As said, the Kamehameha is the reveal, which is why it's more dragged out and dramatic than the Makankosappo. Watching the episode reminded me of how jarring it was in the anime - Cell pulls out the Makankosappo, a technique only used by Piccolo in a single battle, and then still uses the Kamehameha scene as the big reveal.
Also yes, the Goku-rock thing was filler and inspired by the Roshi-Chichi thing. Though there's alsoa Boo arc scene where Goku blows up old Kaioshin to see how good he is - but that's because he actually had doubts about Kaioshin than expecting him to masterfully counter it.
Kamehameha seems underwhelming for a reveal. That the Special Beam Cannon was only used once by Piccolo makes it unique; a lot of people have done the Kamehameha, and Cell wouldn't be the first villain to crib a technique off the protagonists, with both Vegeta and Frieza stealing the kienzan from Krillin.
If Cell hadn't exposited about his origins just then, Piccolo probably would have flown back to Kame Island and gone, "Hey, Master Roshi, did one of your students turned into a giant cicada monster, or did it just watch someone do it and instantly learn it like Goku that one time that I don't actually know about?"
The Kamehameha is the Village Bicycle of Dragon Ball techniques; more people perform it than the Solar Flare.
edited 27th Aug '14 8:06:55 AM by TobiasDrake
My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.IIRC, this fight is a bit more of curbstomb in the manga. Not that Cell is winning or anything here, but goes a lot quicker in the manga and turns into a more drawn out brawl otherwise. That definitely happens in other situations too, but it struck me right away here (the Cell Saga being the only arc whose manga I remember for the most part, since it's my favorite saga and I bought both manga and anime).
In any case, I also hope they have Krillin saving that girl from Cell in the next installment. Not only is it an awesome moment for Krillin even though Cell does kick his ass, but the sporadic creepy scenes of Cell hunting down the populace are some of my favorite parts of the storyline - it really adds to his scariness factor.
Though if they do, I hope they lampoon how the music in the dub had Cell walking to the beat. Maybe by making the music something over the top or something.
edited 27th Aug '14 9:04:50 AM by KnownUnknown
"Shenron, I wish for you to trap Cell inside a ball of bedrock, and then launch that ball as close as you can to the sun ten times faster than the speed of light."
Would the ball shatter beneath Cell's feet, or would he break out before it made any difference? What if they'd try'd it while he was sleeping before the Cell games?
edited 27th Aug '14 9:17:49 AM by FOFD
Doesn't need to be super-strong, what if it's transported at such a speed Cell doesn't react in time?
We've seen them shatter rock in their hands/feet, but we've also seen large formations rise underneath them, without them automatically tearing through it. When they power up and zip forward sure, they start eating through the stuff. But here, in one moment, they're standing on an island, the next, the island shoots into the sky at magical speeds.
Shenron can't move figures of Super Saiyan-level power stronger than Kami without their consent, but manipulating the environment around them? That seems doable.
For that matter, how does that consent work? Did Goku receive a telepathic message from Shenron, requesting permission? Can Shenron, by order of the wisher, lie to the person being transported?
edited 27th Aug '14 9:40:50 AM by FOFD
In order to move a ball of rock around Cell, Shenron would have to be able to move Cell. The force pushing back against him would not only be the rock, but Cell inside of it.
It's like trying to move Vegeta's Saiyan Battle Armor while he's wearing it; you have to be able to overcome his resistance too, not just the armor's.
edited 27th Aug '14 10:19:54 AM by TobiasDrake
My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.>Wish on the Dragon Balls to make the sun explode next to Earth in a half an hour
>Goku uses IT to transport the main cast to King Kai's planet
>Cell is destroyed in the ensuing supernova
>Gather the balls again/use your remaining two wishes (depending on the dragon) to restore Earth, its people, and the sun
>Live happily ever after
So many problems could have been solved by creative use of dem balls.
I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serialThat probably wouldn't kill him. Like, these guys can tanks blasts strong enough to destroy entire planets; they're not going to killed by that kind of thing. The 'inside his head' part might mess up anyone else, but it's not going make much difference to someone with From a Single Cell regeneration.
edited 27th Aug '14 11:55:14 AM by Gilphon

No, they got out of that box and showed up in Battle of Gods.
Lunch, however, is probably getting a little lonely in there.
edited 26th Aug '14 6:07:00 PM by TobiasDrake
My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.