Dragonball Z - Movie 01: Die Todeszone des Garlic Jr.

First let me say that compared to the other Dragonball Z movies, Dead Zone is the only one which can possibly fit in with the timeline set by the episodes. It takes place before the series, and thus runs no risk of contradicting anything. Although the translations of Japanese animation into English is usually poor, I found the character of Goku to be, as always, the perfect combination of super hero and down to earth dad. Gohan's hidden power, which even Goku is unaware of at this time, is amazing, and he is definitely his father's son in the way that it comes out when his friends and loved ones are suffering. A must see for DBZ fans.

Though not the first Dragonball movie despite what many people thing (there were movies based on the original TV series that tells of Goku's adventures with Bulma when he was still a child), this movie is a pretty neat romp for Goku and his friends, as long as you don't think TOO hard about it...because then you'd notice there's no way it could fit into the continuity of the TV series (since Goku has mastered obviously been to King Kai's already and mastered the techniques he taught him there, but is not yet a Super-Saiyan). But if you ignore this, it's a well-animated but badly dubbed fight. Any real fan of Dragonball Z should check this out as soon as possible.

This is the first movie of the Dragon Ball Z TV series released during the series' Japanese TV run. In the debut DBZ movie, it re-tells how Gohan discovered his hidden powers. The movie's premise is about the adult Goku rescuing his four-year old son Gohan, whom has been kidnapped by a demon, who lives on the Makyo Star, named Garlic Jr., in order to obtain the four-star Dragon Ball worn on the boy's head. Garlic Jr. uses the Dragon Balls to wish for immortality. Soon enough, Kami (God) descends to Earth and reveals to Goku that Garlic Jr.'s father was a bitter rival, competing for the Kami throne, whom was sealed up by the preceding Kami after Garlic Sr. and his army of demons attempted to take the throne by force. Kami also reveals that Garlic Jr.'s plans are to seek revenge for his father's exile. Goku, Kami, and Krillin team up with Goku's old enemy, Piccolo, to stop Garlic Jr. from sucking the Earth into his own personally-created black hole known as the "Dead Zone". This movie, mirroring the action-fighting tone of the Dragon Ball Z TV series, is more serious that the trilogy of Dragon Ball movies, which focused on light-hearted comedy. The high points of the movie are the animation and the movie's hilarious inserted musical sequence "Tenka Ichi Gohan". The low points of the movie is that it drags a little from time to time, despite the short 45 minute length of this movie.

GRADE: 2.5 out of 5

More a long episode than anything else, Dead Zone is actually the beginning of the Dragonball Z series. Fans of the series who find themselves confused by the plot would do well to watch this (and the next view episodes) if they can find it. It establishes the fact that Goku and Piccolo, two of the show's most important characters, were once enemies, a fact that greatly affects later plot elements but is only occasionally referenced once the series gets underway. Of course, like the rest of the series, Dead Zone is light on substance and heavy on fight sequences, but that's what makes the show fun to watch, anyway. 9/10

The 1st Dragon Ball Z movie and not a bad one to start off with.

Dragon Ball Z Dead Zone centers around the villain Garlic junior, a villainous monster who plans to get revenge on Kami the guardian of the earth by gathering up the dragon balls and wishing for immortality.

Through this process his minions not only defeat Piccolo the second strongest fighter in the world and also kidnap Gohan who is the son of Goku.

Goku the earth's protector must now team up with piccolo to get his son back and stop Garlic Junior.

Now something you have to understand about the Dragon Ball Z movies is that they are non canon meaning they don't line up with the main show (which is Dragon Ball Z) very well.

As such they are pointless but still entertaining and usually contain great villains and action.

All of this applies toward this movie as not only is it entertaining and has great fight choreography in the action scenes but it also in a rare occurrence actually tries to take place in the main timeline as it pretty much hints it takes place between the original Dragon Ball series and Dragon ball Z.

It still doesn't succeed in that though. Mostly because at the start of the show Dragon Ball Z characters like Krillen, Master Roshi and Bulma meet Gohan (Goku's son) for the 1st time while in this movie (which is supposed to take place before the show) they meet him or at least are aware of him here.

Still it was nice that they at least tried.

As for the movie itself like I said it is still entertaining as is the main villain Garlic Jr but besides the cool fight scenes there's not much to it.

Mostly because a lot of these movies are really short, being between 40 to 60 minutes meaning they have to have really simple plots which pretty much end just as they get started.

Still they are fun to pick up and watch as is Dead Zone.