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TITLE- "DBZ Movie Box-set Issues"
Now, when we go to FUNi's DVD releases of the DBZ movies, they've been more or less staying 100% uncut with them. The only instances anything has been cut or altered from the actual movie content would be their releases of DBZ movies 4, 6, 7, and 8 ("Waves and Rocks" Toei logos being removed). As mentioned in my third editorial here, their redub release of movie 1 also had (accidentally, perhaps?) a Hanna-Barbara sound effect inserted in the Japanese version. An issue I didn't bring up before is that original DB movie 3, Mystical Adventure, as well as their release of the 10th anniversary DB movie, Path to Power, didn't retain the "Waves and Rocks" Toei logos either. With that established, it's clear that not all of FUNi's DVD releases of the movies have been 100% Uncut, but they have been 100% Uncensored. One fact that supports that statement is that when they're receiving the movie prints from Toei, they get the, as the features were animated, in full screen glory, and that (in my opinion) is how the movies should be seen.
Now that Toei's DB/Z movie box-set is on pre-order, FUNi have made it a point to begin releasing movie box-sets of their own. The first one of which was released quite a few years ago actually. This box-set contained DBZ movies 4, 5, and 6. When I personally bought it, I got it for a simple $50, which isn't too bad a deal considering these are 3 Uncut DBZ movies, 1 of which contains impressive DVD extras, and another actually includes the Spanish-Mexican version with translated subs. There weren't any inserts in the DVD cases included, but the cases and disc art were still pretty nice, being exactly as they were released in their single forms. Just like the packaging, the encoding of the discs remains as the single releases were, everything intact and nothing different. This was a great idea for FUNi, and marketly speaking, pretty smart to make the box art out like a Cooler saga.
Now, moving to 2005, following the announcement by Toei to release all the movies in one dragonbox, FUNi decided to apparently cash in on this with another movie box-set of their own. This one, apply named the "DragonBall Movie Box", contains original DB movies 2, 3, and the 10th anniversary feature. I, as well as a couple friends of mine, purchased it for an impressive $20, and for these three movies all at that price, this box-set is one hell of a deal. Not to mention, this set contains the first ever DVD release of DB movie 2, "Sleeping Princess in Devils Castle", the Japanese version with translated subs obviously there for the viewing. Inserts of little booklets that feature descriptions of FUNi's releases are included in each DVD case, and oddly enough, the FUNi logo on the DVD case of "Mystical Adventure" has been changed to FUNi's up-to-date Navarre logo. I say it's odd because the FUNi logo on "Path to Power", the 10th anniversary feature DVD, is left as the same old logo that its single release counterpart has.
Moving aside that, getting those movies for as low a price as they are in their own respective box-sets, it's an incredible bargain. A source of mine has told me that Australia has gotten a box-set of DBZ movies 7 - 9, which FUNi are as of yet to release. I'm guessing FUNi plan to release the rest of the movies in the future, I hope I'm right considering I want the movies in my own box-set collection just like the Japanese fans are getting. My assumption is that FUNi'll release a box-set virtually identical to Madman's of movies 7 - 9, then release a 4 disc set containing movies 10 - 13, and when all is said and done; release original DB movie 1 in a set with the first 13 Pilaf saga episodes. Of course, licensing and laziness issues are keeping FUNi from releasing these box-sets faster than when Toei will have theirs out. Hell, when considering FUNi waited a whole year to release movie 9 (mainly due to some deal they wanted to make with Burger King), and have also been done with the dubbing of movies 12 and 13 for well over a year, we'd already have movie 12 on shelves and movie 13 out in a month at most had FUNi not prolonged movie 9's release. The delay of movie 9, causing movies 10 - 13 to take extra long, is entirly FUNi's fault.
But you know what, now that FUNi are releasing affordable box-sets for the movies (and the series sagas now, as well), I think NOW's as good a time as any to get ourselves to the stores and get these while we can. $20 for 3 DB movies, probably the same price by now for the movies 4 - 6 set, I'd say that's as much encouragement as any to save up a quick wad of cash. An interesting tibit that takes me off subject of the box-sets is FUNi's treatment to movie 12 itself. Evidently, they plan on releasing it to (limited) theaters across the nation 2 weeks prior to the DVD release. I sure as hell plan on seeing this if it hits a theater in my local area, and I know GSM does as well. If FUNi's decent work on the redub is any indication, than we should all expect a movie 6/8 quality dub. Not only will movie 12 be shown, but movie 6 as well, arguably FUNi's best dub since the first 3 DBZ Ocean group movies. I may write up a full editorial on it if EX doesn't want to first, but as of now, I'm just gonna look forward to it and expect a decent dub, toned down cursing unfortunately looks like it'll be an issue in itself though.
Next editorial - Greatest Hits DBZ Budokai 3, worth your $20? Read what I have to say in my next write-up as I compare it to its original counterpart, as well as point out many other things.
Written by -- "SSJ Conan"
2. The "pre-movie original animations" that come before some of the movies, noteably the one in Movie 8 with the dark silhouette background of Brolly.
3. The "special advertisement" that shows after DBZ Movie 4 that's really, really beautifully composed.
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