‘Dragonball : Evolution’ Movie Review
In this action packed film, Justin Chatwin plays Goku who is a martial arts master trained by his Grandpa Gohan (Randall Duk Kim). However, he’s bullied at school because he made a promise to his Grandpa that he would never fight anyone. While, not the most important part of the movie, it is entertaining to see the creative reasoning he uses to overcome the details of that promise to eventually kick those bullie’s butts. I just love that kinda stuff. Continuing on, his grandpa gives him one of the sacred seven “Dragonballs” as an 18th birthday present. He also teaches Goku to never forget who he is which turns out to be a very important piece of advice in the movie.
Lord Piccolo played by “Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s” James Martsters returns from banishment to reclaim the seven “Dragonballs”. Once all of them are collected,they will give the collector one wish. So Goku and his friends which consists of Bulma (Emmy Rossum), Master Roshi (Yun-Fat Chow),Yamcha (Joon Park) and occasionally his crush,Chi Chi (Jamie Chung) spend the majority of the movie trying to stop Piccolo from collecting the “Dragonballs”,and taking over Earth.
They are unfortunately unsuccessful in their attempts at keeping the seven “Dragonballs” out of the grasps of Piccolo due in part to his side kick,Mai and her devious magical glamour spell. However, Goku and friends do eventually catch up with Piccolo just before he is able to call upon the wishing dragon. But Goku must face one more very unknown,surprise enemy before he can defeat Piccolo. The enemy is himself. It turns out that within him is a huge dangerous beast which he is destined to transform into on his 18th birthday. When he transforms into him, he becomes very dangerous to everyone,but the Goku within is able to eventually overcome his dangerous inner beast by remembering who he really is. The very important lesson taught by his Grandpa Gohan.
My Take :While, not very successful at the box office, I thought this movie was highly entertaining with a lot of action,and high energy fight scenes which I personally love. It had a pretty good story,plot build up,and nice little twist there at the end.It also had a little comedy in it delivered by Joon Park’s character, Yamcha and Yun-Fat Chow as Master Roshi. the women in the movie were hotties. Heck,what more could you ask for. I enjoyed it.
Grade : B +
Movie : Dragonball : Evolution
Release Date : April 10, 2009
Studio : 20th Century Fox
Cast : Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Jamie Chung, Emmy Rossum, Eriko Tamura, Joon Park, Chow Yun-Fat, Texas Battle, Randall Duk Kim, Ernie Hudson
