The film starts with the various Dragonball Z heroes (bald-headed Krillin, three-eyed Tennishen, demonic Piccolo, etc.) duking it out in a worldwide martial arts tournament. The winners of the tournament get the opportunity to fight four "extraterrestrial" warriors who resemble the rock band Kiss, a hefty amount of cash, and the chance to fight one-on-one with Mr. Satan, the self-proclaimed "Champion of the Earth." There’s a lot of comedy in this section of the film. Akira Toriyama’s characters were never above self-parody, and the film does a nice job of poking fun at all of them, especially Krillin, who suffers from bouts of nebbishism.
Of all the characters, Mr. Satan deserves special attention. In theory, he’s nothing but a charlatan – a con man who’s taken credit for the hard work of Goku, the true savior of the Earth in the Dragonball Z story line. On the other hand, Satan is hilarious. With his hairy chest, walrus mustache and generous Afro, he looks like a seriously pumped up 70’s era Elliot Gould. He knows he’s a fraud, and his successful attempts to hide the truth from his adoring admirers makes for very good comedy. He’s likable despite himself, and the favorite character of many Dragonball Z fans who prefer comedy over violence.
The film falters exactly where every other Dragonball Z film (save for Brolly) fails. None of the film’s villains are truly fleshed out. They may be stunningly designed, and they may feature vivid animation, but none of them are plausibly motivated. This robs the fight scenes – which are dazzlingly animated – from their full impact. Bojack and his alien posse are certainly imposing-looking villains, and their fight scenes take place in dramatic settings. Unfortunately, the audience isn’t given a reason to care about the villains, or believe that they pose a serious threat to the Dragonball Z heroes.
I recommend this film based on the characterization of Mr. Satan, the
comedy of the first half of the film, and the overall high quality of the
animation – which is among the highest I’ve seen in a mainstream-style
film. Hopefully, those who rent Bojack won’t expect much more.
 |
Other Anime Reviews
Affair on Nolandia Review Curse of the Blood Rubies Review DNA Sights 999.9 Review Project A-ko Review* Slayers:The Motion Picture Review* |
Get
your ownFree Home Page