Dragonball Evolution (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Drake T

  
  Turned a classic tale of innocence, the struggle between good and evil, into a hollywood CGI fuck fest of stupidity. There are so many things wrong with this film even outside of the fact that it bastardized the source material. Easily worse movie I have ever seen.

• Wildaly M

  
  Oh gosh. The trailers were better.

• Sanjaya &

  
  I must say that this one is a really terrible adaptation, maybe basically it wasn't an adaptation movie, but it was a movie inspired from the manga because the only same thing about this movie was the name of the characters and the Dragon Ball itself... If I see this movie as not… More
  I must say that this one is a really terrible adaptation, maybe basically it wasn't an adaptation movie, but it was a movie inspired from the manga because the only same thing about this movie was the name of the characters and the Dragon Ball itself... If I see this movie as not an adaptation movie, I may gave it 2 or 2 1/2 stars because it was pretty entertaining... But because this one is an adaptation movie, I couldn't gave more than 1 1/2 stars... James Wong really changed a lot from the manga, and it was terrible because I'm a big fan of the manga... Yet, he made a lot of bloopers because of the weak script they have here, that one makes the audience become more confused with the story here... Very disappointing...

• Richard C

  
  D

• Conner R

  
  What was wrong with this movie? By far one of the weirdest/corniest/terrible movies to ever have a major studio release. It accomplishes one thing, making movies like Judge Dredd, Street Fighter and Tank Girl look like classics. This is so odd and alienating, although i'm glad I… More
  What was wrong with this movie? By far one of the weirdest/corniest/terrible movies to ever have a major studio release. It accomplishes one thing, making movies like Judge Dredd, Street Fighter and Tank Girl look like classics. This is so odd and alienating, although i'm glad I saw it. It's a truly unique type of terrible; the acting, writing, directing and visuals all culminate into the disaster it is.

• Kalel J

  
  So the script is lacking. So the characters are as thin as paper and as blunt as rock. So the script moves faster than it's characters flying fists. Dragonball Evolution is a bad film, is exactly what it was always going to be, but I'll be damned if there isn't a degree… More
  So the script is lacking. So the characters are as thin as paper and as blunt as rock. So the script moves faster than it's characters flying fists. Dragonball Evolution is a bad film, is exactly what it was always going to be, but I'll be damned if there isn't a degree of fun to the project that keeps it watchable.

• Steve K

  
  Why would I do this to myself you ask? Much like when I rented Beer For My Horses, the bad movie lover within me just couldn't resist. Unlike that film, however, this one didn't have any redeeming qualities. Undemanding kids who already know the "story", the… More
  Why would I do this to myself you ask? Much like when I rented Beer For My Horses, the bad movie lover within me just couldn't resist. Unlike that film, however, this one didn't have any redeeming qualities. Undemanding kids who already know the "story", the intended audience admittedly, will be the only ones who enjoy this. I just kept feeling bad for Chow Yun Fat. And wondered how Emmy Rossum thought this was a good career move. It also made me glad that I didn't attend one of those high schools where all the classmates are clearly in their mid to late 20s. Finally, if you're going to give a name to the creature who is going to bring doom down upon us all, choose something a bit more imposing than Piccolo. Man, I bet he had a rough childhood in evil villain's school.

• Dean M

  
  Not a bad action-packed flick based on Manga series. The plot's a complex mix of ancient mysticism, near future technology and teen trials, none of which gels. Director James Wong may have created a version of Goku's signature spiky hair I can believe, but he can't… More
  Not a bad action-packed flick based on Manga series. The plot's a complex mix of ancient mysticism, near future technology and teen trials, none of which gels. Director James Wong may have created a version of Goku's signature spiky hair I can believe, but he can't quite sell the universe, and the cast can't decide whether to mug or play straight. Chow Yun-Fat's performance as Master Roshi, the fight trainer and new friend of Goku is quite a goofy such as funny, he seems a little perverted.

• Alexander W

  
  I have seen a few Dragon ball. But don't consider myself a fan. I sat down a little bit sceptical of a movie based on a cult show. Often animation to cinema isn't easy. I personally enjoyed the movie. I found it fun, silly, with some cool Kung Fu moves. I really do like Chow… More
  I have seen a few Dragon ball. But don't consider myself a fan. I sat down a little bit sceptical of a movie based on a cult show. Often animation to cinema isn't easy. I personally enjoyed the movie. I found it fun, silly, with some cool Kung Fu moves. I really do like Chow Yun Fat movies, I enjoyed the characters, how they were introduced how they were acted out and their roles in the storyline. Most die hard DBZ fans expect more, but after all its a cartoon, and if you ask any Japanese person they will tell you DBZ is for kids anyway.

• Mike S

  
  Justin Chatwin must really be in need of money, because never did I think he'd sell his soul to crap like this. The same goes for Emily Rossum and Ernie Hudson, whose acting talent deserves a much better script. Because the dialogue in here is some of the worst I've ever… More
  Justin Chatwin must really be in need of money, because never did I think he'd sell his soul to crap like this. The same goes for Emily Rossum and Ernie Hudson, whose acting talent deserves a much better script. Because the dialogue in here is some of the worst I've ever come across. In fact, it's so cheesy that, if you waited long enough, it would probably turn into some moldy french delicassy. Not as bad as I feared it would be though, and fairly entertaining on the whole. For a B-movie that is.

• Josh L

  
  It's definitely a horrible adaptation, but I was never bored while watching this movie. It's poorly acted, horribly written, and has terrible special effects, though. Emmy Rossum was the only one that I thought wasn't horrible, but she was there more for eye candy… More
  It's definitely a horrible adaptation, but I was never bored while watching this movie. It's poorly acted, horribly written, and has terrible special effects, though. Emmy Rossum was the only one that I thought wasn't horrible, but she was there more for eye candy anyway (which she was pretty good at). I seriously hope they try harder on the supposed sequel.

• Lewis C

  
  I can't believe that it was only a few weeks ago when I was watching the new Street Fighter movie and thinking that I would never again see another game or anime property ruined so horribly on film. I should have been saving my ire for this piece of fail. Everything about Dragon… More
  I can't believe that it was only a few weeks ago when I was watching the new Street Fighter movie and thinking that I would never again see another game or anime property ruined so horribly on film. I should have been saving my ire for this piece of fail. Everything about Dragon Ball that anyone has ever loved or enjoyed was hilariously removed for this movie. If it wasn't for the character names and the actual Dragon Balls themselves, would the viewer even know that this was related to the manga/anime in any way? Everything about this movie is just bad. Why was it made? Anyone over the age of 9 and with any knowledge of Dragon Ball would know to avoid spending a single cent on this horror. It fails as a simple action/martial arts movie as well, so don't expect to like this even if you don't care about Goku. The only way to fix or improve this mistake would be to go back in time and keep it from ever happening.

• Brian D

  
  What a pile of sh**,must be the wrost movie of 2009.Only saving grace is that the actually movie running time is a mere 73 mins long with near 9 mins of credits.How many people could have made this movie and WHY! And why is chow yun fat in this movie why! If you want to watch a… More
  What a pile of sh**,must be the wrost movie of 2009.Only saving grace is that the actually movie running time is a mere 73 mins long with near 9 mins of credits.How many people could have made this movie and WHY! And why is chow yun fat in this movie why! If you want to watch a better type of movie like this one,go for Mortal Kombat.

• Manu G

  
  I was waiting for a real-life dragon ball movie for a long time and I can't help but be dissapointed because even though it was allright it could have been sooooo much better! Seriously the cast was decent can't object on that but the story really sucked and needed more… More
  I was waiting for a real-life dragon ball movie for a long time and I can't help but be dissapointed because even though it was allright it could have been sooooo much better! Seriously the cast was decent can't object on that but the story really sucked and needed more important characters like Vegeta and Krillin, also they should have picked a more action story than this one, there were barely fights and last but not least the movie is way short, lasts only an hour and twenty minutes, toooo damn short!! A young boy named Goku seeks out upon his grandfather's dying request to find the great Master Roshi and gather all seven Dragon Balls (of which he has one) in order to prevent Piccolo from succeeding in his desire to use the Dragon Balls to take over the world.

• Luke B

  
  Cheesy predictable fun that avoids being painful. That is, for somebody that has never seen the anime or read the graphic novels etc. The film is obviously based on something a lot deeper and more complex, but this is a rushed and unmemorable film. The characters are quickly sketched… More
  Cheesy predictable fun that avoids being painful. That is, for somebody that has never seen the anime or read the graphic novels etc. The film is obviously based on something a lot deeper and more complex, but this is a rushed and unmemorable film. The characters are quickly sketched caricatures. Hero, villain, love interest, wise master and comedic bad boy. The film is just over an hour long, and given the mostly camp cheapness of it all this is a major bonus. The acting ranges from suitable charming lead duties of Chatwin, to the overplayed buffoonery of Chow Yun Fat. The action scenes shouldn't be called action scenes as the fights are so low end market that there is no change in excitement from dialogue, to battle to save the earth.The script is also very mediocre and even makes huge leaps in logic. Piccolo's escape from his prison is never explained, and the heroes seem to just try and put him back. It's probably a decent distraction for average 9 year olds but hopefully this will be the last we hear from live action Dragonball.

• Justin Y

  
  At this time, it is apparent that James Wong's directing resume isn't that great. Stephen Chow on the other hand is a fantastic director. Both names are affiliated with this movie, however Stephen Chow is only the producer. Go back to directing Mr.… More
  At this time, it is apparent that James Wong's directing resume isn't that great. Stephen Chow on the other hand is a fantastic director. Both names are affiliated with this movie, however Stephen Chow is only the producer. Go back to directing Mr. Chow.</p><p>The story is straightforward, but contains plot holes that really ruin it. On the bright side, the run time is under 90 minutes and the film moves rather quickly without any drag. That doesn't make this a great film though, because this is far from it.</p><p>The dialogue is poorly written. It is almost as if this movie is trying to be manga-like and funny at times. I'm not saying this is a bad idea, but it just doesn't work out in this picture.</p><p>Not surprisingly, the CG is fantastic. The martial arts choreography is also pretty good. Now, if only more time were spent on other aspects of the film.</p><p>The acting as well as the casting is pretty atrocious. The ONLY person who is enjoyable is Emmy Rossum as Bulma. Everyone else is completely forgettable. Yes, some of the characters, including those by Chow Yun Fat and Joon Park, are over the top with overacting, but as I mentioned earlier, the manga-like atmosphere isn't working in this movie.</p><p>This film isn't recommended for fans of <i>Dragonball</i>. It isn't recommended for anybody else either.

• Aaron N

  
  Goku: Like my grandpa said, the first rule is: there are no rules. To start, I have nothing invested in anything involving Dragonball as a manga, a tv series, or a movie, I know very little and care just as much. Going with a friend who is very much the opposite of this, we both… More
  Goku: Like my grandpa said, the first rule is: there are no rules. To start, I have nothing invested in anything involving Dragonball as a manga, a tv series, or a movie, I know very little and care just as much. Going with a friend who is very much the opposite of this, we both expected to have a completely loony time, laughing at this movie. To my surprise, this film wasn't too terrible. As far as PG action flicks go, this is a by-the-numbers origin story flick with some neat action scenes, making for a completely acceptable film were it to come out when I was younger. Plot: Orphaned young man raised by his grandpa learns that he has been trained to help save the world following his 18th birthday. A number of quirky side characters join him on a quest to collect sacred objects in order to stop an evil villain bent on some kind of destruction. Simple. Got it? Done. Master Roshi: In an ancient time, Earth was nearly destroyed. Not by man, but by Gods from the sky. I would like to think that the small levels of enjoyment I got from this film are due to producer Stephen Chow, who is a big Dragonball fan and probably did his best (as far as producer duties go) to make this a film tolerable for many types of audiences. Casting Chow Yun Fat as Master Roshi was a neat touch as well, letting the actor get in some lighter material for a change. Terrible lines of dialog and exposition aside, this movie works well at being paced lightening quick, rarely slowing down and having a solid lead in the form of Justin Chatwin remain likable (even if he isn't the right fit from a fanboy perspective). I don't know how much translates well in terms of retaining the source material. My friend seems to believe that for a PG movie, this kept a number of things intact. I don't really care either way, but as far as the fanboys go, they do have the choice of just not seeing the movie and enjoy the copious amounts of material already available to them. So yeah, the movie is simplistic but passable. I have no desire to go deeper into the world of Dragonball, but I don't feel I wasted my time either. Chi Chi: You're different. I like different.

• Cassandra M

  
  I felt truly ashamed of being a Dragonball fan after watching this film. i had practically grown up with Goku and his epic adventures. however this was like watching my retarded sibling have a fit in public for 90 minutes. it was awkward and embarrassing. After watching most of the… More
  I felt truly ashamed of being a Dragonball fan after watching this film. i had practically grown up with Goku and his epic adventures. however this was like watching my retarded sibling have a fit in public for 90 minutes. it was awkward and embarrassing. After watching most of the recent Hollywood adaptations of comic books, it is evident that in order for these sort of films to be interesting on the big screen they have to be at least a little bit dark. Well, really if you ask me they should be as dark as possible. Not cheesy and wet like an old towel. Its not even anything like the cartoons! hopefully someone with some vision will give this film a go over because with such a great franchise and such a global fan base it could really be a hit. although even the greatest of directors will have trouble pulling in a decent cast after this train wreck. This really is a c*m tissue of a film. i wouldn't even wipe my arse with it.

• George R

  
  This is a mediocre, piece of shit movie adapted from the ALREADY MEDIOCRE PIECE OF SHIT manga/anime! Ok, seriously, what is it with the U.S. always trying to adapt a manga, anime, or anything from Asia but always picking cast members that look nothing like the original characters,… More
  This is a mediocre, piece of shit movie adapted from the ALREADY MEDIOCRE PIECE OF SHIT manga/anime! Ok, seriously, what is it with the U.S. always trying to adapt a manga, anime, or anything from Asia but always picking cast members that look nothing like the original characters, a plot that is nothing like it's source (not that the original DB manga had a plot), & realistic-ifying them? Ok, take a note Hollywood, changing a source from fictional to realistic will turn out like shit. Now you're probably going to ask me "If you hated the original manga/anime, then why did you go watch this movie?" Two reasons: I wanted to go laugh at the movie, & a friend paid for my ticket. Plot/Story: Talk about garbage. First off, the film's story is a cliche 'teenage boy is an outcast & finds out he's different & must save the world from utter destruction' bullshit. Where have we seen that before? Plenty of other movies. Secondly, the plot makes even less sense than in the manga/anime. And third of all, the original DB series had no plot or story to begin with. Why would you adapt a movie from a source that doesn't have the smallest sign of a plot only to completely change it into something worse? I have no idea. Cast/Acting/Characters: Ok EVERYONE in this movie is a miscast. Also, please tell me why is it that all the characters except for Goku are stereotypically Asians? Ok I can understand if the characters WERE Asian, but to make the cast members Asians like the original characters, but look nothing like them is crap on so many levels. Goku is like the original Goku, the biggest idiot I have ever seen in a manga, & boy does Justin Chatwin do a good job at it. I won't even get started on the other characters. Dialogue: Don't get me started. It's not as bad as the dialogue from the second "Mortal Kombat" movie, but it's bad. Effects: The only good thing in this movie, but even so, they don't make it any better. So to finish it ff, this movie sucks ass. Hell it's even more shit than the original manga it's based on. Waste of time & money.

• Will T

  
  As a Dragonball Fan, this movie chills me to my fucking core. Horribly not loyal, but not original and innovative enough to stand on its own. I despise the whole cast save Chow Yun Fat, who chews scenery like hell in this film. The plot is stupid and all over the place, and I lose my… More
  As a Dragonball Fan, this movie chills me to my fucking core. Horribly not loyal, but not original and innovative enough to stand on its own. I despise the whole cast save Chow Yun Fat, who chews scenery like hell in this film. The plot is stupid and all over the place, and I lose my suspension of disbelief pretty damn early.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings