ROTTEN TOMATOES: Chow Yun-Fat Joins James Wong's Dragonball

Chow Yun-Fat Joins James Wong's Dragonball

He's playing Bulma. Just kidding!

by Jeff Giles | December 19, 2007

Chow Yun-Fat has joined the cast of James Wong's live-action Dragonball adaptation.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chow will play Master Roshi, mentor to Goku (played by Justin Chatwin), "a warrior alien who protects the Earth from an endless stream of rogues bent on dominating the universe and controlling mystical objects known as Dragon Balls."

Wise in the ways of dragons and balls.

Chow joins a cast that also includes James Marsters, Emmy Rossum, and Jamie Chung.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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(1-20 of 24 posts) | Reply

CowboyMovieJunkie26 writes:
on Dec 19 2007 06:14 AM

This could be an interesting movie

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Ender7406 writes:
on Dec 19 2007 06:17 AM

All I remember about Master Roshi was a pig, and island, and I think a flying cat? God what a stupid show. I know I'm going to catch s*** for saying that, but seriously, how did that show get so popular? Either way, I'm looking forward to the live action adaption (it rhymes!) and hope it redeems my tarnished impressions of the series.

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Typhoon20 writes:
on Dec 19 2007 06:33 AM

The series DBZ rocked, best anime ever.

This is going to fail, worst casting ever with Goku.

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Oblivioncry writes:
on Dec 19 2007 06:40 AM

First good cast. Chow Yun Fat could easily be Muten-Roshi.

to Ender: the series were so popular coz they were backed up by a great manga.
the anime itself wasnt really good. they just ruined the whole manga imo.

in case of anime and manga, stick to the original e.g: Cowboy Bebop the manga SUCKS!.^^

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caboose388 writes:
on Dec 19 2007 06:58 AM

Very excited about this movie, loved the show as a kid, I just hope they dont screw it up with a bunch of horrible overacting.

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drdoom13 writes:
on Dec 19 2007 08:11 AM

never did find the appeal in the dragon ball z series myself ender. i thought that it was overdone and over long. you had to wait 15 episodes or more to get to the fight that you wanted to see while the hero or anti hero trained and then when they did fight (frieza, vegita, etc) it was nothing but them flashing around the screen. The series got better with cell and majin boo but you had to stick through the first few bland seasons to get there.

dragon ball on the hand was a lot of fun. i dont know if id rewatch it now but i loved it when i was younger.

as for the movie, ill pass. looks like garbage.

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Novastar. writes:
on Dec 19 2007 08:14 AM

This movie is going to be a disaster! **** you for screwing up the best anime ever to grace the screen.

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Oblivioncry writes:
on Dec 19 2007 08:40 AM

the thing i am worrying about is the script. its HORRIBLE. and they dont even mention Kuririn or Tien. and why is Goku in school??

hell tell me this is all but a sad joke

(though chow yun fat is the right choice for Rochi)

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Riliont writes:
on Dec 19 2007 11:00 AM

This is going to suck just like the anime. DBZ is horrible

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Dark Knight jr. writes:
on Dec 19 2007 12:32 PM

Shut your pie-hole, half-pint Riliont. And the rest of you hanus DBZ haters. Show some respect for one of the best Animes of all time. The facts don't lie. If you're all uninterested in the DBZ franchise, why the hell are you on a DBZ forum bashing the series? No lives... Personal opinions, although I do respect, is irrelavent here. DBZ is legend. However... the movie will suck. O_o

DBZ as a live-action movie--maybe. Justin as Goku? HORRID! This should be put to the bottom of the scrap heap along with Justice League. Ugh, these studios have no sense sometimes... (~_~)

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DeathNote writes:
on Dec 19 2007 12:33 PM

I love Dragonball and this is going to be worse than Dragon Wars.

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sauronthegr8 writes:
on Dec 19 2007 12:40 PM

People liked it because it had cool action and great animation. When DBZ came out in America, anime was a fairly new form and this was an alternative to stuff like Pokemon.

I'm sure the manga was pretty great, too, but I've never read it and I'm willing to bet most viewers never read it, either. The movie could go well. Depends if the story is good and as long as they keep the essence of the series, I'll be satisfied.

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Riliont writes:
on Dec 19 2007 01:06 PM

LMAO. DBZ is far from being the greatest anime of all time. jackass

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LampEft writes:
on Dec 19 2007 01:28 PM

DBZ is far from the "best anime ever" (oh, please) and drdoom13 accurately and succinctly nailed some of its shortcomings right on the head. Maybe this movie will be part one of a 12-part build up to a fight? DBZ is the anime equivalent of the newspaper Spider-Man strip, wherein it takes Peter Parker a week to finish a sentence. DBZ has its moments here and there, and it's not the worst thing out there, but it's far from a superlative example of the genre. There's a bit of curiosity seeing it taken live to the big screen, but the director doesn't give me much cause for optimism.

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Hamboner writes:
on Dec 19 2007 01:50 PM

I think one of the reasons DBZ was so popular was because it didn't look like any other cartoon. The US didn't have cartoons with blood, such stylized violence, and with the great Japanese style of animation.

Of course it was over-the-top and filled with flat characters, pitiable voice acting, interminable story arcs, and the continuous process of "The Saiyans are the strongest warriors in the universe and Vegeta is the strongest.. their chief prince. (next season) Remember how I said Vegeta was the strongest in the universe? Well he's not. Frieza is 1,000 time stronger. (next season) No wait, Frieza? He's not the strongest either, not even close. Majin-Boo is the strongest being in the universe. (next season)Did I say Majin-Boo? Sorry, I meant Cell, he's from the future and he's super strong."

And power levels... my god the power levels... "Wow, I see a source in the horizon who is over 14,000. "

The best thing about DBZ was when cartman channelled Goku in the South Park movie to kill Saddam.

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SKELO writes:
on Dec 19 2007 03:39 PM

I want to know how there going to make the hair work

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Exode writes:
on Dec 19 2007 04:12 PM

In reply to this comment (#1376203)
My guess is that from the center of the top Goku's head his hair color will become a glowing blond spreading out from that point and as the energy increases his hair flows upward as if in zero gravity. In other words it'll be natural looking, not like the rock solid hair gel look from the show.

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drdoom13 writes:
on Dec 19 2007 04:17 PM

In response to Dark Knight jr. -

Forums = talking
Talking = multiple viewpoints
Multiple viewpoints = not everyone%u2019s opinions will be the same, but its fun to argue and discuss.

Who knows, you may learn something you didn't know before if you listen to what other have to say. If not, that%u2019s fine too. But don't tell people not to share their thoughts on an open forum, that%u2019s what they are there for.

Now, let%u2019s resume discussing how terrible or (if a miracle happens) well done this movie will be.

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Mohjong writes:
on Dec 20 2007 03:39 AM

The reason why DBZ so popular is because it creates a formula for young-male (shonin) action comics. Basically the main character(s) will get stronger by fighting newer and stronger enemies....and the cycle continues till the artist made enough cash. Famous manga follow this formula to it's teeth includes YuYu Hakusho, One Piece, and Naruto. It give young kids hope and dreams as they grew up.

This formula doesn't work for USA comics thou. Imagine how strong Super or Batman would get in multiple series and 60 years span.

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RC3 writes:
on Dec 25 2007 11:04 AM

In reply to this comment (#1373851)
I wouldnt be concerned with the acting, i mean this is a DragonBall Z movie. All i know is that the CGI better be on point because in the end thats whats gonna attract the audience.

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