Dragon Ball: The Movie-Sleeping Princess in Devils Castle

Goku and a young monk named Krillin arrive at the island of Master Roshi, the Turtle Hermit, looking to receive special training.  Roshi offers a challenge: if the pair can retrieve the legendary Sleeping Princees, imprisoned in the castle at Devil’s Hand, he will make them his students.  The race is on and not only is there a gun totting treasure hunter sticking her nose in, but the Sleeping Princess is guarded by a host of monsters and demons.  And their leader, Lucifer, has dark plans for Humanity.  Even Goku’s old friends: Bulma, Oolong, Yamcha and Puar are getting caught up in the excitement.  Can Goku and company save the world AND the Sleeping Princess before darkness falls across the Earth forever?

As the follow up to Curse of the Blood Rubies, Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle acts as a loose sequel while also acting as a proper stand alone movie adventure in the same vein as many of the Dragon Ball Z films that followed years later.  There’s a greater sense of grandness, better action and the addition of some of the franchises more memorable and long lasting characters.

Much like how I’d hoped Curse of the Blood Rubies could’ve been a strictly Goku and Bulma adventure, Sleeping Princess sees Goku teaming up with his eternal bestie and everyones favorite bald and tough as nails warrior Krillin.  It’s interesting to see the early days with these two.  By the time we get to Z, they’ve been best friends for years.  And while they do begin the start of that long journey about halfway through this 45min movie, some of Sleeping Princess’ best humor comes from the initial rivalry between Goku and Krillin as they race to retrieve the titular Princess.  It’s hard to believe Krillin was such a bratty and selfish guy in the beginning but his arrogance is played for great laughs.  In truth, any moment they share the screen together is a treat, not just because we know just how tight they’ll become down the line, but how easily they play off one another from the get go.  Competing against each other or fighting side by side, Goku and Krillin have had one of the longest lasting friendships in all of Dragon Ball and Sleeping Princess exemplifies why that is.

Sleeping Princess certainly feels darker and more grander than Curse of the Blood Rubies.  Since the main baddies are gun totting demons and a Dracula knock off, I’m glad the art and scenery embraces the more gothic aesthetic, lending a more theatrical feel to the story.  Having legions of foes for Goku and Krillin to fight isn’t bad either.  The movie isn’t without the original Dragon Ball’s trademark humor though and as scary as the monsters are, some do deliver some good laughs.  However, much like Gurumes in Blood Rubies, Lucifer is all talk and little show.  Sure Goku and Krillin get to fight him but only for a few seconds.  Goku needs a proper big bad to take on guys.  There’s also a problem Sleeping Princess and Blood Rubies both share: everyones here.  Save for Puar lending an important hand at a critical moment, is there any reason for Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong and Puar to get involved in this adventure?  It does take away from the introduction of Launch, the gun totting bad ass who changes into a naieve girl whenever she sneezes.  She is barely in the film but when she does arrive, you wish you could see more of her.

Is Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle better than Curse of the Blood Rubies?  It’s about equal I think.  Both films are good for different reasons.  Whereas Blood Rubies is a solid entry point for new fans, Sleeping Princess is the more traditional stand alone film that checks off all the series must have boxes while also succeeding in doing its own thing, despite some hiccups along the way.  As far as follow ups go, Sleeping Princess isn’t bad.  It’s certainly helped by the addition of Krillin to the movie universe.  Not perfect but good enough entertainment from the early days of Dragon Ball.

7.5/10

Next week, the original Dragon Ball Movie Trilogy comes to a close with the appearance of more familiar faces and a possible mega boost in the action department with Dragon Ball: The Movie-Mystical Adventure, right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.