This show has amazing action, some great plotline outlines, some moments of great humor, and some amazing characterizations. Still, a sense of staleness and forced action keeps this shows going too often. There's missing heart in a lot of places, especially when filler is concerned.

The storyline for the Saiyan and Namek saga are great, and it felt like the prequel series was destined to lead to them. The Android saga had a great buildup as well, but it didn't feel "destined" as much as forced. Perhaps a better explaination for the Androids being so powerful was needed, or maybe it was the wrong story at the wrong time. Realistically, if the Buu Saga took place before the Android saga, and the Android saga had more technological buildup to it, the entire plot would make a ton more sense.

Overall this show's biggest issue is it stays in place too often, specifically after the Saiyan saga. Characters stand in place too often. The fights have way too many breaks. The action is far too drawn out. Plotlines are drawn out too much, sometimes to where you want things to just end already. There is way too much filler, especially when compared to the prequel series, which had about 8 episodes tops of true filler, and maybe a 6 episodes more that weren't anime-original storylines that were filler, but still was sort of filler. No, there's 3 mini-sagas of entire filler (Garlic Jr., waiting for Goku to arrive from Namek, and Gohan's High School Days), and well over 100 episodes of filler.

Fortunately, Dragon Ball Z Kai exists, and removes those issues. Too bad they couldn't reanimate the entire thing and make the series look visually on par with other action-heavy anime series, such as Fate Stay Night: Unlimited Bladework.

This is simply the best Dragon Ball Z movie (outside of the two God movies). It has a story line that fills like a precursor to the Android saga, incredible action sequences, a smart villain, smart usage of Krillin and Master Roshi as fighters, and great character work. The animation, music, and atmosphere is really great in this film.

Best of all it has a satisfying conclusion and stays long enough to where you don't miss it necessarily, but it never felt like a drag.

If you are a Dragon Ball fan you simply must see this movie, because it is great.