DRAGON BALL: SAIKYOU E NO MICHI

DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME ActionDragon Ball
MOVIE ActionDragon Ball: Shen Long no Densetsu

REVIEWS

• 

  Cortexian05

  75/100
  If you love Toei 1986's Dragonball you will hate this film, but if you are more of a manga fan you will (just) enjoy it

  Oh yeah, that OVA that was released during the forgettable years of Dragon Ball. I think it needs a little more justice and I need to point out some things about it so let me review it:

  • Story (7/10): I have a big problem with the original Dragon Ball movies plot concepts and their obsession of retelling the canon arcs in a rushed way. They always seem so shallow because they end focusing only on the original characters so the new ones don't have time to be developed. However, this film doesn't introduce anything new, they just reorganized all the stories before the Tournament Arc in order to make the characters interact and develop at the same time. This idea most of the times ends up horribly, but here it was not bad applied if we only see it as a commemorative special. I have never liked the boring and unessenced anime adaptation of the manga until Piccolo arc so this feels so nostalgic with a good mix of the latest aesthetic of the franchise coupled with the tone of the previous Toriyama works.

  • Characters (7/10): It is not easy to present characters defined in 200 episodes in a movie of just over an hour but every character have their scene to shine. The most memorable gags are remaked to quickly delimit all the personalities. I also loved some of the new scenes, like the Puar and Oolong one, it felt so fresh for the viewers that have watched the same story again ad again. The only ones who didn't have enough room where Mutenroshi and Yamcha, but I can't not demand anything more from a 76 minute OVA.

  • Animation (9/10): Surprisingly the animation was SO good. I hate the shabby art style that Toei was giving to the Dragon Ball franchise during GT era, but this TV film had the production of a cinema budget. The sceneries were always very polished and played with lots of gas and 3D effects on fighting and runaway scenes. All the movements also look so neat and dynamic. The only bad thing for me was the abuse of brightness specially on faces.

  • BSO (3/10): The music of this film was the biggest turn off for me. I understand that Shunsuke Kikuchi was not very accessible at that time, but they could search for a composer with a similar style or to aproach a new one, but we had a childish and generic western tracklist instead.

  Probably, if you love Toei 1986's Dragon Ball you will hate this film, but if you are more of a manga fan you will enjoy it. Anyway, I don't think that anybody can feel overhyped or say that this is a masterpiece, it is just made to rewatch it occasionally when you need a little dose of nostalgia or if you feel so lazy to rewatch the original series. It's easily reminiscent of the Dr. Slump remake that was aired at the same time, in both best and worst points.

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• 

  scootscorp

  100/100
  A retelling of the original dragon ball? uh yes please!

  
  
  Dragon Ball: Path to Power is an absolute gem of a movie that masterfully remixes the first arc of the Dragon Ball series, breathing new life into its slightly dated visuals. By utilizing the art style from Dragon Ball GT as a foundation, the movie successfully modernizes the look and feel of the original story while staying true to its beloved characters. For fans like me, it was a delightful and fast-paced adventure that had me hooked from start to finish.
  
  The decision to adapt the story for a movie allowed for certain changes that made sense within it. While some may argue that it deviates from the original source material, I found the changes refreshing and fitting for the movie. The exclusion of the Pilaf Gang, for instance, may have disappointed like 3 fans, but let's be honest here - after enduring their antics in Dragon Ball Super, I doubt many were longing for their return. Personally, I was more than happy to bid them farewell and focus on the enjoyable aspects of the film.
  
  Path to Power chronicles Goku's thrilling encounters with a colorful cast of characters, including the adventurous and playful Bulma, the incel Yamcha, and the eccentric and perverted Master Roshi. Together, they venture on a perilous journey, traversing treacherous landscapes and confronting formidable foes, all in pursuit of the legendary Dragon Balls. The movie strikes a perfect balance between lighthearted humor and exhilarating action, capturing the essence of the original series and keeping me thoroughly engaged throughout.
  
  As a self-proclaimed Dragon Ball aficionado who has immersed myself in the franchise countless times, I can confidently say that Path to Power resonated with me on a profound level. It brilliantly captures the spirit and charm of the source material while injecting a fresh energy into the storytelling. Goku's antics had me laughing out loud from beginning to finish. It's a testament to the appeal of the Dragon Ball universe and its ability to captivate audiences across generations.
  
  If I were to nitpick (which I hate to do but the guide on writing reviews said I should), one minor drawback of Path to Power would be its relatively short runtime of approximately 80 minutes. Given my insatiable appetite for all things Dragon Ball, I couldn't help but want more (fine i guess ill finish my 8 millionth rewatch). Nevertheless, the movie makes efficient use of its limited time, effectively covering/remixing a significant portion of the early Dragon Ball storyline.
  
  now, would i recommend this to first time viewers? no. simply because if you watch this first youll be out of sync with the rest for the show/manga as things do play out differently in them. but otherwise give it a shot!

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