Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest (1990) User Reviews

Who is the strongest fighter in the world...

[DoubtfulHenry · 8/10 · 9 November 2008]

Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest is my favorite dragon ball z movie. The animation is smooth, the fights are awesome, and it's just an all around fun film to watch.

The world's strongest takes place somewhere before namek but after vegeta. Doctor Wheelo is a bio-scientist and together with his assistant ko-chin, they plan to take the body of the most powerful being on earth and use it as a vessel for doctor wheelo's genius brain.

The story as far as anime goes is passable, but in comparison to film in general, it's kinda ridiculous. But hey, i don't watch dragon ball z for story. I like it cuz of the crazy fights and fun characters. The World's Strongest delivers this. Goku, Krillin, Piccolo, Master Roshi and Gohan are all in top form. The fights here are great, and as mentioned before, have fluid animation. The voices are are alright but some of the dialogue is annoying. The music is classic original DBZ, which i dislike very much actually. Thankfully there isn't too much of it And i didn't enjoy the dream sequence where gohan falls asleep while doing homework. Oh well, still a great movie. I highly recommend this movie if you are a fan of dragon ball z. Nonfans will be lost and probably unhappy with it, but for real fans, you can't find any better than this.

The World's strongest indeed.

[emasterslake · 7/10 · 15 June 2008]

For sometime the crazed Dr. Wheelo has been resurrected as a brain in a robot. Now his desire is to inhabit the body of the world's most powerful fighter. Master Roshi was targeted as the body to snatch. While little did Wheelo knew is that there's someone far stronger than Master Roshi himself.

Like the previous movie this one is like watching a 2 parter episode.

The idea of the story was entertaining and it has all the promising characters making an appearance. Course this was an alternate telling during the first part of the series, so it doesn't feature those who make an appearance later in the long lived anime.

If you like the first one, then this one is right up your alley.

A must see for Dragon Ball Z fans

[Op_Prime · 15 January 2001]

This was an excellent movie. The animation is just great. The story seems pretty weak and it doesn't have the greatest dialogue in the world, but it's still pretty good. The fight scenes are terrific and more than make up for the story. This is a definite must see for all fans of the series.

This is not the best DBZ movie,its not the worst either.

[Nips · 7/10 · 17 November 2000]

This is not the best DBZ movie,its not the worst either.The animation in this movies is great,but the plot isnt.They also need to focus on other characters in the story instead of just Goku.I did like this movie,and I think that any person who likes DBZ should see this movie,some of the fight scenes are cool.(well to me anyway)

Best out of the 3 Pioneer Dubbed Movies!

[hybrid_theory_bd · 9/10 · 15 December 2006]

This Dragonball Z Movie is one of my very favorite, It has Excellent fight scenes and a very... Different original story, And on top of that the movie is pretty fun to watch, a lot of variety here. We got Master Roshi fighting, we got Dr. Wheelo's hand transforming into a Gun! and a lot of the fight scenes are some of the best in all of the movies. The fights are long and go pretty much throughout the entire movie, this one is also 60 minutes and is MUCH more better than "The Tree Of Might" which is also 60 minutes... I also found the animation for this movie was the best out of the three Pioneer Dubbed movies, just motion wise, I found that the fight scenes in the Worlds Strongest had more smooth motion fights and a lot of pretty unique fights, As of Dead Zone and The Tree Of Might they had there awesome fights here and there but The Worlds Strongest had excellent smooth animation throughout the entire movie.

Generic..

[Stefan_Loves_Movies · 6/10 · 9 February 2022]

Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest (1990) is an Animation/Action/Adventure 59m DBZ movie directed by Daisuke Nishio. The plot is straightforward: "The Z-Fighters must stop a mad scientist out to take over the world." This movie is a longer early-DBZ episode. The villain and plot are generic, nothing flashy or memorable is happening.

If you like DBZ you'll probably be okay with this movie, but you might forget about it the next day.

Pretty nice.

[dieusani · 5/10 · 18 March 2002]

Out of the three DBZ films I've seen--Dead Zone, The World's Strongest, and Tree of Might--The World's Strongest is the one I most enjoyed. The plot is decent enough: evil guy tries to take over the world, Goku and pals have to stop him...there's a little bit in there about Goku's rival/ally, Piccolo, getting mind controlled and having to fight Goku. This all leads up to some nice, fast-paced action with the least stalling ever featured in DBZ. ^_^ What's really great about the action in this film is that unlike most other DBZ stuff, it concentrates mostly on martial arts rather than the flying and massive blasts of power and charging up that is the center of the action on the TV show. The martial arts action is very well-animated, and the fights manage to be very dramatic for the most part. Now for the bad. Gohan...sings...a...song...in...honor...of...Piccolo. I will never get those few minutes of my life back. "Di di di, Pic-co-lo..."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Sorry...having flashbacks. That is seriously one of the most screwed-up, insane songs in the world and I worry that the people who made that sequence were on some sort of mind-altering substance...there is no other explanation for its existance. Anyway, fast-forward past THAT insanity and this is a film you should enjoy.

Awesome

[culwin · 9/10 · 21 February 2000]

Although it probably helps if you are already familiar with the characters and storyline of the Dragonball Z series, it is not a necessity. The animation of Dragonball Z has always focused on fighting, and this movie is no exception. If you've never seen this series and you're wondering what you're missing, this is a good place to start. I also recommend seeing "Dragonball Z: Dead Zone" if you get the chance. Both are must-sees for any die-hard fan.

This movie just doesn't make any sense

[johnnythewolf · 2/10 · 22 December 2004]

This movie isn't the worst DBZ movie ever, but absolutely not the best either.

The story started up okay. It's about an evil doctor named Wheelo who wants to put his highly-advanced brain in the most powerful body in the world (the world's strongest, duh). So, he sends his assistant, Dr. Cochrin, or whatever his real name is, and a bunch of "saibamen-like" henchmen to capture what he thinks to be the world's strongest, Master Roshi. Then, Gohan, Goku and Krillin come to the rescue and yada yada.

The main problem of this movie is actually what should be the main interest of it: the fights. In fact, there is too many incoherences in those. For example, Roshi fights Wheelo's biowarriors and don't seem to have any problem in doing it. On the other side, Goku, who is a LOT stronger than Roshi, couldn't do it without Kaioken. Such a nonsense! Also, why in the world Wheelo wants to put his brain in Roshi's body if his super cyborg-like form is so powerful? There's a lot of people who think that Lord Slug is one of the worst DBZ movie ever made. I don't. At least, fighting scenes in Lord Slug make sense! And it has a TRUE villain, not some kind of giant self-underestimating cyborg who sounds like Darth Vader.

But at least, World's strongest do have some serious fights scenes and a decent story if we put aside the incoherence. So, I guess this movie is not THAT bad. Oh, and it's still better than "Return of Broly".

A good flick.

[Aaron1375 · 10/10 · 24 September 2001]

This DBZ movie is very good. It is the only movie so far that I have seen where you get to see Master Roshi fight. Sure the fight doesn't last long, but he does good for a bit. This movie is about a crazy doctor who is now a brain in a jar. This guy wants the strongest person in the world so he can have his body. He hasn't been around lately so he mistakes Master Roshi for the strongest, but Bulma tells him that Goku is. Goku is on his way to rescue them and a bunch of cool fighting begins. Gohan, Krillin, and Picallo also are on hand for the fight.

Excellent animation, but uncharacteristically science-fiction plot

[AnthonyRS1983 · 2 July 2002]

This is the second Dragon Ball Z movie released during the series' Japanese TV run. This movie's plot, unlike the first DBZ movie, is not a re-telling of a particular moment in the TV series, but more of a side story. While Gohan assists Oolong on a trip up to the Zulmitezubri Mountains to recover Dragon Balls to wish for women's underwear, they stumble upon the Dragon Balls being used by an assistant scientist named Dr. Kochin. He makes a wish to the Eternal Dragon, Shenron, to free his mentor, Dr. Wheelo, from the ice that for fifty years buried him after the heavens punished him and Dr. Kochin for their selfish and inhumane intentions of their scientific endeavors. After the two scientists abduct Piccolo, Master Roshi, and Bulma, Goku sets out to rescue them and save himself from being used as a puppet controlled by Dr. Wheelo's only remains, his brain. This movie's plot is radically different from the usual demons-and-martial-arts affairs. It focuses on science fiction elements, which were actually developed later on into the TV series during the Cell era. The science-fiction story elements often causes the movie to drag inbetween the fight sequences, but the animation continues to be superb and surpasses that of the previous DBZ movie Return My Gohan! a.k.a. Dead Zone.

GRADE: 2.5 out of 5

out of the characters in the DBZ saga piccolo is the coolest

[piccolo · 10/10 · 20 January 1999]

This movie is the ultimate, super, coolest next to the tree of might. NO ONE can beat some of the animation in this movie. so in other words i'm saying Akira Toriama outdid himself on this movie.

I'm Impressed!

[tequila101 · 8/10 · 20 August 2012]

After watching Dead Zone and claiming that it was the only thing I loved about DBZ, I'd say it's that this next film which came out straight after it is good.

I think the voices are contrasted well between conversations, fight scenes and introduction.

I think the music is generally great and I like the snowy atmosphere. Definitely different to other DBZ settings, mainly contrasting Dead Zone.

The only problem I really had was this film did drag on at a few points which kept me waiting for something. In my opinion, its definitely not as amazing as Dead Zone.

I still like it and it has intrigued me to watch the other 13 or so films they have made in the on-going series! 8/10

A good way to begin a passion.

[GasperSK · 24 May 2000]

This is probably one of the best movies to help a newcomer to the series to get a handle on all that goes on. A BIT better then Dead Zone, but much better then Tree of Might. Though not in continuity of the series, it's still worth the watch. Highly recommended.

The best of the Dragon Ball Z movies so far

[whamontree · 9/10 · 26 June 2000]

From the opening frames of an icy wasteland, to the pounding drumbeat of the opening credits, to the simply awesome appearance of Dr. Wheelo, this movie is a standout amongst action animes. Most of the action takes place inside a huge fortress (which always offers limitless potential for coolness) before moving to the upper atmosphere for the climax. Almost everything here is perfectly realized and I'm guessing the animators were very pleased with the result of their hard work. Check it out, whether you're a DBZ fan or not, you won't be disappointed.

Good Anime

[Hal 9000-9 · 5 August 2000]

It is without a doubt, the best in the trilogy of films. The DVD has kick-a** sound. The plot is pretty standard, world is threatend by an evil madman, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Anyway this film is much better than Dead Zone, and 100 times better than Tree of Might. All it needs now is 79 minutes of new footage. Grade: A

DBZ's Strongest Classic Movie

[JayWolfgramm · 8/10 · 14 March 2023]

Most of the original DBZ movies are just retreads of the events of the series with some slight differences. "Dead Zone" is a lot like Raditz, where they kidnap Gohan, Piccolo and Goku team up to fight and Gohan's untapped potential makes itself manifest. Lord Slug is just doing what King Piccolo did, and Cooler is just Frieza again. 'World's Strongest" takes a different approach. Yes, I am aware that a lot of the final fight takes beats from Goku vs. Vegeta, but the villains and plot are different enough that I am willing to overlook it. Besides, if you are going to steal, might as well steal from your best fight.

The movie has the makings for what the series would later use in the android saga, Dr. Wheelo being the prototype for Dr. Gero. The movie also brings in some original Dragon Ball continuity back in, where Wheelo believes Master Roshi to be the world's strongest because of his win in the World Martial Arts Tournament. This not only ties into the series cannon, but it gives Roshi some much needed time to shine.

The villain's plan to take the world's most brilliant mind and put it in the world's strongest body is a unique, simple and instantly understandable goal. The creepy scientific ice lair location is a great location and helps give the whole thing a spooky feeling.

The downside is that they do spend too much time explaining the villain's straight forward plan. The whole bit with Oolong and Gohan feels out of place, Gohan's dream sequence with Piccolo is strange. And the wish made on the dragon is one of the series' dumbest wishes.

Outside of those problems, this is one of my all-time favorites. This was one of the original three that Toonami played back in the day, and of those three this one stands out as the best. It remains to this day one of the series strongest.