Dragonball Evolution (2009) April 28, 2009

I’ve watched the movie a month ago but I didn’t have the time to write till now. However, the movie is so wrong and how can an American be Goku in the first place. Since growing up around Dragonball and being a fan of it, I thought why not give it a try. Total disapointment! So I’m not gonna write a review about it but this review is brought to you courtesy of wikipedia.org.

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. Ōzaru 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.

On the night of his 18th birthday, a young high-school student and martial artist named Goku (Justin Chatwin), comes home from a party hosted by his crush Chi-Chi (Jamie Chung) to find his home obliterated and his beloved grandfather, Gohan (Randall Duk Kim), dying in the aftermath of Piccolo’s failed attempt to acquire the 4-Star Dragonball. Before he dies, Gohan tells Goku to seek out the martial arts master, Muten Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat). Along the way, Goku meets Bulma Briefs (Emmy Rossum) of the Capsule Corporation, which 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 while Bulma tries to pinpoint the location of the 6-Star Dragonball. In the midst of their search, 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 to the Dragonball only to be ambushed by Mai and lose the ball to her. 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 of Ki techniques: the Kamehameha.

During the night, Mai – disguised as Chi-Chi – takes the 4-star Dragonball that Goku had received as a birthday gift from Gohan. Piccolo successfully unites the Dragonballs, but the group arrives in time to prevent him from summoning Shen Long. During the battle, Goku learns that he had been sent to Earth as an infant to destroy it when he came of age. As the solar eclipse begins, Goku transforms into Ōzaru. Roshi attempts to use the Mafuba, but is killed before Goku returns to his senses. Furious, Piccolo creates a gigantic Ki ball to destroy the planet. Goku performs the Kamehameha, and after a power struggle, Goku defeats Piccolo. He then uses the Dragonballs to request that Shen Long revive Roshi. As they celebrate, they realize the Dragonballs have now scattered. Bulma declares that they must seek the balls again. Before they head out, Goku visits Chi-Chi to engage in a sparring match.

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

Will I watch the sequel? I doubt so but will see about it then …