Dragonball: Evolution

Dragonball: Evolution has arrived (with absolutely no publicity) in movie theaters this weekend. I took my reluctant husband and he was entertained. He said it was the best movie he'd seen this year (but, I admit, he doesn't get to see as many movies as I do) . My main interest in this was to see what James Marsters did with the villain role "Piccolo" . He is only on screen for about 8 minutes but I think he created an alien villain that was everything it needed to be. For the rest, it was fun, action-packed and totally PG so a great movie if you have any youngsters you want to treat to a good show. If you go, sit thru the end credits...there is a little surprise there.


http://news.toonzone.net/articles/29395/dragonball-evolution-survival-of-the-fittest

Never heard of it! Doubt it will be here but I will keep my eye out for it!

Here's the Variety review:

A popular Japanese manga series gets a pleasing if paint-by-numbers
live-action makeover in "Dragonball Evolution," which half-heartedly
tries to keep the faith for its pubescent male fanbase. The original
"Dragonball" graphic novel series appeared in Japan in 1984, and went
on to become a worldwide phenomenon with more than 150 million volumes
sold and successfully spinning off into countless anime features, TV
versions and videogames. Aiming to tap into a ready-made market, this
passable Fox release should do solid biz with established fans of all
ages and nationalities. Potential appeal to the unacquainted, however,
is minimal.A pre-titles prologue rapidly outlines details of an
ancient battle for the soul of planet Earth by Lord Piccolo (James
Marsters) and his beastly cohort, Oozaru (Ian Whyte) -- a clash the
world has blissfully forgotten.Yarn proper begins 2,000 years
later on the 18th birthday of Goku (Justin Chatwin) as he undergoes a
daily ritual of martial-arts training with his feisty grandfather,
Gohan (Randall Duk Kim). In honor of Goku's coming of age, Gohan
presents the youth with a shining dragonball orb, revealing the
heirloom's history and wish-granting power if united with the six other
existing dragonballs.Goku has other maturing experiences on his
mind (though the details are muted for younger auds). Carrying his
dragonball for luck, Goku brushes off a birthday dinner with his
grandfather to attend a party thrown by comely coed Chi Chi (Jamie
Chung), and woos her after dispatching some high school bullies from
central casting.Meanwhile, Gohan is attacked by Lord Piccolo and his sexpot companion, Mai , who are on their own mission to collect the seven
dragonballs. With his dying breath, Gohan directs his grandson to
enlist Master Roshi (Chow Yun-fat) to help him gather the seven balls
himself before an impending solar eclipse occurs.Pic turns into a "Wizard of Oz"[/url]-like
pilgrimage, with Goku enlisting fellow travelers along the way. But
unlike the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion, Goku's
companions don't seek what they need; rather, they learn the
superficiality of what they want (fame for Emmy Rossum's forceful
Bulma, wealth for Joon Park's cocky Yamcha). With Chow providing both
Yoda-like wisdom and lusty comic relief, the pic moves toward its
climax with an impressive character twist for Goku that will warm the
cockles of every young Jungian's heart.As helmed by James Wong (the "Final Destination"
franchise) "Dragonball Evolution" doesn't take itself too seriously,
but avoids campiness. Efforts to maintain a sexual subtext will feel
inappropriate to some, but is consistent with the story's fairy-tale
symbols and structure.Production seems to have been hastily
thrown together, and some scenes appear to have been shot using
outmoded rear projection techniques. More care has been taken with the
battle scenes; the climactic clash between Piccolo and Goku offers a
faithful CGI representation of the ethereal powers as drawn in the
original manga. Pic's ending sets up the inevitable sequel.Despite
his boyish looks, 28-year-old Chatwin feels too old to be a convincing
adolescent. Chung also seems a bit too mature for her age, but since
her come-on lines about how she likes guys who are "different" are
every otaku's wet dream, target auds are less likely to complain.Though Chow's Hollywood roles have been disappointing, especially for fans who remember his days as a trenchcoat-wearing
icon, his English-speaking performances continue to improve. The
unshaven, Hawaiian-shirt-wearing martial-arts sage with a fetish for
bikini magazines depicted here may rankle with many, but Chow has a
hammy good time and encourages auds to do the same.

My son used to play with Dragonball Z characters when he was much younger.....it has been around for a while.....

The fanboys took a hate to the idea of their sacred childhood cartoon being made into a live action movie. I still thought they would go check it out anyway. They have stayed away in droves. Which is such a shame as Ben and I really enjoyed it. Most people who have actually seen it are writing good reviews. Not to say that it's got any Oscar winning ahead of it but for what it is....a decent, popcorn eatin' enjoyable, fast-paced, make you laugh movie. It deserves to have more people than are seeing it see it.

I wonder why the "fanboys" stayed away when they flocked to Watchmen which was also originally a graphic "novel" (comic) although it definitely wasn't a "sacred childhood cartoon". :lol: