The Curse of the Blood Rubies is an ancient tale about the consequences that befall those who possess and exploit powerful red gemstones known as blood rubies. According to the legend, these rubies were infused with the blood of ancient gods and have a sinister enchantment that brings destruction and misfortune to those who acquire them. It is believed that the curse originated in a long-lost civilization that worshipped the blood rubies as sacred artifacts. These rubies were said to possess incredible powers, granting immense wealth, power, and even eternal life to those who possessed them. However, these rewards came at a great cost. As the story goes, the more someone desired the blood rubies, the more they would be consumed by their greed.
As the story goes, the more someone desired the blood rubies, the more they would be consumed by their greed. In their pursuit of obtaining these precious stones, people would resort to treacherous means, such as theft, murder, and betrayal. The blood rubies also had the ability to corrupt the hearts and minds of those who held them, turning once decent individuals into power-hungry and morally bankrupt beings.
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Before making their way into the “Z”-portion of the series, FUNimation tried things out with the first Dragon Ball TV series back in 1995. As a part of this endeavor, the very first movie for the franchise was also dubbed and released as “Curse of the Blood Rubies“. Much like their dub of the first thirteen TV episodes, it featured moderate censoring and a complete musical score replacement. Similar to their later “Z” distribution agreement with Pioneer, the home release for these episodes and movie were handled by Kidmark, who eventually (through a series of endless mergers and acquisitions) became absorbed into Lionsgate Entertainment. The details of this sub-license were never publicly disclosed, even long after the Pioneer sub-license expired and reverted to FUNimation. At one point we attempted to check in with Lionsgate as to what any future plans may be for the early part of the series and its first movie, but were quickly shooed away with a note that the relevant information was not for public consumption.
For years upon years, fans resigned themselves to the “fact” that the first thirteen episodes and first movie would probably never be released uncut and bilingual in North America due to this licensing fiasco. In 2001, FUNimation revisited the first TV series and began dubbing it for home distribution and television airing on Cartoon Network. Despite the first thirteen episodes receiving a completely new dub (and presumably with an uncut master back in the studio) which indeed aired on television, the home release continued onward, first on VHS and later on DVD, starting only with episode 14, where it had “left off” so many years earlier.
Off in its own little silo, Australia also received this continued home release of the first TV series from FUNimation, though distributed locally by Madman Entertainment. With the Lionsgate sub-license seemingly only affecting North America, Australia actually received a volume that American fans would have to wait on: a re-done “Saga of Goku” that not only included uncut and bilingual versions of the first thirteen episodes, but also the first movie! Sadly, the movie was the same dub-only and edited version with the original voice cast from so many years prior, indicating that a new, uncut dub of the movie had not yet been produced by FUNimation.
Leading up to July 2009, news tidbits and art began to leak online suggesting that FUNimation would be revisiting the first TV series for another home release, this time in a “remastered” format. Shocking everyone was the reveal that, yes, FUNimation had regained the rights to the first thirteen episodes, and they would be included uncut and bilingual on the first of the “blue brick” sets later that year.
The TV series continued its release in five sets at a steady pace over the next year, but FUNimation had yet to confirm any details about the first movie, which would have been included in the license return. In April 2010, the magazine Otaku USA published a pre-release review of the movie, which would apparently be receiving a re-release that July according to new RightStuf catalog listings. At the time, all indications pointed to a disc with the original, edited dub as well as an uncut version in its original Japanese. The following month, a trailer for the movie appeared on a new Amazon listing page that promised a “Coming Soon” release date. Nowhere in the trailer were any words such as “uncut” or “unedited” or even “Japanese” used (the trailer even used scenes from the TV episodes, which is one way the prior edited version changed elements of the movie), so it continued to be confoundingly-vague. To make matters worse, online listings began changing the release date to December later that year, which FUNimation soon confirmed to us was the new and accurate date for the release.
It took until November to get solid information about the release: it would be uncut, remastered, bilingual, and would receive a new dub with recast roles. By that point, the movie was only about a month off from release!
We reviewed the movie based on its Japanese Dragon Box release back on Episode #0112 of our podcast, but a three-year gap since then gave us an excuse to revisit the movie based on its celebratory and proper North American release so many years after its original debut.
Once in possession of the blood rubies, the curse would begin to take effect. The curse would gradually bring misfortune and suffering upon the owner, ensuring that their ill-gotten wealth and power turned to dust. The cursed individual would be plagued by a series of unfortunate events, including financial ruin, failed relationships, and even sudden death. Throughout history, there have been accounts of powerful leaders, merchants, and explorers who fell victim to the curse. Many of them met a tragic end, and their possessions were lost forever. Some have even claimed to have witnessed firsthand the curse in action, experiencing the eerie presence of malevolent forces surrounding the blood rubies. As the tale spread, the blood rubies became objects of fear and superstition. People began to believe that anyone in possession of these stones would suffer an inevitable fate. Some legends suggest that burying the blood rubies deep within the earth can break the curse, while others insist that the only way to escape the curse is to return the stolen stones to their rightful resting place. The Curse of the Blood Rubies continues to captivate the imaginations of storytellers, archaeologists, and treasure hunters alike. While some dismiss it as mere folklore, others approach the tale with caution, acknowledging the dark history and power that may lie within these mythical gemstones. Regardless of its veracity, the legend serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of greed and the consequences that befall those who seek to exploit and possess that which is not rightfully theirs..
Reviews for "The Cursed Blood Rubies: Myth or Reality?"
1. Jessica - 2/5 stars - Curse of the Blood Rubies was a disappointment for me. I found the storyline to be very predictable and cliché. The characters lacked depth and development, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The animation quality was also subpar, with limited details and stiff movements. Overall, I was expecting more from this film and it fell short of my expectations.
2. Michael - 3/5 stars - I was excited to watch Curse of the Blood Rubies, being a fan of the Dragon Ball series, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The plot felt rushed, with important events happening too quickly without proper explanation or buildup. Additionally, the dialogue was often cheesy and lacked substance. Although the action sequences were decent, they couldn't make up for the weak storytelling. It's not a terrible movie, but it failed to capture the magic of the original Dragon Ball series.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - Curse of the Blood Rubies was a letdown for me. The voice acting felt forced and lacked emotion, making it difficult to get invested in the characters. The humor fell flat, with jokes that were repetitive and uninspired. The animation style was also a departure from the original Dragon Ball series, giving it a more generic and generic look. Overall, I found this film to be forgettable and not worth the time for die-hard Dragon Ball fans.