Movie Overview

• Title: Dragonball Evolution

• Release Date: Released in Japan on March 13, 2009, and in North America on April 10, 2009

• Genre: Action-Adventure / Fantasy (Sunny superhero-influenced)

• Director: James Wong; Screenplay: Ben Ramsey; Producer: Stephen Chow .

• Cast:

  • Justin Chatwin as Goku

  • Emmy Rossum as Bulma

  • Chow Yun-Fat as Master Roshi

  • James Marsters as Lord Piccolo

  • Jamie Chung as Chi-Chi; Joon Park as Yamcha; Eriko Tamura as Mai

• Where to Watch: DVD/Blu-ray released July 2009 and streaming occasionally available online

1. Plot Summary

A teenage Goku embarks on a quest to gather the magical Dragon Balls, which grant ultimate power. Guided by Master Roshi, Goku and his allies—Bulma, Chi-Chi, Yamcha—must stop the evil warlord Lord Piccolo from collecting them first and using them to conquer Earth .

2. Notable Elements

• Appealing Cast vs. Weak Execution: Though boasting a mix of rising and established actors—Chow Yun-Fat’s Roshi adds charisma—the cast couldn’t save the wooden delivery and disconnected portrayal of beloved characters .

• Lackluster CGI & Action: The martial arts and visual effects failed to capture the dynamic, high-energy combat from the anime, with only one memorable ‘Kamehameha’ move often recalled .

• Fan Disservice: Critics accused the film of ignoring the source material’s spirit—comparing it to something that exists solely to provoke fans rather than respect the original

3. Themes and Messages

• Heroism and Destiny: While the original manga focuses on Goku’s growth and sense of adventure, the film’s portrayal reduces these themes to superficial tropes with little emotional core

• Good vs. Evil (Simplified):

  Advertisement
  The film very clearly delineates good and evil—Piccolo’s villainy versus Goku’s innocence—though in exchange sacrificing nuance and connection

4. Personal Impressions

Strengths:

• At least one visual scene and Chow Yun-Fat’s presence provide sporadic charm

• Compact runtime makes it a breezy, albeit disappointing watch.

Weaknesses:

• Flat dialogue, underwhelming plot, and miscast Goku made Goku feel entirely disconnected from his anime roots

• Critics describe the action as lacking, with choreography failing to deliver the frenetic, gravity-defying battles expected in the Dragon Ball universe

• The film was a box office disappointment and a clear misfire in adaptation, halting plans for sequels

5. Audience Recommendations

• Not Recommended for: Fans of the original anime or manga seeking faithful adaptation—this film fundamentally misses the mark.

• Recommended (if at all) for: Viewers curious to see how badly a beloved franchise can be mishandled—essentially for its infamy.

6. Conclusion & Rating

Dragonball Evolution stands as one of the most notorious (and critically reviled) live-action adaptations in pop-culture history. It fails to respect the tone, emotion, or dynamic action of the source material, resulting in a shallow spectacle absent of heart or inspiration.

Final Recommendation: A cautionary tale in adaptation—best kept as a reference to what not to do.

Rating: ⭐ ½ out of 5 stars.