apoc9

I wasn't looking forward to this movie at all. After all that travesty Dragon Ball Super left a lot of bitter taste. Not to speak of Dragon Ball movies in general, which were subpar addition to the series, except the Future Trunk movie. However I have to say compared to the old Broly movie, this one is way better in every regard. I would argue it's even better than the Dragon Ball Super itself. You should watch it if you like either of those previously mentioned you're, I dare to say, guaranteed to have a good time. Following review contains some spoilers after this point.

The story has been improved a lot from the Old Broly. The backstory is different and it’s undeniably way better. It was done really well, it establishes revenge motivation of the Broly’s father towards King Vegeta and Vegeta way better than the old Broly movie ever did. There is also throwback to Goku’s father and his mother, but it’s in disregard to the Bardock’s short story. It was ok. I didn’t care that much about it.
After backstory arc, there is kind of introduction arc, that establishes additional characters and circumstances for the present time conflict. There is this funny moment in spirit of the first Dragonball, with Bulma and Freeza collecting Dragon Balls for petty desires. On that note I really liked Freeza in this movie, unlike in the Dragon Ball Super, he grow wise and embraces more a role of evil mastermind. He didn’t gave up his evil schemes, but he is going differently about how to achieve his goals.
Surprisingly we get rather unusually sympathetic members of “Freeza’s new army”, who discover Broly and his father. They also become friends with Broly, who is obedient to his father, who treats him more like dangerous weapon. Obviously they joined just to get a good job … under an evil galactic overlord. One of them was an alien girl, who was kind into Broly. I’m shipping them. It was a nice change of pace. There is not that much of that thing in the Dragon Ball.
Freeza, the only true villain in the movie, uses Broly and his father to get Goku and Vegeta. That is basically it, it’s just about this one long fight between Broly, Goku, Vegeta and Freeza. It’s the reason, why I’m not giving higher score the story, because the main plot is just for this fight, there is nothing more to the story.
The end is nice, happy end. For a fan service Dragon Ball fight movie is pretty good. The writer was so clever to disregard all useless characters from the past e.g. Kuririn. The Focus is on Goku and Vegeta.
As a movie in general there is nothing else to it than this.

After watching the Dragon Ball Super series, I stand still behind my evaluation, that the Dragon Ball Super has poor animation. Even if it’s been somewhat fixed in the second half of that series. This movie does good job on animation during fights including … cough …. CGI … cough. Honestly, I would argue it is better than Dragon Ball Super series.

Music I don’t know. I don’t care. It’s ok.

Overall it’s one of the best Dragon Ball movies, if not the best one. However saying that it doesn’t make it an exceptional movie.