Adaptations can be hit or miss, be they comic, video game or cartoon. Dragonball Evolution is the live adaption of the hit cartoon Dragonball.
Thousands of years ago the evil warlord Piccolo (James Marsters) and his werewolf sidekick Ozaru came to Earth during an eclipse to destroy the world. Fortunately a group of monks were able to create the Dragonballs to imprison Piccolo and Ozaru vanished. In the present, Goku (Justin Chatwin) is given a Dragonball by his grandfather Gohan (Randall Duk Kim) on his 18th birthday. Coincidentally that’s also when Piccolo escapes and starts his hunt for the seven Dragonballs, for if all seven are in the same place, one wish will be granted.
Piccolo wants to have Ozaru return so they can pick up where they left off. While Goku is at school dealing with the angst of being a loner in high school, Piccolo shows up at his house looking for one of the Dragonballs and snuffs out Gohan; but not before Goku comes home to the ruined house and finds his grandfather in time to hear his dying words. He tells Goku to find Master Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat), and fulfill his destiny by calling up the Mafuba, which is the enchantment that imprisoned Piccolo the first time.
Goku finds Roshli and trains him. Once Roshli feels he’s ready, they go off to find Piccolo and end the villain’s nefarious schemes and a great battle ensues. The movie is loud and full of action, but there’s little in the way of explanation, such as where Ozaru went to when Piccolo was imprisoned and how Piccolo escaped his imprisonment. Fans of the cartoon shouldn’t have a problem following along, but first time viewers might be put off by the lack of details.
As for extras, there is no commentary which is disappointing as it would have been nice to have the actors talk about their experience on the film or have the filmmakers talk about adapting a cartoon as a live action movie. There are a handful of deleted scenes which didn’t add much to the plot, including a death scene which was more violent than the theatrical version.
Article comments
1 - ATP
Fans of the cartoon are furious of the crap display on this dvd like the first Hulk this movie really suck. Like the hair [which was done poorly] the movie didn't even come close to what is should have been. I hope is someone who knows the essence of the story will rewrite and make a good movie out of Goku and his life story. And get it right like the second movie made of the "Hulk".
2 - chuck
I could not believe this movie was going to come out then they made it crap. how sad.
3 - ab medellin
i really think that the dragon ball evolution movie was made poorly. im a big fan of the cartoon and to see this movie was a disappointment. i dont know who wrote the script but they dont know nothing about the cartoon and how its supposed to be. and the effects should have been alot better kinda like the matrix movies and how stuff should break or blowup considering how strong they are in the cartoon. by the way goku should have looked like goku in the cartoon with the hair and the body type as well. i really hope the next movie comes out with a little more effects and more to the story line and characters.