Dragon Ball Z, Vol. 8 - Saiyan - Showdown

Rating:
Summary: Good anime series, mediocre dub
Review: INTRODUCTION:
The Dragon Ball manga was created by Akira Toriyama, the same person who was previously responsible for the Dr. Slump series, as well as the Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior in America) series of video games. In the latter half of the eighties, Dragon Ball became a Japanese anime. And when the series drew to a close, he created a follow-up series - Dragon Ball Z. This one also became an anime. Nearly six years after its original Japanese release, Dragon Ball Z finally arrived in America. Unfortunately, Toei Animation (the company that created the anime) added in a number of filler episodes, and FUNimation (the owner of the American rights to the series) was forced to make large amounts of edits so that the show would meet American television standards. Though their dub voice actors actually were pretty good, they had a tendency to mistranslate some information and use a good deal of stupid dialogue. This package contains the second batch of episodes of the series. Read on for my review.

EPISODE SUMMARIES:
-Goku Vs. Vegeta... A Saiyan Duel!: Goku and Vegeta battle each other, and discover that their abilities are nearly equal, though Goku (just barely) has the upper hand. Not wanting to lose a fight, Vegeta uses artificial moonight to perform the Saiyan were-monkey transformation.
-Vegeta... Saiyan Style!: In his were-monkey form, Vegeta massacres Goku. Goku's attempt to use the Spirit Bomb fails. It seems all hope is lost, but then Krillin and Gohan show up on the battlefield!
-Stop Vegeta Now: Yajirobe, the last person you'd expect to do it, cuts off Vegeta's tail, returning him to his normal state. Gohan and Krillin battle him, only to be overpowered. Fortunately, Goku saved some Spirit Bomb energy, which he gives to Krillin. The bomb hits Vegeta.

EPISODE OPINIONS:
As was stated in previous reviews, this episode's dub dialogue isn't half bad (due to the serious mood of things)- although there are a number of edits. Fortunately, these manage to be some of the better original dubbed episodes.

DVD:
This DVD is good because it has better picture quality than a VHS tape, but horrible because it only contains the edited dub, and not an uncut sub like later Dragon Ball Z DVDs. I recently heard word that FUNimation will be redubbing the Saiyan Saga and the former half of the Frieza saga, so don't go out and buy this right away.

OVERALL:
Overall, Showdown does a pretty good job continuing the Dragon Ball Z series - but the dub could have been SO much better. Although Dragon Ball Z is an excellent anime, I don't recommend this. I recommend seeing the series in its uncut, original Japanese glory; this dub doesn't do it justice.

Rating:
Summary: Vegeta RULES!
Review: This episode is so cool! VEGETA & GOKU BATTLE! ON EARTH! not on namek! the ginyu come to namek!(see my review on namek,the ginyu force one!)Vegeta gets hit with the spirit bomb!BYE! byenowbyenowbyenowbyenow!

Rating:
Summary: Dragon Ball Z - Showdown
Review: This is one of the best volumes of DBZ episodes. It has the fight between Goku and Vegeta on Earth, and is just about non-stop action. Goku uses all of his newest attacks, and Vegeta transforms into the giant ape. The fighting is intense. I had to give this a four instead of a five though because of one thing... Vegeta isn't finished at the end of the tape! Goku is hanging by a thread, Krillin is messed up, and Gohan is the only one left. Vegeta is weakened by the spirit bomb, but not defeated. All that comes on the next tape. Why couldn't they fit that one last episode on here? This needs a better ending point.

Rating:
Summary: Vegeta and Goku
Review: This is one of the best volumes of DBZ episodes. It has the fight between Goku and Vegeta on Earth, and is just about non-stop action. Goku uses all of his newest attacks, and Vegeta transforms into the giant ape. The fighting is intense. I had to give this a four instead of a five though because of one thing... Vegeta isn't finished at the end of the tape! Goku is hanging by a thread, Krillin is messed up, and Gohan is the only one left. Vegeta is weakened by the spirit bomb, but not defeated. All that comes on the next tape. Why couldn't they fit that one last episode on here? This needs a better ending point.

Rating:
Summary: Dragon Ball Z - Showdown
Review: This is the best DVD of the Saiyan Conflict. The battles are awesome. Eventhough it is Pioneer it is still great. I think Pioneer is not as good as FUNimation.

Goku VS. Vegeta...A Saiyan Duel: Goku is no ready to face Vegeta. This is the beginning of the battle. You can see Goku do a triple Kaio-Ken! In the end of this episode you will see Vegeta blast off into the sky.

Vegeta...Saiyan Style: This is the best episode of the DVD. Vegeta creates a moon and turns into a Giant Saiyan Gorilla! Goku also decides to try the Spirit Bomb!

Stop Vegeta Now!!: In this episode Yajirobe manages to cut off Vegeta's tail and Vegeta turns normal size again. goku gives the Spirit Bomb to Krillin to blast Vegeta. Krillin misses and Gohan bounces it back and then it hits the Saiyan Prince.

You need to get this DVD now!