Logo

Cool News

DRAGONBALL Rolling!! S:A&B Overlord To Direct!! KUNG FU HUSTLE God To Produce!! That Spike The Vampire Guy Is In It, Too!!

Published at:  Nov 14, 2007 9:27:06 AM CST




Merrick here...


After various setbacks, Fox is finally spinning up its live action movie adaptation of DRAGONBALL.

Justin Chatwin will play heroic Goku. Chatwin's done a ton of stuff, including Spielberg's WAR OF THE WORLDS.



James Marsters (Spike on BUFFY) will play Piccolo, the badguy. Stephen Chow (writer/producer/director of KUNG FU HUSTLE & writer/director of SHAOLIN SOCCER) will produce.


The story follows an adult humanoid alien named Goku, who discovers that he was sent to Earth to blend in and destroy our population but instead elects to protect it from an oncoming alien onslaught bent on dominating the universe and controlling the mystical objects from which the film takes its name.


...says THIS ARTICLE in Hollywood Reporter.

The film will be directed by James Wong (Exec Producer & frequent writer of SPACE: ABOVE & BEYOND, THE X-FILES and MILLENNIUM - he also directed Jet Li's THE ONE and FINAL DESTINATION).

We may be get DRAGONBALL as early as August 15, 2008. Seems like a tight fit...we'll see.












    + Expand All

    Readers Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 9:47:07 AM CST

    I hate Dragonball Z

    by francis begbie

    What's the appeal?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 9:53:26 AM CST

    Yeah.

    by deadshot07

    He looks SO much like Goku. I don't think there a single new idea will ever come out of Hollywood again.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 9:56:01 AM CST

    TOO SKINNY?

    by the knight

    Has he bulked up already?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 9:58:19 AM CST

    That Sounds horrible

    by tile_mcgillus

    There was a script review floating around a few years ago of a similar version and it just sounded awful. Just awful.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 9:58:41 AM CST

    I don't know why this is happening now...

    by danielkurland

    It would have done well 5 years ago. And I don't see why Marsters would agree to this.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 9:58:49 AM CST

    I'm officially fucking OLD.

    by catvutt

    I have no clue WTF Dragonball Z is. I mean, I've seen pictures here and there, I'd recognize the logo from 100 yards out...but other than that...what's the origin? Is it Anime? A Saturday Morning Cartoon? Line of Toys? Video Game? I mean, seems like it's all of those things now, and I've no clue what the hell the premise is.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 9:59:35 AM CST

    Two hours of someone charging up...

    by kujofbrooklyn

    for some great fighting attack move. You'll have to see part 2 to see how it turns out.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 10:00:12 AM CST

    Might not suck

    by sketchampm

    I remember saying to a buddy of mine when watching Kung Fu Hustle, "see if they made a DBZ movie like this, it would actually be cool".

    I think James Wong and Stephen Chow have the potential to make this work.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 10:05:29 AM CST

    What Sketcha said

    by aceillk

    Chow of all directors, would definitely get this. Marsters as the Big Bad kinda sucks, if for no other reason than he is like 50. Am i the only one that was skeeved by the last season of Buffy, as Gellar was doin the nassy with a 40 yr old?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 10:13:49 AM CST

    Yeah, that guy looks like he could kick your ass

    by garbageman33

    If you were 4.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 10:13:56 AM CST

    This is going to be WORSE than Dragonball GT

    by proman1984

    Justin Chatwin as Goku = WORST CASTING EVER

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 10:26:59 AM CST

    Stephan Chow

    by series7

    Should direct. I think the casting could work. I know nothing of Buffy but i know that guy and him as Tiny Flute works well. Man DragonBall Z was like Lost for me know back when it was on. I once tried going out in space and training in 100 times graviety, it sucked but I got ripped.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 10:33:20 AM CST

    This is a joke

    by spencertrilby

    James Wong is mediocre at best, Chow is like McTiernan on LFoDH or Burton on Batman Forever: a token producer to please the gullible fans. As for Chatwin, he's a very good actor but totally wrong for the part IMO.

    And an august '08 release? Are you fucking kidding me?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 10:41:57 AM CST

    And, the casting call was on CHUD, revealing some

    by spencertrilby

    story tidbits: hilariously bad.

    Let me sum this up: a shitty director, wrong casting choices, a token producer, a script buttraping the source material, an impossible deadline... and from 20th Century Fox, the studio showing by far the most contempt toward the fans, for the adaptation of one of the most beloved manga/anime ever... Nice roster.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 11:06:33 AM CST

    chow

    by palewook

    could make this work

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 11:14:55 AM CST

    ummmmm

    by nuck81

    this isn't dragonball Z, this is an adaptation of Dragonball the FIRST story. They will probably combine elements of both, but don't expect any frieza, cell, or even vegeta. The Matrix Revolutions showed us what a dragonball fight scene could look like, minus a kamehameha. But yeah this will probaby not be that great.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 11:23:57 AM CST

    He better beef up.

    by orionazul

    Justin Chatwin better pack on some serious muscle for this role. I think he looks like Goku but they better not show him with saggy girl arms.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 11:36:01 AM CST

    This will be badass...

    by bgeek

    just like Street Fighter.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 11:39:32 AM CST

    dragonballs

    by ozzie_h

    My dragon balls are aching for some super sain action!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 11:40:37 AM CST

    Better Yet...

    by aquatarkusman

    .... a 3-hour, Spielberg-directed adaptation of "Perfect Hair Forever."

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 11:57:45 AM CST

    YIKES!

    by digitalbeachwar

    wow they chose a really awful actor for goku... and they are choosing to make a really awful movie!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 11:58:25 AM CST

    Avatar the last airbender Will so Own this movie

    by pipple

    And it heavily borrows from Dragon Ball, which everyone is drinking the haterade for now but probably love the wacky adventures of Ang, the Goku clone. hypocritical douche bags.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 12:24:28 PM CST

    Bernie Mac as the Green Latern

    by jeffmansixtyfo

    will it have the pig guy?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 12:25:03 PM CST

    oops ..that's LaNtern

    by jeffmansixtyfo

  • Nov 14, 2007 12:32:36 PM CST

    Dragonball Z: Or are you just happy to see me

    by superfunhappyslide

    That will be the official name of the Movie.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 12:32:57 PM CST

    Who are they making this film for?

    by live.

    Who does the studio expect to want to see this thing? The audience of Pokemon: The Movie?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 12:33:52 PM CST

    Dragonball Z: Have they dropped

    by superfunhappyslide

  • Nov 14, 2007 12:39:43 PM CST

    It will be Dragonball

    by tme2nsb

    NOT DBZ. Idiots.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 12:43:12 PM CST

    Fuck yes, but At least DBZ's getting a shot

    by pipple

    We need a ghostbusters 3 than we ever need another Shitfest garfield movie or whatever...

    However I can see why the most popular anime series of all time is being given its due even though its popularity has long faded...

    Every thing steals from Dragon Ball whether people want to admit it or not so lets do see the real thing on screen for once...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Always good to learn new things but I'm not sure I'm ever gonna have to use that one.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 12:45:33 PM CST

    It better have a subtitle..

    by tme2nsb

    Something crazy too...just like they do the the non-canon DB, DBZ, and DBGT movies...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 12:57:34 PM CST

    Kick Ass Fight Scenes

    by superfunhappyslide

    I wanna see guys thrown through hills or small mountains. Or cause major meteorite ditches!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 1:28:50 PM CST

    So, lots of pointless, drawn-out crap?

    by durendal

    That would be in a true adaptation. The series was interesting, but they stretched the material way, WAY too much in almost all of the episodes. Half of this movie is gonna be people staring and grunting with sweat rolling down their faces, right along with lots of blahblahblah, much like Kill Bill 2. Too much talking and not enough money shots.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 1:43:11 PM CST

    Aint it WTF News

    by harry weinstein

    This is a disaster waiting to happen. Chow's a huge fan of DRAGON BALL and all its variants, sequels, etc. He'll probably clash with Fox when they want to change shit around. And for what's got to be a really heavy SFX workload, they're not even shooting yet and they're talking August 2008? That's rushed even by idiotic Fox standards. There's zero margin of error here, and producer-studio clashes are almost a given. Chow isn't one to keep his mouth shut, he's publicly dissed the Weinsteins over their bewildering treatment of SHAOLIN SOCCER. Mark my words, this is gonna get ugly.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 1:44:45 PM CST

    what else is Steven Chow up too?

    by future help

    Kung Fu Hustle was tits and iam looking forward to his next direction.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 1:50:51 PM CST

    kung-fu hustle

    by zom-bot.com

    the aerial fight scenes in that were straight-up live action dragonball..so that much will work.
    This has to be reference to dragonball and not 'Z', i'm no pro, but i'm pretty sure piccolo was an ally in the Z series.

    i think the most hilarious part will be the hair. digital effects can pull off the super saijin blonde glow, but what about the big black poof of hair the rest of the time?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 1:58:47 PM CST

    im pretty sure....

    by kelsodenn

    this movie is gonna make a gazillion dollars and there will be sequels galore....so homos...shut the fuck up.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 2:09:58 PM CST

    Chow's got a new self-directed movie out soon

    by harry weinstein

    It's called - well, not sure what it's called yet in English. Maybe A HOPE, maybe YANGTZE RIVER 7, maybe CJ7. The story's sort of vague at the moment as well. No trailer yet, but it is a science-fiction comedy involving aliens of some sort. US release will be through Sony Classics again. Maybe this time they'll know how to market it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 2:12:34 PM CST

    krillin?

    by zom-bot.com

    am i spelling that right?
    get the bald/shaved dwarf dude who is sometimes a janitor on scrubs to play krillin- the dude's perfect, and buff for a dwarf....why am i casting? i don't give a flip about this movie...well, i don't mind it's existence, but i'm not going to pay to see it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 2:16:53 PM CST

    Shia Labouf for Nimbus, the flying cloud!

    by mike_d

    mark my words

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 2:23:44 PM CST

    More importantly....

    by thenothing

    who's playing Bulma?????? Gotta keep our priorities straight. Hooray for hot anime chicks!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 2:24:44 PM CST

    will he have a tail?

    by zooch

  • Nov 14, 2007 2:25:09 PM CST

    Actually.....

    by thenothing

    as always, I'm fearful and hopeful for this. Stephen Chow is cool, but I wonder how much creative muscle they'll actually let him exert.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 2:44:18 PM CST

    Yea, whose playing Bulma? Hopefully a big-boobed actress

    by mike_d

    we better see some kamahameha waves.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 3:35:04 PM CST

    Yes Bulma

    by defrost

    Who would look good with blue hair? Or purple depending on if they are going anime or manga look.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 3:44:08 PM CST

    This won't end well..

    by spyhunter

    They really should've gone the CGI/mocap (Beowulf) route with this. But I doubt Dragon Ball would really deserve that kind of a budget.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 3:46:03 PM CST

    Lohan could have been Bulma but now she's crazy

    by pipple

    That's still perfect for the character... hmmm... any young hot actress with ample bosoms will work.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 3:58:15 PM CST

    Oh and no need to argue over DBZ vs DB

    by pipple

    The manga's just Dragon Ball for the entire run, no Z. The Z was only for the toon for whatever reason.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 4:01:24 PM CST

    this won't be badass, this will be lame

    by clockworker

    they need to do DBZ fuck dragonball. Guarantied there will be no energy blasts, no flying, and probably no giant ape transformation.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 4:12:21 PM CST

    Several stupid statements need correcting

    by kotoro

    I won't argue over whether you should like dbz but I saw the following stupidities and they NEEDED to be corrected.

    Someone mentioned the 90's being over, keep in mind that the dragonball enterprise started in the 80s, you have the wrong decade, not to mention that a show being old doesn't mean its inferior. In fact most cartoons from the USA out now are terrible

    second, dragonball and dragonball Z were BOTH originally manga. I own copies of both. In its original form, dragonball Z was just a continuation of the dragonaball manga and originally didn't have the Z in its title. (The manga version has since been re-released under the name containing a Z).

    GT was anime only, though there may have been a fan attempt to use episode stills to create a color manga version.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 4:20:58 PM CST

    The story

    by kotoro

    from what I read it sounds like the beginning of DBZ with raditz and the other saiyajin. Although that bit about blending in makes me nervous. The intent was NEVER to have him blend in, it was to have him go wild and kill everything he came across.

    If they try to merge the beginning of DB and the beginning of DBZ elements into a single story it will suck, but as the American fanbase has largely ignored the original dragonball chapters in favor of DBZ, I doubt they're going to pay attention to his childhood at all, except maybe detailing things in flashbacks.(the story description DOES say he's an adult humanoid after all).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 4:28:54 PM CST

    I'm speechless

    by dapper swindler

    I can't believe they're really going through with a live action DBZ movie. It just makes no sense. The material just doesn't translate to live action. It's a surreal, grotesque idea. I am dying to see it just because I'm so curious to see how it will turn out. I'm not going to naysay because I have no idea what to expect from this.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 4:29:14 PM CST

    If it's Dragonball they're doing...

    by aphex twin

    Isn't this Goku character supposed to be a child? With a tail? And are they going to make Kami the perverted old hermit he was in the japanese version? Ya know, Bulma used to flash him all the time.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 4:33:30 PM CST

    And just to back up my claim:

    by aphex twin

    Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UfXo7UQ70U

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 4:58:28 PM CST

    I think...

    by anna valerious

    Fox is really rushing with this, but hell, it took longer for "Speed Racer" to be made into a movie.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 5:11:18 PM CST

    goku as child with tail

    by kotoro

    Goku was born with a tail, the whole story of dragonball prior to the chapters involving the other Saiyajin like Raditz, Vegeta, and Nappa, involved Goku's childhood and young adulthood. For the majority of the story he had a tail, but near the last tournament he had it permanently removed. (the roots were surgically excised or something)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 5:12:36 PM CST

    Goku's son Gohan

    by kotoro

    in fact Goku's son has a tail as well, if they do this movie faithfully, there needs to be a young boy with a tail anyway.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 5:38:44 PM CST

    Ando from Heroes said he auditioned

    by seekshelter

    for Yamcha...
    http://tinyurl.com/36e7sv

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 6:33:54 PM CST

    *sigh*

    by alienindisguise

    This crap will be made solely to sell toys and shit to the fans who actually think this lame ass garbage is cool. Every fucking episode is the same nonsensical bullshit and will look totally tarded in live action form.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 6:42:13 PM CST

    This is going to kick ass.

    by that 70s venom

    Seriously. This movie is going to be fucking amazing. I hope they get Martin Klebba (the small bald dude from Scrubs) to play Krillin. There is no one better for that role. And also I hope they get Josh Zuckerman to play Vegeta in the sequel.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 6:50:16 PM CST

    BRING IT THE EFF ON!!

    by bswise

    Chow's the right person for this and should pull some more muscle than merely a "tolken producer," and Wong could work (I actually enjoyed the Matrixitis-inflicted cheesefest of THE ONE), but the involvement of Akira Toriyama seems essential for setting the right tone. Fox just better BACK THE F OFF and let them do this right. Seriously, is there really any property that has more potential for visualizing the ultimate flying fight scene with megatons of destruction than this one? Why we are not seeing this kind of HARDCORE ACTION in movies like SUPERMAN RETURNS or shows like HEROES is one poo-perfect hell of a pansy-ass mystery to me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 6:50:18 PM CST

    BRING IT THE EFF ON!!

    by bswise

    Chow's the right person for this and should pull some more muscle than merely a "tolken producer," and Wong could work (I actually enjoyed the Matrixitis-inflicted cheesefest of THE ONE), but the involvement of Akira Toriyama seems essential for setting the right tone. Fox just better BACK THE F OFF and let them do this right. Seriously, is there really any property that has more potential for visualizing the ultimate flying fight scene with megatons of destruction than this one? Why we are not seeing this kind of HARDCORE ACTION in movies like SUPERMAN RETURNS or shows like HEROES is one poo-perfect hell of a pansy-ass mystery to me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 6:56:49 PM CST

    It Should not be About Goku or Vegita or Saiyans

    by darfurontherocks

    Instead they should tell the story from a human, teenage couple perspective. As strong as Goku becomes, he WILL need the help of the plucky human geek in order to beat his adversary.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 7:08:27 PM CST

    DarfurOnTheRocks...

    by that 70s venom

    ...you need to... just... like... stop breathing. Please.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 7:31:56 PM CST

    Every fiber of my being

    by veritasses

    is thinking this is going to disappoint. Not sure I like the casting and I can't say Wong has wowed me as a director... Chow would've been a much better choice to direct. I have to admit though that I'm a bit curious to see what they come up with...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 7:59:27 PM CST

    GAYGAYGAY

    by aicndoesntwantmorecowbell

    i posted this news is so many talkbacks yesterday this guy is not goku. gaygaygay. fuck you for runiing the dragonball movie fox. you are picese of shit. at least you got 1 good and 1 great xmen movie before you shit on the franchise with part 3. but this is just horrible. now i know how it feels to have your childhood shit on. fuck you fox. go to fucking hell

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 8:16:39 PM CST

    This is a really bad idea...

    by kyle051554

    However, they COULD pull it off if they focus on honoring the feel of the source material rather than trying to keep it exactly the same. For example, X-Men would've been significantly less good if they had them all wearing spandex. So, uh, we'll see. Don't count on it being any good, though.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 8:26:23 PM CST

    If you didn't get a suckage vibe knowing that its from FOX then.

    by the founder

    nothing you hear should turn you away no matter how bad.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 8:35:01 PM CST

    jesus fuckin christ this is gonna suck

    by aicndoesntwantmorecowbell

    fuck you fox

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 9:44:40 PM CST

    screencasting

    by kotoro

    No matter who they choose for a role, some portion of the fan population is going to hate it, but I must admit that without hair color changes and heavy makeup/computer editing, the guy simply won't look like goku, and he isn't really sculpted enough to pass as a martial artist of goku's caliber. (goku WAS less buff at the beginning of dbz than at the end, but he was still very muscular.)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 9:47:20 PM CST

    It is way to much to ask

    by rufferto

    for them to get this right.

    Toryiama's characters are very difficult to translate in live action unless they were cgi or soemthing. But then again I used to think the same thing about the Tick and they made a sitcom out of that.

    I don't know anything about "Buffy" although I have a incredibly negative bias and I think it's justified as I do with many overrated things like it. That aside, Piccolo should be really tall and really scary, threatening and anything good about him should be masked. And he shouldn't be in anyway effeminate or a wuss. When I was watching Dragonball on CNW I missed it's ending when Goku as a young adult fights Piccolo at a tournament but I think it would be a clever plot for the movie to direct it into further sequels into the darker more serious tone it takes later on. And since there are so much filler and usless trite in Dragonball whose to say the important things in Dragonball can't be covered in movie format. It's a bit like the LOTR in that sense. I'll keep an eye on this. I'll probably laugh the moment I see Goku's hair. I almost am!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 9:51:14 PM CST

    Another reason to be negative is FOX

    by rufferto

    They don't have the balls to give this the budget it would need.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 10:11:56 PM CST

    Whoa, look at the negative reactions

    by joesixpack

    I think this could be good!

    Reply to Talkback

  • I've been a fan in the past, I remember so little about it I probably don't qualify any more. But this is a show that didn't take itself seriously, and I'd be ok with some Stephen Chow-esque goofiness. That being said... Piccolo turned good pretty fast, I thought... aren't they going to use Vegeta?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 14, 2007 11:24:56 PM CST

    the source too seriously.

    by freydis

    on a different note, if the subject is too long and is going to get cut off, you shouldn't be able to enter it in the box and submit it. it's not that hard of code to write.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 1:01:44 AM CST

    We are fortunate to get a Dragon Ball movie AT ALL...

    by that 70s venom

    ... so those of you who are bitching and whining about it before we really even know anything about it, I suggest you shut up. By the way, as for the series... it was a masterful combination of light-hearted goofiness and serious, life or death, end of the world stuff. If they can translate Toriyama's combo from the animation into the live action version then this will probably kick ass. We'll probably have a trailer in the next 6 months.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 1:10:54 AM CST

    On the bright side, Michael Bay isn't making it

    by pipple

    It'd have flashy fx shots but not much else. Maybe just maybe there's hope for one very decent dragon ball film being made.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 1:49:33 AM CST

    no NO NO NO NO THAT 70'S VENOM

    by aicndoesntwantmorecowbell

    were not lucky to get a dragonball movie with no talent involved.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 3:10:08 AM CST

    Unfortunately it won't be CLASSIC DRAGONBALL

    by bodenland unbound

    Good YouTube link, but unfortunately it won't have nothing to do with the ACTION movie they are producing. I love old DRAGONBALL (the first series was a great ADVENTURE) but hate the latest. The first arc of the series would be a great adventure trilogy...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 3:32:49 AM CST

    This is going to be a camp classic in one of two ways

    by industrykiller!

    Either they actually try to make it like the cartoon and it will be hilariously awesome to see people willingly looking that stupid on screen OR they will try to make it realistic and it will be hilariously awesome to see such a retarded concept clumsily married to real world aesthetics.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 3:43:19 AM CST

    I know less than nothing about Dragonball

    by lost jarv

    and could not care less. At least they aren't raping something I give a shit about.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 3:54:23 AM CST

    Trainwreck in the making

    by monkey_king

    Dragonball is just Toriyama's bastardization of my namesake anyway. It's been a joke ever since it was first animated. Travesty!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 3:55:11 AM CST

    Isn't Goku asian?

    by darthbakpao

  • Nov 15, 2007 3:56:15 AM CST

    Ya but maybe they will

    by that 70s venom

    put some insanely good special fx in this movie so it will overshadow the bad-acting or goofy haircuts. You never know!! ;)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 4:58:46 AM CST

    Sounds And Looks Like Crap

    by stewiegriffin

    and to think of all the good, original scripts that are probably sitting under some fat, greasy Hollywood exec's burito and crap like this keeps getting greenlit. And they wonder why people won't go to the movies and pay $12 to see crap like this.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 6:56:40 AM CST

    RE: ricarleite

    by that 70s venom

    You are wrong. This will be the greatest movie to ever grace the silver screen.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 7:26:42 AM CST

    I thought that Ghostrider was the greatest?

    by just pillow talk

    Nic will be so upset.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 10:37:43 AM CST

    This is how they should do it

    by wookievomit

    Screw the alien invasion have the first movie be about the martial arts tournament. Have Piccolo be the main villian. Have goku be a young teenager who has "hidden power" go through the training with Kami. Then they can do the second movie about the invading saiyans. This way they can skip ahead a few years and include gohan in the movie. I know you cant have the movie follow the series exactly. Just please follow it a little bit. Dont have piccolo be the invading alien force. That would just be retarded

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 11:38:50 AM CST

    Loyalty to the original source material

    by harry weinstein

    DISCLAIMER - I have no use for DRAGON BALL, or its sequels. However, Stephen Chow is personally a BIG fan of the orignal comics. There's a picture out there of him during the big scare over SARS a couple of years back, out shopping for comics with a facemask on. KUNG FU HUSTLE's finale speaks volumes of his love for DRAGON BALL. That's the problem. Fox doesn't have love for it. They'll focus group it to death and miss the point of it completely. He yielded to Miramax on the handling of SHAOLIN SOCCER in the US and it got him essentially nothing. He understands the appeal of DRAGON BALL better than Fox does, he's not one to hold his tongue (especially post-Miramax) and that's a recipe for conflict, on a film that can't afford any such nonsense due to its ultra-tight schedule. Chow's a notorious perfectionist. Fox is notorously clueless about how to handle its action franchises. Neither side is prone to compromise. It'll get hectic.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 3:15:24 PM CST

    Yeah, I have dragon tattoos on my balls, wanna see

    by sleeptones

  • Nov 15, 2007 3:40:42 PM CST

    DarthBakpao

    by rufferto

    Short answer is No. He's an alien. Let's not go there anyway. Have you seen the Earth in the Dragon ball show? The entire thing government/geography/history is fantasy. There is no Japan, America, etc.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 3:45:57 PM CST

    not goku

    by sokitome

    Rufferto, He should be asian. so the fuck what he's alien, superman is an alien and I bet if Chow Yun Fat was chosen to play him you'd hear all kinds of shit. and alhtough the government/geography/history is fantasy there are asian symbols, clothing, and customs all throughout just like "Metropolis and Gotham" are fictional cities but in the U.S. So Darthbakpao has a point and a legitimate one.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 3:58:30 PM CST

    Rufferto

    by sokitome

    Your quick dismissal of the race fact sounds like the spin control of a plant. It's been ok for white Hollywood to put white people in as Asian historical figures and such (i.e. Gerard Butler playing Atilla the Hun) forever. This another example of that. I think it's Bullshit and very offensive but of course those not asian will have no problem with it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 4:00:07 PM CST

    sorry

    by sokitome

    and what i meant by "such" in my previous post is folk heroes and asian fictional characters.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 4:00:59 PM CST

    Well ok I get that

    by rufferto

    The culture is there because Toryiama is Japanese. I wouldn't have a problem with it if it was casted that way but I don't have a problem the other way around either. If this was about the numerous animes that take place in real world Japan like Evangelion or Ranma or something I would. I just don't even think Goku the character looks particularly asian any way. Krillen definetly.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 4:06:43 PM CST

    sokitome

    by rufferto

    Don't be offended. I didn't post to pick fights. I wish you wouldn't be looking for one. I posted in hopes that reader would understand the race card bs doesn't need to be brought up and no I doubt I would be a plant since my second post was critical of Fox.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 4:18:25 PM CST

    I'm not trying to pick a fight

    by sokitome

    but saying goku doesn't look asian is absurd. He looks as much asian as any anime hero character cuz that's the drawing style. and the world not being asian? what about all the asian characters in their clothing and such? the martial arts schools? and before you argue there are martial arts schools around the world I say most, not all, most have origins in asia. You know how about this, I make a superman movie with Chow Yun Fat as Superman, Jada Pinket Smith as Lois Lane, and Graham Greene as Perry White. Or how about this. Lord of the Rings is in a complete fantasy world. I'll cast Morgan Freeman as Gandalf, Eddie Murphy as Arigorn, and Stephen Chow as Legolas. Absurd you say? well that's how I feel about this movie.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 4:59:48 PM CST

    DBINO DBINO DBINO DBINO!!!!

    by johnno

    I always wanted to do that! Anyway, I have high hopes for this flic because of Chow! DB is an action martial arts comedy, and Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle establish Chow as perfect for Dragonball! And Fox is apparently putting 100 mil or something into this flic and no doubt they're trying to make this a franchise flic with many sequels to come! I'm not liking teh guy pegged to play Goku atm, since Goku's an alien, it's not far fetched to have him non-asian, though the setting of DB is more specifically asian even if it's an alternate earth with animal characters, there are asian themes and mythologies and influence in the setting and costumes. So certain people like Master Roshi etc. must remain asian! Seeing as how this is a younger goku a younger boy not quite bulked up could work... I mean Goku is pretty much exactly Superman! Both crash landed on earth and superboy was skinny too but nobody has a problem seeing him kick anyone's ass so it's all well and good that a young goku isn
    't so buliked up. Most people immediatedly think of the Goku from DBZ going super saiyan and bulking up, but this is not so. DB should be a family comdey taking place in lush green environments in teh wilderness with occasional trips into teh city and big martial arts dojos and mountain fortresses. Not as much crazy flying around and high speed moves and slightly more grounded martial arts... I always pictured doing a live action dragonball film with a child goku and more Miyazaki-ish epicness but anyway with Chow I have hopes we'll get a decent and undoubtedly funny story and entertaining action!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 5:06:57 PM CST

    ok

    by rufferto

    I never said it lacked the Asian culture. I understand that. I think your strongest argument is equating Goku as iconic and sorta Japan's Superman. In that respect I know where you are coming from.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 7:09:34 PM CST

    I'll give this a chance

    by 5 by 5

    probably because I'll have no choice because my son will make me see this. Eh, it'll probably be easier him to drag me in because of Chow. I loved Kung Fu Hustle.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 9:09:20 PM CST

    Dragon Pearl

    by diernasoul

    Well.. hopefully this film won't be as bad as the ORIGINAL Dragonball movie was. Dragon Pearl came out in 1989. The CGI on Shenlong was HORRIBLE as was the acting and well the entire plot. The only thing good was the guy they got to play Master Roshi. That was perfect casting and he played the part perfectly! Goku wasn't even an alien in that one. Instead he was a descendent of the Monkey King (which the Dragonball story is losely based on in the first place). Now that they got Goku and Piccolo casting out of the way...who's gonna be Master Roshi?! What actor is perverted enough?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 15, 2007 10:48:52 PM CST

    some Dragonball-Knowledge

    by betasword

    Dragonball, DragonballZ and Dragonball GT are Animes and Mangas, based mainly on the story about Son Goku and the Name-giving Dragonballs, those are mainly Orange Crystal-Balls that contains 1to7 red little Stars(not little suns, the symbolized stars).
    If someone would happen to get all seven Balls, then that Person could summon the Holy Dragon, to fulfill At least one wish, whether it would be immortality, to be ruler of the Earth(fiktive: with Dinosaurs, Anthopomorphic Humans, and different-Shaped Contionents), or to revive one or more dead Person(s).
    Right after Bulma, daughter of the founder of the CapsuleCorporation(capsules are Storage-Devices, that shrinks down almost everything, so that even a girl can carry a 1-Family-House with her that way) found Son Goku using her Dragonball-Radar to rweache the Dragonballs.
    Soon enough, she took that lonely-living boy with her on her quest to find those legendary Balls, to get her a wish(she wanted a Boyfriend).
    But on their way were several strong Villains, and even a Paramilitary Organisation, that wanted to get those for their own selfish desires.
    Resutling in SonGoku having to batte those guys, in order to stay alive and continue.
    As the enemies got stronger, SonGoku gained new supernatural powers like the Kamehame-Ha, a quite destructive Energy-Beam emitted from between his hands after a Charging-Move, where he had to build up energy as a light-emitting ball between his hands.

    As the first series left some questions open like where are Goku's Parents, those geot an answere from DBZ, where it turned out, that he's actually a Sayan, a race from Planet Vegeta, send to earth as a Baby to kill the Population and claim it for the sayans.
    Luckily, Son Gohan, one of the best Martial-Arts-Masters adopted him as his grandson. One day that not-so-nice Baby Goku fell out of the Baby-Bag on the back of SonGohan, causing a nearly deadly injury at his Brain, erasing all evil Parts of his Personality without letting him die. that's why he's got no evil thoughts, which gave him the ability, to withstand the Devil-Waves from one opponents(would have increased thwe size of the evil in him to a point, where his body couldn't support the pressure).
    Later, in a fight on Planet Namek, his best friend got cowardly killed by Frieza, making his anger increase over a certain limit, triggering a Metamorphosis in his body, where he gained highly increased Abilities(also Shiny golden hair and blue Eyes) to beat that villain.
    That Form is called the Super-Sayan.

    During the Battles of the first Series(Dragonball) Son Goku gained enough strenghth to withstand an explosion equal to that of an Atomic Bomb an even Muten-Rosh, also refferred to as the Turtle-Master destroyed the entire Moon with a Kamehame-Ha, to return Goku, which actually mutates into a Giant Gorilla-ike rampaging Creature, if he looks at the Moon while aving an intact Tail(Monkey-Like Tail), which was also a Weak-Spot, if it got grabbed hardly(leaving him drowsy-like powerless).

    As the DBZ continued, even stronger enemies occured leabving the characters no choice but to get stronger by training and also by fusioning.
    3 known Fusion-Types:
    The Fusion-Dance(lasting ~30Minutes): needs 2 people of equal power and equal proportions doing some movements while saying the word 'Fusion', Vegeta got embarassed.
    The Potara-Fusion(Lasting almost 4ever): this only requires one person to wear one Potara-Earring on his right ear and annother person on the left ear, making thir torsos to attract eachother like magnets, combining them into a new more powerful being than with the Fusion-Dance.Thwe only being that got separated was Vegetto by being inside the demon Boo.
    Namekian Fusion: The Inhabitants of planet Namek(greenskinned asexual People, Piccollo is one of them) can decide to do a fusion with annother Namekian, where one that decided that totally combines himself into the other energetically, increasing that combined being highly. as much as this looks easy, it actually increases the power less than the other Fusion-Types and even less than the Super-Sayan-Transformation.Tough it is said to be reversible, a reverting of that fusion never appeared.

    While fighting, nearly all main-characters gain supernatural Strenghth, Speed and Durability and even the ability to fly(called Technique to surpass Gravity).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 16, 2007 12:35:06 PM CST

    Majin Buu

    by bswise

    When they get to this saga in the sequals, how about Kevin Clash, the guy who voices Elmo on Sesame Street, for Buu?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 16, 2007 9:38:59 PM CST

    I'm assuming

    by phategod1

    there basing this off the last Dragonball movie. so there will be no Vegeta. But I do agree with the asain casting In my mind I always say Goku as strange as this might sound I saw Stephen Chow playing the role.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 17, 2007 12:37:43 AM CST

    badass

    by andokomando

    this movie better be badass, this is coming from a dbz fan from since it started in america in 95. now i highly doubt its gana be august 15 though. and i heard that it was supposed to be a goku vs vegita fight. but i guess its good enough for a goku vs piccolo. hopfully they can fit the story behind their rivalry in for a flashback or somthing because if not then it wont make no sense for new comers to db/z when the watch the movie. i cant wait to see who else is gana be on the cast. so far i think they have done a pretty good job.

    Reply to Talkback

User Login

Forgot password? Retrieve it here

or register as new user

Quick Talkback Form

Please login to post talkback