Dragonball Evolution (2009)

• Add

Basic Plot

Dragonball: Evolution’s plot revolves around an 18-year old Goku on his quest to find the seven Dragonballs and vanquish evil before they fall into the clutches of the Namekian Piccolo. Along the way Goku runs into several characters familiar to the series, namely Roshi (Chow Yun Fat), Chi Chi, Bulma (Emmy Rossum) and Yamcha. The film also focuses on the rise of Goku, as he trains to harness his Kai with his Grandfather and later with Roshi, as he learns his trademark move the Kamehameha Wave, the beginning of his relationship with Chi Chi and his never ending quest to claim all seven of the Dragonballs.

Evolution serves more as an updated take on the events that transpire in the Dragonball Manga, while it follows some of the basic character relationships and story arch, it modernizes and updates the story and takes it in its own direction to try and make their own story while still remaining true to some of the Manga to please the fans. 

Differences from the Manga

In transitioning from anime/manga to live-action film, most often a number of things are changed to try and make it a unique story line and Dragonball: Evolution is no different. Some of the differences will be fairly obvious to fans of the original Manga, while some are a little harder to catch but the main ones are as follows:

•            Piccolo’s visual appearance is strikingly different than the Anime as he loses his antennae and trademark ghi and arm markings.
•            In the Manga, Piccolo is seeking the Dragonballs to restore his lost youth, while in the film he plans on using them to rule the world.
•            In the Manga, Goku is significantly clobbered by Piccolo in their confrontation, however in the movie Piccolo goes down without much of a fight.
•            At the end of the credits, Piccolo is seen being nursed back to health, however in the Manga he spits out an egg containing Piccolo Jr.
•            Piccolo is killed by a Kamehameha wave in the film but in the Manga he is killed by Goku using Penetrate! and flying through his middle.
•            Grandpa Gohan is killed by Piccolo in the film, however in the original series he is killed when Goku, in Great Ape form, steps on him.
•            Grandpa Gohan is a bit more knowledgeable about the Dragonballs and Nameks than he is in the Manga; nobody knew who Namekians were until the Saiyan series, and it was originally Bulma who revealed the information of the Dragonballs to Goku.
•            Master Roshi was portrayed as an old man with an affinity for young ladies and even requested Goku and Krillin bring him a pretty girl before he trains them, this side of his personality is lacking in the film.
•            Goku is portrayed as a Caucasian man, whereas in the Manga he is designed to be an Oriental man.
•            Goku’s personality in the Manga was light-hearted, care free, somewhat naïve and focusing on bettering himself and his abilities. In the movie he is shown as a brooding, High School teenager, focused on fitting in with other kids and girls.
•            The film Goku begins his adventures when he is 18 whereas the Manga Goku begins them when he is only 12.
•            In the film he is able to levitate using Ki however in the Manga he does not learn this ability until much later, and travels using the Nimbus cloud.
•           Goku’s costume is slightly different in the movie, straying away from the all Orange Ghi seen in the Manga by adding different layers and colors.
•            The movie Goku has no tail which is one of the prerequisites needed to transform into the Oozaru and the Oozaru are shown as being servants to Piccolo, while in the Manga they have no relationship at all.
•            Goku is best friends with Krillin in the manga yet in the film he does not know Krillin.  

Reception

 Since its release, Dragonball: Evolution has received overwhelmingly negative reviews and has been largely shunned by both critics and fans alike. A vast amount of criticism came about around the fact that the character Goku was played by a Caucasian, and several reviewers claimed this film to have lazy performances from the actors and an overall mood that drifted too far away from the original series. Where Goku was curious and fun-loving, he was now a teenager with no friends, and the epic battles between Goku and King Piccolo were replaced with short almost one-sided fights.

However, despite their negative comments, there have been several positive reviews applauding the film’s fight choreography, use of stunning and intense visuals and claiming it as a fun ride of a film.