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Dragon Ball Evolution: Western Reactions

America's 1st Review of Dragonball. These three dudes, two fans and one dragonball virgin give their impressions about DBE. And the conclusion is...
108 Yes
14 No
AVEN
3/21/2009

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42 Comments

given that 7 year olds are their target audience, I guess the movie was a success in that respect :P

also, this is NOT the first American review.

So misleading, thought it might have been a professional review.
SGA - 3/21/2009, 1:04 AM
Okay... I did catch it on-line and I know it was missing about 20 minutes, but it wouldn't have helped. I have tried to see both sides. I am old enough to know changes are always made but this was too much to soon. There wasn't much character development, Bulma and Yamacha (who couldn't fight) were to quick to like each other. Movies usually develop that a little better. Roshi trained Goku in less time than Miagi did Ralph Machio. In a way they switched Gohan for Goku in high school. The Kamehameha was to light candles, jump start the heart and then a weapon. Not much of a final fight. Piccolo knows more about Goku than Goku. The story of his coming didn't seem to leave the Saiyan tale much room let alone that Piccolo I thought wasn't around then. He controlled Oozaru that is uncontrollable. No development there either. I could go into more but I won't. It was okay as a quick kids movie. I am not a hater or gonna say "to go" or "not to go". I always do expect and can accept some change. It was some good, some average and some really bad. This was just too quick with no real development and a so-so climax. I hope they learn from this and do better. Again the kids will probably like it. But it won't be like Harry Potter where even adults wanted to go back. I would think to target people to want to go 2 to 3 times to see it and not just a possible none to 1. At conventions when Funimation says they learned form mistakes that it shouldn't have been just for kids, you would think this better. I can see why true fans will be disappointed or mad. I am not a hater but have to say that I will now wait and just pay the $2 rental at Blockbuster when it comes out early. Sorry SGA. I hope you don't shoot me. I will still say that the ladies are HOT!!! I think I am in love with Chi-Chi. :)-
animeex - 3/21/2009, 3:02 AM
SAW IT ONLINE-QUOTING NIGHTOWL AT THE END OF WATCHMEN="YOU MUTILATED IT,YOU MUTILATED IT!"
GUNSMITH - 3/21/2009, 5:16 AM
Those guys were bang on..it was not even really a movie..just a load of scenes spliced together with no developement or structure. To just say its a kids movie to excuse it isnt even fair, there are lots of great kids movies!
RorMachine - 3/21/2009, 5:45 AM
Seriously I cried :p. That was a piece of crap! But at least it didn't suck as much as Max Payne did
Spilox - 3/21/2009, 6:49 AM
I really think that there were only 2 ways to make the movie and is was either the way that they made it or ULTRA corney Chow style. I think they did do a good job on the movie if they are going to setting up a franchise for them, but if they wont be the movie by it self is kinda crap. And I am really tired of ppl comparing it to the anime, if that is what u wanted to see buy the freakin boxset or just take the movie as it is
KnG - 3/21/2009, 7:15 AM
Yeah, lets review a movie missing 30 minutes of footage watching from a bad quality bootleg, that's the way to do it :)
Doritos - 3/21/2009, 8:07 AM
It just goes to show you can never be too careful
SoulAllFlush - 3/21/2009, 8:13 AM
can anyone say reboot !!!!!!!!!
bodykount80 - 3/21/2009, 8:28 AM
knew it'd be this way from the beginning...not surprised
davidzuck - 3/21/2009, 8:39 AM
I don't know Doritos. People watch a few minutes and make a decision, but I did see most of it. I don't think another 20-30 minutes would have done it for me. It wasn't an unbelievably bad copy. Wasn't great either. I think I am old enough and have seen enough movies to know. They tried and I give them that. Everyone knows that most Hollywood movies can be many times better. On here, I just figure most express why they feel the way they do and show some points. I won't just blindly say it's great or it sucks. My personal is I just think it was so-so. Some parts I liked and some I didn't. I never said go or don't go. Your choice. America baby!
animeex - 3/21/2009, 8:49 AM
Hence what they said "a seven year old" will like this movie. If they were watching a bootleg version that's missing 30 minutes, sounds like someone did them a favor. Doesn't matter if it was a full version or missing 30 minutes. A POS movie is a POS movie at any length, their version gave back 30 minutes of their lives.
SirPrize - 3/21/2009, 9:02 AM
You go SirPrize. I agree.
animeex - 3/21/2009, 9:41 AM
reboot my anus hole. let it burn after it bombs.
Betty - 3/21/2009, 9:49 AM
I've waited so long for a Dragon Ball movie, and now I don't even want to waste my time watching it. As with movies adapted from comic-books and video games I expect a little creative license, but I think they slaughtered this one. Maybe someone will take the time to read the manga and make a "real" version, not this crappy one.
EvilGirlGeniuz - 3/21/2009, 9:52 AM
I've waited so long for a Dragon Ball movie, and now I don't even want to waste my time watching it. As with movies adapted from comic-books and video games I expect a little creative license, but I think they slaughtered this one. Maybe someone will take the time to read the manga and make a "real" version, not this crappy one.
EvilGirlGeniuz - 3/21/2009, 9:53 AM
Betty, you have an awesome avatar (:

Movie wise, it makes me wanna punch a baby penguin and those suckers are adorable so yeah I'm that mad
SdProphet - 3/21/2009, 10:25 AM
I've defended this movie and their "creative license" more than once and I just have to say that after watching the 70min version, this movie was is very crappily(if thats even a word) made. I really don't think the Anime could be just "ported" over to film, but they didn't flush out the story, they completely flushed it down the toilet and replaced it with a "formula" plot. They might as well have called it Dragonball: Clich'e. Just poor quality all around. Still, I did find it a little entertaining. The only glimmer of goodness in the whole movie was the cast, surprisingly. They did great considering the script they were working from. Even Fat as Roshi was pretty darn good. That was the most saddening part. The great cast shows that this could have been good on no bigger of a budget. Fox [frick]ed this movie for no reason at all. The first thought I honestly had after watching the movie was "Why?". Why even make the movie? Whoever at Fox read this script and greenlit the movie needs to get fired. How could they have thought this would make money? No, I don't think I'm a better movie maker, but I know a bad story when I read it. If I wrote the story from this movie when i was a freshman in high school and turned it into my lit teacher, I would've gotten a D-. Also, why even call it Dragonball? Its SO far removed from the source material, that they could've saved their license and just changed the names and no one would've been the wiser.

Still, I can't wait to see the 100min version released here hopefully its a little better. I'm still gonna be there opening Day! :-)
MoonDoggyX - 3/21/2009, 10:38 AM
I'm not good with star ratings, so for the 70min version of this film, I'd have to say its definitely better than Street Fighter: LOC... But, not even as good as Speed Racer
MoonDoggyX - 3/21/2009, 10:44 AM
knew this movie would be terrible

by the way im really digging the iron maiden posters on thier wall haha
BOOK552 - 3/21/2009, 10:51 AM
I knew it its gonna be horrible ever since they announce the director is james wong, goku is justin chatwin its a fail already. They just wanna hop on the wagon to get some money, but there career looks like its down hill now. The only way that they can translate a dragonball to a movie is with CGI, but has to have the quality of final fantasy advent children but, better since technology is far better now then before.

By the way Chow yun-fat as roshi, please Bullet Monkey anyone
xXkryptoniteXx - 3/21/2009, 1:28 PM
i haven't seen the movie yet, but from the reviews...im scared to watch it. Im a HUGE DBZ fan and i'd hate to watch a movie that gives the "Greatest Action Anime" a bad name
SolidSnake910 - 3/21/2009, 5:36 PM
This movie will kill millions.
GameAnime45 - 3/21/2009, 5:39 PM
I don't think they have seen it, cause they said the only thing that was right about the characters was there names, i have seen this movie and the characters are spot on with how they act in the show esp master roshi he was dead on. the story followed the show pretty well but was all mashed into an hour and a half it wasn't horrible but i wouldn't recommend it to a fanboy cause all they would do is b***h because that is all they do.
Osiris - 3/21/2009, 5:43 PM
The reviews of this movie has already killed millions. Oh well I'm the devil I know, I know...
SirPrize - 3/21/2009, 7:28 PM
Hi Mr. Devil, we'll meet soon.
GameAnime45 - 3/21/2009, 11:19 PM
i watched it online and to be honest it sucked. not recommended at all. if you want to watch it you might try and look on the web and save those $10 bucks.
CMKOFAN - 3/22/2009, 12:35 AM
i watched it online and to be honest it sucked. not recommended at all. if you want to watch it you might try and look on the web and save those $10 bucks.
CMKOFAN - 3/22/2009, 12:35 AM
i watched it online and to be honest it sucked. not recommended at all. if you want to watch it you might try and look on the web and save those $10 bucks.
CMKOFAN - 3/22/2009, 12:36 AM
upsetting...>:\
Minotauro - 3/22/2009, 9:38 AM
the movie to me felt rushed. You don't get enough time to know the characters. At first it's just Goku and Gohan. Then here's chi-chi, then Piccolo, then Mai, then Bulma, then Master Roshi, then Yamcha. I mean come on, just slow the hell down. I liked the movie. It wasn't that bad. I don't consider it an adaption, more like one of the animated dbz movies (nothing to do with the story, just something to watch and enjoy). I thought the actors did very well (for the short amount of time they had).

Over all I give the bootleg version a 6.5/10
dbzfan - 3/22/2009, 11:06 AM
FINALLY!!!! I have been saying it for months, & you ALL told to shut up, well I LOVE to say it, TOLD YOU SO!!!LOLOLOLOLOL but seriously, I've already posted my review so I'm gona repete myself again, but I am SOOO glad to see everyone hated this peice of crap, I especialy loved MoonDoggyX's "Dragonball: Clich'e", not bad for a guy that told me it would be a good movie. its ok, I forgive you, all I want to know is, once again, does ANYONE know of ANYWAY what so ever to get in contact with the jerkoffs at Fox so I can tear them a new one & tell them how this movie should have been made???
johan02 - 3/22/2009, 1:02 PM
GameAnime45, nice "L" avatar. Death Note should of been a longer series IMHO.
SirPrize - 3/22/2009, 4:21 PM
REBOOT DGZ AND STREETFIGHTER-GAWD THESE STUDIOS AND DIRECTORS JUST DONT GET IT, THEY ARRRRRG!!!!, YOU KNOW????????
GUNSMITH - 3/22/2009, 5:39 PM
"by the way im really digging the iron maiden posters on thier wall haha"

Hell yeah! Up the Irons bro! :D
J. "Falcon" Ayers - 3/22/2009, 8:00 PM
I just watched the movie online and it was awful, it's clearly aimed at 7 year olds and thats just the problem, it's aimed at the group the didn't grow up with it. The acting was awful, the plot was jumpy, the action was jumpy, the kamehameha wasn't close to being epic. It's a childish movie that is either gonna have to be rebooted in 5 years with a new director and a new vision or they should flat out NEVER attempt to make a movie of this series again. That show is a classic and the director, James Wong, just butchered one of the greatest cartoons of all time, on any station in any country. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME PAYING AT THE THEATER. Here's a link for the online version. http://www.watch-movies-links.net/movies/dragonball_evolution/
Shadow89 - 3/22/2009, 10:40 PM
To be honest i wouldnt even bother watching it online! Its still an hour and a half or so of your time when you could be doing something else..like watching paint dry
RorMachine - 3/23/2009, 6:59 AM
Ror - I've heard a rumor that they are rebooting "watching paint dry". LMAO
SirPrize - 3/23/2009, 7:04 AM
bodykount80 said: "can anyone say reboot !!!!!!!!!"

[Raises Hand]

Oh! Oh! Pick me! Pick me! I can say it!
BmanHall - 3/23/2009, 9:07 AM
i'm spanky and i just know know any more.


just wow, not what i was hoping for.
spanky - 3/23/2009, 10:27 AM
lol I expected this.
Juggernaut - 3/24/2009, 6:36 AM
I have seen what is known as the 1st unoffical summer movie. And it is a a-class Bomb just like last year when we had Forbidden Kingdom this year we have Dragonball:EVolutionn Thank you mpaa for approving this trash to hype us up for better movies
" IT'S ALL PART OF THE PLAN "
Supremacy1 - 3/31/2009, 5:29 AM

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