In all the interviews before the movie was released, James Wong, Justin Chatwin and even James Masters told us of how much this movie will remained faithful to the manga and anime, but also with an added bonus such as the modern city and the realism so that it looks like it is set in the real world. Thus, I had my hopes high.Walking into the cinema, I sat down with my popcorn as the reel started to roll. A fast prologue explains that 2,000 years ago, the evil Lord Piccolo tried to destoy the world with the help of his montrous demon and was only imprisoned by a brotherhood of men. The film then skips to present day, as young Goku spars with his grandfather. As a gift for his 18th birthday, Grandpa Gohan gives Goku a dragonball, briefly explaining that only seven of the balls exist and when they are united a dragon is summoned which can grant one perfect wish.
Okay, it still sticks to the original story. Fair enough.
But on the some day, Piccolo emerges, freed from shackles, with his lady assistant in an airship, trying to find the Dragonball. All the while, Goku is at a school party tryng to woo his high school crush, Chi Chi and has a fight with some jocks, when his grandfather is killed by Picollo who couldn't find the Dragonball. With his last breath, Goku's grandfather tells him to find Master Roshi, who lives on a small island (in the middle of town) and find the rest of the Dragonballs to save the world.Okay, maybe some few changes. I can live with that.
Goku then went on a "Wizard of Oz"-like adventure, where he seeks the Dragonball and meets a few friends along the way. At least the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion have more character development than Bulma, Master Roshi and Yamcha.
Everything happens too fast. Goku had his training with Roshi on the way to find the Dragonball and learns the Kamehameha "theorically", because Roshi just tells him how to do it and in the final battle, he did it!
The actor that really (or, almost) lives out the character is James Masters playing Lord Piccolo. We can feel his anger and vengeful drive towards the Earth, though we still do not know why, or how he was freed. And unfortunately, he gets so little screen time that the moviemaker could have just use CGI and spare Masters from wasting his time. Chatwin was also a great actor... if Goku was such a moody and one dimensional character.But I guess what saved the movie is the special effect and the storyline itself (which is from the manga; the "Demon Lord Piccolo" Saga). The special effect is really awesome (no where near Transformers or Watchmen, but still); everything looks real. From the background to the slow-motion fight scene and even the Kamehameha. Although it could have been done way better.
Dragonball Evolution looks like a B-movie, or something straight to DVD or TV.
As soon as the movie ended, I was speechless.
But there was a short scene during the credits. Stay if you want, but I know a lot of Dragonball fans would already know what it is.
Dragonball Evolution: I would only recommend it to those who would like to just kill some time off the weekends.
ok, i just want to let you know, that you dont know crap about that manga if you felt there were only a few changes in the story line. ONE Goku kills his grandfather, not piccolo. TWO Goku is supposed to be fourteen, he never goes to school, bulma finds him, he knows nothing about the dragon balls, and he trains with Roshi on Roshi Island. He meets Chi Chi when he is fourteen and really has no interest in women, he doesnt really know all that much about them. The story from what you said it was, is complete garbage and needs to be burned. But whatever you liked it, good for you, you just dont know shit about dragonball, the real series.
ReplyDeleteThis DragonBall movie is a bitch slap to all manga/anime fans....and you say it is RECOMENDED??
ReplyDeleteI was going to see it. Thank god for the internet so I can read all these bad reviews. I know Dragonball is goofy and funny compared to DBZ, but changing the storyline that much is mainly what made me not want to watch it. That, and the apparently painful acting. Funimation fails.
ReplyDeleteyou are the only idiot that recommends this movie. You fail.
ReplyDeleteTransformers actually had pretty shitty CG so if this is worse... I shudder to think.
ReplyDeleteYou have no taste in movies and you obviously never read the manga, but that's probably good for you because if you did, you would probably have gouged your eyes out at watching this movie.
Oh and Jordan, the movie was released by Fox, no Funimation. It's a Big Budget Fail.
"ANY" DRAGONBALL MOVIE, should have been made like "STAR WARS:CLONE WARS","BEWOLF" or "300"
ReplyDeletewith MUSIC from like "DRAGONBALL Z'S: BROLY" DVD!!or MUSIC from the cartoon series 4get LORD PICCOLO SERIES, IN ORDER, #1.what about when FUGITA first came to earth & told GOKU to destroy plants with him or die, thats when GOKU finds his SAYIAN STRENGTH!! or #2.the FRIEZA SERIES which would have setup a #3.MAJIN BUU SERIES great chracters in that series and finally #4.BROLY:THE GREAT SUPER SAYIAN.