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So I got a chance to see one of the first preview screenings of the new Dragonball movie. Obviously skeptical and slightly worried how my childhood favorites would be portrayed on the silver screen, I was delightfully surprised to find out that it wasn’t as bad as I expected. So heres my opinions:

- Some of the actors were slightly miscast, Chow Yun-Fat as Master Roshi was always going to be a bad idea. His perverted-ness is completely erased and frankly he feels like a modern Mister Miyagi. That said a few of the actors fit their roles perfectly, Emmy Rossum, James Marsters & Jamie Chung were awesome. I am still stuck for an opinion on Chatwin considering he portrays Goku in a different way from what I came to expect. I’ll get back to you on him.

- The special effects are amazing. Thats all that needs to be said about them really. Absolutely spectacular. They are not photo-realistic, but then again they were never supposed to be. I won’t spoil to much though!

- The script is flawed and at times feels very rushed but it fits I suppose. Ben Ramsey did a more than good job but as a true Dragonball fan I am never going to be completely satisfied. Characters such as Krillin could have easily been included and would have fit right at home within James Wong’s Dragonball and to be honest, I don’t know why they were omitted.

The movie will possibly garner lukewarm reviews upon release but a casual Dragonball fan will enjoy it’s fun, lively take on the myths. I for one recommend it & I can’t wait to see it again when it’s released next year!!

1. Hows the fighting

Spectacular at times. Other times it is fairly obvious that the fighters aren’t the Hollywood actors. Everything is done well, energy balls fly in all directions and surroundings are destroyed. Whats to be expected though, this is Dragonball?!

2. How green actually is Piccolo

Piccolo at the beginning, as his older-self is more pink than green. He changes about half an hour towards the end to his usual green. He looks very different from the cartoon in appearance. He lacks the usual white turban and purple jumpsuit. Plus his antenna are missing. This is beyond the point though because Marsters IS Piccolo, and the fact he plays the character so well means that his appearance really doesn’t matter.

3. Does he transform.

I think I pretty much answered this one.

4. How many fights are there

It depends how you refer to fights. There are lots on confrontations within the film but there are around four big fights in total. Two of which happen towards the end.

5. Whats the Oozaru look like

Oozaru is a beast in this film. Typically because of this been Hollywood he doesn’t kill Grandpa Gohan like in the original Dragonball series. That said, he does make Bulma crap her pants.

6. How long was it

93 Minutes Approx.

7. What rating will it be

Chances are a PG-13. The MPAA hasn’t rated it yet though. Note the fact I was at the FIRST preview screening.

8. Anything after the credits

Yes, only something tiny though. Goku flies off into the sunset.

9. Hows Shenron look

I don’t know how you expect me to describe these things but; a lot of the time he is glazed out by bright orange light, his face anyway. It is possibly one of the only designs that stays almost complete true to it’s anime form.

10. Whats the Goku vs Piccolo fight like

I’ve pretty much already described the fighting.

That 93 mins including credits?

No, it is not including credits.

How longs the school part of it.

The school part is towards the beginning and isn’t exactly a main plot point. I’m guessing it was just to show Goku as a normal young boy.

What are the 4 big fights.

Two fights between Goku & Piccolo. One ends in Piccolo’s favor the other in Goku’s. A fight between Goku and Yamcha and the earliest one, a fight between Goku and Master Roshi, this is when Goku first arrives at Roshi’s and the old man has no idea who he is.

The leaked Piccolo pictures we got is that the Young or Old Piccolo

The leaked pictures are of old Piccolo (obviously).

What’s the dialogue like? Any cheesy one-liners?

The dialogue was actually rather witty in a sense. There are some clever lines and Goku, although supposedly an educated teenager, still acts like the uneducated child he was in the original Dragonball series, maybe not as obviously though.

What’s the highschool scenes like? Is he the clichéd geeky student who discovers he has super powers?

No, he doesn’t discover he has the powers because Grandpa Gohan has already trained him slightly. The High School scenes only feature Goku as almost a freak show. Forced to fight a bully, demonstrating his power by lifting objects etc. Everyone knows of his power and in the high school scenes he isn’t afraid to show it.

Thanks to those who actually believe. Oh and I’m female by the way, for the person who keeps referring to me as ‘guy.’

Are the fights like the Matrix?

There are some bullet time style sequences but a lot of it is very similar to the series, fast paced, then slow bits in the middle which usually revolve around a character saying something.

How green actually is he like Pale green, dark green?

He is pale green.

Is it funny?

There are funny parts. The idea of Goku and Chichi had some of the audience giggling. Goku is oblivious to the fact that Chichi clearly fancies him, lots of distractions & confusion ensues.

Will fans enjoy it?

It depends what the fans are expecting. If the fans are expecting a perfect transition from the anime into Hollywood, then no, chances are they won’t like it. If they watch the film with an open mind and see that the actors, although sometimes don’t look like the Dragonball characters, they play them very well.

Do you think it'll be a big film?

With todays Box Office stature it is hard to tell. As I said earlier, chances are it will be met with lukewarm reviews but it is an enjoyable romp.

What special moves from the show appears?

Obviously Goku’s Kamehameha appears, along with Piccolo’s Makkankosapo, and Destructive Wave. Yamcha uses his Rogafufuken and Bulma uses her guns!

Is the Oozaru a tall ape like beast?

It’s not as huge as it was in the anime. It is almost werewolf in appearance but easily towers over characters such as Piccolo.

Mssj.Vegeta

Sep 23 2008, 10:11 PM

Plus why would they erase roshi;s perpvertedness completely when he had that fancy shirt and jacket/sweater on in that photo with goku.

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he french magazine Cine Live ran an article on Dragonball, which has several revealing quotes from the executive producer Tim Van Rellim and director James Wong. Perhaps the most notable revelation is from Wong, who comments on a certain perverted turtle hermit.

Is Roshi true to the manga character? “Yes, somewhat,” said director James Wong. “We kept his main features, like his humor. But in the manga Roshi is a true sexual pervert, which wouldn’t work in a family film. So we removed that part of the character.”

“I discovered that Dragonball had such a rich universe that it would take several films to cover all of its treasures. My goal with this movie is not to convince existing fans that Dragonball is great, they already know this, but to give a new audience. More adults, as I was a neophyte myself before discovering the manga!”

GokuJr82

Sep 24 2008, 12:23 PM

I say I could do a better dragon ball movie
even my grandma could.
But... anyway, It could be fun after all. let's just watch it.