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    Dragonball Evolution

    • 20092009
    • PGPG
    • 1h 25min
    IMDb RATING
    2.5/10
    72K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,889
    274
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Chow Yun-Fat, Emmy Rossum, Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, and Eriko Tamura in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    The young warrior Son Goku sets out on a quest, racing against time and the vengeful King Piccolo, to collect a set of seven magical orbs that will grant their wielder unlimited power.
    Play trailer1:56
    2 Videos
    56 Photos
    ActionAdventureFantasy

    The young warrior Son Goku sets out on a quest, racing against time and the vengeful King Piccolo, to collect a set of seven magical orbs that will grant their wielder unlimited power.The young warrior Son Goku sets out on a quest, racing against time and the vengeful King Piccolo, to collect a set of seven magical orbs that will grant their wielder unlimited power.The young warrior Son Goku sets out on a quest, racing against time and the vengeful King Piccolo, to collect a set of seven magical orbs that will grant their wielder unlimited power.

    IMDb RATING
    2.5/10
    72K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,889
    274
    • Director
      • James Wong
    • Writers
      • Ben Ramsey(screenplay)
      • Akira Toriyama(novel series "Dragonball")
    • Stars
      • Justin Chatwin
      • James Marsters
      • Chow Yun-Fat
    Top credits
    • Director
      • James Wong
    • Writers
      • Ben Ramsey(screenplay)
      • Akira Toriyama(novel series "Dragonball")
    • Stars
      • Justin Chatwin
      • James Marsters
      • Chow Yun-Fat
    • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 603User reviews
    • 144Critic reviews
    • 45Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos2

    Dragonball Evolution: Trailer #2
    Trailer 1:56
    Dragonball Evolution: Trailer #2
    Dragonball: Evolution -- Trailer #1
    Trailer 1:52
    Dragonball: Evolution -- Trailer #1

    Photos56

    Justin Chatwin in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    Justin Chatwin in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    Emmy Rossum in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    James Marsters in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    Emmy Rossum and Justin Chatwin in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    Emmy Rossum and Justin Chatwin in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    Emmy Rossum and Justin Chatwin in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    Chow Yun-Fat and Justin Chatwin in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    James Marsters and Eriko Tamura in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    James Marsters and Eriko Tamura in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
    Justin Chatwin and James Wong in Dragonball Evolution (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Justin Chatwin
    Justin Chatwin
    • Gokuas Goku
    James Marsters
    James Marsters
    • Lord Piccoloas Lord Piccolo
    Chow Yun-Fat
    Chow Yun-Fat
    • Roshias Roshi
    Emmy Rossum
    Emmy Rossum
    • Bulmaas Bulma
    Jamie Chung
    Jamie Chung
    • Chi Chias Chi Chi
    Joon Park
    • Yamchaas Yamcha
    Eriko Tamura
    Eriko Tamura
    • Maias Mai
    • (as Eriko)
    Randall Duk Kim
    Randall Duk Kim
    • Gohanas Gohan
    Ernie Hudson
    Ernie Hudson
    • Sifu Norrisas Sifu Norris
    Texas Battle
    Texas Battle
    • Carey Fulleras Carey Fuller
    Megumi Seki
    Megumi Seki
    • Sekias Seki
    Ian Whyte
    Ian Whyte
    • Oozaruas Oozaru
    Richard Blake
    Richard Blake
    • Agundesas Agundes
    Jon Valera
    Jon Valera
    • Morenoas Moreno
    Rafael Valdez
    Rafael Valdez
    • Butleras Butler
    Mike Wilson
    Mike Wilson
    • Hildenbrandas Hildenbrand
    Freddy Bouciegues
    Freddy Bouciegues
    • Palmeras Palmer
    Shavon Kirksey
    Shavon Kirksey
    • Emias Emi
    • Director
      • James Wong
    • Writers
      • Ben Ramsey(screenplay)
      • Akira Toriyama(novel series "Dragonball")
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    With his beloved grandfather, Gohan, on the verge of death after demon Lord Piccolo's botched attempt to find one of the legendary Dragon Balls, eighteen-year-old Son Goku embarks on a mission to find the wise martial arts master and innovator of the Kamehameha technique, Master Roshi. Now, to thwart megalomaniac Piccolo's plans for world domination, Son Goku, along with a handful of brave defenders, must gather all seven mystical Dragon Balls before the next solar eclipse. Who will prevail in the final confrontation and the battle for Earth's future? —Nick Riganas
    live action remake of animeno title at beginningcaketerrible dialoguebad acting178 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • This Easter the legend comes to life.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Fantasy
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for intense sequences of action/violence and brief mild language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      "Dragon Ball" creator Akira Toriyama was initially supportive of the announcement of a live action adaptation and asked fans to treat the film as a different interpretation of his work, but after watching the film he was so horrified at this adaptation of his work that he decided to revive the series with the animated film Dragon Ball Z: Doragon bôru Z - Kami to Kami (2013). He later revealed that he wasn't allowed to have any creative input on the film and all of his suggestions were rejected.
    • Goofs
      Roshi could leap out of the hole whenever he wanted, but wastes precious hours in the hole telling a story when time was running short to find the Dragonballs.
    • Quotes

      Goku: Teach me, how to talk to a girl. I mean, I'm different, and everyone at school can see that, teach me how to get a girl, how to be smooth... how to be normal!

      Grandpa Gohan: Normal is also overrated. You must have faith in who you are.

    • Crazy credits
      SPOILER: There is a scene in the closing credits: Piccolo is revealed to have survived, and is in the care of the woman he spared in his first scene.
    • Connections
      Edited from Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Rule
      Lyrics by Ayumi Hamasaki

      Music by Miki Watanabe

      Performed by Ayumi Hamasaki

      Arranged by Hal

      Produced by Max Matsuura

      Courtesy of Avex Entertainment Inc.

    User reviews603

    Review
    Top review
    2/10
    The perfect movie for anyone who hates Dragonball Z
    Watching DBE i can immediately tell the directors and everyone else involved have not watched more than a few episodes of the entire Dragonball series. The characters are only similar in name and the story feels like they chewed it up and spit it out and whatever stuck to the storyboard they went with. I wont ruin the story but its nothing like the anime, as i said before the characters are only similar to the anime by name. It almost seems like they wanted to make this movie as bad and as far away from the original story as they could. The only time an actor or actress acts like their anime counterpart is when they are first introduced speaking mainly about Master Roshi and Yamcha.

    For one of the most action packed animes around they sure did the opposite with the movie. I can count the number of fight scenes with one hand and count how long they lasted with two hands. Its pretty pathetic when the first fight scene with Goku and the "bullies" is the best and he never threw even threw a punch. The big screen debut of the Kamehameha is sad and pathetic and all the Ki blasts look like different color fire balls. They don't look pure energy (like they are in the anime) but just like slow motion fire.

    I could go on for hours about what they did wrong. If you have never seen the anime series don't watch the movie. The story is probably too confusing for anyone who doesn't know the entire back-story of the anime. The movie only gives you the who and the what but no why. In fact i think why sums up the entire movie. Why did they do this and why did they do that is all i was thinking during the entire movie. At the end of the movie all i could do was ask "Why did they make this movie and who did they make this movie for?" This is not a movie for the fans or anyone who has never seen the anime. It feels like they made this movie for the people who hate the anime.

    As a fan of the series I will award this no points and may god have mercy on their souls.
    helpful•588
    100
    • Monsoon77
    • Mar 17, 2009

    FAQ9

    • Is "Dragonball Evolution" based on a book?
    • What is the history of the making of this movie?
    • Does Justin Chatwin wear a wig to play Goku?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 10, 2009 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Mexico
      • Japan
      • Hong Kong
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
      • Hindi
    • Also known as
      • Dragon Ball
    • Filming locations
      • Sierra de Organos, Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Dune Entertainment
      • Star Overseas
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $9,362,785
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,756,488
      • Apr 12, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $55,720,772
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 25min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Chow Yun-Fat, Emmy Rossum, Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, and Eriko Tamura in Dragonball Evolution (2009)
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