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Movies / On DVD / Dragonball: Evolution
Dragonball: Evolution

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Dragonball: Evolution (2009)

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Reviews Counted:53

Fresh:7

Rotten:46

Average Rating:3.4/10

Consensus: Executed with little panache or invention, Dragonball Evolution lacks the magic that made the books upon which it was based a cult sensation.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for intense sequences of action/violence and brief mild language.

Runtime: 85 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Apr 10, 2009 Wide

Box Office: $9,353,573

Synopsis: Based on the renowned Japanese manga/anime franchise, the live-action DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION follows the adventures of young Goku (Justin Chatwin of WAR OF THE WORLDS), who is drawn into the legacy... Based on the renowned Japanese manga/anime franchise, the live-action DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION follows the adventures of young Goku (Justin Chatwin of WAR OF THE WORLDS), who is drawn into the legacy of the mystical spheres of the title, and trains to become a powerful warrior with the aid of the wise but lewd Master Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat) and the weapons-loving Bulma (Emmy Rossum), among others. This small band of fighters must face off against the evil warlord Piccolo (James Marsters) and his minions to avert the end of the world. The first Hollywood feature-film adaptation of the venerable DRAGONBALL series, EVOLUTION is helmed by director James Wong (FINAL DESTINATION, THE ONE) with a nod to the playful work of coproducer Stephen Chow (KUNG FU HUSTLE). A movie where visual effects and plot easily eclipse the acting and script, EVOLUTION will appeal to those seeking a combat-heavy spectacle, though the presence of Yun Fat, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER alum Marsters, and former reality-TV star Jamie Chung help to elevate the proceedings. Although diehard fans may not be pleased with the film, which misses peak DRAGONBALL popularity by about 15 years, EVOLUTION, like its fellow 2009 movie STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN-LI, serves as fine entertainment for ardent martial-arts/video-game enthusiasts and tween boys. [More]

Starring: Justin Chatwin, Emmy Rossum, Chow Yun Fat, James Marsters

Starring: Justin Chatwin, Emmy Rossum, Chow Yun Fat, James Marsters, Jamie Chung, Joon Park, Eriko, Randall Duk Kim, Ernie Hudson

Director: James Wong

Director: James Wong
Screenwriter: James Wong
Producer: Stephen Chow
Composer: Brian Tyler
Studio: 20th Century Fox

[See More Credits]

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    International Trailer
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    Goku Trains
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    My Car!
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  • Did You Do That?
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    You Are The Key
    >
    Dragonball Energy
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    I Will Have The Dragonball
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  • Justin Chatwin and Emmy Rossum Interview
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    Jamie Chung and James Marsters Interview
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Release:

Jul 28, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Based on one of the most popular Japanese manga series of all time, Dragonball: Evolution follows a young warrior on an epic adventure to discover his destiny...and save the world from the forces of darkness.
  • For his eighteenth birthday, mild-mannered Goku is given a mystical Dragonball, one of only seven in existence, which combine to grant a perfect wish to whoever possesses them. But an ancient warlord named Piccolo has escaped eternal imprisonment and is on his own quest to gather the Dragonballs. Goku must enlist the help of his friends-and the power of his evolving martial arts skills-to defeat Piccolo before it’s too late!
  • Packed with spectacular visual effects, high-flying action, and over an hour of hard-hitting extras, Dragonball: Evolution Z-Edition brings the legend to life as never before!
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Dragonball: Evolution

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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    This film offers further proof, as if any were needed, that Western filmmakers cannot do justice to their Easter counterparts when it comes to retooling anime and/or Fant-Asia for Occidental consumption.

    Full Review Source: Cinefantastique | comment Comment
    09/24/09
    Steve Biodrowski
    Steve Biodrowski
    Cinefantastique

    As far as 2009 flops will go, [this] could have been much worse to sit through...

    Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment 1 Comment
    04/30/09
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Cinema Crazed

    A contender for the worst movie of the year was released in April.

    Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment 15 Comments
    04/18/09
    Linda Cook
    Linda Cook
    Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

    I am no expert in the field of Dragon Ball. However... the first live-action, English-language film in the franchise is absolutely insipid.

    Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | comment 1 Comment
    04/18/09
    Tim Brayton
    Tim Brayton
    Antagony & Ecstasy

    For anyone writing it off as a kiddie film, Dragonball: Evolution should be considered child abuse. Put everyone involved with this catastrophe on the receiving end of a Kamehameha wave.

    Full Review Source: TheDivaReview.com | comment Comment
    04/18/09
    Diva Velez
    Diva Velez
    TheDivaReview.com

    this first installment was actually entertaining enough that a sequel could work out the kinks to become a very solid franchise.

    Full Review Source: Gazette (MD) | comment 3 Comments
    04/17/09
    Jeffrey Lyles
    Jeffrey Lyles
    Gazette (MD)

    The story seems to have been made up as the film went along, and not by anyone talented. The fight scenes and special effects are shamefully pathetic.

    Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
    04/17/09
    Christopher Tookey
    Christopher Tookey
    Daily Mail [UK]

    Faced with the choice of watching Dragonball: Evolution again and perishing in a fiery apocalypse, I'd take Judgment Day every time.

    Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
    04/17/09
    David Edwards
    David Edwards
    Daily Mirror [UK]

    A rather tame live-action sci-fi flick.

    Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
    04/17/09
    Anthony Quinn
    Anthony Quinn
    Independent

    The producer, Stephen Chow, made the funny and original Kung Fu Hustle, but here he and director James Wong get into a terrible mess.

    Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
    04/17/09
    This is London

    Having been blandly adapted from a Chinese folklore-inspired Manga, that's about as much of the story that makes sense. Gibberish in the extreme, it has all the narrative cohesion of a trading card game.

    Full Review Source: Scotsman | comment 1 Comment
    04/17/09
    Alistair Harkness
    Alistair Harkness
    Scotsman

    [Chow's] hamminess doesn’t make Dragonball Evolution make more sense, but it’s a great way to cope with an otherwise inexplicable kitschfest.

    Full Review Source: New York Press | comment Comment
    04/15/09
    Simon Abrams
    Simon Abrams
    New York Press

    Dragonball's value -- such as it is -- is that it's too dumb to actively hate.

    Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment 1 Comment
    04/15/09
    Ken Hanke
    Ken Hanke
    Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

    Poor Emmy Rossum went from "Phantom" to this. Now that's a career decline.

    Full Review Source: jackiekcooper.com | comment 1 Comment
    04/14/09
    Jackie K. Cooper
    Jackie K. Cooper
    jackiekcooper.com

    Evolution is far more entertaining than it deserves to be, unless you're a 10-year-old boy, in which case it's only the greatest movie ever made.

    Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment 16 Comments
    04/13/09
    Aaron Hillis
    Aaron Hillis
    Village Voice
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    just another dull teen action film

    Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
    04/13/09
    Bill Gibron
    Bill Gibron
    Filmcritic.com

    There are a few entertaining fight scenes. But there is also uneven CGI, bad dialogue and a host of clichéd moments that make Dragonball Evolution just another disappointing matinee movie.

    Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
    04/13/09
    Jennie Punter
    Jennie Punter
    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The film is crammed with treats for old-school Dragonball fans. For everyone else, this amounts to another seen-it-before, probably-willing-to-see-it-again distraction, a passable collection of ’splosions and special effects for a slow film weekend.

    Full Review Source: AV Club | comment 7 Comments
    04/13/09
    Tasha Robinson
    Tasha Robinson
    AV Club

    Fans of the best-selling Dragonball comics (and cartoons, and videogames...) might have a shot at untangling the knotty dream-logic that strangles Dragonball: Evolution's live-action adaptation.

    Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment 2 Comments
    04/13/09
    Adam Markovitz
    Adam Markovitz
    Entertainment Weekly
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The giddy, anything-goes spirit of Japanese manga comics and Hong Kong martial arts flicks animates Dragonball Evolution. Not enough to make it a good movie, mind you, but enough so you won't hate yourself if you sit through it with the kids.

    Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment 1 Comment
    04/13/09
    Joel Brown
    Joel Brown
    Boston Globe
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
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