Dragonball - Movie 4: Der Weg zur Macht

Let me just start by saying out of all 20 films, this one is the best. However, I do have a few gripes as well. One thing I loved, was it's animation. It's honestly some of the greatest animation, losing only to super broly. I also LOVED the art style, which ended up looking like the manga. I mean, everything about the visuals in this film were gorgeous. Another thing that I liked, was the soundtrack. It's basically a remastered dragon ball gt soundtrack by Akihito Tokunaga (My favorite composer after Kikuchi). This movie feels extremely alive, in many aspects. As for the things I DIDN'T like. The biggest drawback with this movie, is it's breakneck pacing. It moves around pretty quickly. Another gripe I have, is the ending. I'm not going to spoil it, just don't get your hopes up. It's not terrible, it just, ends too quickly. We'll that's my review, this is by far the most unique dragon ball movie I've EVE watched. Besides my few gripes, this movie is a spectacular retelling of dragon ball's original story.

This is just the very best movie that DragonBall has to show. I think that even the DragonBall Z movies arent made as good as this one. Everything is made great in this movie. Im really looking forward to 20th anniversary special.

The only reason I give it an 8 is basically because the animation is very well drawn, the best in the series. Other than that its the same old thing we have all already seen just with minor things changed just like the other 3 Dragonball films 1, 2, and 3.

I have to say that the series is better all around for a better experience, but the animation beats the original series for this film because it is newer and its a movie special.

The film actually feels pretty awkward, things happen too quickly and it definitely doesn't feel like it has anything to hold it up, I got bored half way through it again even though the animation was incredible it just got dull by that time. I think they would of bee better off doing an entire new story that goes off to the side just like how they did with the Dragonball Z movies.

Story 3/5 Music 5/5 Animation 5/5

Yet another alternate retelling of the Original Dragon Ball series. Only this time it's longer than the first 3.

The story retells how Goku and Bulma first met for their search of the Dragon Balls. Also an alternate retelling on how they met Yamcha, Blur, Oolong, Master Roshi, & Turtle. Along the journey they will encounter representatives of the Red Ribbon Army who are also looking for the Dragon Balls.

The cool thing about this movie is it's the 10th Anniversary of the original TV series. The animation is newer and comparable to the GT series. Most of the characters look different including Commander Red, General Blue, & General Silver.

It's twice as long as the previous 3, so it has more variety and more elements to watch. Those who are long time or new coming fans of Dragon Ball will agree that this one's the best movie of the original TV series.

Let's get this out of the way. We have the original anime telling the story of Bulma meeting Goku. Then we had the "Curse of the Blood Rubies" that tells us the story of how Bulma met Goku. Then 10 years later, we had this movie "Path to Power". What is the point of rehashing the same story yet again? Well, perhaps I am being too harsh. Admittedly I am not a fan of the GT style animation that this movie goes with. That is more due to my bias against GT opposed to the animation style itself.

The movie condenses the opening Pilaf saga and combines it with the Red Ribbon Army saga. It cuts out Pilaf, Chi Chi and Mercenary Tao in attempt to pace it out to a solid 80-minute runtime. Once again setting this timeline apart, as if to say what if the Red Ribbon Army would have gone after the Dragon Balls a year earlier.

This DB movie has the gift of hindsight, in that they made this movie after the whole run of DBZ movies and show had completed its run. Watching it, there is a distinct DBZ feel that perinates through different parts. Goku screams to power up like in DBZ, despite that not being a major part of the original DragonBall. They don't use this hindsight to add in Dr. Gero to the timeline, but that's a nerdy nitpick.

I don't think they get the characterization of Goku right in this. I am aware that Goku was a happy go lucky kid in the original Dragon Ball. But in this one, he laughs almost constantly, it gets really annoying.

It is a shame that they didn't pick up where they left off in the previous DB movie timeline. They recap the events of the Pilaf Saga twice but never recap the King Piccolo Saga. Once again, just a nerdy nitpick moment.

There isn't anything retold here that I do not prefer in either the "Curse of the Blood Rubies" of more importantly, the series proper. If you think this movie is fine away to abridge those original Dragon Ball Arcs you are mistaken. I still recommend watching the original instead of this truncated version. There are no shortcuts on the path to power.