“Dragon” is the story of the brilliant martial artist, philosopher and filmmaker Bruce Lee (“Enter the Dragon”) and how he triumphed over many obstacles to get the legend status that he achieved in his lifetime.

In “Dragon”, the martial arts master is played by Jason Scott Lee (“Soldier”). The film starts off with a small Chinese boy being attacked by a demon that emerged from a statue but then you find out it’s all just a dream Bruce’s father had been having. As the film goes on Bruce gets himself into trouble when he beats up some trouble causers and travels to America. There he meets his future wife Linda (Lauren Holly “Dumb and Dumber”). A few years later after perfecting his martial arts skills and fighting to teach Bruce is discovered by a television producer (Robert Wagner “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”) and he begins his journey to stardom.

Jason Scott Lee is surprisingly good as Bruce Lee. He gives the energy and the enthusiasm that Bruce Lee had. Linda is okay and is given an okay performance by Lauren Holly. Robert Wagner is good. The rest of the cast are okay.

There are some moments in this film like whenever Bruce does a ‘super jump’ that not even he could pull off that are obviously exaggerated but they’re good fun. I also like the psychological elements where Bruce has to face an inner demon in the form of ridiculously silly but again fun martial arts scene. Although the film is far from being perfect “Dragon” is a charming movie with plenty of amusing scenes and lots of great martial arts action. I’m sure this movie will more than please any fan of the Bruce Lee films, who is determined to learn more about the man himself.

“Dragon Lord” is one of those old-fashioned martial arts films and it’s an early Jackie Chan (“Project A”, “Rush Hour”) picture. Although it doesn’t feature the most interesting characters or plot, the stunt work is amazingly creative.

“Dragon Lord” doesn’t really have a plot as such, all you need to know is that it manages to guide Jackie Chan through various impressive fight sequences and various other bits of well-choreographed stunt work. There’s something to do with a girl and something else about stealing Chinese artefacts but you’ll be to engrossed in all the stunts to really care about any of it.

Jackie Chan is physically amazing here. The stunts involving a sports scene where he is basically playing football with a shuttlecock are really creative and I haven’t really seen him do that before. The fight sequences are great too as we see Chan take a severe beating and I also love a scene in which he is sneaking on top of a rooftop and has to avoid the various spears people are trying to stab him with. Chan is a great action star because he balances all this amazing stunt work with a nice guy persona; you just want to smile right back at him.

The film is said to be the first Chan film to feature his now famous outtakes during the credits so it’s a landmark in that respect. Some people may find this film a little dull because of the characters and the story but this film is really about the stunts and it certainly delivers in that respect and I think even those that aren’t the biggest Chan fans will be wowed by the shuttlecock scene. The humour while not great has a nice charm to it so I wasn’t too bored in-between the fights and the acrobatics. Overall, it’s an enjoyable kung-fu film and definitely something hard-core Chan fans should seek out.

“Dragon Blade” is a historical epic about the Romans in China. Apparently, it is only in recent years that archaeologists have discovered evidence of the Roman settlements in China. It’s certainly an interesting subject and “Dragon Blade” is an entertaining movie made in the same style as “Kingdom Of Heaven” and “Gladiator”. The movie also has some big names attached to it as it stars Jackie Chan (“Shanghai Noon”, “Chinese Zodiac”) and John Cusack (“2012”, “Better Off Dead”).

In “Dragon Blade”, Huo An (Chan) and his fellow members of the Silk Road Protection are framed for smuggling and sent to help restore the Wild Geese Fortress. A defecting Roman legion arrives seeking refuge from the warmongering Tiberius (Adrien Brody “The Pianist”). If the Silk Road and the more than thirty ethnic nations that use it are to remain free from the Roman Empire, they will need to join forces to thwart Tiberius.

Jackie Chan is really good as Huo Ann. I also really enjoyed the performance from John Cusack as Lucius, who leads the defecting Roman legion. Their interactions are fascinating as their growing friendship is mirrored by the bonding of their men with the Roman legion helping the Wild Geese Fortress’ restoration efforts. The swordfight between the two is also very entertaining. Adrien Brody is okay as Tiberius.

“Dragon Blade” may only loosely be inspired by history but it is nevertheless an enjoyable movie. Some of the large battle sequences are almost as impressive as the ones in “Kingdom Of Heaven” and “Gladiator”. The performances from Chan and Cusack are also very strong. If you like movies about ancient history then definitely check out “Dragon Blade”. I really wish we had more films like this because there is something just so impressive about the scale of historical epics with the costumes, the sets and the spectacular battles.

More over-the-top martial arts action in “The World’s Strongest”, another good addition to the “Dragon Ball” franchise. It’s not the best “Dragon Ball” movie out there but it is entertaining for fans of the series.

After the Dragon Balls are used by a man with sinister motives, a new foe appears. The evil Dr. Wheelo intends to locate the world’s greatest fighter so that he can steal their body and take control of the entire planet. Goku, Piccolo, Gohan and the others must unite if they are to stop this mad scientist but it will take all their skills if they are going to succeed against the forces of evil.

Goku, Piccolo, Gohan and Krillin are all here as you expect. However, what makes “The World’s Strongest” somewhat refreshing is that you actually get to see Master Roshi do some fighting in this one. Dr. Wheelo is an interesting departure from many of the villains from the “Dragon Ball Z” tv series but he’s not particularly impressive. He’s basically just a brain inside a large robot. This is one of the earlier “Dragon Ball” movies so do not expect to see Goku go Super Saiyan (fans will understand what I’m referencing). The animation on the characters is consistent with the show.

“The World’s Strongest” is a pretty short film, clocking in at around an hour, so you certainly not going to be spending too much time watching it. The action sequences are very entertaining, the plot is fine for this type of thing and some of the jokes are fairly funny. For fans of the series, it’s worth checking out. I’m not sure what people that are not familiar with the anime show will make of it. It’s certainly not as hard to understand as some of the later films but it’s still probably not the best place to start.

More frantic “Dragon Ball” action is likely to put a smile on the face of devout fans but it is unlikely to impress most people. I have seen some of the other “Dragon Ball” movies and have to say that this is not one of the better ones out there. It’s not bad, it just is not as fun as it should be.

After the heroes use the Dragon Balls to wish for the revival of a forest destroyed by a fire, the evil Saiyan Turles and his minions land on Earth and plant the ‘Tree of Might’. This will create a powerful fruit by draining the Earth of its resources. Goku, Gohan and the rest of the gang have to fight to save the Earth from devastation by destroying the Tree of Might and defeating Turles.

A young Gohan plays a fairly significant role in this one. He befriends a cute dragon and spends a lot of time with it throughout the movie. Goku, Krillin, Yamcha and Piccolo all appear in this one. Turles is a somewhat disappointing villain. He looks almost identical to Goku but apparently is not related to him so it comes across as though the animators were too lazy to properly design a new villain. The animation is at the same quality as the animation in the show.

“The Tree Of Might” could have done with being a little longer so that it could have a little more action. The movie seems to come to a very abrupt end as well. Those that cannot get enough “Dragon Ball” content will get some enjoyment out of it but there are better “Dragon Ball” films out there. If you are not familiar with “Dragon Ball” and have been reading this review with a confused expression on your face, do not bother with this movie.

The “Dragon Ball” franchise contains several television shows and a few dozen movies with “Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug” being just one of those movies. For those unfamiliar with the hit anime, this movie is unlikely to work for you because it does not really work as a standalone picture.

Goku and his friends from the popular “Dragon Ball Z” series team-up to defend the Earth when a vicious and powerful alien named Lord Slug arrives on Earth with the intent of terraforming it. Filled with numerous action sequences, Goku and his friends battle to save the day from the tyranny of Lord Slug and his army.

If you haven’t seen the “Dragon Ball Z” series, you’re unlikely to really know any of the characters because the movie works under the assumption that you’ve seen at least some of the episodes of the show. From my understanding, some fans were disappointed with this film due to Goku’s lacklustre transformation into a Super Saiyan (if you don’t watch the show, don’t worry if you don’t know what that means). Lord Slug is not one of the more memorable villains such as Frieza and Buu. The animation all the characters is probably just as good if not better than the animation in the show.

The action scenes are pretty entertaining and I did enjoy the movie’s pace as it is considerably faster than the show’s. If you like the television series then this is worth checking out but I cannot stress enough, if you do not watch the show, this movie is not for you. It’s hard to say no to a movie that isn’t even an hour in length so I recommend that fans of “Dragon Ball” check this out because I think this a pretty fun way to spend a short time.

“Fusion Reborn” is another addition to the “Dragon Ball” franchise and it’s action-packed as you would expect. The “Dragon Ball” franchise just seems to keeping getting bigger with more comics, tv shows, movies and videogames. This is definitely a nice addition as it adds a really good new foe and boasts some impressive visuals.

The balance of the universe is disrupted after a terrible accident and now the dead are rising so Goku and Pikkon postpone their tournament match to investigate. They encounter Janemba, a superpowered monster. Goku will be joined by his old friend Vegeta but only their combined strength will be enough to save the day.

Goku and Vegeta are the main heroes here and they must fuse together to create ‘Gogeta’. Janemba is pretty darn good considering how little screen time he gets. When he turns into his second form, that’s when you know things are getting really serious. Gohan, Goten, Trunks and Videl also appear as they battle the undead on Earth. Frieza has a very small cameo. I was very amused by the appearance of Hitler. The world that “Dragon Ball” creates is so clearly fictious that it feels ridiculous to suddenly throw a real historical figure such as Hitler in there.

“Fusion Reborn” looks pretty good and the Hell environment is a real feast for the eyes. Janemba is a good villain and it’s great to see Gogeta. The action scenes are explosive and very entertaining. Also, some of the gags are pretty funny. People that are not familiar with the “Dragon Ball” stuff are likely to be confused by this film; I do not recommend starting here if you want to get into “Dragon Ball”. If you are into “Dragon Ball” but have missed this one then I would really recommend watching this one.

I have a soft spot for the “Dragon Ball” films and television shows. Like the “Godzilla” movies, they contain quintessential Japanese carnage. “Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan” delivers more of the over-the-top mayhem that fans of the show know and love. If you are not familiar with “Dragon Ball”, you will probably be left confused by this movie.

Saiyan survivors request that Vegeta joins them and becomes the leader of their new home world. Meanwhile, the all-powerful ‘Legendary Super Saiyan’ is on the loose. Could these two things be connected? Goku and his friends will soon find out as they take part in a massive battle for the fate of the universe.

Goku, Vegeta, Gohan and Piccolo are the main heroes here. Broly is a fairly good villain by “Dragon Ball” standards. He becomes enormously powerful and presents a very significant threat. I do think that it was a mistake to mention him in the title as it is obviously not surprising when we discover that Broly is indeed the Legendary Super Saiyan. Some of the comic relief is provided by Krillin and Chi-Chi. The animation on the characters is not amazing but it definitely looks like the show.

There’s not a great deal of plot but there’s something so likeable about watching ludicrously overpowered characters whack each other through buildings. One scene even has Broly destroy an entire planet with a single projectile blast. Again, if you do not know anything about the “Dragon Ball” franchise, this probably is not the best place to start. “Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan” is not fantastic but I did have a good time watching it. It’s also rather short (just like most of the “Dragon Ball” movies) so you are not exactly losing a lot of time by giving it a watch.

“Bojack Unbound” is a very entertaining instalment in the “Dragon Ball” franchise. Like many of the other films, I have to admit that would be hard to enjoy it if you were not very familiar with the series. This one in particular is notable because it has the focus on Gohan rather than Goku.

Set after the Cell Games with Goku still dead, Gohan and the other heroes of Earth join an intergalactic martial arts tournament. The winner gets to challenge Mr. Satan, the world champion martial artist. However, the extra-terrestrial contestants turn out to be space pirates determined to conquer the world.

It’s really nice to see Gohan be the main focus of the movie. It really helps to distinguish this one from many of the other “Dragon Ball” films out there. Goku does appear but he is in the afterlife with King Kai. You also get to see Krillin, Yamcha, Future Trunks, Vegeta, Piccolo and Mr. Satan. Some people do not particularly like him but I find Mr. Satan quite funny. The most significant problem I have is with the villains. The film is so short that they do not get a lot of screen-time and as a result, they feel very underdeveloped. I think that is a problem with a lot of the “Dragon Ball” movie villains. The animation on the characters is very good.

“Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound” has some great animation, some very entertaining and action scenes and a few amusing comedic moments. I just wish it was a little longer because it feels a little rushed. If you are a fan of “Dragon Ball” then I highly recommend that you check it out. If you are not really into the franchise, you may be baffled by a lot of the dialog so I suggest watching some of the episodes of the series first.

Many “Dragon Ball” fans seem to regard “Bio-Broly” as the worst of the movies. It’s certainly a little underwhelming but it’s far from terrible. I think the most significant problem is that it is very similar to “The World’s Strongest”.

In “Bio-Broly”, martial arts champion Mr. Satan is challenged by an old nemesis. He is tasked with fighting mutant monsters so he has to rely on the help of Android 18, Goten and Trunks as he stands no chance of winning by himself. It is then revealed that scientists have also created a mutant from Broly’s genetic material. Now, the whole world might be in danger.

 Many people dislike the fact that Goten and Trunks get the spotlight. While I understand that it can get it a bit repetitive having Goku and Vegeta as the main characters, I think it is a bit of disappointment that they either only have a cameo appearance or do not appear at all. Having two kids as the main characters clearly make “Bio-Broly” even comedic than other entries in the series. I like the design of Bio-Broly as he is somewhat like Swamp Thing but apart from that, he is a very forgettable villain. The animation is quite good.

It starts off a little slow but does contain some big fights near the end. Sadly, the fights are not on par with the better ones from the tv show or the other films. I do not have a big problem with Goten and Trunks being the main characters but I understand that their antics getting a little stale. Bio-Broly is a mediocre at best foe for the heroes to fight. There are some funny moments and some the animation is impressive. If you are a big fan of the franchise then maybe still give this one a watch but definitely do not start here if you do not know much about “Dragon Ball”.