DragonBall Evolution opened Nationwide today. I just got back from a 2PM screening of DragonBall Evolution, and I have to admit, I actually enjoyed the movie a lot. So much so that I actually plan on watching it again. This is from a person who has seen(and owns most of) all 153 episodes of DragonBall, all 291 episodes of Z, all 64 episodes of GT, the 4 DragonBall movies, the 13 DragonBall Z movies, the two OVAs, the two Z TV specials, the GT special, and even The Magic Begins. As well as owning all of the manga. To say I'm not a fan of the source is quite a stupid thing to say. Stay durring the credits for something that will likely set up the sequel should DBE succeed. --SPOILERS AHEAD-- The bootleg everyone has watched is missing like 20 minutes. The entire opening of the film is missing in that bootleg. As well as the credits, and a few other things. It's also very clear much footage ended up on the cutting room floor (Goku's friend in some early press releases, Weaver, is only mentioned a single time and never is actually seen, etc.). But James Wong, the director has confirmed the DVD version will have deleted scenes and should be a longer cut. It's a very enjoyable movie if you don't start overthinking things. There are a lot of plot points that have not been explained (but considering it's been confirmed the DVD cut will be longer if may have been FOX's clippers leaving that on the floor), but if the film doesn't put a grin on your face atleast once I don't think you really love DragonBall. The movie isn't the most accurate to the source, but a very enjoyable movie was made from it. While Goku in the beginning can be descibed as the emo stereotypical kid no one likes, he does exhibit a lot of scenes of over confidence, and gluttony (ie, the scene where Gohan prepares a feast for Goku, and the Goku munching down the drumstick). There are some "WTF moments", mostly because a few things aren't explained: Durring a flashback we see Goku as a baby, an Asian baby. Completely goes agaisnt the Caucasian Chatwin who plays teenage Goku. Where Mai comes from is never explained. Where Piccolo's ship comes from is never explained. What Nameks are, as well as Saiyans are only breifly mentioned. Roshi uses some Ka-Me-Ha-Me-Ha to revive Goku... Also, many can find the Goku and Chi-Chi scenes to be painful. That is really what I disliked the most. EDIT- I realize there are a bunch of threads on this movie already, but most are older threads that already have a bundle of posts posted long before the movie was released in North America. This is the discussion thread for the North American, European, etc. releases.
saw the movie today it was pretty good. its seems all the actors nailed the characters expecially piccolo. hope they come out with another one and vegeta or freeza is the bad guy. also it is alot better then the original chinese version
I have only one question, a question which will determine whether I try to see this at some point or just completely ignore it: Are there any "Over 9000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" references?
Ill wait til the TPL (toronto public library) stock it, I dont plan to give any money to that movei if I can
Oh I smiled during the movie......for the wrong fucking reasons. I shouldn't be laughing more than I have for any comedy this year during the film's anti-climatic Kamehahmeha scene but I did. The action during the final battle reminded me of kids re-enacting fightscenes from the anime in some backyard. Yeah there was a crapload of CGI but certain things during the fight just reminded me of it. Fox is 2 for 2 in sucky movies this year. Way to go.
Honestly, I liked it. But then again, I went in expecting to be disappointed. Acting was a little ho-hum from some of the supporting cast. Goku and Roshi were the best. Special Effects were good. Fight scenes were alright, but the big climactic battle was good, albeit a little short. It seems like this is the IN movie to hate right now, but if you just take it as a popcorn flick based on a campy anime from the 80s, you'll find out it's not so bad.
Saw it yesterday, thought it was pretty cool... only things that got to me, there was what looked like some big cuts made of scenes that showed character development... Bulma and Yumcha hitting it off being the most obvious point, but a few other little bits and pieces throughout. And the other main thing was the final fight was far too short. I hate to say it, but they should have been on Namek longer At least another couple of minutes.
Sooo... saw this last night. It's not exactly a great movie, but it's not bad either (sorry TF fans... it's no worse then the movie Mike Bay put out and we all gorged on back in 2007). Problem seems to be that the general public (or should I say the various online "fandoms") have made this the movie that it's "cool to hate on" right now for various reasons. It's as good a popcorn flick as Transformers was... in other words... if you go in and suspend your disbelief and are willing to except a new take on the franchise... then you'll be fine. If you go in expecting to see the Manga or Anime in live action then you'll be disappointed. So, my thoughts: The acting seemed a little forced from some of the cast, especially Emile Rossum... almost like she couldn't get past her first set of lines very well. Chatwin and Chow Yun Fat, however, along with James Marsters deliveries, really make up for it though. Oh, and the guy they had playing Yamcha nailed the character dead on I thought. I was kind of irked that they tried to put this in 'real Earth', so to speak, as opposed to leaving it in the fictional Earth of the Dragonball Universe. I think the movie wouldn't have moved so slowly in the beginning if this were the case... not to mention the movie wouldn't have been missing key characters from the series such as Oolong, Puur & Shao (but I heard the director deliberately pulled those characters as he didn't want any Furry references made from the movie... so no anthromorphs that are so common in the Anime & Manga). The special effects were excellent and the fight scenes were well choreographed. The Kamehameha Goku uses at the end looked excellent and I really liked the look of him as "Oozaru". Some plot points could really use some expanding on... such as Nameks and Saiyans are only briefly touched on, but I would expect that to be hit on more in any sequels that come of this. The ending after the initial credits definitely set up for a second film. One I can easily see being made actually. I thought Chi Chi's character was a little forced to begin with, but by the end of the movie I think they really started to get Goku & Chi Chi's relationship (the way they respond to each other) down. Mostly... again, it's probably something that would be seen more later. I really enjoyed Bulma and Yamcha's dialogue later in the movie once they started to hit it off. Again, the guy who they had do Yamcha nailed the character... I'm only sad that he didn't use the 'Wolf's Fang Fist' at any point, but they seemed to want to play exclusively on the bandit angle of his character. Who knows... maybe Roshi will train him later and he can have some good fight scenes in a later film. The final fight was cool, if not a bit short, and it's interesting that Goku had to bring himself under control of his 'inner beast'. I also like the way he jumped towards Piccolo as he fired off his Kamehameha at him... nice nod to when young Goku in Dragonball leaped towards, and ripped through, one of Piccolo's attacks to use an Oozaru powered head-butt of doom that ripped straight through Lord Piccolo's chest. Very cool. Finally, Chow Yun Fat nailed Roshi's character period. The pervy martial arts master with a heart of gold and a six sense about Goku... yeah, he got his character right more so then anyone else I think. Though, Chatwin seemed to do okay once you got him out of the awkward High School scenes. Overall I thought it was a good film, but it felt like it was lacking something. Not sure what though. I'd like to see the film get a sequel, but I'm not so sure that the movie was good enough to get one. Then again, I didn't think Transformers was good enough to get a sequel either and one's coming for that. I guess it will depend on the box office really.
YouTube - Super Serious Dragonball Evolution Movie Review Find out what no one else has the balls to say about it
I spent all morning debating whether or not to go see it this afternoon. I did. I'm pretty sure I made an unwise decision. I don't know where to begin, but I'll just say this... this was the first movie that had me debating in the first half hour whether I should just leave and get my money back. I think that being a fan of the source material had me doing too many "waitaminute"'s in my head, but if I'd never seen the original stuff, I wouldn't have been going to that movie to begin with, even if my ignorance would have provided bliss. Screw it, I'm going to go watch my DBZ dvd's and enjoy it like it should be.
Agreed. But there were some things that bugged me: --The "Goku doesn't fit in at school" plot point was dropped pretty quickly, making me think they could've worked their way without it. I can totally see how it makes things easier from a writing stand point, but they really should've done more with it. --Seemed rushed and the dialouge was kinda ackward in some places. --Yamcha just annoyed me for some reason. Wish they went with Krillen instead. --Goku's skill/power level seemed really inconsistant. --Would've liked to see more of the Oozaru form. Just felt like we never got a good look at him. --So how did Piccolo escape? --So they resurrect Roshi, but not Grandpa? However, there was plenty I did like: --Goku. I think the kid nailed it. Not so much the action, but all the little detials like eating huge drumsticks. I LOLed at the hail gell scene. --Chi-Chi. Not only was she gorgeous, but she was a really good character, and I really did feel like she and Goku bonded. Her helping Goku train was one of my favorite scenes. --Roshi. Again, perfect casting. He was probably the best part of the movie. --I'm sure this is blashamy, but I thought Bulma as a gunslinging scientist was awesome. --Really cool fight scenes, of course. --Goku using the cannon fodder demons as a bridge was actually really clever. Don't recall ever seeing that in this type of movie before. Bonus points for creativity. --They could've done more with Piccolo, but Marsters made the best of every scene he was in. Great villian, and hope to see more in another flick. --Very cool special effects. The Goku's Kamehameha was pure win. So yeah, great popcorn movie and I think it's probably the best we can get for live action DBZ. I totally intend to buy the DVD.
Wow, this came out this week?? Awesome promotion, Hollywoods. I saw exactly one trailer for it, I assumed it was coming out later this summer or something. haha awesome. brb afk to theater to go help it makes 74 million to beat fast & furryess car movies.
Ok so let's do a rundown. Mind you I missed the first 10-20 minutes of the film. - Goku at school: felt just like the Invisibles. After seeing that movie I'm gonna have a hard time believing that (can't remember actors name) can play anything different. - Goku ditching his grandpa: should have had way more impact than it did. It was so just pushed to the least of everyone's worries that it seemed skipped. - Bulma: All her lines seemed forced, none of her was really believeable to me either, especially her with Yamcha - Yamcha: Annoying as hell, shoulda been Krillin. Why weren't you available Verne Troyer, why?! - Master Roshi: Best character in the movie, second only to Piccolo. He got the best development and rocked the movie, hell he made the sacrifice to try and stop the green guy and brought Goku back to life with a Kamehameha. Awsome. -Piccolo: Needed way more time onscreen, as he only on for like what a total of 30 minutes? He didn't seem like a threat. - Oozaruu: Needed to be monster size and actually be seen. When the monkey was on screen it felt like cloverfield. - Shenglong: awsome. Done very well. - Special effects: Some were good some bad. One of the cooler effects was the capsule corps bike. That thing rocked. The Kamehameha wave was cool depending on when it was used. In some scenes it felt a little shifty. The end battle was also cheesy as hell. Their moves were too slow, there was nothing hyperactive about the fight. The Kamehameha wave was fun to watch when he started it but when Goku flew it was like Supes flyin in Superman 1. Cool during the 70's but that don't work on a movie budget nowadays. So that's my review, I give it a **and a 1/2 would have given it less if Goku, Roshi and Piccolo had all sucked, but they didnt and they held the movie togethor.
