babidi and his plans, and an excited Trunks and Goten speed in that very direction to see. The fight between Gohan and Dabura begins, both fighters doing well in the bout.
Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 111 Review
Episode 111, "What Incredible Kids!! The Great Struggles of No. 18"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan are losing patience waiting for Babidi’s next fighter. Back at the Budoukai, Mighty Mask (Goten and Trunks) and 18 engage in intense hand to hand combat in the air while Mr. Satan looks on in dismay. 18 is formidable, forcing the boys to both transform into Super Saiyans. However, 18 recognizes the aura and exposes them. The two children are disqualified, and not wanting to get in trouble, they fly off. Now the finalists are down to 18 and Mr. Satan and the latter knows he doesn’t stand a chance. Goten and Trunks encounter Videl on her way back to the arena.
Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 110 Review
Episode 110,"Who is the World’s Greatest?! A Battle Royal Match to Decide!!
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Kaioshin is perplexed and dismayed by the behavior of the three Saiyans, who all relish the prospect of fighting strong opponents. Dabura volunteers to be the next stage opponent, and goes into a room to meditate to be at full power. However, Gohan, whose turn it is next, becomes impatient waiting for him. At the Tenkaichi Budoukai, the officials are having trouble deciding what to do now that many of the fights have dropped out. Mr. Satan, high on confidence, suggests having a Battle Royal, where all remaining fighters battle at once. However, Mr. Satan begins to lose his nerve when faced with the reality of having to take on four opponents who will likely team up on him as the champion. Killa tries to team up with Mighty Mask (Goten and Trunks), while Jewel attempts to broker a deal with 18, but Goten, Trunks, and 18 have no interest in the offers. Angry, Killa and Jewel attack their respective deniers and are immediately knocked out of the ring. Mr. Satan thinks himself lucky to only have two opponents, but that attitude fades when he sees Mighty Mask and 18 exchange blows above the ring.
Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 109 Review
Episode 109,"Don’t Underestimate a Super Saiyan! Vegeta and Goku’s Full Throttle Power!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Pui Pui can’t land a blow on Vegeta due to his speed. Vegeta lands blow after blow on the hapless opponent. Babidi uses his magic so that the room is teleported to Pui Pui’s high gravity home planet. Pui Pui is confident in a win, but Vegeta is not impressed, as he trains in high gravity environments constantly. The Saiyan prince easily puts Pui Pui away. The room returns to the ship and the passage to the lower level opens. On the next stage, Goku awaits his opponent, who is a large monster named Yakon. Despite his size, Yakon proves to be swift, and manages to cut Goku’s gi. Kaioshin wants them all to team up against him, but Gohan says his father will be fine. To ensure victory, Babidi transports them to Yakon’s home planet, which is shrouded in darkness. Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan to see, but Yakon feeds on the light of his aura. At first Yakon is confident this will win him the fight, as he will continue to drain energy from Goku. However, Goku simply turns him his power to such a level that Yakon explodes. The passage to the next level of the ship opens and the Super Saiyans descend, leaving Kaioshin shocked.
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods English Dub Trailer (And Thoughts On It)
The cast is as follows:
Sean "The Miracle" Schemmel as Son Goku/Kaio-sama
Chris "How Did I Get This Work" Sabat as Everybody Else (Vegeta/Piccolo/Shenron/Bubbles/Yamucha) (In Order Of Importance)
Kyle "Actual Talent" Hebert as Son Gohan/Gyuumao/Narrator (?!)
Sonny Strait as "Are You Talking About" Kuririn
Monica "Monimoni" Rial as Bulma Angelica Franchesca Hau Pepelu Brief/Oracle Fish
Laura Bailey as Trunks
Kara Edwards as Goten/Videl
Jason Douglas as "Don’t Call Me Bills" Beerus
Ian Sinclair as Whis
Cynthia "How Does She Keep Getting Work?" Cranz as Chi-Chi/Mrs. Briefs
Meredith "I Only Have One Line" McCoy as Lazuli
John "Scratchy McDoucheVoice" Burgmeier as "No Lines" Tenshinhan
Brad "Why Did They Bring Me Back?" Jackson as Oolong
Mike McFarland as Kamesennin
Chuck Huber as Pilaf
Chris "I Was An Even Worse Tenshinhan Than Burgmeier" Cason as Shu
Colleeen "Better Than Most Of This Cast" Clinkenbeard as "Hands" Mai
Chris "Ragin’" Rager as Mr. Mark Hercule Satan III
Josh Martin as Guttony … I mean, Buu
Brina Palencia as "Nobody Cares About" Chaozu/"Nobody Cares About" Puar
Justin Cook (Shouldn’t Have Been Cast) as Dende
Kent "Father" Williams as Kaioshin/Old Kaioshin
Mark Stoddard as Dr. "Not So" Briefs
Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 108 Review
Episode 108, "The Heinous Mage Babidi and the King of the Underworld Dabura’s Trap"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Kaioshin and Kibito are shocked that Babidi has the King of the Demon Realm, Dabura, under his thrall. Having outlived their purpose, Babidi and his henchman Pui Pui disposes of Spopovich and Yamu, respectively. Unknown to Goku and the group, Babidi and Dabura are aware of their presence, and after Babidi and Pui Pui enter the ship, Dabura attacks, killing Kibito. Then he transforms Kuririn and Piccolo into stone, which can only be undone with his death. Confident, the three Saiyans follow Dabura into the ship. A reluctant Kaioshin follows as well. They find themselves in a round room in the ship. Pui Pui is sent to fight them, and he explains that there are several levels on which they will face a different opponent before they can get to Babidi. Babidi adds Gohan’s stolen energy to the Buu egg and finds it was a lot more than he expected. Vegeta wins a game of rock-paper-scissors to decide who fights Pui Pui. Pui Pui says that any energy used in fighting him will be collected for Buu, but Vegeta reasons he just won’t take any damage.