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Four New Dragonball Evolution Posters - Good or Bad?

by Alex Billington
December 11, 2008
Source: IGN

The legend comes to life! In addition to updating yesterday's article with an official high res version of the trailer, we've got four new posters for the upcoming Dragonball Evolution as well. I really don't know why we keep mentioning this movie, but there is something that always urges me to do so, no matter how many negative comments we keep getting. Maybe I've got a feeling deep down inside that it'll turn out fun, or maybe I just know that there are fans galore, or maybe I just think these look cool but won't ever admit it. Whatever the reason, I've included them below, so check them out, only if you're still excited.

Thanks to IGN for debuting these. You can click any of them below to see them in full size. I'm curious whether moviegoers, in addition to all the Dragonball fans, are warming up this movie or not?

Dragonball Evolution is directed by James Wong, of Final Destination, Jet Li's The One, and Final Destination 3 previously, with a script written by Ben Ramsey, of The Big Hit and Love and a Bullet previously. The film stars Justin Chatwin as Goku, James Marsters as Piccolo, Emmy Rossum as Bulma, Chow Yun-Fat as Master Roshi, Jamie Chung as Chi Chi, and Park Joon as Yamcha. 20th Century Fox is releasing Dragonball Evolution in theaters everywhere on April 3rd, 2009.

Explore tags: Discussion, Hype, Posters

lol

The complaining is pathetic. It's a KIDS movie. You know, for kids? It's not FOR you. Come on, guys... this isn't Citizen Kane. If you go in the theatre with your brain at the door, your inner 12-year-old will love it.
Johnny Crow

Looks nothing like the show which is the downfall of most directors.
Craig

The film looks somewhat stylized but less so than Speed Racer. They seem to put a lot of emphasis on the color of the sky (with the help of CGI). Piccolo's airship is very similar to the one King Piccolo travels with in the manga/anime. The energy blast and power ups look like the ones from the anime and it seems that they made it intentionally "cartoony". Although a lot of fans are going to have problems with this adaptation, all us Dragonball fans have to come to our senses and realize that the source material ain't no Hemingway or Dostoyevsky tier story telling. So many people are acting as if "Dragonball" is this ancient (almost religious) scripture that can't be the least bit changed.
http://loyalkng.com loyalkng

Gosh after the trailer... this movie has no redemption.
edi

hair.... hahahaaahaahah
Derek

The ONLY thing that this movie has done right is the look of the actual dragonballs. Everything else - the casting, the costumes, EVERYTHING else is terrible.
http://www.theaterhopper.com Tom Brazelton

Where's the orange jumpsuit?
Samuel

why is it called evolution?
dave13

its called evolution cause they read sites like this where people were bitching about how completely different it is from the original story. so now they're just telling you upfront: 'hey fans, this is NOT the Dragonball you know and love' and thats not saying you can't make changes... but after a certain point you go too far and lose the source audience. sigh. i'd love to be wrong about this though.
John Knox

Why do they always cast a white kid with an Asian cast? I really don't get it. What? an Asian kid wouldn't be able to sell a kids movie?
fL

do you honestly think that people would be happy and not bitch about it if some asian guy was playing goku. no way. people might even bitch more.
Otacon

@10 i guess they can get away with saying that Goku wasn't asian in the first place since he was from another planet...
Quit Crying

Just let it go, kiddies. It won't be that bad. If it was a direct adaptation more people would be pissed off than happy because it'd be all the same and nothing new. Besides, it's based on the manga. How many of you morons can honestly say you read the manga over watching the anime? Very few, as most of you are going to lie through your teeth anyway.
Iqbal Rifasha

I am a BIG FAN of Dragon Ball and to me, Dragon Ball is the best manga ever made so far - but this movie really going to dissapoint me a lot!! The Wachowski brothers should direct this francise as they did fantastically with Speed Racer!Dragon Ball suppose to be like that - even though it is childish and colourful, but the element, feeling, spirit of the original Speed Racer is in there~Dragon Ball suppose to be cheerful and have a lots of energy in it! I AM NOT GOING TO WATCH THIS MOVIE, IT IS ANOTHER STREET FIGHTER FAILURE!!
LeeMan

Aaron yoo from disturbia and 21 wouldve made the perfect goku, not a white dude. the poster are gud, but unfortunately the trailer is kind of a boner shrinker for me. see u guys at faast and furious
TIm

I really hope it will be good. I'm trying to stay optimistic. Goku never got the orange jump suit til he got older in the show Tom. I want this to do well cause I really want a Dragon Ball Z movie.
http://www.cage.com Red Buttons

I think you would enjoy it if you left your brain at your house.
Matty

This cannot POSSIBLY be good. Pull a Smoke Jumpers and scrap the whole project.
FIRE-LORD

The title is corny as hell, but it looks to be one of the most fun action/family movies in a while. Definitely not DBZ material, but for a Dragonball adaptation, this will do just fine.
cmedina

my inner 12 year old says it'll be ok...but street fighter and mortal kombat will still be 10x better.
KyB

I'm digging Jamie from the Real World San Diego actually starting to turn up on tv and in the movies...
Chris W

These posters are not helping! It still looks awful, but yet I will probably end up in the theater around release time with a few buddies
Asians-nowhere-so-what?

Probably bad. Midnight showing, here I come.
Crybabies

Alex, I think you keep posting stuff on this because you enjoy the irrational crying in the comments like a lot of us. Man, and I thought hard-core Transformer fans were bad before the first TF movie. Not so long ago it was all 'Bumblebee is a beetle!', 'Optimus is a flat nose semi!', and 'Micheal Bay ruined my childhood!!!!?!' (side note: I never understood this thinking, how can a movie in 2007 ruin your childhood from years ago? Or did he touch you in a 'funny' way when you were a kid?) There was NO WAY a literal translation of the original TF cartoon into live action could have been as successful as the resulting movie. Many people changed their tune and, no matter what you think of it, it became a global blockbuster. Now, I'm not saying this movie will repeat the same success by a long shot. But it just all sounds like the same BS. [Blank] movie isn't exactly the same as [blank] cartoon/manga from decades ago, so it fails. If this were an animated film I'd agree, but zero compromise on a live action remake? Get over yourselves.
Secret-Asian-Man!!

When does Raditz show up?
Kail

@ Everyone who's complaining that Goku is white JUST BECAUSE THE STORY COMES FROM ASIA DOES NOT MEAN THE MAIN CHARACTER IS FUCKING ASIAN YOU IGNORANT IDIOTS! THERE ARE NO ASIANS IN DRAGONBALL BECAUSE THE DRAGONBALL WORLD IS DIFFERENT FROM OUR WORLD, THERE ARE ASIAN LOOKING PEOPLE, BUT NO ASIANS. GOKU IS AN ALIEN FROM THE PLANET VEGETA, HE IS A SAIYAN, BY YOUR LOGIC THEY SHOULD'VE GOTTEN AN ACTUAL SAIYAN TO BE GOKU. HELL WHY NOT HAVE THE REAL GOKU PLAY HIMSELF! WHY NOT JUST FILM THIS ENTIRE THING ACTUALLY HAPPENING FOR REAL AND CALL IT A DOCUMENTARY?! caps lock is cruise control for cool
http://azmovietrailers.com AZMT

I am a late anime-convert so i havn't watched DB. Even so I'm not impressed judging from the promos so far. I think it's pretty hard to translate any anime/cartoon/game into a live action movie. I can only hope that the directors do a good job of adapting them into movies, regardless of which direction they take the storyline or character design. eg, Max Payne. I absolutely loved that movie.
Lana

A part of me thinks "Oh god, what have they done to my childhood crack?!" and then I'm reminded that it was an over-the-top action/adventure cartoon. And I watched 10x more DBZ than I did Dragonball, anyway. I hate Emmy Rossum's 80s/90s ponytail. It would have added a nice bit of color if she'd dyed her hair blue/purple or worn a wig. And the attempt at "real world" goku hair was doomed to fail no matter what. And yet... yet... from the trailer I was almost... pleasantly surprised? It seems awfully campy, and a little too "oh let's put in some of that destiny/warrior/hero/fakey mysticism in that will make the dumb consumers realize it's ASIAN and HIP and OMG BUY OUR MERCHANDISE LITTLE BOY". And yet.... I'll probably go to a midnight showing with a couple friends who loved the show too.
Samuel

@ 28 you probably know this but if there is a sequel Radditz will probably show up there since this movie is suppose to cover Dragonball and Radditz appeared in Dragonball Z. @13 I didnt have cable when Dragonball came on cartoon network but I heard it never finished in america but then again they could've just watched it online. @9 yeah I kinda figured that was the reason it was called evolution just thought it might be something more to do with the story like he turns SS4 or something that be hilarious wrong but still very funny. I like transformers not a major fan I thought it wouldve been nice if Bumblebee was a bug but the way it handled the change in the movie i was satisfied @24 I agree how can a movie made now affect someone back in the 80s 90s whatever? in this day and age they can just hope online and watch it again. I dont like that Dragonball is being changed i think when people see this and get told hey watch the anime or read the manga they will be in for a shock and scratching their heads at the fact that they basically changed alot and making the movie is pointless
Cindarr

I think what we die hard movie lovers are worry about when movies are created and turn out to be bad and we wouldn't want to watch it again. Kail does have a point on the whole color skin, but think of it this way. We all know Superman is a white guy ever since we read comics, cartoons and movies. He is from outer space, come from a different planet and look like human,my point is this. You think is fair a new superman movie played by a chinese guy? Dont get me wrong here, i am not being racist. Is just originality of any product/title/story line. This movie will suck only plus points ever gonna get is the graphics, fighting look horrible, acting is amazingly good for a soap opera standard.
Hyacinth

#30: you took the words right our of my mouth. It's a double standard. You cast Asian characters as white, but Superman, Batman and even Spiderman can't be Asian. Besides, this would have been a great opportunity for Asian actors to get their break in Hollywood. How many mainstream Asian actors do you know that have been cast in major Hollywood movies in a lead role? Only a small handful. It seems almost an insult to those up and coming, struggling Asian/Minority actors when white people are cast in roles that seem tailor made for them. Not being racist about this. Just sad that Asian actors are not being cast in these things. Look at Airbender and Jesse McCartney or Prince of Persia and Jake Gyllenhaal If I offended anyone, it was not my intention. Sorry in advance.
MrSammich

OK, let me say this, Goku has always looked white, he wasn't drawn like an asian as far as I am concerned. He did have black hair, but he also had white skin, round eyes, he was noticably taller than the rest of the cast. Now I think Crillin was asian, he was short, had slanted eyes, and such, Roshi was asian in the classic look of the old master. Chi-chi was asian. But Goku was white. And I can't believe that no one has complained about how Master Roshi doesn't look like himself but looks like Chow Yun-Fat.
JNYCE

graphics? didn't know this was a videogame..lol
wowow

Sorry, Kail you just sound like an idiot. Even if they are aliens - it still doesn't explain why Goku was cast as some scrawny, short, white nerd... who doesn't even have black hair. As Hyacinth said perfectly - It's a double standard, and a perfect opportunity for Asian actors to get their break.
curtfrmcali

i threw up in my mouth a lil.....
curtfrmcali

p.s i agree with wowow & Hyacinth
Ajax

Why is everything all slanted?!? Ugh, this is gonna suck
Riiiiight....

@31 "It's a double standard. You cast Asian characters as white, but Superman, Batman and even Spiderman can't be Asian." I'm sorry. I saw the point you were eventually trying to make (and agree... somewhat, especially the PoP reference). But you loose ALL credibility in an argument complaining about a double standard when you throw out Goku as an example (who was never an 'Asian' character) against Spiderman and Batman to justify it. Seriously? SPIDERMAN?? BATMAN?!?!? Does anyone else see the complete void of common sense in that statement? Not offended, just ROFL'ing.
Daichi

I find it funny that people who don't know a think about where manga came from and know nothing about Japanese culture can consider themselves to be such experts on Dragonball. I think it's ok for non-Japanese people to be fans of Manga, however when they start being all high and mighty and saying it is based themselves it just really pisses me off and makes me wish that outsiders just wouldn't read manga all together. There is no statement from the author that says that Goku is white, so I don't know where you are all coming from when you try to state it so factually. I am saying it here and now. Goku is Asian in the manga.
Hyacinth

38: How many iconic Asian manga/comic book characters can you mention that have withstood the test of time and space? Believe it or not Goku is one of them.
PWO

@32 It sure takes you a great lot of white supremism to see Goku as white and not asian
kontraxxx

OMG..."saw trailer its bad"-i must say, all ppl who judge movie by some "teaser" trailer, by litle "bite" from it, all i can say that you are 12 old kid or something close to it... you cant judge book by its cover.
Mo

LISTEN, I AM 12 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!! I THINK THIS MOVIE WILL BE GREAT, WE CANT CHANGE IT NOW IT IS ALREADY IN PROGRESS AND I THINK THE TRAILER COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER BUT U ADULTS SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE SMALLERKIDS! HALF OF MY LITTLE BROS CLASS LOVED THE TRAILER AND ARE DEAD EXCITED! I ALSO WANNA WATCH IT AND SO DOES EVERYONE IN MY CLASS! BUT I DO AGREE ON SOME OF YOUR STUFF! I CANT SAY ABOUT THE STORYLINE BECAUSE I ONLY SAW DRAGONBALL Z AND DRAGONBALL GT BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT KAMI CREATED THE DRAGONBALLS NOT 7 MYSTICS. BUT THINK THAT IF THIS MOVIE IS A SUCSESS THEY WILL MAKE A DBZ WITH RATIZ AND VEGETA, THAT IS WHEN U WILL SAY I WANNA WATCH THIS, YOUR TIME WILL COME..........................
PWO

Some guys working for Fox sure has intelligence that can be outwitted by a 12 year old
Mo

thanks
Dwayne

another great franchise that fox has to screw up agian well fans dont see these movies and hopefully they'll stop making them or give them to more responsible companies like Warner Bros or Columbia and Paramont
MetalShep

I am 17 and my friends and i are excited for this movie. i still love dragonball and am collecting all the episodes and movies. i am a huge fan and i will be amoungst the group that will love this movie regardless of the final product.
lol

wtf? the white guy looks like A FAGGOT with that hair.. the hair is soo fucking ugly.. its not even funny.. lol.. the ppl who play the plot and the costumes are so fucking gay and ugly.. im not gonna lie.. this is a EPIC fail..
PWO

It's clear that anyone who claims they're Dragonball fans who love this crap are just Fox employees in disguise Distinguishing between real Dragonball fans and not is actually really simple, because real Dragonball fans will simply boycott this monstrusity like the Japanese are doing so
michael

So your saying that everyone who likes this movie is not a fan of dragonball. I'm a fan of dragonball a massive fan actually and have gotten all the books from dragonball to z I have all the games, tons and tons of action figures yet i am awaiting the movie. Also why should everyone think like you we are all entitled to our own tastes. PWO- you sound like such a fool, and a child ''if they like it they must work for fox waw waw waw'' god get a life. About the goku being white thing. I think he should be he always looked white plus he is an ALIEN a race in their own and are completely different from HUMANS. Obviously two planets arent going to have the same species of the same colour. It could just be that they coincidently have a white complexion. And if Akira Toriyama had a problem with it he wouldnt of signed movie rights over to fox. I think people are being bloody fussy like hell. its not going to kill the franchise! The chinese movie didnt kill it and it had nothing to do with dragonball. The dragonballs were called dragonpearls, goku was renamed monkeyboy and bulma seetoe and yet it never killed the franchise. How strange. Give the movie a chance, if it fails so what if it dont its all good.
Mike

Since Goku is from another planet he can be any color. So picking a white kid is no big deal. The movie still looks more like a renter to me though.
PWO

There you go, those who think Goku's white aren't Dragonball fans at all, they are simply trying to fulfill their own white supremist fanticies by imagining that Asian based character who is the strongest of the universe is white. And do some people need reminding of how a Clark Kent played by an Asian or African will look? @michael Regarding why Toriyama signed the rights to Fox, it's all because he never expected those idiots to butcher Dragonball like this. Oh, and with the Chinese movie, didn't you know that the word "Dragonball" is derived from the Chinese word "dragonpearls"? And you never saw the Chinese trying to blackmail theatres round to world to screen that movie as the "official Dragonball movie"
Roland

I agree with (24). I know there no way this will probaly become as big as TF did but I hope your right because every one I know said that Tranformers would be lame as hell but now those same people have that DVD up on there shelf with all there favorite movies. Hopefully It Will Have A Good Outcome.
Jason Lee

They should have casted an Asian actor for the role of Son Goku. I mean come on let's give the Asian actors a chance to portray their own Hero in Hollywood. If I were them I'd pick JON FOO. He looks like Son Goku & he's a martial artist too. Here is a sample of his videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9PpbyTz390 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo8HVJ5vNJI