Dragonball Evolution: Review By Love & Napalm

The best cinema experiences in my book are the films you have very low expectations of that turn out to to little gems. This film is not one of them!

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against Dragonball or Dragonball Z. I have found both the Anime and Manga very enjoyable. Hell I live in Tokyo and if you don't like the insanely unbelieveable you'll get very bored. But sadly this was just to much to swallow.

This films major stumbling block is the story. It's awful, there's vitually no explanation for anything. Picollo has been enslaved on earth in a magical vessel and has escaped. How? I couldn't tell you, there's no exlpaining it. The films reason for being is passed right on by. Putting that behind us Picollo is clearly after the Dragonballs as is our group of heros, and what an epic 84 minute quest it is. Clearly not enough screen time to trek around the globe the Dragonballs are all easily found in the local neighbourhood and surrounding towns with Bulma's ball detector. Clearly Goku's balls weren't large enough to be detected!

Now I could pick this film to pieces but it does have SOME enjoyable points. The musical score stands out, it's actually pretty good. The visual effects are done to an acceptable standard, and some of the character interaction is fun. The awkward teenage moments between Goku and Chi Chi work. Chow Yun Fat is great to watch in parts but painful in others. James Masters is horrid as Picollo, he just doesn't have the voice or abilty to play such a powerful part and his make up leaves alot to be desired.

Dragonball could have been adapted into an epic sci fi adventure, but with dodgy wire work and left over 60's Star Trek set pieces it's not. Maybe it could have been saved with a story? Actors? To little to late anyway.