Details Title:
Release Date:
Pros:
Cons:Dragonball Z Movie 12: Fusion Reborn
4 March 1995 (JP)
Better fight sequences than the series, finally a villain that doesn't gloat about how powerful he is.
Not much of a plot, very little character development.
Review In the afterlife, a young ogre is supposed to be looking after the soul cleansing machine. Due to the ogre's ignorance, the machine explodes, releasing all the evil. This manifests and takes over the ogre, becoming the Criminal warlord Janemba. The laws of the after life and the real world are changed, the dead come back to life, and it's up to Son Goku to save the day.
As most of you know, Dragonball Z isn't really known best for its plot since there isn't any. This movie isn't any different in any way, though it does make an attempt to set up the scene. Of course it's all an excuse for fighting, but that's what Dragonball Z is commonly known for.
The usual characters are here, with a few minor characters (Pikehan, the Kaios etc.). Then we've got the three new characters for this movie. The most impressive villain Janemba, who says nothing and beats Super Saiyan Goku's ass into the ground (even when Goku's at full power). Then we've got Veku, who brings in a humorous side to the film, since he can do nothing but boast and get his ass kicked. Lastly, we have Gogita. If there was ever a list for the best fighter in DBZ, Gogita would be on top. He says little, yet dishes out heaps.
The supporting characters get their share of fun, and Mr. Satan gets to dish out some punishment for once. And you might see some more familiar villains throughout the film.
Unfortunately for people new to the series, no character development is present, as it's expected that you have an idea of the series (more spefically, who's who). But if you've seen at least a couple of important episodes of the series, you should be alright.The music is nothing out of the ordinary. I wouldn't say it's great, but I can't condemn it either. It comes up at the right moments with the right type of music, with the usual moments of silence in between. The closing theme (Saikyou no Fyuujon by Kageyama Hironobu) is really catchy, with it's fast beat. For the voices. If you've seen some Dragonball Z episodes in Japanese dialogue, then you're bound to know who's who. They use dual voicing for the fusion (which sounds pretty cool), and Janemba's got an incredibly cool, evil laugh.
I had to admit, the fighting sequences in this movie are some of the better fights that I've seen out of all of DBZ. Each hit is shown clearly, and the way that the other person immediately counters them, forcing the other person to improvise at the last moment, is aesthetically pleasing. No single fight will have a repeat in animation here.You will not be disappointed.
Most of the time, it's Goku convincing Vegeta to fuse with him so they could beat Janemba. But I see this as a good thing, as the movie doesn't have a dozen low quality fights to fill in time, but instead roughly three excellent quality fights with some plot to fill in time, though the last minute development with Vegeta may confuse some viewers. This movie does justice for the fighting genre. If you've watched some Dragonball Z, I suggest watching this movie for the fights, but not for its plot.