Dragoball Z The Movie Debate (August 2008)

[Darke Raven]

Now that I posted up some info on the coming August 2008 DragonBall Z movie (whose in it, whose doing it, and what it's about) who thinks this movie will be either a disaster or, heaven forbid, a success?

And what does this movie bode for other Anime related live action movies if this one really does go to town and rake in millions at the box office on release?

Thoughts? Comments? Anything?

[Huxley]

I've said plenty in the other thread so you know my thoughts on this one. It has train wreck written all over it. It's a bit like a horror film where some old guy tells all the kids 'this voyage is doomed...DOOMED!' and yet they still get on the boat. Chow Yun Fat is those kids.

And what if it does rake in millions? Well, the Evangelion and Alita movies were already in pre-production before this, although I don't know if they'll ever see the light of day. And if the Dragonball movie tanks, they almost certainly won't.

So there was already an interest in adapting anime & manga to live action before this movie. Nobody has yet to really get one out of the door, so this could either be the catalyst or the death knell for live action anime.

I guess you only have to look at previous attempts to bring anime & manga to film. As far as I know Crying Freeman, The Guyver and Fist of the North Star were the only previous attempts from Hollywood. Hmm. Moving on.

There have been quite a few from Japan, Hong Kong & Korea, including Ichi the Killer & MPD Psycho from Takashi Miike. Maybe not to everyone's tastes, but it does prove that if you choose the right material and the right director you can do good things with anime & manga.

Oh, and Oldboy was a manga first. And Lone Wolf & Cub. Uzumaki. Quite a few good films there actually.

And then there are some examples of how NOT to do it. Wicked City. Doomed Megalopolis. Devilman. Casshern.

So it CAN be done, but you really have to choose your material carefully. Evangelion, Dragonball and Alita wouldn't be top of my list personally.

[Darke Raven]

I don't know about those "previous" attempts to bring Anime and Manga to film in America. I'd like to know how many were serious, or how many were just pie in the sky daydreams like Disney's attempt at Sailor Moon the Movie (no real commitment, lots of ridiculous fantasy like making all the Sailor Soliders into California girls, and only one person (Geena Davis as Queen Beryl) cast before people forgot the movie was even in the works).

Uh. Yeah.
Somehow I don't think we're ever going to see an American make a film like Lone Wolf & Cub... Anime and Manga movies in America equals kiddie fare.

If only the man behind Domu : A Child's Dream didn't get into his pissing match with Guillermo Del Toro, then maybe that might have heralded a new era in the way we see manga to American movie translation (oh come on, the guy Del Toro is at odds with can't be missing the fact Del Toro is cranking out his best work to date right now! This is about as great a time as any to give him Domu because he's doing critically acclaimed mind freaking (bleep) these days! Come on! Give him the franchise already!!)

Actually if DBZ is handled in the same drive and power that Kung Fu Hustle had then even Goku's nerf foam rubber hairdo is going to be forgivable if the movie really pours on the SFX and the humor (and it comes off as an over the top hyperactive popcorn muncher filled with over the top action and humor). Then the movie might be actually recommendable in the long run. Maybe.

It got the silly factor down with Goku's ridiculous hair and the scrawny white guy picked to play Goku. Oh, and then there's Chow Yun Fat ready to chew up the scenery in his most extreme performance to date as Master Roshi. After so many serious roles he's been storing up his silly face for a long time now... hope it's worth seeing.

Still could we NOT get Vegeta instead of Piccolo?!?
This is actually easy... imagine Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer... OK... now turn him green in your mind... and give him Andorian (Star Trek : Enterprise) antennea and... there you go... it's Piccolo.
Ewwwww!!

Of course it's all the way to August.
Right now I'm looking down the barrel of the bastardization of Dragonlance (this week the first of three DVD movies, each cooresponding with the THREE books of the original launch trilogy (I totally forgot there's no Summer book) of novels, releases).
Oh, joy. Please kill more of my youthful memories, Hollywood.

[Shabbir]

I'm extremely skeptical about this movie. I have a feeling that it will be a flop amongst hardcore fans of DragonBall, but may have a little success with people who knew DragonBall not quite so well.

[Huxley]

I have no beef with Piccolo. He's a pretty major villain in the Dragonball story before the whole Saiyan thing really kicks in to gear. And even Vegeta ends up as good guy eventually, so there's not really much difference either way. Good material for a sequel anyhow.

but may have a little success with people who knew DragonBall not quite so well

Maybe, but I'm still having trouble contemplating the technical aspects of the whole thing. Really, even The Matrix messed up their mock Dragonball fights, and they had Yuen Woo-Ping on board. It's a really difficult thing to pull off in live action.

[Darke Raven 07]

Well it's been so many weeks since Dragonball : Evolution came out... thoughts?

[Shabbir]

Well it's been so many weeks since Dragonball : Evolution came out... thoughts?

I saw the trailer and almost puked! There's no way I'll be watching it.

[Huxley]

I just got my Piccolo cel framed, and I fear I might smash it in a fit of anger if I go see this movie.

[Shabbir]

I just got my Piccolo cel framed, and I fear I might smash it in a fit of anger if I go see this movie.

Lol, I know exactly what you mean. I just started watching Dragon Ball Kai, the re-mastered edition of DragonBall Z, and I don't want that spoiled by this movie!

[Huxley]

Is it any good? Noticeably less filler?

[Shabbir]

Well hard to say since there are only 6 episodes out, but I do think it's less filler. The first six episodes and it's up to the point where Gohan is training with Piccolo (as in Raditz is all finished) and Goku is with King Kai now, training for the arrival of the other Saiyans (Vegeta and the other dude who I can't remember!).

[Huxley]

Christ...it took Goku what seemed like 50 episodes to get to King Kai in the original! That's a LOT of filler cut out.

[Shabbir]

Lol, I can't actually remember the early parts of DragonBall Z very well. I remember the Frieza and Cell parts better since Cartoon Network used to air those episodes over and over again! I'm going to keep following Dragon Ball Kai though, since it brings back a lot of memories and if it keeps up the pace, then I'm surre it will be an enjoyable series to follow.

[rambof07]

what a great movie full of with all entertainment area.