Broly is a Dragon Ball film that wants to do something rare: it cuts the comedy, slows the pace, and gives the action room to breathe. The result is a movie that respects its characters without softening them. It is the rare Dragon Ball outing that feels less like a toy commercial and more like a serious piece of the story.
Trailer, via 20th Century Studios Philippines.
Broly’s Origin
The film opens with King Cold informing King Vegeta that the Saiyans will now serve Frieza. Broly was found as a commoner infant in a nursery reserved only for the elite. His power level exceeds Vegeta’s, so King Vegeta exiles Broly to the distant planetoid Vampa, where the infant is left to die. Paragus attempts to rescue his son, but the stolen ship is damaged beyond repair on entry to Vampa, leaving him and Broly stranded. The father raises his son to exact revenge on King Vegeta.
The Three Saiyans
Forty-three years later, Kakarot, now named Son Goku, trains with Vegeta around a desert island. Trunks reports that low-class Frieza Force soldiers stole the Dragon Radar and six of the seven Dragon Balls. Goku, Vegeta, and Whis travel to an arctic region to find the seventh Dragon Ball before Frieza can retrieve it. The film follows the history of the Saiyans and the background story of these three Saiyans with different destinies connected to the turbulent period of their race.
The Fight
The battle between Goku, Vegeta, and Broly is the film’s centerpiece, and it is a spectacle. Frieza returns from Hell to get caught up in the mix. The animation is sharp, the choreography is clear, and the film gives each fighter moments to shine. This is a battle that earns its runtime.
Where It Falls Short
The film is thin on character development outside its three leads. Bulma, Piccolo, and the others mostly exist to move the story forward. The plot is simple: Goku and Vegeta face a Saiyan they never saw before, and it turns into a battle. There is no twist, no surprise, just a fight that stretches out its length.
A Solid Entry
Dragon Ball Super: Broly is a competent, focused entry in a long-running franchise. It respects the characters and the lore, and its action sequences are some of the best the series has produced. It is not a landmark, but it is a solid piece of work.
Key Facts
- Title: Dragon Ball Super: Broly
- Year: 2018
- Director: Tatsuya Nagamine
- Runtime: 101 minutes
- Score: 5.9/10
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