The first time we talked about Light of Hope was in March 2014. Even then, it had polarized fans, because any live-action adaptation of the Dragon Ball universe is naturally contentious regarding quality and content. But after going through difficult times, Light of Hope not only delivered a solid pilot with more than 28 million views, but now presents a revised 35-minute version. The question is, is it worth it?
The Dragon Ball franchise continues strong with the development of Dragon Ball Super, which has accumulated 116 episodes to date. The Z team is trapped in the labyrinth of a multi-universal tournament that has even frightened the gods themselves, and Goku plans to break out essentially by punching his way through. In this stretch of the story, some very interesting characters have emerged, and following the classic Dragon Ball style, it will likely stretch for dozens of episodes. However, that is not the only activity we have recorded. The world of fan films continues to evolve despite budgetary restrictions and the enormous number of technical details affecting them. One of the latest projects making noise is Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope, an old acquaintance here at NeoTeo. Apparently, the folks at Robot Underdog have decided to turn the second part of their series into a 35-minute special, and here is the result:
As we mentioned on previous occasions, Light of Hope is inspired by the events of “A Different Future”, which shows us the last two Saiyan warriors, Gohan and Trunks, in a race against time and the brutality of Androids 17 and 18, determined to completely destroy what little remains of the human race. On one hand, the story tries to explore the human side of the survivors: Gohan’s sadness, Bulma’s desperation, and Trunks’ frustration at not being able to achieve the Super Saiyan transformation. On the other hand, there is a brief philosophical moment in which the androids contemplate a future without humans to kill. Their conclusion… is not exactly encouraging.
Granted, the limitations in special effects are quite evident, and the acting is difficult to tolerate in certain passages. Yet Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope has surpassed one and a half million hits in four days. Even so, I know many of our readers are die-hard fans of the saga, and I’d like to hear your opinions. After Fall of Men took us by surprise, Light of Hope has something interesting to share, and its final ten minutes are the strongest. The comments are open.
