Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan.

For a very long time I have postponed watching this movie. Out of concern that it might not meet my expectations resulting in a disappointment (Looking at you, DBS anime), or even worse, it would "de-mystify" the already established character. People have their opinions about Dragon Ball Super; I personally have many issues with the anime but generally find the manga appealing and see the value it has added to the entire franchise. Dragon Ball Super: Broly now tells the "new" and finally "official story" of Broly, making him canon. And that is no easy task, as DBZ Broly is undoubtedly one of the most popular villains in Dragon Ball Z.

There is always the typical canon vs. non-canon debate. I can't think of any franchise that has managed to create so many non-canon characters that are not only really good but also have such a fanbase behind them that they have effectively become unofficial canon characters over the years. Sure, there have been missteps, but examples like Gogeta and Broly (who appeared independently in different movies) are indispensable in the Dragon Ball universe. Whether it’s fan projects or games, they must be included and belong there.

There is a reason why DBZ Broly was so popular and still is. Broly produced a total of four Dragon Ball movies and was so popular that he got three new versions of his character: The reimagining of Broly (Dragon Ball Super), the "female" Broly version Kale (also Dragon Ball Super), and Bio-Broly (Dragon Ball Z). DBZ Broly was a force, not only because of his power and appearance but also due to his personality and his backstory. For years, we have followed Son Goku and the Z fighters on their adventures, believing he was the legendary Super Saiyan. While the transformation was celebrated everytime it happened, it was gradually devalued over time (Looking especially at you, DBS). Then the true legendary Super Saiyan, who appears only once every thousand years, comes along and elevates the entire Super Saiyan form again, restoring its almost unbeatable reputation and giving us a good insight into how this form is supposed to look. Just this simple twist fascinated me back then.

So, what makes DBS Broly different from DBZ Broly? DBZ Broly is a superficial character, but he was intentionally portrayed that way, as his two main character traits were: destruction and instilling fear. He is depicted as an unstoppable force, a thoughtless, psychotic powerhouse that flattens everything in its path. He not only takes attacks without taking damage but actively goes into the attacks, conveying the feeling that no one can stop him. He is not just a monster, an uncontrollable beast, but also a psychopath who enjoys breaking the fighting spirit of his opponents.

In contrast, DBS Broly is more of a "real character" and not just an uncontrollable beast. He has a story worth telling, and you can tell from the beginning that more is intended here. He is not just relegated to being a one-time villain/antagonist; there is a plan to incorporate him into the entire DBS story and tell more about him in the future. But he also receives more nuances; he is not just portrayed as a tragic character, but he also gets more sympathetic and empathetic sides. Viewers are meant not only to fear him but also to feel sympathy for him. He breaks the cliché of the one-dimensional villain who only seeks destruction and instead becomes a multi-faceted antagonist. As a result, the character does lose some "impact," but gains much more valuable aspects. However, it must be said that DBS Broly is still a monster, no longer "insane," but rather "uncontrolled."

In direct comparison, I immediately noticed that I miss something in the "reinterpretation," the fear that DBZ Broly brought. We get better and more understandable reasons why Broly seems so strong and uncontrollable. The character is transformed from a fearsome, ruthless killing machine into a "victim." DBS Broly is meant to evoke pity; he is an antagonist but not a villain. The relationship with his father could not be more different in both narratives. In DBZ, there was an emotionally cold relationship between him and Broly, with the motivation of subjugating his own son through the control device and making him his slave, which ultimately led to his death. In DBS, the relationship is told more lovingly; the control device was not meant to subjugate him but rather to "calm" him and bring him out of his rage. This desperate act, because he had no other choice, also led to Broly's sorrow and transformation when Frieza killed his father. In the end, Paragus does not fare well in either story, and he earns no sympathy points.

You can think what you want of both versions. Everyone will prefer one version over the other. They are two completely different characters that only resemble each other in appearance, name, and tendency to rampage. DBZ Broly is the ultimate legendary Super Saiyan, sadistic, bloodthirsty, and meant only as a one-time villain. DBS Broly, on the other hand, is the legendary Super Saiyan with psychological problems who cannot help himself, and is meant to undergo development throughout the story and become a part of the cast.

And even though the DBS version is now the official one, the good thing is: No one can take DBZ Broly away from the anymore. DBZ Broly is indispensable in the Dragon Ball universe (For example: Both Versions are featured in "Sparking Zero").

Back to the film: The "reimagining" gives the entire backstory of the Saiyans and Broly even more "substance," telling the fundamental main story at a much later time, which means the characters are much further in their development and experience than they were in the DBZ movie... and that's a good thing. Overall, the non-canon events and characters are retold and canonized in a similar but different form. Characters like Bardock and Frieza not only reappear but their stories are further told, and their character traits are partially changed.

The storytelling is straightforward: We get a brief backstory of the Saiyans and Frieza, while also recounting the childhood fate of DBS Broly and his father Paragus. Of course, various "fan service" cameos are also included. After a time jump to the current events in DBS, we are presented with a loose "main story" with typical Dragon Ball humour which is quickly set aside when Frieza encounters Broly and tries to exploit his father's desire for revenge against Vegeta. After a good hour of "storytelling," we reach the showdown in Antarctica, and from there, it’s a nonstop 40 minutes of pure fighting, with virtually no breaks. The pacing is on point; the fights have impact, are spectacularly staged, and the story is told with a good mix of lighthearted/funny and serious/brutal.

The fight scenes look fantastic not only in terms of choreography but also animation, largely because almost the entire film is drawn in a beautiful 2D animation style. Unfortunately, modern anime cannot avoid using CGI, which clearly presents its weakness, but never distracts enough to pull you out of the experience. On the contrary, some scenes/images even work better in CGI, especially when considering certain explosions and light effects. Still, personally, I don't warm up to CGI in anime and will always prefer 2D drawings.

For all Dragon Ball fans, this film is a "must-watch." Everyone will find something to enjoy. Whether it's the wonderfully choreographed and especially impactful fights or the new narratives and expansions of certain characters' histories. For me, this film achieved something that none of the other/new DBS films could: It captivated me to the point where I was glued to my seat, my gaze fixed on the screen, making me cheer for every second and giving me the feeling of being 10 years old again.

I could write so much more, delve into individual characters (Frieza <3), but that would exceed the scope. In short: this is what I wished for from Dragon Ball Super from the very beginning, and I would have liked to see so much more of it.

Thank you, and rest in peace, Toriyama.