Dragon Ball: Shenron no Densetsu

"Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies" is Dragon Ball's first movie. The movie is a retelling of the beginning of Dragon Ball but this time it replaces the villain Pilaf with a new character named King Gurumes. Gurumes is a king cursed with an insatiable hunger, a hunger that he tries to satisfy through eating blood rubies. He wants to use the Dragon Balls to wish the hunger away, which is an interesting motivation for the villain. Arguably his wish is more noble than that of our heroes.

The main downside to this movie is how much it just repeats from the series. It adds very little to make itself stand on its own. If you have seen the series, there isn't much here to recommend. It is just interesting to see a different telling of the story. Almost as if you are stepping into an alternate universe of Dragon Ball. Maybe these are the events that happen in Universe 6 after Beerus wishes Earth back in their universe.

If you are using this movie as a replacement for the Pilaf Saga of the series, the main thing you will miss, outside intro of Pilaf, Mai and Shoo, is the introduction of Goku's future wife Chi Chi. Instead we have the "Snow" looking red head of this movie, Penny.

On its own, the movie is fun and charming just like the original series, but it doesn't do enough for me to place it above the series. And if you have seen the series, there isn't much of a point in watching it at all. But if like the King, you find yourself with an insatiable hunger for Dragon Ball content, this will tide you over.