I just watched the all-time favorite Dragonball and as their decision to modernise my high school favourite manga, the word 'evolution' was added to the title. It is a bold move but nontheless failed miserably. Drastic changes made to the characters, including (sadly) to the lead character.. the young, cute and monkey-like warrior, Goku.
Goku, played by Justin Chatwin
And to add salt to the injury, Goku went to high school and met Chi-Chi his love interest who has been revamped into a sexy kickfighting bombshell. What's more, Chi-Chi was his motivation to mastered the famous KameHameHa. Gone is the free-spirited, always-hungry, adorable and kind youngster looking for a fight. Instead, there standing a Karate-Kid itching to prove himself to the world.
Many of the character's familiar quirks eliminated or downgraded, like the Master Roshi lascivious nature. I recalled only one scene to show this nature of him, that is when he grab Bulma's butt as they about to ride her high-tech bike.
Goku and Bulma, Played by Emmy Rossum
The only character almost as close as to the original one probably is Bulma, the tech-savvy girl. And whats with that romance between her and the desert bandit Yamcha? It's stilted and somehow uncomfortable to watch.
Running at 89 minutes, the movie feels rushed, as if the filmmakers wanted to get over it quickly because they knew they had a bad product at hand. I can say the only interesting part is the special effects and few fight scenes.
The original Goku and his KameHameHa
p/s: why the heck almost all the characters was somewhat 'asian'..(even Bulma was made to look like one) except Goku? Probably they can't find any asian that suit to played Goku. I just hope hollywood won't try to make a live action of Sailormoon. Just imagine 'Sailormoon Evolution'. Wonder who will played the handsome 'Mamoruchiba'.