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Live-action version of cartoon drops the ball
By Vivian Yang |
April 5, 2009, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IF you're a big fan of "Dragon Ball," the popular Japanese cartoon series created by manga artist Akira Toriyama in the mid 1980s, you will be sadly disappointed at its latest live-action Hollywood adaptation.
"Dragonball Evolution" is currently being screened at local cinemas and in seven other Asian markets before its North American opening next week.
This only average action-adventure flick begins with the young warrior Goku (played by Canadian rising star Justin Chatwin, pictured below) setting out on a quest to prevent the vengeful and evil Lord Piccolo (played by American actor James Marsters) from taking over the world.
With a handful of friends, including Master Roshi (played by famed Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat), Goku sets out on his perilous journey to battle for the Earth.
His best chance rests with collecting all seven magic dragon balls which will then give him the power to summon a mighty dragon to fight the evil Piccolo.
"Dragonball Evolution," an over simplified, highly condensed adaptation, runs less than 90 minutes.
It has no obvious connections with the original popular manga version.
Here Goku, originally a lively monkey-tailed boy, is now reincarnated as an adolescent Caucasian who falls in love with a high school hottie.
Adding to the confusion of its futuristic and fantastical settings, it leaves the audience no idea of when and where the story is set.
It is a great pity, too, that the US$100 million production doesn't generate many eye-popping visual effects - some of the fight scenes are clever and witty, but overall the special effects are far from the standards set in other comic-and-cartoon-turned movies such as "Spiderman" and "Batman."
Sure, the film's cast and crew including director James Wong, whose previous works include "The One" (2001) and "Final Destination" series, and award-winning actor Chow, who earned global recognition in Taiwanese director Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000), try hard to make the film creditable.
But it lacks real emotion and honesty, leaving the story underdeveloped.
Like the mantra hummed throughout the whole movie, "you should have faith in who you are," the only thing we can have faith in is the looming sequel.
"Dragonball Evolution," a 20th Century Fox release, is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and brief mild language.
It is in English with Chinese subtitles and only just earns one and half stars out of five.
"Dragonball Evolution" is currently being screened at local cinemas and in seven other Asian markets before its North American opening next week.
This only average action-adventure flick begins with the young warrior Goku (played by Canadian rising star Justin Chatwin, pictured below) setting out on a quest to prevent the vengeful and evil Lord Piccolo (played by American actor James Marsters) from taking over the world.
With a handful of friends, including Master Roshi (played by famed Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat), Goku sets out on his perilous journey to battle for the Earth.
His best chance rests with collecting all seven magic dragon balls which will then give him the power to summon a mighty dragon to fight the evil Piccolo.
"Dragonball Evolution," an over simplified, highly condensed adaptation, runs less than 90 minutes.
It has no obvious connections with the original popular manga version.
Here Goku, originally a lively monkey-tailed boy, is now reincarnated as an adolescent Caucasian who falls in love with a high school hottie.
Adding to the confusion of its futuristic and fantastical settings, it leaves the audience no idea of when and where the story is set.
It is a great pity, too, that the US$100 million production doesn't generate many eye-popping visual effects - some of the fight scenes are clever and witty, but overall the special effects are far from the standards set in other comic-and-cartoon-turned movies such as "Spiderman" and "Batman."
Sure, the film's cast and crew including director James Wong, whose previous works include "The One" (2001) and "Final Destination" series, and award-winning actor Chow, who earned global recognition in Taiwanese director Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000), try hard to make the film creditable.
But it lacks real emotion and honesty, leaving the story underdeveloped.
Like the mantra hummed throughout the whole movie, "you should have faith in who you are," the only thing we can have faith in is the looming sequel.
"Dragonball Evolution," a 20th Century Fox release, is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and brief mild language.
It is in English with Chinese subtitles and only just earns one and half stars out of five.
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