How to begin? As everyone knows, this movie is not exactly best film of the year. My partner in crime and I ventured in the theater, knowing not to expect much, as so to prevent later disappointment and tears. We were ‘right on’ (groovy…?).
The story is loosely based on the original Dragon Ball story, merging the first dragon ball hunting saga with the King Piccolo saga together as one convenient anecdote. The setting looks to be like a modern ‘white’ society, with geeky Goku (Justin Chatwin) having problems fitting in his school, when suddenly, he is burdened to save the world from King Piccolo, an evil Namek, whose goal is to collect all dragon balls in order to “take my (his) vengeance upon the Earth”.The movie was, for my taste, too lame and corny. There was too much emphasis on rebuilding the typical ultimate hero-like character, and not nearly enough effort to capture Goku’s free spirited story (“Far too much dancing and not nearly as enough prancing!” – Mr. Burns) Typical equals: “5000 years ago, an evil was locked away (blah)…you are destined to save the world (blah)…you are the destined warrior (blah)…”
King Piccolo’s makeup and costume was sickening, so was Goku’s trademark orange martial arts outfit. No need for explanations.
The fights scenes were ok though, where the lameness did help (for this particular type of movie), including good (and unintentionally funny!) slomo punches and impact scenes. The visual effects of the ‘ki’ energy weren’t that great though. Instead of taking a solid and luminous form as in the anime, the ki were presented as gaseous and misty. This didn’t look too great and impressive, compare to the anime at least, especially in the fight scenes where they are just throwing feeble-looking vapours at each other (fart much Goku?).
As mentioned above, we watched this film with minimum expectations, and surprisingly, it worked. It was quite enjoyable (and as said, unintentionally funny), but definitely not memorable. The best bits in the movie were the ones that probably included the cleavage-d exhibitionist Chi Chi (Jamie Chung), and the fobby and perverted Master Roshi (Yun-Fat Chow). As you can see, their descriptive verbs explains why.
In conclusion, the movie was not an evolution. Overall, I would rate this movie 3/7 dragon balls. Yes, the rating is out of the odd number 7, because there are 7 dragon balls in the movie, get it? (Kaka, I’m hilarious!)
help...how do i move the "read more" link higher...help...
*flails around helplessly
I AGREE WITH YOUR REVIEW! every single word!
even the bit with too much dancing and not enough prancing!
goku's character WAS too white. and even though he was suppose to be "struggling" in highschool.
he DIDNT SEEM out of place. the REAL goku would have been much more noticibly out of pace with his free spirit and simple humour. HE WAS SUPPOSE TO TAP BULMA'S NONEXISTENT BALLS!
and yes. you are HI-LARIOUS with your rating. i really LOL! you saw me!
I was about to watch this movie a few days ago. Lucky I didn't! What a disaster that would have been...
And Chicken,
"HE WAS SUPPOSE TO TAP BULMA'S NONEXISTENT BALLS!"
LOL? that happened in the anime? I never got to see anything exciting as that!! :(
to chau! trung has the movie of Dragon Ball the path to power. it retells the origin story!
and there's a scene where goku first meets bulma and he is CLUELESS of females! so adorable!
trung will let you borrow it! =D
Thanks for the advice T-buddy! I think I'll give this movie a miss!
Hope the Easter is going well for you. Have fun ;)
I'll watch this movie if someone if lets me borrow it later, won't bother wasting our downloads on it.
P.S. you're a tool
I AM BOYCOTTING THIS REDICULOUS MOVIE!
I MEAN LOOK AT THE WHITE GUY's HAIR. it is the most rediculous thing I've ever seen. I think the makers dont go to asian clubbing and see those guys with the real dragon ball hairstyles psh.
ANd how did GOKU become white? honestly - i reckon they will regret it and in dbz he will become asian again LOL
BTW trung... the mist is used in evolution as oopposed to the shiny yellow in the beloved anime because they dont go super in dragon ball evolution - ONLY in dragonball Z when goku gg's freeeezer :D (yes i still am a die-hard fan).
The Chicken: I wanted bulma's women-hood revealed too! That was probably one of the funnier scenes in the path to power movie!
Chau!: exchange your book for my dragonball movie? for borrow of course!
Patrick: thanks Easter was good! went to IGA to buy the chocolate (they were the only store open, but didn't sell eggs!)
Kwinny: yah, better not download it, save it for something better...such as yugioh! by the way, your mum's a tool!
Benjamin: white man hair definitely did not do the movie any justice!
and i watched some original dragon ball episodes again (not z), the ki is still shinny! eg. When Goku and Roshi uses the kamehameha, its not misty at all!
(psst its not called IGA anymore!!)