DBZ Movie 08 - Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan
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Dub Title: Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan
Original Release – March 6, 1993 at “Toei Anime Festival”
American Release – August 26, 2003 on Home Video
Run Time – 70 Minutes
Preface – Like all “Movies” created by Toei Animation, this movie is not made to fit in the story line of Dragonball Z. This Feature was produced, originally, for an Anime Arts Festival, in which the Viewers may not have been Dragonball Z fans previously. As such, these were made to entertain fans and non-fans alike. Also, the Anime may have been at different episode points in different regions, so it had to be made not to ruin potential plot points. Things were kept somewhat vague because of this, when it comes to surrounding events. Again, I stress that the creators did not intend for it to be looked at as an actual event in the story, but more along the lines of an animated Fan Fiction.
Please note that this is a summary of the Japanese version, subtitled by Funimations own Steven J. Simmons.
Opening - A Galaxy is seen…and is destroyed! Kaio-sama quivers in fear as he watches this event unfold from his world, and for-tells that soon, even his Northern Galaxy will be destroyed!
Opening Music & Movie Title
Summary - While Son Goku & Chichi are being interviewed to get Gohan into a good school, the Dragon Team is off enjoying a Flower Viewing party. Suddenly a massive spaceship descends from the sky and lands nearby. Vegeta is soon approached by a group of soldiers and a man. This man reveals himself as a Saiyan, his name being “Paragus”. He reveals that he has established a new Saiyan home world and requests Vegeta come to reign as King, but first he must defeat “The Legendary Super Saiyan”. Vegeta accepts and soon they take off. Kame-Sen’Nin, Gohan, Oolong, Kuririn, and Trunks end up going as well.
At the same time, Goku has been summoned by Kaio-sama and leaves, smack dab in the middle of his meeting, using Teleportation. Kaio-sama tells him of a Super Saiyan that has been wreaking havoc upon the Southern Galaxy (apparently, the showing of it’s destruction earlier was for dramatic effect, and only a portion of the Galaxy is under attack.). Soon, Goku leaves and begins searching worlds where he has sensed this “Super Saiyans” Ki.
Soon, Paragus, Vegeta, and the others arrive upon “New Planet Vegeta”. Paragus talks to Vegeta, saying his ultimate desire has been to rebuild Planet Vegeta to repay Vegeta’s father. Upon arriving at the “Palace” they are greeted by a small army of various Aliens, who have gathered to serve the new King Vegeta. Paragus also introduces Vegeta to Broli, Paragus’ son. Immediately after, they are notified that the Super Saiyan is attacking Planet “Totokama”. Despite Trunks’ objection, Vegeta leaves immediately, taking Broli with him.
Trunks, Kuririn, and Gohan decide to fly around the planet for a bit, and discuss their suspicions of the situation so far. They also notice how ruined the planets “cities” are. Before long, they find some energy mines in which small aliens are performing forced labor at the hand of the Saiyans military servants. A slave tells them about how they are hardly fed and work for hours on end. As he is trying to pick up a large piece of machinery, the slave is assaulted and whipped by an overseer, who accuses him of “goofing off”. Gohan is distraught and knocks the soldier down, who immediately whistles for another dozen soldiers. Kuririn demonstrates one of his punches and, for some unknown reason, all of the soldiers run away. Kuririn continues to demonstrate his “amazing powers” but as he throws a punch, Goku teleports right into the spot and takes one right in the cheek. Goku falls onto his butt, but before they can talk much, Paragus shows up and invites “the child of Burdock” and his friends to supper. Goku is overjoyed.
After a short scene in the dining hall, Trunks, Kuririn, and Gohan are shown having taken food to the slaves. Else-ware, Paragus seems to be chanting something about “Comet Gumori”. A nearby soldier shows great concern, but Paragus assures him he won’t have to experience the Comet’s terror. The Soldier agrees, saying he will continue to serve with all his might after they relocate to Earth. Paragus tells him not to misunderstand and kills him.
Vegeta and Broli return. The Saiyan Prince is frustrated, as they could not find form nor shadow of the Super Saiyan. Paragus tries to reassure him, as they walk by Goku, who is sitting on a ledge in the hallway. After some typical banter between Goku and Vegeta, Broli notices Goku and immediately seems to be upset. Up to this point, Broli had spoken but one single line and displayed no emotion. Him and Goku stare each other down and Broli’s Ki seems to flare a bit, but Paragus holds out a device on his hand and tells his son to calm down. After a moment or two, Broli returns to his emotionless demeanor and leaves with Paragus.
Paragus is sitting in chair with several devices hooked to his hand. An Octopus looking scientist approaches, holding a long sheet of paper and the device Paragus was using to try and calm Broli. The scientist tells him he can remove the machines and Paragus does so, casting it to the ground. A power surge knocks the device from the Scientist’s hand, who soon tells Paragus that the device is fine, and that Paragus should have no trouble controlling Broli’s power. Paragus leaves without a word.
As he leaves, Paragus begins reminiscing about Broli. We see images of Broli destroying cities and civilizations throughout various stages of his life, and see him gouge out Paragus’ eye for trying to stop him. Then, we see Paragus attach the device to Broli’s forehead while he sleeps, which keeps him under control and allows Paragus to release and contain his son's Ki at will. Paragus then looks back on Broli’s infancy. We are shown Kakarrot and Broli as infants, who were born on the same day. It is revealed the Broli was born with a power rating of 10,000, whereas Goku’s was 2. Kakarrot, in all his crying and whining, upsets the infant Broli. To the present, Broli has a deep rooted anger triggered by Kakarrot because of this.
At this point, Broli, who had been resting in a chair in his private room, grows furious and changes into some kind of Super Saiyan, but with dark purple hair (An apparent side effect of having his Ki restrained...). Goku and the others are sleeping, but are suddenly awoken by Broli charging into the room and trying to kill Kakarrot. Goku dashes from the window and is chased. He parries and dodges Broli’s attacks but is unable to slow him down in the least. Goku knocks a blast back into Broli, whom is thrown into a lake. Broli begins to augment his Ki even further, and attacks again. Goku lands a solid kick into Broli’s face, but does no damage. Then, Broli begins to power up more and Goku suddenly feels as though it was the same Ki he felt when chasing the Legendary Super Saiyan. Paragus shows up and tries to stop Broli, and after few moments, succeeds.
The next morning, we see Vegeta readying to leave the planet again, in search of the Legendary Super Saiyan. Paragus protests persistently, telling him he must wait until they know where he is. Of course, he is really trying to ensure Vegeta is on the planet when the Comet Gumori hits. At this point, Goku comes forth from the space ship and tells Vegeta he doesn’t need to leave, because the Super Saiyan is right there, and is actually Broli. Paragus laughs and says the Broli is even weaker than himself. Trunks flies in and begins to tell Vegeta about the slaves and fake cities built to deceive Vegeta into thinking it was an actual civilization. Also, Gohan and Kuririn show up with all the slave workers who came from a planet Broli attacked, and one of them points at Broli, saying he was the one who devastated their world.
Paragus lies no longer and explains that it was all a lie to eliminate Vegeta and the other Saiyans without damaging the planet he’s really after – Earth. Paragus mocks Vegeta for falling for this trick, and says that they will soon dominate all of the Galaxies with Earth as their palace. Suddenly, Broli steps forth, powers into Super Saiyan, and marches towards Kakarrot. Vegeta also turns Super and attacks Broli with a kick to the neck, which doesn’t even garner a flinch. As Broli steps, he keeps chanting “Kakarrot” to himself. Upon Broli's approach, Goku jumps back and shouts back “I ain’t Kakarrot! I am Son Goku!”. Paragus laughs and tells Broli to kill them all. Vegeta launches a large Ki blast upon Broli, and this too does nothing.
As the smoke clears, Broli stops and suddenly loses any and all control, and begins screaming and powering up like never before. The planet begins to tremble as his body glows a fluorescent green. Paragus tries to slow him down, but Broli grows even more enraged. As the sky darkens the lightning strikes all about, Broli’s Ki seems to settle momentarily. Suddenly, all at once, his body and Ki explode! Broli increases in size dramatically. He now stands near 7 feet and resembles the size of Trunks when he fought Cell. Vegeta falls to the ground and pants in a trembling fear.
”Kakarrot, you will be the first blood sacrifice!” Broli charges at Gohan and Goku and both try only to run for their lives. Vegeta lays on his knees and simply repeats, over and over “T-The legendary Super Saiyan…!”. Paragus explains that now his plans are ruined, since Broli has destroyed the device on his forehead allowing Paragus to control him (which happened when his body expanded.). He will ravage the entire universe until nothing is left. Goku and Gohan continue to run for their lives, who continues to assault them time and time again.
Now, Paragus explains that he actually hated King Vegeta and that, upon learning of Broli’s infant power, ordered both Paragus and Broli to be killed and cast into a dump. Soon after, as they lie together near dead, Freeza blows up the planet Vegeta and, using his “Legendary” power, Broli saves them both, taking them to another planet through all the destruction.
Broli continues his rampage, blowing up a mine full of slave workers. Broli threatens to destroy the planet if they don’t try to fight back, and with that, Goku, Gohan, and Trunks (who finally shows up) all burst into Super Saiyan. Vegeta tells them they can’t win. Broli charges them down and the 3 warriors find themselves helpless very quickly, despite their best efforts.
After a slight interlude involving Kame-Sen’nin, Kuririn, and the slaves (who eventually end up leaving the planet.) the battle rages on. Goku tells Gohan to run for his life, and tries to stop Broli on his own. He is soon knocked aside and Broli assaults Gohan. Even when they come back for more, Trunks and Goku are disabled easily. All 3 warriors are effectively unable to fight anymore, and Broli suddenly feels as though his Ki is swelling too fast and outlets a ton of it in the form of hailing Ki blasts upon the world, along with the spaceship they would have left the planet with. Broli then decides it is time to kill Goku’s son. He launches a Ki blast but it is repelled by the latest arrival on the scene – Piccolo. The Namekian quickly supplies the 3 downed warriors with Senzu and the battle begins again. Also, the comet is shown coming very close to the planet. The others leave on Piccolo’s spaceship.
Altogether, the 4 warriors go against Broli. Nothing effects him, like before, and Piccolo is thrown back to the area where Vegeta is looking on in fear. Piccolo picks the Saiyan up by the hair and tells him he is a coward that is a disgrace to the Saiyan race, and being defeated means the end of universe. Once again, Vegeta returns to sulking. Broli’s assault continues, and even takes a point blank Kamehameha from Goku like it is nothing.
The Saiyan Prince suddenly gains the will to fight, seeing Goku giving it all so boldly. Vegeta assaults the monstrous Saiyan and lands more hits than anyone else had yet, but still does no damage. Soon enough, Broli lands some especially crippling blows to the Prince and leaves him in the dirt. Paragus is shown entering a single man pod to leave Broli to die by the comets hands – calling him useless for being out of his control Broli, however, suddenly shows up and crushes Paragus within the pod, and tosses the remains into the Comet as it approaches the planet.
Now only one warrior is still standing – Son Goku, (what a surprise) and begins a one man last stand against the Monster of a Saiyan. Piccolo suddenly demands everyone to give their Ki to Goku, so that he can deliver a blow strong enough to kill Broli. The next 10 minutes or so is just Goku getting beat up by Broli while, one by one, each warrior gives their Ki to Goku (from a distance) all the while trying to convince Vegeta to give his, but he refuses time and time again, calling Kakarrot a low-class warrior who doesn’t deserve the help. Finally, Vegeta contributes and Goku suddenly manages to stop Broli’s fist. His body is overflowing with Ki and the final showdown begins. Each warrior throws a punch with all their power, and Goku lands one in Broli’s stomach that seems to rip him open. With his Ki now dis-stabilized, Broli explodes and somehow, Goku manages to grab all the warriors and teleport to Piccolo’s spaceship right as the Comet wipes out the planet.
Next, we see Goku and Gohan arrive at home and Chichi chew Goku out. Son makes a sarcastic remake tying into the beginning of the movie and Chichi passes out. Credits roll.
Personal Review - The first half of the movie has more plot development than any other of the Dragonball Z movies pre-ceeding it (in my opinion), and shows a lot of promise. Just as you think it is going to turn out great, we hear Broli’s first scream, and all that plot build up suddenly vanished. When he buffed out and the fighting started, my heart sank. The fighting in this movie is even more mediocre than your usual “Punch, miss, repeat” scenes you see in a lot of Non-canon side-stories. The Dragon Team just gets beat on for a half hour, and then in the worst attempt at a climax ever, Goku gathers all his allies Ki into him and finishes Broli in one punch. No other movie is this lacking in creativity when it comes to ending. I also can’t figure out why people like Broli. He is the ultimate stereotype of what people think Dragonball Z is – Big buff guys screaming and hitting each other. What is this, pro-wrestling?
I give this flick a Arushinchu (“Two Star Ball” or “2 out of 7.”)
Dub Rating - I don't particularly care for the music chosen, but the Voice acting is pretty solid. There are a couple totally screwed up lines, as usual, but not an abnormal amount by any means.
I'd give the FUNI Dub of this flick a 7 out of 10. (Note that this is a rating of the quality of the dub compared to the original, and not a re-rating of the actual movie.)
Special Thanks to Funimation for releasing the DVD uncut with Full Japanese Audio Track and Steven J. Simmons for his fantastic Subtitle work.
