The Short Version: A live action version of the popular anime series that manages to retain many of the elements yet still does not deliver the same spirit.

5 out of 10.

Click Read More for our thoughts.

You've got to see my wife's version of the kamehameha (!). It's so cute. So, yeah, my wife and I are fans of the show. When I first heard that a live action film was being produced I was looking forward to it. Then I saw the trailer. Then I saw the reviews. Ouch...needless to say I was apprehensive when entering the theater, hoping I wasn't completely wasting ten bucks.

What followed was not too bad. The action sequences were pretty good, although I was hoping for more fireworks via spectacular battle at the end. Preferrably minus 30 minutes of warriors grunting and groaning while summoning their kai. Still, I knew not to expect that too much since it's just the early stages of the Dragonball saga, way before uber-planet-destroying warriors enter the scene.

I would say that the characterization is what disappointed me the most. Bulma only had a blue lock of hair--what, the actress couldn't wear a wig???--but otherwise seemed pretty close to the anime version.  I swear Yamcha must have been played by the same voice actor as the US version, they sounded so much alike. Chow Yun Fat as Master Roshi stole the show with his antics, although I missed seeing his glasses and bald gleam.

That sounds good so far but Chi-chi and Goku were nothing like the original characters. Where's the domineering, strong young woman of the show? Never mind that Krillin is a no-show. Worse, Goku is like the momma's boy version of Goku. In the series he's a free spirit without a care in the world, happy to go around beating up the bad guys laughing all the way (except when friends are hurt, obviously). In the movie Goku has none of these traits and to top it off the actor sounds like he's reading his lines.

The director must have felt that the movie version needed to be more serious to be accepted by US audiences. It's this overwhelming sense of navel-gazing that really hurt the film. Serious done right can be good. Just look how the Batman of "Kow-pow!", gadgets, and one-liners transformed with Batman Begins. Unfortunately, Dragonball Evolution does not get this right and as such earns only a 5 out of 10.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

Add your comment

Your name:
Subject:
Comment:
Word verification:
	Post Preview

yvComment v.1.14.1