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Nasty Nick Says DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION Is...


Merrick here...


My man Nasty Nick sent in this look at DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION. I'm not sure whether this is the first review to appear online, but this is definitely one of the first (if not the first) review AICN's received for the film.

And the verdict? Apparently, it doesn't suck as roundly as many of us thought it would.

I've known Nasty Nick for some time now, and his taste in films seems reasonably discerning. If he says this doesn't entirely blow (which, frankly, surprises the hell out of me considering the material we've seen from the movie) - it probably doesn't entirely blow. Of course, what follows isn't exactly a glowing endorsement, either.




BEWARE MINOR SPOILERS



Here's Nick...

Dragonball Evolution opens in Japan this Friday, about a month before it does in the states.

There is a lot of bad talk about this so I didn't go into this with high expectation.

When I first heard back in 2002 that they were making a live Action Dragon Ball (Z at the time) Movie I was very excited. Thinking of the possibilities. Dragonball shares many elements with Superman, Into the west and the fighting in the animation looks like the Matrix on steroids. I have been a big fan of the animation and Manga for a long time now and thought that this could be a epic movie done on a large scale. Who was producing it? 20th Century Fox. Well then I thought they were part of those great X-Men films (1 and 2 at the time) so I had hoped we might get something close to that. This was supposed to be on the fast track for a 2004 release. When news of the live action surfaced the official Funimation site did a poll asking who they wanted Jet Li and Jackie Chan to play. I shuddered.

For a long time nothing happened until I read that James Wong was directing this. My expectations did fall.

How was the movie? In a word, Kawaii. Cute. There's lots of little bits here and there that fans of the series will enjoy such as a pervy Master Roshi played by Chow Yun Fat, even the animated series they showed in the states and UK cut out those bits. Yamcha is kinda funny in that he sounds a lot like the Yamcha from the American dubbed DB, Emmy Rossim as Bulma was unimpressive. At times I felt I was watching Charactures on screen, they all have their trademarks personalities but not much else behind that.

I can understand why a lot of characters aren't in it such krillin, Tien and Chiaotzu. It's hard to fit so many characters and story into a film such as this. Especially one with a running time of 88 minutes. The story is very condensed but it mostly hits all the marks to be near enough to the basic story of Piccolo in the DB Manga.

James Marster is coolness as Piccolo however he is on screen for too short time. If there is a sequel I hope we get to see more of his character. Justin Chatwin seems to be channeling Goku a bit. At times he shines as the character. Other times it's a little wooden but I blame that more on the script as he doesn't have much to work with.

As for the story it starts with the introduction of the Dragonballs, Piccolo and Oozaru who tried to take over the world 2000 years ago. Piccolo was stopped and put in a prison and Oozaru disappeared. For fans of the show this won't be a big spoiler but for anyone who hasn't seen the animation or read the Manga the spoiler is that Goku is Oozaru. But he doesn't find that out till later.

Piccolo somehow escapes but it's not shown how.

Goku after his training with his Grandfather Gohan heads off to School. His School scenes are basically a rip off of the first Spiderman film and all those typical films where the guy defeats the bully and takes the girl, Chichi. Anyway, Goku can't kick these guys asses because if he did (and he could) they'd end up in a hospital or worse. So he has to control himself and not fight them. Later he decides to confront them at a party but doesn't fight them and instead lets them hit each other as he dodges their blows in super slow mo, how original....

Fortunately the story moves past Goku in high School pretty quickly and moves onto the real story. Piccolo offs Gohan while Goku is away. Goku Teams up with a girl he meets called Bulma who thinks the dragonballs can be used as an unlimited power source. They find Master Roshi and set out to search for the Dragonballs with the help of a bandit named Yamcha they meet along the way. But Roshi knowing they don't have enough time before a solar eclipse decides he has to learn a special technique to trap Piccolo once again but this will cost him his own life. The film speeds along to the end with Roshi Teaching Goku the Kamehameha, Goku does some training. Chichi has a fight with herself and they all head off after Piccolo.

The final action scenes are a bit disappointing. Goku as Oozaru looks a bit silly. I don't think Goku even throws one punch at Piccolo. Instead he uses the Kamhameha against him. By the end after using the Dragonballs to summon Shenron and save guess who they all set off again to find the dragonballs once more.

The film isn't bad. Just not great.

Suited for kids and curious fans.

I guess a lot of stuff was cut from this film. There are scenes in earlier Trailers that aren't in this and gone is the grey looking Piccolo, now he is only green.

If they make a sequel and I hope they do. I hope that they find someone else other than Wong to direct this. Make it bigger, more epic, add some more mythology and bring on Vegeta!

Nasty Nick




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Reader Talkback

I'm surprised
by A G
Mar 13th, 2009
08:20:24 AM
First
by twisted_lullaby
Mar 13th, 2009
08:24:07 AM
This is fantastic news.
by broken ring
Mar 13th, 2009
08:25:44 AM
Well...
by broken ring
Mar 13th, 2009
08:27:08 AM
A man named Nasty Nick says kawaii in conversation?
by Shut the Fuck up Donny
Mar 13th, 2009
08:28:49 AM
Looks and sounds like shit!!!
by lb
Mar 13th, 2009
08:29:36 AM
My 9 year old doens't even want to see this.
by FookU
Mar 13th, 2009
08:34:28 AM
What about that other chick, Bukkake?
by Snake Foreskin
Mar 13th, 2009
08:39:42 AM
This is a stupid fucking cartoon by the way.
by Snake Foreskin
Mar 13th, 2009
08:42:19 AM
I'll see this, even though it will suck.
by dr sauch
Mar 13th, 2009
08:43:10 AM
DB should be a FANTASY trilogy, not this BULLSHIT!
by Bodenland Unbound
Mar 13th, 2009
09:02:38 AM
I take it all the pervy stuff has been removed?
by Brody77
Mar 13th, 2009
09:10:52 AM
This movie will do better than most people think...
by Rindain
Mar 13th, 2009
09:11:53 AM
I can describe this movie with just one letter of the alphabet
by IAmMrMonkey!
Mar 13th, 2009
09:12:24 AM
Dragonball is a lousy cartoon
by Groothewarrior
Mar 13th, 2009
09:16:56 AM
5 Year Olds The World Over Can Now Rejoice!
by LaserPants
Mar 13th, 2009
09:24:35 AM
StarBlitzer Says DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION Is...
by StarBlitzer
Mar 13th, 2009
09:29:22 AM
He's a fan of the cartoon...
by choptop
Mar 13th, 2009
09:40:58 AM
Sentence fragments make baby jesus cry
by catlettuce4
Mar 13th, 2009
09:46:49 AM
Making Anime into Live action just sucks...
by conspiracy
Mar 13th, 2009
09:57:40 AM
"Now you will see my TRUE form!"
by fiester
Mar 13th, 2009
10:15:33 AM
Its only been a Week since Watchmen
by knowthyself
Mar 13th, 2009
10:17:41 AM
I was a fan of Dragonball Z
by Carpet_Pisser
Mar 13th, 2009
10:18:21 AM
Call me when he fights Frieza
by terry1978
Mar 13th, 2009
10:20:24 AM
Maria Conchita Alonso in negotiations.....
by Willie_Watkins
Mar 13th, 2009
10:21:31 AM
A good time to bring up Snyder..watchmen..and hayter.
by knowthyself
Mar 13th, 2009
10:23:50 AM
Even the PLANTS have to temper their excitement
by ShiftyEyedDog2
Mar 13th, 2009
10:32:37 AM
Shouldn't...
by Organs
Mar 13th, 2009
10:42:14 AM
No trunks = flames on optimus = no squid
by knowthyself
Mar 13th, 2009
10:45:18 AM
So the Oozaru looks like shit?
by Mr Slippy Fist
Mar 13th, 2009
10:47:33 AM
i have no idea what Dragon Ball is
by damned
Mar 13th, 2009
11:07:18 AM
Too bad, really.
by MY_BLUE_PENIS
Mar 13th, 2009
11:10:14 AM
KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
by HebrewLantern
Mar 13th, 2009
11:25:05 AM
MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE E
by HebrewLantern
Mar 13th, 2009
11:25:24 AM
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAA
by HebrewLantern
Mar 13th, 2009
11:25:38 AM
MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
by HebrewLantern
Mar 13th, 2009
11:25:52 AM
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAA
by HebrewLantern
Mar 13th, 2009
11:26:15 AM
When will US studios learn...
by cmbuzzkill
Mar 13th, 2009
11:38:31 AM
Epic kamehameha post HebrewLantern...
by TheWaqman
Mar 13th, 2009
11:40:33 AM
Spinning Bird Shit!
by Dreadlock Holmes
Mar 13th, 2009
11:41:31 AM
Fuck off knowthyself....
by TheWaqman
Mar 13th, 2009
11:41:36 AM
Vegeta.
by Dreadlock Holmes
Mar 13th, 2009
11:42:25 AM
Don't complain about food with your mouths full
by freedunit01
Mar 13th, 2009
11:49:02 AM
The continued stupidity of some AICN TBers...
by mefrog
Mar 13th, 2009
11:52:35 AM
People really care about this movie?
by phool2056
Mar 13th, 2009
12:22:52 PM
TheWaqman
by knowthyself
Mar 13th, 2009
12:23:17 PM
The review sounds...
by Thrillho77
Mar 13th, 2009
12:38:11 PM
HebrewLantern
by jamestewart007
Mar 13th, 2009
12:43:17 PM
I'll go see this
by jamestewart007
Mar 13th, 2009
12:45:28 PM
HebrewLantern
by Spyhunter
Mar 13th, 2009
01:02:30 PM
Spyhunter
by Thrillho77
Mar 13th, 2009
01:06:19 PM
there's going to be another Dragonball talkback?
by HebrewLantern
Mar 13th, 2009
01:48:18 PM
dumbass cartoon = dumass movie
by Nizzuts
Mar 13th, 2009
01:51:13 PM
Spyhunter and Thrillho77
by StarBlitzer
Mar 13th, 2009
01:57:35 PM
Is his power level OVER 9000?????
by Hamtaro Hentai
Mar 13th, 2009
01:59:25 PM
So let me get this straight...
by Sick Fixx
Mar 13th, 2009
02:00:12 PM
mine is
by HebrewLantern
Mar 13th, 2009
02:00:43 PM
I like James Marsters
by liljuniorbrown
Mar 13th, 2009
02:02:45 PM
Seriously???
by Sick Fixx
Mar 13th, 2009
02:05:41 PM
Thrillho77
by Nasty_Nick
Mar 13th, 2009
02:09:42 PM
liljuniorbrown
by Hamtaro Hentai
Mar 13th, 2009
02:10:38 PM
oops
by Hamtaro Hentai
Mar 13th, 2009
02:14:51 PM
New director for the sequel I agree, bring in VEGETA!
by Mike_D
Mar 13th, 2009
03:27:08 PM
Nasty_Nick
by Thrillho77
Mar 13th, 2009
03:48:51 PM
Does anyone else think
by David Lazarus Long
Mar 13th, 2009
04:40:43 PM
Shitactular Piss Poor Hyper Mega Crap
by Rollofpennies
Mar 13th, 2009
05:05:53 PM
Oozaru Goku
by Outlaw
Mar 13th, 2009
05:42:17 PM
I will see it..
by Devilman666
Mar 13th, 2009
06:55:29 PM
outlaw
by HebrewLantern
Mar 13th, 2009
07:15:19 PM
There are no tits bird brain
by Phategod2
Mar 13th, 2009
07:16:19 PM
I may see it for laughs and novelty
by The Amazing G
Mar 13th, 2009
09:13:15 PM
hey conspiracy, I can't say I blame you for thinking that....
by The Amazing G
Mar 13th, 2009
09:14:50 PM
Casshern was a good live action adaptation
by Bob C. Cock
Mar 13th, 2009
09:22:29 PM
Why isn't Roshi bald with sunglasses?
by StarBlitzer
Mar 13th, 2009
11:08:10 PM
DRAGONBALL > WATCHMEN
by Ye Not Guilty
Mar 13th, 2009
11:38:32 PM
I heart Vegeta
by StrokerX
Mar 13th, 2009
11:58:33 PM
Future Trunks
by Jesiah
Mar 14th, 2009
01:46:25 AM
goku was always white!!
by HebrewLantern
Mar 14th, 2009
01:56:41 AM
A little late.
by lockesbrokenleg
Mar 14th, 2009
02:54:05 AM
Goku was always white?
by GibsonUSA Returns
Mar 14th, 2009
04:22:51 AM
James Marsters wasn't in this enough
by Nasty_Nick
Mar 14th, 2009
06:46:07 AM
Hebrewlantern
by sokitome
Mar 14th, 2009
03:59:11 PM
Conspiracy
by Varakor
Mar 15th, 2009
03:40:30 AM
BULLSHIT - Nick his a plant. I saw the movie.
by cmbuzzkill
Mar 15th, 2009
09:52:44 AM
cmbuzzkill
by Jesiah
Mar 15th, 2009
11:28:47 AM
oh ok I get it
by Jesiah
Mar 15th, 2009
11:34:13 AM
EVERYONE MUST SEE THIS TWICE
by alice 13
Mar 15th, 2009
02:38:25 PM
Toby_FN_Wong
by Nasty_Nick
Mar 16th, 2009
03:10:50 AM
Next on the live action slate: Yu Gi Oh!
by Dingbatty
Mar 16th, 2009
04:49:20 AM

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