2010 TV Series (episodes 43-84). 1025 minutes. DVD, bilingual $59.98. Distributor: FUNimation.
Fresh from a crushing defeat at the hands of the Saiyans, and with Goku still on the injured-reserve list, the rest of our beloved Dragon Ball fighters must rise to the occasion. To acquire the Namekian dragon balls, they must venture to Planet Namek. But the journey itself isn’t necessarily the danger. A powerful new enemy, Freeza, also desires these same dragon balls. A new challenge is about to go down.
Okay, so I’m sure you’re aware that I’m not a Dragon Ball Z fan. It’s not that I hate it. I just never got into it. Be that as it may, the immense popularity of this series is startling. It’s undeniable. After all, this show ended well over ten years ago! But whether it’s through television, toys, or the gaming industry, the life-blood of this anime just keeps pumping and pumping. Clearly, it does something right!
This DVD set in particular contains the so-called Freeza saga. And as story arcs go, the sequence of tension-filled battles is strong. Gohan, Kuririn, and Vegeta are brought to the brink of defeat and exhaustion as they are ultimately compelled to face Freeza himself. So, Dragon Ball does what Dragon Ball always does; it’s pure pugilistic indulgence! Even for the disinterested like myself, I have to give the tip of my hat.
Better still, as I said before, regarding Dragon Box Volume 1, each frame has actually been digitally restored. We thus find better color, less grain, greater sound, and, to say the least, the original aspect ratio has been retained. Simply put, there’s just no better way to witness the Dragon Ball saga.
So, I may not be a fan, but I do recognize a collectible item when I see it. A sturdy and vibrantly yellow box, sleek metallic-purple DVD cases, another Dragon Book containing bios, sketches, and episode summaries, this Dragon Box is something for the hardcore or purist’s shelf. Chances are, if you are a Dragon Ball fan, you own these episodes already. But trust me! You haven’t seen them like this.