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ANIME BECOMES REAL LIFE
Date of Review: Sep 6, 2009
The Bottom Line: Taken on its own merits and not from the fan perspective, a decent action flick.
Fans of the anime (cartoon) series DRAGONBALL are legion. They collect everything from gaming cards to actual balls created to go with the show. Some go so far as to make costumes like their favorite characters. So, with Hollywood's reputation for taking source material and screwing it up to make it their own it's no surprise that fans were not enthused about the making of let alone the release of DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION.
For those fans my guess is they didn't like the final product. The film opened to mild interest and even lower box office returns. And having watched only 2 or 3 episodes with my son when he was little, I can see why they weren't leaping over one another to purchase tickets. The story has changed and that is something die hard fans can rarely if ever accept. So what's the movie itself like? Not bad if you toss aside the history of Dragonball and look at it on its own. Not great, but not bad.
Goku (Justin Chatwin) is being raised by his grandfather. At home they study an ancient form of martial arts that is beyond most others. All the same, Goku's grandfather has demanded of him that he never display his abilities or get into a fight. The problem is grandpa isn't in high school and picked on by the jerks there.
Goku is though and when he comes face to face with them he does all in his power to avoid confrontation. Not easy when he acts clumsily in front of the hot popular girl Chi Chi (Jamie Chung) who also happens to be dating one of the jocks. Fortunate enough for Goku, Jamie takes notice of him anyway.
During his training, Goku is told of the Dragonballs, the seven mystical orbs that when united will give the evil Piccolo the ability to take over the world. Entrusted to grandpa and then to Goku is one of the seven orbs. Unfortunately the evil Lord Piccolo (James Marsters) has already collected several of the Dragonballs and on his way for this one.
Goku goes to a party hosted by Chi Chi only to be confronted by the bullies. While his anger rages, he does stay true to his promise of not fighting by avoiding any and all attempts to squash him by the bullies. Instead he allows them to use their own force against them. Not only does he beat them up without hitting them, he makes a good impression on Chi Chi as well. But just as things between the two start to gel, Goku realizes that something is happening at home and has to leave.
When he gets there, he finds the house in ruins, smashed to pieces and his grandfather lying beneath it all. He helps him out and talks to him, learning of the attack by Piccolo's followers who are trying to gather the Dragonballs. Goku has the one, now he must find those that remain and defend them from Lord Piccolo. And to do so he must enlist the help of Master Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat) to complete his training.
Along the way Goku gets the help of several partners all seeking their own fame and fortune including another Dragonball owner and a fortune hunter. As they search they also find Chi Chi at a martial arts competition as well as numerous bad guys in the employ of Lord Piccolo.
As one could predict from the beginning of this film, the eventual combination of all seven Dragonballs will happen and Lord Piccolo will get involved in a final showdown with either Goku or Master Roshi. And while Roshi may seem a bumbling inebriated fool, never underestimate your opponent or his protégé.
The film offers some decent martial arts sequences though when placed up against the natural or high wire scenes from far too many Chinese imports they seem rather slow and thought out. As a fan of the genre, that's the first thing you notice. If you've not seen many of these (or any Bruce Lee film) then the film comes off as a fast paced fight film. The average moviegoer will be impressed.
The story is based on one of the many chapters of the legendary anime series and moves along at breakneck speed. One minute we're training with grandfather the next we're on the road saving the world. The fact that it's based on this anime series makes that more believable. But the world of Dragonball is not one of reality but one of fantasy and in that realm this movie delivers.
As I said at the outset, fans of fictional characters and worlds are hard pressed to find the results delivered from Hollywood to suit their expectations. Even when they deliver the goods aren't always what those fans wanted. For every LORD OF THE RINGS there is a DUNE. Fans have so much invested in these worlds that what they get never meets their expectations.
If you go into this movie expecting that world you will be disappointed. If you go in looking for a decent action film that matches many tossed out by Hollywood, you'll walk away entertained. The low box office receipts say that there won't be a sequel. But that won't prevent those who take this movie on its own merits from having an enjoyable night at the movies.
