Okay, the first thing that needs to be said, to head off any bitching and moaning, is that this is a re-imaging, not an adaptation. Just like in comics, they retconned the whole thing to better suit the movie screen and put the fantastical adventures in a very realistic setting. If you watch this, you MUST go in to it without any delusions of it honoring the original Dragonball story. So, assuming you are capable to go into it with a clean slate, then I am sure you'll agree with my verdict on this movie. Otherwise, read below to see the differences (and NOT hearsay).Goku's actor was an interesting choice...He might have done better with better direction...and if he weren't a sorry little emo kid...but I'll leave it at that. He really didn't leave a big impression with me, which as worrisome since he's the starring actor. Bulma. Brilliant. She had the right spunky and fiery attitude one would expect Bulma to show. I know lots of people were pissed about the hair color, but as most of you don't know what goes into filmmaking...it's good they didn't give her blue or purple hair. Besides, how many billionaire heiresses (The Briefs family is totally loaded after all!) do you see with a far-less-than-natural shade of the hair spectrum? So, they rather put a few blue extensions in her hair, and it looks good.
While Chow Yung Fat doesn't look like what one would expect from Master Roshi, he can certainly play the part. No doubt about it. This man can do no wrong. Hell, did anyone see Bulletproof Monk? That man is a god to the silver screen. He can carry any role. Yamcha...well...they tried to do something with this character, which is better than nothing. I can forgive the asian-southern-surfer-gearhead person they turned our desert bandit into, since I never liked the character much, it was nice seeing SOME kind of personality. But the actor just couldn't be consistent...
Now for the biggie. James Marsters as Piccolo. Stop all talking now you heathens. He was green the whole way through, so chill the hell out. The costume is acceptable the moment you see him start fighting. It flows like a cape wrapped all around him. Rather genius I think. Adds to the sinister vibe. Two thumbs up in my opinion for him. He did good.
Now for the rest of the movie. It's painfully obvious when they use a green-screen to supplement a total BG. The CGI (total scenery) is nice, and the SFX don't leave much to be desired. The fighting choreography was pretty clumsy, and Roshi charging up for a Kamehameha wave was long and drawn out, BUT it made sense with something said a little later on, so it's forgivable.it seems like the Oozaru (or Ozaru in this) was thorn in at the last minute, or was a bigger role and they removed several key scenes. There was just a lot missing with this transformation and its significance. Still looked cool though.
All in all, it's watchable...but it doesn't blow my skirt up. I could watch it again...but with Watchmen in the queue, why would I?
