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Dragonball Z... the super-special-remastered-thing; Or... the OTHER Orange Box.
Topic Started: Jun 13 2008, 09:27 PM (530 Views)
NewtypeS3
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The Rejected Spartan
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Well, with my computer dead... still (check out that Random Topic I made for that...)... I've been looking around for things to keep me pre-occupied with life outside work. So, I grabbed the remastered editions of Dragonball Z, with the series being packed into 'seasons' and changed into widescreen format.

Well, I wanted to start from the beginning, so I grabbed season 1.
Holy. Fuck. Whoever was in charge of editing the first season did a HORRIBLE job of keeping the series coherent the first time around! The first episode was almost entirely removed from the TV airing and several dozen scenes featuring old Dragonball characters (Launch? Upa? Anyone?) were sliced out of the anime - turning 39 episodes into something more like 30.
One of the episodes completely removed was episode 8, where Gohan meets up with an old Capsule Corp robot and actually grows as a character. But, of course, this wasn't 'fighting' so it was completely sliced out of the airing... but shit like Snake Way was preserved in it's entirety (TWENTY FUCKING EPISODES OF RUNNING ALONG IT! TWENTY! GRAAAH!).

As one might figure, Funimation re-dubbed these early episodes completely over. This sadly means no hilarious Ocean Dub, however it also means we get a completely-serious-no-bullshit-dub as well.
...though refrences to DBGT were tossed into the anime, such as Vegeta mentioning the bullshit 'Blutz Waves' as he creates that artificial moon thingy.
But at least now, there are continual references to Dragonball that make much more sense now. Like where the fuck Chi-Chi got all those weapons when she wanted to help Gohan: Launch left them behind!

Either way, the new dub is actually pretty awesome. All the voices from Funimation's last season of DBZ return to voice the same people, but now they've got some rather serious experience behind them as well. But that's not what interested me in the boxset. What did?
Three things:

1) Marathon Mode.
Ok, so it's not too special, but this feature lets us skip the ending sequences, title cards and all but one of the actual opening sequences (the first one), letting us watch the seven episodes per disc in a row with few interruptions (fewer episodes on the final disc of the set, but hey). Makes it easier to tolerate filler, too.

2) English dub with the Japanese music.
They didn't have the license for the Ocean Dub's music either, so they got some new music created. Unfortunately, the new music is nowhere near as awesome as the music we got in the Cell and Buu sagas. It's passable, but if you're used to the Dragonball (classic) releases, the Japanese music actually works far better.
Only flaw with this is that we don't get Head Cha-La unless we watch the Japanese dub. Whoops.

3) FULLY-REMASTERED FOR HD AND IN WIDESCREEN. FUCK YEAH.
Ok, so maybe Bandai's HD-ing of Gundam never got me excited. After all, unless it's the original series, it doesn't make much of a difference in the long run (though Wing HD is good for screencaps). But this is a much different story.
You see, they went back to the animation cells and backgrounds and then extended the format from 4:3 to 16:9 by adding to the sides of the scenes (while some dumbasses think it was done by slicing the top and bottom off, they're dumbasses for a reason)]. The impression left is actually really good. The fight between Goku and Vegeta during the first season actually feels even more cinematic than it did before - and the camera angle experiments don't hurt any either.
Not only that, but like the Gundam HDs, the pictures have been cleaned up of just about all flaws and color-corrected to the original airings. Strangely enough, Toei has kept near-perfect care of the old master clips... unlike a certain-multi-chinned-creator-of-Star-Wars.

So yeah, awesome stuff. So awesome that I went out and grabbed seasons 2 (Namek voyage up through the Ginyu-becomes-a-frog episode) and 3 (the REST of the damned Namek Saga) before even finishing the Saiyan Saga.
And season 4 is next on my list. While that includes the filler-riffic Garlic Jr. Saga, it also includes the vaguely-defined 'Android Saga.' This means only one thing...
...the best DBZ filler ever: the DRIVING EPISODE. Hell yes.

Ok, so I'm like a year late... but it's utterly awesome. And 30 bucks a season - which averages out to less than a buck an episode (39 episodes for season 1, 34 or so for season 2... you get the idea).

Now to get through the Namek slog...
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Orochi Kusanagi
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I picked up box 1 when it came out, and yeah, it's very nice. I still need to pick up the rest though.
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Perfect Z
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Quote:
 
...though refrences to DBGT were tossed into the anime, such as Vegeta mentioning the bullshit 'Blutz Waves' as he creates that artificial moon thingy.


That isn't a GT reference, it's even in the original manga. GT used the concept much more than Z, but it didn't create it.
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NewtypeS3
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...you're kidding me.
Wonder why it wasn't in the subs, then. XD

Either way... blazed through volume/season 2. Horrible Bulma-Namek-Filler scenes (an entire episode dedicated to her losing the Dragonball entrusted to her... in a completely OCC way... and then magically getting it back for no damned reason. Or being captured by Frieza's men and then tricking them into... something. I fell asleep during that one.), no real major fights... though Gohan and Krillin get to shine for once.
...unfortunately, this box set felt kinda... cheap. While we continue with the re-mastering and redubbing, the redubbing actually stops once we get to about eipsode 68... where Funimation took over from Ocean for the dub the first time around. And, Jesus Christ, some of the voices are REALLY horrible after coming off the most-recent-iteration:

-Piccolo isn't bad, but we still have awkward grunts that don't sound like Piccolo.
-Vegeta is essentially the same, minus a few grunts and groans that sound like Brian Drummond for some reason.
-Guru goes from old, wise, ill and sagely (redub) to... Chris Sabat lowering his voice slightly and speaking slowly. Really jarring.
-Jeice goes from Aussie Yamcha (a real nice voice, complete with being rather whiny for a DBZ character... and his yelps of pain when Goku breaks his nose? Oh, lord, that scene was perfect in all respects) to "HEY! I SOUND LIKE I AM FROM AUSTRALIA! HEAR MY BAD ACCENT THATMAKES YOU USE SUBTITLES TO UNDERSTAND ME!" Also jarring.
-Nail goes from 'cool badass and awesome voice' (redub) to Sean Schemmel (aka Goku) speaking in a softer voice and acting kinda like Goku. INSANELY JARRING.
-Goku goes from, well, Goku to... still speaking about other dimensions and sounding like a complete fucking moron. Luckily, it gets a little better by the final episode of the disc, but come on...
-Krillin? Nearly unchanged. I count this as a good thing.
-Gohan? More womanly. But one episode later, is back to normal.
-King Kai sounds... like Recoome. Only in King Kai's voice.
-Yamcha sounds... um... Aussie. Which is bizarre, considering it's more-or-less the voice later used for re-dub Jeice. Only whinier.

Also, since the original Funimation dub kicks in around episode 68, the music we all got used to on Toonami is back in full force. Once I noticed the old ear-burning-Goku-lines, I immediately switched over to the second English track for the Toonami Techno stuff.
Ah, memories...

Sadly, along with being 5 episodes shorter, there's a distinct lack of any bonus features on the second season. No interviews, no previews aside from the ones they force you to watch at the disc's startup, no interviews... it just adds onto the extreme-laziness feeling that I got from the "well, there's only 5 episodes left on the disc before the season is completed, but we're not gonna redub those despite the horrible acting job some guys did. Fuck it." feeling I already had.

Currently on Season 3 - the entire massive fuckfest that is the Frieza Fight. Currently, Fourth-Form-Frieza just killed Dende and is toying with everyone else while Goku runs along Snake Wa... I mean, regenerates in a pod and whines about how useless he is.

Luckily, Payday is tomorrow. Probably gonna have season 4 by the time I finish off season 3, which means I can go right into...
...the Garlic Jr. Saga.

Fuck. <_<
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NewtypeS3
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Whelp, today was paday.
Sadly, those used DS9 boxsets were all gone. <_<

However, I did pick up season 4 of DBZ - as well as the remasters of the first 2 movies (Dead Zone / World's Strongest) and the 2 TV specials (Bardock and Trunks).
While season 4 (Garlic Jr. up through 'finding Cell's time machine') comes up in a few days, I skimmed through the two two-packs.

---Bardock Special and Trunks Special have the same dubs as before. A slight shame, considering Future Gohan still sounds nothing like the regular continuity's Gohan. However, for once, Head Cha-La comes up on the 'English with Japanese Music' option! Fucking finally!
That said, if you already own them both and don't see the big deal about 5.1 audio or the widescreen remastering or the 'English with Japanese Music' option, don't bother. The music for the original dub is still intact (which makes the Bardock special even more awesome), so you're not missing a whole lot. The metal case is nice, though.

---Dead Zone and World's Strongest have the same Funi re-dubs from two years back as well. Works just fine, all things considered - though I've not checked to see if the 'English with Japanese Music' gives us We Gotta Power or the Funi theme. The Dead Zone disc also keeps the audio commentary from two of the guys (voice of Garlic/Pilaf/17 along with the Director - rather hilarious as well), which is a much-welcome bonus anyhow.
However, much like the above two-pack, if you already own them... double-think it. The metal case is nice, but there just isn't anything... new there.

On the other hand, I am kinda looking forward to the remasters of Brolly I, the Cooler movies and the Fusion movie. Those should be entertaining, to say the least.
...though I've gotta wonder where movie 13 will end up. Maybe a double-pack with the GT movie, I suppose, considering they're doing the same process for GT now...
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AmuroNT1
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NewtypeS3
Jun 16 2008, 12:25 AM
...you're kidding me.
Wonder why it wasn't in the subs, then. XD

It was replaced in favor of bullshit like claiming that Goku's father was "an average fighter, but a brilliant scientist!"
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NewtypeS3
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Ah, yes...
Bardock, Scientific Adventurer!


....wait.... <_<
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Lowe Gear
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Well, as amusing as the actual Bardock was for me, I gotta admit I would've loved to see the adventures of a Saiyan super-scientist/kung fu god.
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NewtypeS3
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That is why 'GT' should have been short for 'Gohan's Time.'

Think about it: a super-intelligent ass-kicker Saiyan who's already likable and was gypped out of the main character slot the last time?
I'd be there from day one, honestly.

EDIT
Also, scientist or not, Bardock remains one of my favorite guys to use in the fighting games. As well as Krillin and Adult-Gohan.
Them and the rare apperance of Zangya... what a babe...
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Lowe Gear
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Well, Bardock is absolutely GROSS in Budokai 3, not to mention having the most epic Ultimate Attack in the game.
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NewtypeS3
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When I had my old save of Budokai 3, I had a level-30-something Bardock who could take down any level-100 enemy. XD
Ok, so it's a touch harder to level him up now that I restarted his game, but hey. Fun shit.

Shame it took so damned long to unlock the Dragon Arena. :lol:
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NewtypeS3
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Just finished season 3 yesterday... and I'm again kinda dissapointed, much like I was with season 2.
Lower episode count (from 39 to 35 to 33... and season 4 has 32 episodes), though it remains the same number of discs and same price. No redubbing or re-scripting, meaning we still have 'another dimension' lines - to say nothing of slang like 'mondo cool' and 'wack' being uttered. And, like season 2, a dearth of extras in this set. Unless you count Funimation Release Trailers and textless openings/closings as extras.

On the plus side, we have the entire Goku/Frieza fight presented with all the blood and gore - such as it was at the time. The 'English with Japanese Music' feature remains, though I no longer listen to it because we're now deep into the techno-music Funimation had created for the TV airing.
Kind of a shame it's stuck in stereo mode, while the 'English with Japanese Music' feature got a 5.1 mix.

...but aside from the great price and cool remastering, there just isn't a whole lot more here. For all the hype, I seriously expected more - though I should probably stop doing that.

Now onto the fourth season, where I'm already past the Garlic Jr. Saga and at the point where the Androids will soon show up.
On the plus side, the Driving Episode remains awesome. :D
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NewtypeS3
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Just finished season 4 a few days back.
Sadly, this one was a touch uneventful, much like the Season 2 boxset.

Starting off with the Garlic Jr. Saga... yeah... it was great seeing the guys actually fighting and winning without even needing Goku's help, but when literally everyone winds up jobbing to the villain anyhow before he Deus-Ex-Machinas himself like he did in the movie?
Come on, I expected better - even if it was a filler saga. Especially considering it takes up the better part of two discs.

As for the actual stuff based on the manga, we get from the point where Mecha Frieza decides to show up through the point where Bulma calls Trunks about the fact that there's another of his time machine sitting abandoned in a forest. This means we get a rather limited amount of 'good' things, such as Vegeta vs 19 and... um... Vegeta getting his ass kicked by 18, I guess.

As with last time, though everything's been widescreen'd and there's the English+Japanese Music option, this set continues to feel rather cheep. There's no extras, aside from textless opening/closing credits (which... don't change at all during the series, if I recall correctly) and random advertisements for other Funimation products... like the next boxset for DBZ. More on that in a bit.
At the very least, the voice acting from Funimation and the music have both hit a fantastic stride here. While the Japanese Music feels a little underwhelming, it works... but I find the Funi-Music to actually have a far greater impact on the action. Things like the Vegeta Theme and the music used for Goku vs 19 work insanely well with the action we see, and the only complaint I have about the Funi Music is the eyecatch music, which grates on my ears. As with the voice acting, everyone finally sounds right when it comes down to it. Vegeta sounds like Vegeta, though is a higher pitch than usual... Piccolo sounds like Piccolo... you get the idea. It's just a shame it took an entire 'season' for the voices to come into their own like that.

There's one major flaw with this boxset, though. Seeing how it ties in heavily with the Red Ribbon Army, we get a lot of filler flashbacks to Dragonball.
Sad thing is, Funi completely re-wrote continuity so it would make sense... sorta... to those who'd never heard of Dragonball.
Such as 'General Tao,' instead of Mercenary Tao.
Or the robot used by Commander Black being one of Gero's robots.
And the voices aren't the same as the Dragonball dub, making everything insanely awkward and really bizarre overall - especially seeing how the entire thing now makes no sense. Sure, it could be passed off as Roshi (the one telling the tale) being senile, but...

However, I'm not really looking forward to the next boxset.
Mostly because of the fact that, while it's the same price as 1-4, there are only 26 episodes in the boxset. Still spread out over 6 discs.
And, considering how not even the first-season-redub-interviews made it onto the season 1 bonus content... something tells me that season 5 will be again a dearth of extras.
Come on, Funi. People love DBZ, but this is pushing it.


EDIT:
I should also note that I am somewhat depressed that we're not getting other language dubs (especially considetring Funi DVDs are region 1, 2 and 4), like... German.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v55t5jnhz5s
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NewtypeS3
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...something to note.
I just found something out with reguards to the redubbing, from YouTube of all places:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ39S8vwAfE

Quote:
 
Chris Sabat has redubbed every line of Vegeta and some have been changed, usually for the better. Lines like "Mr. Hot Pants" have been removed. However, the infamous "mondo cool" line remains for some odd reason. Weirdly enough, Piccolo has not been redubbed whatsoever. I found that odd, seeing as nearly all of the characters Sabat voices (Which is a lot) have been redubbed for the most part.

Sean Schemmel has NOT redubbed any of his characters (Goku, King Kai, Nail) after the 1999 dub begins, and it's a pretty noticeable difference listening to it nowadays.

Sonny Strait has redubbed his voice for Krillin in the new season (ie: 3, apparently) set. Why, I don't know, I never really saw a problem in the 1999 dub. Oh well, not like it matters.

Also, Brice Armstrong reprises his Dragonball Z: Budokai role as Captain Ginyu, taking the former place of the classic "monster truck announcer" Dale Kelley.


Kinda odd, considering one would THINK they'd redub all or none. :huh:

---

EDIT
Thought I'd find a few scenes from the remastered episodes that really show off how insanely better things look. Or at least more cinematic, so to speak.

Piccolo's Special Beam Cannon (Japanese Music, Season 1):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHDdAV0q2Zc

Piccolo's Death (Redub Music... I think, Season 1):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1a6C0XfcPI

Goku vs Vegeta (Japanese Music, Season 1):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f13tjaM6rW8

Vegeta nailed by the Spirit Bomb (Japanese Music, Season 1):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSg3MTwKshY

Vegeta vs Recoome (Japanese Music, Season 2):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q03uf7zeEYk

Goku punching Jeice in the nose and Jeice whining like a bitch (Redub Music, Season 2):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I6cvy97ud4

Vegeta's first death (note Goku isn't redubbed... oi...) (Funi Music, Season 3):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk9iQn6uNAw

Goku turning Super Saiyan for the first time (Funi Music, Season 3):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBfmLgpTHDM

Trunks turning Super Saiyan (Japanese Music, Season 4):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_uPWdqVtxE

Vegeta turning Super Saiyan for the first time (High Quality, Funi Music, Season 4):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETBAPrNy7NI&fmt=18

Vegeta vs 18 (Japanese Music, Season 4):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DssZ5qftSuk

Piccolo vs Imperfect Cell (Funi Music, Season 5):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6RZUcLRMgU

Super Vegeta (Japanese Music, Season 5):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv9zs6QorR8

Vegeta's Final Flash (Funi Music, Season 5):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTm1r1Cp4w4

Bardock vs Frieza's Cronies (Funi Music, Bardock/Trunks MetalPack):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX9tE7_vqAI

Ok, so the Jeice one was just so I could share the hilarity, but come on.
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Lowe Gear
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Well, from what I remember, Sonny Strait was rather amused by the 'mondo cool' lines, as was the rest of the cast according to some of the outtakes that hit the web. So, he probably left them in because of that.
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NewtypeS3
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Well, I'm not shocked on that one. I remember some sort of faux-phone conversation between Krillin and Sonny at one time where said line was riffed a bit...
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