Product Details

• Actors: Dragon Ball Z, Enuka Okuma, Jessie Cody, Travis Willingham, Matthew Piersall
• Format: Color, Full Screen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.20:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Funimation Prod
• DVD Release Date: January 30, 2001
• Run Time: 48 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004YKPM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,220 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Dragon Ball Z - Bardock: The Father of Goku" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Bardock was one of the Saiya-jin Frieza used as mercenaries to conquer other worlds. Although he was only a "low-level" warrior, Bardock grew so powerful that Frieza and his lieutenant Doodoria feared he might become a threat to them. Doodoria brutally murdered the other members of Bardock's squadron; Frieza destroyed the entire Saiya planet--Vegeta, Nappa, and Goku (né Kakarot) were the only survivors. Before he was killed, the fishlike Tooro cursed Bardock with the ability to see the future, including his own brutal death. But his new psychic powers enable Bardock to establish a mysterious bond with his infant son, who will grow up to defeat the monstrous Frieza. Bardock the Father of Goku uses some of the same characters as the popular Dragon Ball Z TV series, but the continuities don't necessarily match. The one-hour TV special, which first aired in Japan in 1990, has been so heavily edited, it feels fragmented. The viewer is never told who Goku's mother is or why the infant is sent into space in a tiny ship, and the rock soundtrack can't quite marry the scenes that are often jarringly cut together. Unrated: suitable for ages 8 and up for cartoon violence and slight nudity. --Charles Solomon

From the Back Cover

When a low-class Saiyan soldier named Bardock unexpectedly inherits the ability to see into the future, his life takes a dramatic turn for the worse! Haunted by visions of his own end as well as the destruction of his entire planet, Bardock sets off of a nightmarish race with fate to advert the impending disaster. But Bardock seems to be stumbling long in a maze of hopeless despair until a vision of his baby son, Kakarot, as a grown man inspires him to make a change and confront his destiny head on!...This is the story of Bardock, the father of Goku!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Despite my reservations..., August 22, 2001

By 

Gillian Middleton "GillianinOz" (Brisbane, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragon Ball Z - Bardock: The Father of Goku (DVD)

...I really enjoyed this one. It MUST be watched in its original language to be really appreciated and that's the strength of this DVD. It has the original version with English sub titles!

The reason I was unsure about the story line is that it was about Bardock, I mean, who cares about Goku's father, right? It's Goku and Vegeta and Piccolo we all care about, right? But despite my reservations this was a rousing good story giving us a rare glimpse into the past and the lives of the Saiyins. In the Japanese version Bardock comes across as the trained soldier that he is, ruthless and single minded until he is granted the chance to see things from another point of view and therefore begin questioning for the first time in his life.

In the English version they try to whitewash him a bit and it just doesn't work. The beauty of the story is Bardock's realisation of what he and his people have allowed themselves to become in the service of Frieza, making the destruction of his race all the more poignant.

I recommend any anime title that has the original Japanese version on it anyway, but this one really illustrates the differences between the original and Funimations condescending makeover. Watch the two versions one after another and see if you agree with me!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Prequel and Good Action in its own right., October 14, 2003

By 

Ryk E. Spoor "Author, Gamer, Geek God" (Troy, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragon Ball Z - Bardock: The Father of Goku (DVD)

The Bardock TV special contradicts, or at least confuses the issue, with respect to some of the earlier material. However, it was generally accepted (even by Toriyama-sensei) as canon, and it's one of the best DBZ stories. Bardock, Goku's father, is a fairly typical Saiyajin, helping crush and conquer planets (and commit genocide) for the employer of most Saiyajin warriors, Freezer. But on one of these planets, the last surviving power warrior strikes Bardock to his soul, cursing him with the ability to see the future; it's a curse because the vision shows him the forthcoming destruction of his entire race. His newly-born son Kakaratto shares this vision (and thus cries a lot). Bardock eventually discovers that it is Freezer who intends to destroy them, having decided that the Saiyajin as a race might eventually pose a threat to him and his people. Bardock's desperate attempts to forestall fate transform him from a thoughtless mercenary to a rough hero, at least for this short time, and he shows a warrior potential far beyond anything Freezer expected. Though he is defeated, in death he is at least granted a last vision of the future which shows his son -- grown up and the living mirror image of his father -- will confront and defeat the psychotic alien.

Not only is this a pretty fancy and complex story for a DBZ movie, but it's well told, well acted (in the original Japanese), and has the very cool combat theme song called "Solid State Scouter". A must-have for any DBZ fan.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My all-time FAVORITE Dragon Ball Z Story!, February 24, 2002

By 

David C. Rutledge "Superpope" (Ada, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragon Ball Z - Bardock: The Father of Goku (DVD)

Okay, so Funimation seems to just grab people off the street to dub the voices for their English Dragon Ball Z releases, and the way they mess up the original plots and music makes my skin crawl. At least they've started giving us the option to view the movies in the original Japanese with directly translated subtitles!

The plot of this movie (originally a TV special in Japan) is darker than most DBZ tales, and portrays a very Japanese sense of honor and vindication. Goku's father, who we know to have been killed by Freeza, is "cursed" by a dying alien to see the future of his race. As the movie progresses, he periodically sees flashes of his infant son Goku growing up, and the destruction of planet Vegita. When none of his comrades will believe his premonitions, Bardock embarks on a last ditch effort to stop Freeza and change his future.

If you are a DBZ fan GET THIS DVD. Just do yourself a favor and DON'T WATCH THE ENGLISH DUB!