OK here's the deal: Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE DRAGONBALL. I remember picking up the manga and watching the anime when I was 8 years old and I've been a fan ever since. Flash forward a little more than a decade and Hollywood's got their dirty lil' paws on what just might be one the most cherished elements of my childhood. At first I was extremely skeptical, as I'm sure most DBZ fans were and probably still are. But I gotta admit...The more i hear about this movie the more I want to see it. Yes there are a shitload of differences, but there are more than a few similarities as well. And then there are elements that are different from the original story, but not necessarily bad things. Remember: like most movies, this is an adaptation. an ADAPT-ation.
Let's go down the list of who's making the film. James Wong is directing. He's made some mediocre films in the past such as Final Destination 1 and 3, but let's be fair, these movies weren't badly DIRECTED, just kinda corny because of the plot and dialogue. Visually speaking they weren't badly done. He used to work on the X files as well and we all know X-FILES KICKS ASS. Also James Wong is Chinese or in other words, from the country of origin of the folklore story "Journey to the West" The tale Dragonball is based on in the first place. I would think that he would feel connected to the story and would want to make a good film. Secondly, Stephen Chow is producing. Stephen Chow is fucking awesome. Yes his movies are very stylized and aren't for everyone, but they are definitely for anyone who likes Dragonball. As a matter of fact I believe he himself is a big DBZ fan and that Dragonball served as an inspiration for his own films such as Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle. All you have to do is see those movies for that to be clear. Not to mention he is also Chinese, and therefore for the same reasons as James Wong, I believe he would want this movie to be awesome. Ben Ramsey wrote the script for it... I don't know much about this guy and when I heard about certain things in the script, THAT'S when I became skeptical. Krillin is NOT IN THE MOVIE. Dragonball WITHOUT KRILLIN. I'll completely ignore the fact that He's my favorite character, but removing him from the story is not a good move. If this were a movie about the Cell or Boo Saga, I'd understand. He doesn't serve much of a purpose after the Freeza saga, but in Dragonball, as in before the story goes intergalactic, he was a PROMINENT CHARACTER. Goku's best friend and dojo brother. Roshi has 2 students: Goku and FUCKING KRILLIN. WHERE IS HE??? Besides that the other characters are there (with the exception of all anthropomorphic animals, which once again I understand, be it for monetary reasons or just that it would've been weird to see talking pigs and cats hanging out with the humans)and apparently Ramsey did a good job with the characters personalities: Goku is naive and a glutton who is clueless if he's not kicking someone's ass, Bulma is an explorer with gadgets who doesn't get along with Goku until later in the plot, Yamcha is a desert bandit with a plane-thing, Roshi is Goku's mentor and a skirt chaser. AWESOME.
Now the cast: When I heard that Justin Chatwin a.k.a the kid from War of the Worlds who miraculously survived, was playing Goku I didn't know what to think, but after seing interviews with him I don't think it was a bad cast. He understands the character, and allthough he's technically about 10 years too old to be Goku, it's cool cuz if they make sequels he'll be the right age, since throughout the story Goku gets older anyway. Emi Rossum is a good Bulma. Not the hardest character to cast, any hot white girl would have done the trick. Chow Yun Fat as Roshi is a GREAT cast. Do i think they should've shaved his head thrown sunglasses on him and a beard? Of course. But the fact that it's Chow Yun Fat is enough for me. Jamie Chung is a good Chi-Chi, Joon Park is a good Yamcha and James Marsters is a good Piccolo. All around it's not badly cast.
Also, Akira Toriyama the creator of Dragonball himself, commented on the trailer and said something along the lines of "Look at this as an alternate universe for Dragonball" This isn't Dragonball, it's Dragonball: EVOLUTION. That is key. Much like the Xmen movies in my opinion, X2 didn't follow the original plot of the comic but remained a good fan-pleasing, entertaining ADAPTATION.
Now, after saying all that I still don't know if it'll be a good movie. No one is expecting and oscar for this one, but that's ok. Dragonball has a huge fanbase and if this becomes a movie franchise it can have huge potential. The rest remains to be seen. I'll be there April 8th first in fucking line. It'll either be one of my greatest cinematic experiences or one of the worst things to happen to me. Guess at this point, only time will tell!
Here are a few DB:E links that helped me form my opinion:
Interview with Chatwin and Rossum:
[link]Akira Toriyama comments:
[link]Trailer:
[link]Similarities and Differences:
[link]Any thoughts? (if you actually read all this then you MUST have some...please comment!)
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IT SUCKED.
Disgust
Optimism
Joy
Astonished
