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On its opening weekend in the United States, the film grossed [[United States dollar|$]]4,756,488 ranking #8 at the box office.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=dragonball.htm |title = Dragonball Evolution (2009) - Weekend Box Office Results |publisher = [[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate = April 13, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-12/dragonball-evolution-opens-at-no.8-with-us$4.6-million |title = Dragonball Evolution Opens at #8 with US$4.6 Million (Updated) |publisher = [[Anime News Network]] |date = April 12, 2009 |accessdate = April 12, 2009 }}</ref> In its second weekend, it dropped to eleventh place.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-19/dragonball-drops-out-of-top-10-at-u.s-box-office |title = Dragonball Drops Out of Top 10 at U.S. Box Office |publisher = [[Anime News Network]] |date = April 19, 2009 |accessdate = April 20, 2009 }}</ref> The film had a domestic gross earning of $9,362,785 and a foreign gross of $48,134,914 for a combined box office gross of $57,497,699.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=dragonball.htm |title = Dragonball Evolution |publisher = [[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate = June 19, 2009 }}</ref> It was nominated for a 2009 [[Spike TV]] [[Scream Award]] for "Best Comic Book Movie".<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS183309+31-Aug-2009+PRN20090831 |title = Spike TV Announces Nominees for 'Scream 2009' - 'Star Trek' Tops List With 17 Nominations |date = August 31, 2009 |publisher = [[Reuters]], [[Spike TV]] |accessdate = September 5, 2009 }}</ref>
On its opening weekend in the United States, the film grossed [[United States dollar|$]]4,756,488 ranking #8 at the box office.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=dragonball.htm |title = Dragonball Evolution (2009) - Weekend Box Office Results |publisher = [[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate = April 13, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-12/dragonball-evolution-opens-at-no.8-with-us$4.6-million |title = Dragonball Evolution Opens at #8 with US$4.6 Million (Updated) |publisher = [[Anime News Network]] |date = April 12, 2009 |accessdate = April 12, 2009 }}</ref> In its second weekend, it dropped to eleventh place.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-19/dragonball-drops-out-of-top-10-at-u.s-box-office |title = Dragonball Drops Out of Top 10 at U.S. Box Office |publisher = [[Anime News Network]] |date = April 19, 2009 |accessdate = April 20, 2009 }}</ref> The film had a domestic gross earning of $9,362,785 and a foreign gross of $48,134,914 for a combined box office gross of $57,497,699.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=dragonball.htm |title = Dragonball Evolution |publisher = [[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate = June 19, 2009 }}</ref> It was nominated for a 2009 [[Spike TV]] [[Scream Award]] for "Best Comic Book Movie".<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS183309+31-Aug-2009+PRN20090831 |title = Spike TV Announces Nominees for 'Scream 2009' - 'Star Trek' Tops List With 17 Nominations |date = August 31, 2009 |publisher = [[Reuters]], [[Spike TV]] |accessdate = September 5, 2009 }}</ref>


Since its release, ''Dragonball: Evolution'' has received mixed reviews. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] it scored 13%, while on [[Metacritic]] it got a 45/100. Zac Bertschy of [[Anime News Network]], originally disgusted at [[otaku]] (ardent fans) who decried the film via leaked set shots and trailers before the film's release, gave the movie an overall failing grade and stated "the fans were right." He criticized the film's lack of explaining plot elements, its hackneyed storyline and lackluster effort by the actors.<ref name="ANN Review">{{cite web |url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragonball-evolution |title = Review" Dragonball Evolution |publisher = [[Anime News Network]] |date = March 16, 2009 |accessdate = March 19, 2009 }}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'''s Russell Edwards found the film "passable", "pleasing if paint-by-numbers," noting it "doesn't take itself too seriously, but avoids campiness," that "the climactic clash between Piccolo and Goku offers a faithful CGI representation of the ethereal powers as drawn in the original manga" and that the climax offers an "impressive character twist for Goku that will warm the cockles of every young Jungian's heart."<ref name="Variety Review">{{cite web |url = http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939940.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&query=dragonball+evolution+review |title = New Int'l. Release: Dragonball Evolution |first = Russell |last = Edwards |work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date = March 25, 2009 |accessdate = April 12, 2009 }}</ref> Luke Thompson of ''[[E!|E! Online]]'' referred to the film as a "the worst movie ever made, it makes the original cartoon look bad" that would only make sense to fans of the original series. He questioned the use of a Caucasian in the main role and felt Chow Yun-Fat was "overacting like never before", but did consider it "fun in a train-wreck kind of way" and that while it was never boring it was also never "logical, coherent [or] rational".<ref name="E review">{{cite web |url = http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b118209__lt_i_gt_Dragonball_Evolution_lt__i_gt___A_Surreal_Mess.html |title = Dragonball Evolution: A Surreal Mess |first = Luke |last = Thompson |publisher = [[E!|E! Online]] |date = April 9, 2009 |accessdate = June 11, 2009 }}</ref> Bill Abrahamus of the science monthly publication, 'Science Magazine', also echoed these sentiments, stating that "I simply just cannot accept that millions of years of human evolution could produce such an offensive cacophony of depravity and worthlessness."
Since its release, ''Dragonball: Evolution'' has received overwhelmingly negative reviews. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] it scored 13%, while on [[Metacritic]] it got a 45/100. Zac Bertschy of [[Anime News Network]], originally disgusted at [[otaku]] (ardent fans) who decried the film via leaked set shots and trailers before the film's release, gave the movie an overall failing grade and stated "the fans were right." He criticized the film's lack of explaining plot elements, its hackneyed storyline and lackluster effort by the actors.<ref name="ANN Review">{{cite web |url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragonball-evolution |title = Review" Dragonball Evolution |publisher = [[Anime News Network]] |date = March 16, 2009 |accessdate = March 19, 2009 }}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'''s Russell Edwards found the film "passable", "pleasing if paint-by-numbers," noting it "doesn't take itself too seriously, but avoids campiness," that "the climactic clash between Piccolo and Goku offers a faithful CGI representation of the ethereal powers as drawn in the original manga" and that the climax offers an "impressive character twist for Goku that will warm the cockles of every young Jungian's heart."<ref name="Variety Review">{{cite web |url = http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939940.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&query=dragonball+evolution+review |title = New Int'l. Release: Dragonball Evolution |first = Russell |last = Edwards |work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date = March 25, 2009 |accessdate = April 12, 2009 }}</ref> Luke Thompson of ''[[E!|E! Online]]'' referred to the film as a "the worst movie ever made, it makes the original cartoon look bad" that would only make sense to fans of the original series. He questioned the use of a Caucasian in the main role and felt Chow Yun-Fat was "overacting like never before", but did consider it "fun in a train-wreck kind of way" and that while it was never boring it was also never "logical, coherent [or] rational".<ref name="E review">{{cite web |url = http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b118209__lt_i_gt_Dragonball_Evolution_lt__i_gt___A_Surreal_Mess.html |title = Dragonball Evolution: A Surreal Mess |first = Luke |last = Thompson |publisher = [[E!|E! Online]] |date = April 9, 2009 |accessdate = June 11, 2009 }}</ref> Bill Abrahamus of the science monthly publication, 'Science Magazine', also echoed these sentiments, stating that "I simply just cannot accept that millions of years of human evolution could produce such an offensive cacophony of depravity and worthlessness."


Gustaf Googenheimer of the German daily newspaper 'Bild' described the film as "embarrassing as my country's murky past." Christoper Monfette of [[IGN]] gave the film a somewhat positive review, stating that it "is perhaps the most successful live-action film to date to utilize costume, production and audio design&nbsp;– not to mention some inspired fight choreography&nbsp;– to provide the flavor of anime without becoming overly cartoonish." He praised the main cast for "creating characters the audience can actually care about" and felt Chatwin was particularly likeable as Goku.<ref name="IGN.com Review">{{cite web |url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/970/970094p1.html |title = Dragonball Evolution |first = Christopher |last = Monfette |publisher = [[IGN]] |date = April 9, 2009 |accessdate = April 12, 2009 }}</ref> ''[[Slant Magazine]]''{{'}}s Rob Humanick considered the film "uninspired" and implausible with an "aimlessly hyperactive construction and complete lack of substance" and "cobbled-together FX fakery".<ref name="Slant Review">{{cite web |url = http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=4221 |title = Dragonball Evolution |work = [[Slant Magazine]] |first = Rob |last = Humanick |date = April 10, 2009 |accessdate = April 11, 2009 }}</ref> Reviewing the film for Australia's [[ABC Radio National]], Jason Di Rosso stated the film was "lacking the visual panache of recent graphic novel adaptations". He agreed the film was uninspired and also felt it had dull "high school movie banter" dialog and was "cliché-ridden".<ref name="ABC Radio Review">{{cite web |url = http://www.abc.net.au/rn/movietime/stories/2009/2539565.htm |title = Movietime - April 10, 2009 - Dragonball Evolution |first = Jason |last = Di Rosso |publisher = [[ABC Radio National]] |work = Movie Time |date = April 10, 2009 |accessdate = April 11, 2009 }}</ref> ''[[The Village Voice]]''{{'}}s Aaron Hillis called the film a "loony live-action adaptation", but felt it was "more entertaining than it deserves to be" and would likely appeal to ten-year old boys.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-04-08/film/dragonball-evolution-a-cartoonish-coming-of-ager/ |title = Dragonball Evolution: A Cartoonish Coming-of-Ager |first = Aaron |last = Hillis |work = [[The Village Voice]] |date = April 10, 2009 |accessdate = April 18, 2009 }}</ref> Alonso Duralde of [[MSNBC]] found the film to be "both entertainingly ridiculous and ridiculously entertaining" and noted that "kids will have such a blast that you can turn this movie into the gateway kung-fu drug that makes them want to watch the earlier work of Stephen Chow and Chow Yun-Fat, that is if Stephen Chow and Chow Yun-fat had a Caucasian actor in the starring role."<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30157543/ |title = You'll have a ball at 'Dragonball Evolution' |first = Alonso |last = Duralde |work = [[MSNBC]] |date = April 10, 2009 |accessdate = April 18, 2009 }}</ref> Jeffrey K. Lyles of ''[[The Gazette (Maryland)|The Gazette]]'' found the film to be "a fairly entertaining martial arts adventure for the younger audiences" and tolerable to adults. He felt Chatwin was ill-cast as Goku, a White kid raised by his Asian Grandfather [[Randall Duk Kim]] and that director Wong failed to capture the "frenetic sense of the anime" in the action scenes, leaving them an effort to understand.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.gazette.net/stories/04162009/entemov153833_32474.shtml |title = Movies: 'Dragonball' rehashes familiar teen themes |first = Jeffrey K. |last = Lyles |work = [[The Gazette (Maryland)|The Gazette]] |date = April 16, 2009 |accessdate = April 18, 2009 }}</ref>
Gustaf Googenheimer of the German daily newspaper 'Bild' described the film as "embarrassing as my country's murky past." Christoper Monfette of [[IGN]] gave the film a somewhat positive review, stating that it "is perhaps the most successful live-action film to date to utilize costume, production and audio design&nbsp;– not to mention some inspired fight choreography&nbsp;– to provide the flavor of anime without becoming overly cartoonish." He praised the main cast for "creating characters the audience can actually care about" and felt Chatwin was particularly likeable as Goku.<ref name="IGN.com Review">{{cite web |url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/970/970094p1.html |title = Dragonball Evolution |first = Christopher |last = Monfette |publisher = [[IGN]] |date = April 9, 2009 |accessdate = April 12, 2009 }}</ref> ''[[Slant Magazine]]''{{'}}s Rob Humanick considered the film "uninspired" and implausible with an "aimlessly hyperactive construction and complete lack of substance" and "cobbled-together FX fakery".<ref name="Slant Review">{{cite web |url = http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=4221 |title = Dragonball Evolution |work = [[Slant Magazine]] |first = Rob |last = Humanick |date = April 10, 2009 |accessdate = April 11, 2009 }}</ref> Reviewing the film for Australia's [[ABC Radio National]], Jason Di Rosso stated the film was "lacking the visual panache of recent graphic novel adaptations". He agreed the film was uninspired and also felt it had dull "high school movie banter" dialog and was "cliché-ridden".<ref name="ABC Radio Review">{{cite web |url = http://www.abc.net.au/rn/movietime/stories/2009/2539565.htm |title = Movietime - April 10, 2009 - Dragonball Evolution |first = Jason |last = Di Rosso |publisher = [[ABC Radio National]] |work = Movie Time |date = April 10, 2009 |accessdate = April 11, 2009 }}</ref> ''[[The Village Voice]]''{{'}}s Aaron Hillis called the film a "loony live-action adaptation", but felt it was "more entertaining than it deserves to be" and would likely appeal to ten-year old boys.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-04-08/film/dragonball-evolution-a-cartoonish-coming-of-ager/ |title = Dragonball Evolution: A Cartoonish Coming-of-Ager |first = Aaron |last = Hillis |work = [[The Village Voice]] |date = April 10, 2009 |accessdate = April 18, 2009 }}</ref> Alonso Duralde of [[MSNBC]] found the film to be "both entertainingly ridiculous and ridiculously entertaining" and noted that "kids will have such a blast that you can turn this movie into the gateway kung-fu drug that makes them want to watch the earlier work of Stephen Chow and Chow Yun-Fat, that is if Stephen Chow and Chow Yun-fat had a Caucasian actor in the starring role."<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30157543/ |title = You'll have a ball at 'Dragonball Evolution' |first = Alonso |last = Duralde |work = [[MSNBC]] |date = April 10, 2009 |accessdate = April 18, 2009 }}</ref> Jeffrey K. Lyles of ''[[The Gazette (Maryland)|The Gazette]]'' found the film to be "a fairly entertaining martial arts adventure for the younger audiences" and tolerable to adults. He felt Chatwin was ill-cast as Goku, a White kid raised by his Asian Grandfather [[Randall Duk Kim]] and that director Wong failed to capture the "frenetic sense of the anime" in the action scenes, leaving them an effort to understand.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.gazette.net/stories/04162009/entemov153833_32474.shtml |title = Movies: 'Dragonball' rehashes familiar teen themes |first = Jeffrey K. |last = Lyles |work = [[The Gazette (Maryland)|The Gazette]] |date = April 16, 2009 |accessdate = April 18, 2009 }}</ref>

Revision as of 07:01, 30 June 2010

Dragonball Evolution
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJames Wong
Written byJames Wong
Ben Ramsey
Akira Toriyama
(Manga)
Produced byStephen Chow
James Wong
StarringJustin Chatwin
James Marsters
Jamie Chung
Emmy Rossum
Joon Park
CinematographyRobert MacLachlan
Edited byChris G. Willingham
Music byBrian Tyler
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release dates
March 10, 2009 (2009-03-10)
(Japan)
April 10, 2009 (2009-04-10)
(United States)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million[1]
Box office$57,497,699

Dragonball Evolution is a 2009 American live-action film based upon the Japanese Dragon Ball media franchise directed by James Wong, produced by Stephen Chow and released by 20th Century Fox. The story centers around the adventures of the lead character, Goku, around his 18th birthday, as he is asked to gather seven Dragon Balls to save the world from evil alien forces. On his journey, he meets several different characters who all join the quest and help him in his task. The film stars Justin Chatwin as Son Goku, Emmy Rossum as Bulma Briefs, James Marsters as Lord Piccolo, Jamie Chung as Chi-Chi, Chow Yun Fat as Master Roshi, Joon Park as Yamcha and Eriko Tamura as Mai. It was released in Japan and several other Asian nations on March 13, 2009, and in the United States on April 10, 2009.

Plot

Two thousand years ago, the evil Namekian warlord Piccolo (James Marsters) descended upon the Earth during a solar eclipse and attempted to destroy the world with the aid of his disciple, Ozaru. A group of monks conjured the Mafuba — a powerful but life-threatening enchantment designed to bind those caught within it — and used it to imprison Piccolo. Ozaru disappears, and the Earth gradually recovers. In the present day, Piccolo escapes his confinement and as another solar eclipse approaches, he begins searching for the legendary Dragonballs in order to make a wish to the magical dragon Shen Long for the power to rule the Earth.

On his 18th birthday, a young high-school student and martial artist named Goku (Justin Chatwin) is given the 4-Star Dragonball by his grandfather, Grandpa Gohan (Randall Duk Kim). After returning home from a party hosted by his crush Chi-Chi (Jamie Chung), however, Goku finds his home obliterated and his grandfather near death in the aftermath of Piccolo's failed attempt to acquire the Dragonball. Before he dies, Gohan tells Goku to seek out the martial arts master, Muten Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat), who holds another of the Dragonballs. Along the way, Goku meets Bulma Briefs (Emmy Rossum) of the Capsule Corporation, who was studying the 5-Star Dragonball until it was stolen by Piccolo's servant Mai (Eriko Tamura). Goku offers Bulma his services in exchange for her help in finding Roshi and they ultimately find him in Paozu City. Under Roshi's wing, Goku begins training to harness his Ki, now knowing that they must acquire all the Dragonballs before the upcoming solar eclipse, when Ōzaru will return and join with Piccolo. In the midst of the group's search for the 6-star Dragonball, they fall into a trap set by the desert bandit Yamcha (Joon Park) but Roshi convinces Yamcha to join them. Together, the group fight their way through an ambush by Mai and successfully obtain the next Dragonball. As the group continues their quest, they travel to a temple where Roshi consults his former teacher Sifu Norris (Ernie Hudson) and begins training to perform the Mafuba enchantment so he can reseal Piccolo, while Goku must learn the most powerful technique: the Kamehameha.

During the night, Mai - disguised as Chi-Chi - steals the three Dragonballs that Goku and company have acquired, adding them to the other four that Piccolo has gathered. With the Dragonballs successfully united, Piccolo begins to summon Shen Long, but is stopped by the timely arrival of Goku's team. During the battle that ensues,consisting of a Ki blast battle and some punches, Piccolo reveals to Goku that he is Ōzaru, having been sent to Earth as an infant to destroy it when he came of age. As the eclipse begins, Goku transforms into Ōzaru and terrorizes Bulma and Yamcha, while Roshi attempts to use the Mafuba, but weakens because of not having enough energy to live before he can re-seal Piccolo. Roshi's dying words restore Goku to his senses as he is choked to death by Ozaru, and he engages Piccolo in a final battle, seemingly destroying him with the power of the Kamehameha. Goku then uses the Dragonballs to summon Shen Long, and request that he restore Roshi to life. As they celebrate, they realize the Dragonballs have now scattered, and Bulma declares that they must seek the balls again. Before they head out, Goku visits Chi-Chi so they can truly begin their relationship, but first, they engage in a sparring match to see which of them is stronger.

In a post-credits scene, a woman whom Piccolo spared earlier in the film tends to his wounds as he awakens.

Production

Development

In March 2002, 20th Century Fox acquired feature film rights to the Dragon Ball franchise.[2] In June 2004, Ben Ramsey, who wrote The Big Hit, was paid $500,000 to adapt Dragonball Z.[3] 20th Century Fox approached Stephen Chow to direct the film, and although he said he was deeply interested because he is a fan of Dragon Ball, Chow declined the chance to direct. He, however, accepted a role as producer via his company Star Overseas. 20th Century Fox then went on to send the script to writer/director James Wong who accepted. In 2007, James Wong and Stephen Chow were announced as director and producer respectively, and the project was retitled Dragonball. Ben Ramsey's first draft was deemed too expensive to shoot, and in the end he wrote about five different drafts of the script following notes from the studio. James Wong wrote the last draft, again according to notes from the studio.[4] Chow was a Dragon Ball fan, citing its "airy and unstrained story [which] leaves much room for creation", but explained he would only serve as producer because he believes that he should only direct stories he had created.[5]

The first full color image of Justin Chatwin as Goku was released in the 24th issue of Weekly Young Jump.[6] 87Eleven, the stunt performance company that worked on The Matrix and 300, worked on the film.[4] Ariel Shaw, who worked on Wong's entries in the Final Destination series and 300, is visual effects supervisor,[7] and creatures were designed by renowned concept artist Jordu Schell.[8] Robert MacLachlan, who also worked on Wong's Final Destination films, serves as cinematographer.[9] The film was originally slated to be named Dragonball, however on December 10, 2008, a trailer was released using the name Dragonball Evolution and Fox licensed the domain name "DragonballEvolutionMovie.com" indicating the film had been renamed.[10][11][12]

Differing costs to produce the film have been reported. In January 2008, Marsters spoke to TV Guide that he was told the film had a budget of approximately $10 million.[13] In April 2009, the Spanish television station Telecinco reported that the budget was $3 million.[14]

Casting

Justin Chatwin was selected to play the film's lead character Goku.[4] Ron Perlman was originally offered the role of the villain Lord Piccolo, but turned it down to work on Hellboy II: The Golden Army.[15] James Marsters, who is best known as Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, accepted the role. He noted he was a fan of the original anime series, describing it as "the coolest television cartoon in the last 50,000 years [because] it's got a Shakespearean sense of good and evil."[16] Summarizing the original concept of Piccolo, he said the character was "thousands of years old and a very long time ago he used to be a force of good, but [he] got into a bad argument and was put into prison for 2000 years. It got him very angry, and he finds a way to escape and then tries to destroy the world."[16] Originally, Piccolo was going to be depicted as a handsome creature, but Marsters and the make-up artist chose to give him a decrepit complexion to reflect his having been trapped for thousands of years. The first time the make-up was applied, it took seventeen hours and left Marsters with difficulty breathing. In subsequent applications, it generally only took four hours.[17]

Stephen Chow originally wanted to cast Zhang Yuqi, whom he worked with on CJ7, for the part of Chi-Chi, but it eventually went to Jamie Chung.[5][18] James Kyson Lee prepared for the role of Yamcha,[19] but later lost to Joon Park.

Filming

Shooting began on December 3, 2007,[20] in Mexico City, Mexico. Locations included the Universidad Tecnológica de México.[21] From January 2, 2008,[21] the crew shot at Durango. The crew moved to Estado de México in March of that year for some shots at Nevado de Toluca.[7] Shooting has also been scheduled at Los Angeles, California.[22] In adapting the Dragon Ball manga, the futuristic cities and flying vehicles were kept, however, the anthropomorphic creatures and talking animals (such as Turtle, Oolong and Puar) were dropped.[23] Many of the locations are very Oriental,[24] and there was some Aztec influence too, particularly from their temples.[25] It was thought that Rossum would wear a blue wig to resemble her anime counterpart, but it was ultimately decided that such a look was too unrealistic. Instead she had her natural brown with blue streaks. Chatwin did not wear a wig as the director felt Chatwin's hair resembled Goku's.[24] A large amount of Dragonball Evolution was shot in an abandoned jeans factory, also located in Durango, Mexico.[26]

Dragonball Evolution special effects were done by Amalgamated Dynamics, while the visual effects were done by Ollin Studios, Zoic Studios, and Imagine Engine. The film also had the anime style of fighting in Dragon Ball Z, such as ki energy blasts and auras.

Music

On December 9, 2008, it was confirmed that the theme song would be "Rule" by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. James Wong, the director, wanted the film adaptation of a Japanese work to be sung by a Japanese singer, and Hamasaki was chosen due to her massive popularity in Japan. "Rule" was used as the theme song for every country's release.[27] The score to Dragonball Evolution was composed by Brian Tyler, who recorded the score with an 82-piece ensemble of the Hollywood Studio Symphony at the Newman Scoring Stage at 20th Century Fox.[28]

Release

Though an American film, Dragonball Evolution was released in Japan and Hong Kong on March 13, 2009, nearly a month before its American release.[29][30][31] It was released in Australia on April 2 and in the United Kingdom on April 8.[32][33]

Its release in its home country has changed dates multiple times. Initially scheduled to be released in North America on August 15, 2008, it was later moved to April 2009 to allow time to do additional filming and post-production work. The specific date has changed back and forth between April 10 and April 8, with the final release date being April 10.[34][35] . The marketing of the theatrical release included a viral "personal expressions" campaign created by digital agency Red Box New Media.[36], that ran on the Windows Live Messenger application.

The film was released on Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray Disc in North America on July 28[37] and on Region 2 DVD and Blu-ray Disc in the United Kingdom on August 31.[38] The Region 4 DVD and Blu-ray Disc was released on November 18.[39]

Reception

On its opening weekend in the United States, the film grossed $4,756,488 ranking #8 at the box office.[40][41] In its second weekend, it dropped to eleventh place.[42] The film had a domestic gross earning of $9,362,785 and a foreign gross of $48,134,914 for a combined box office gross of $57,497,699.[43] It was nominated for a 2009 Spike TV Scream Award for "Best Comic Book Movie".[44]

Since its release, Dragonball: Evolution has received overwhelmingly negative reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes it scored 13%, while on Metacritic it got a 45/100. Zac Bertschy of Anime News Network, originally disgusted at otaku (ardent fans) who decried the film via leaked set shots and trailers before the film's release, gave the movie an overall failing grade and stated "the fans were right." He criticized the film's lack of explaining plot elements, its hackneyed storyline and lackluster effort by the actors.[45] Variety's Russell Edwards found the film "passable", "pleasing if paint-by-numbers," noting it "doesn't take itself too seriously, but avoids campiness," that "the climactic clash between Piccolo and Goku offers a faithful CGI representation of the ethereal powers as drawn in the original manga" and that the climax offers an "impressive character twist for Goku that will warm the cockles of every young Jungian's heart."[46] Luke Thompson of E! Online referred to the film as a "the worst movie ever made, it makes the original cartoon look bad" that would only make sense to fans of the original series. He questioned the use of a Caucasian in the main role and felt Chow Yun-Fat was "overacting like never before", but did consider it "fun in a train-wreck kind of way" and that while it was never boring it was also never "logical, coherent [or] rational".[47] Bill Abrahamus of the science monthly publication, 'Science Magazine', also echoed these sentiments, stating that "I simply just cannot accept that millions of years of human evolution could produce such an offensive cacophony of depravity and worthlessness."

Gustaf Googenheimer of the German daily newspaper 'Bild' described the film as "embarrassing as my country's murky past." Christoper Monfette of IGN gave the film a somewhat positive review, stating that it "is perhaps the most successful live-action film to date to utilize costume, production and audio design – not to mention some inspired fight choreography – to provide the flavor of anime without becoming overly cartoonish." He praised the main cast for "creating characters the audience can actually care about" and felt Chatwin was particularly likeable as Goku.[48] Slant Magazine's Rob Humanick considered the film "uninspired" and implausible with an "aimlessly hyperactive construction and complete lack of substance" and "cobbled-together FX fakery".[49] Reviewing the film for Australia's ABC Radio National, Jason Di Rosso stated the film was "lacking the visual panache of recent graphic novel adaptations". He agreed the film was uninspired and also felt it had dull "high school movie banter" dialog and was "cliché-ridden".[50] The Village Voice's Aaron Hillis called the film a "loony live-action adaptation", but felt it was "more entertaining than it deserves to be" and would likely appeal to ten-year old boys.[51] Alonso Duralde of MSNBC found the film to be "both entertainingly ridiculous and ridiculously entertaining" and noted that "kids will have such a blast that you can turn this movie into the gateway kung-fu drug that makes them want to watch the earlier work of Stephen Chow and Chow Yun-Fat, that is if Stephen Chow and Chow Yun-fat had a Caucasian actor in the starring role."[52] Jeffrey K. Lyles of The Gazette found the film to be "a fairly entertaining martial arts adventure for the younger audiences" and tolerable to adults. He felt Chatwin was ill-cast as Goku, a White kid raised by his Asian Grandfather Randall Duk Kim and that director Wong failed to capture the "frenetic sense of the anime" in the action scenes, leaving them an effort to understand.[53]

Merchandise

A film novelization, Dragonball Evolution: The Junior Novel, was written by Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon. Aimed at children ages 8–14, the novel was released by Viz Media on February 24, 2009.[54][55] The same day, a series of chapter books for readers 7-10 was released.[55] The three volumes, subtitled The Discovery, The Search, and The Battle were also written by Deutsch and Cohan.[56][57][58] A 16 paged sticker book, Dragonball: Evolution Sticker Book, followed on March 24, 2009.[59]

On January 19, 2009, Namco Bandai Games and 20th Century Fox announced a tie-in PSP video game, which was released in Japan on March 19 and North America on April 7. The game includes all of the major characters from the film and features various playing modes, including an on-line battle mode.[60]

The film's soundtrack, Dragonball Evolution: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, was released in the United States on March 17, 2009 by Varèse Sarabande. It contained 23 tracks from the score composed by Brian Tyler.[61] Several toylines of the characters were also created by Enterbay.

References

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  61. ^ "Dragonball: Evolution By Brian Tyler". Varèse Sarabande. Retrieved April 11, 2009.

External links

Template:Footer TV and Films James Wong and Glen Morgan

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