Review of Dragonball Evolution (2009) by Sean S — 25 Jun 2011

Goku (Justin Chatwin) is an 18 year old who must journey to find the seven dragonballs before the evil Piccolo (James Marsters) can use them for his own evil desires.

I am a fan of Dragonball and Dragonball Z, and i've heard a number of fans of the anime/manga did not like this film. I went in expecting a horrendous mess, but once I understood that this wasn't a direct adaptation of Dragonball and more of a reinterpritation, I just went along with the film and enjoyed it even more. I especially enjoyed the number of ties the film has to Dragonball series that you wouldn't expect in a lesser adaptation, like the Mafuba and the fact they kept Capsule Corp in there.

Justin Chatwin played Goku well, immediatley a likeable lead that you'd happily spend the film following. Considering the character is supposed to be 4 years younger at this stage of the show, it makes sense that they made Goku older, as it would not be good to have a film where a big green alien beats the holy hell out of a 14 year old. I did like how it seemed they kept a child-like mind on Gokus character for quite a number of the film. Emmy Rossum was better for the role of Bulma then I expected, embodying a kick ass persona to this character.

When I heard Chow Yun Fat was playing Master Roshi, I was skeptical. Don't get me wrong, I think CYF is a great actor, but I thought he would play the role of the peverted master serious. I'm glad the role wasn't played seriously, but gave way to some perverted moments that made me remember the Muten Roshi of the show. James Marsters played the role a little bit generic, but his appearance actually worked quite well for this film. Also, the way they changed it so Piccolo's monsters are unleashed from his blood rather than him vomiting eggs for them to hatch, thats a good substitution. Didn't want the kids to mistake the villian for Yoshi.

One thing I especially like about this film is that they kept it set in Japan. Usually, with American adaptations, they set it somewhere in America to make it more accesible or whatever the excuse is, but I liked how they kept the film set in Japan, complete with the peple not speaking english at every place over the world.

I may be a Dragonball fan, but that doesn't mean I won't overlook the problems this film has. The dialogue is filled to the brim with cliches and never stops to make you cringe. Plus, at a number of points, there is talk of "Air bending". I'm sorry, did M Night Shyamalan suddenly invade this film? This just seems glaringly out of place. The CGI and effects used on the monsters really doesn't impress, specifically the non-speaking Shenron and Oozaru. Plus, with Oozarus reveal, there was no build up to this so it feels a little tacked on, despite it being that way in the source material (minus a tail).

I felt it was odd to have the film begin in a high school setting. It gave us all of the cliches you'd expect from the whole "powerful being at regular school" story, like dick bullies who you want Goku to beat down, but he promised he wouldn't, and the obligatory love interest who's with the main bully. It didn't stop the fun moment when Goku finally beats the bullies, but that moment wasn't anything special really.

The fights were wierd. They weren't too bad, but when you compare the fights in this film with the brutal fights in the anime that made kids everywhere want to kick Namekian ass, it just feels like a dissapointing attempt to copy. There are also a few plot holes, with the bigest one being: How did Piccolo escape?

The film's pace really seems to rush along, like at one point we hear there's a week left before the apocalypse, and then a few scenes later, it's the day before the end. This doesn't help the film in anyway, and doesn't help to make us care for or believe in the relationship between Yamcha and Bulma. Speaking of, Yamcha was without a doubt, the weakest part in the films cast. They kept the bandit part in the film, but the entire fighter aspect of the character was gone, and it doesn't help they made him blonde and annoying, especially with the obligatory use of "bro" every sentance or so.

Dragonball Evolution may have a lot to pick at and scoff at, but its performs great adaptations of the anime characters, boasts great sets and can actually be quite a fun film, making this film better than it should be. If you are a fan of Dragonball, then you may be disgusted by the changes, but you'll get more out of this film if you understand this is a reinterpritation of the series than an adaptation.