Dragonball Evolution: Awfully Good or Just Awful?

In this very special “Viewer Request” episode of Awfully Good Movies, we’re finally tackling what could well be the worst live-action anime adaptation that Hollywood’s ever made, with 2009’s Dragonball Evolution!
When 20th Century Fox bought up the rights to Akira Toriyama’s beloved manga that became an even more beloved anime TV series, with Stephen Chow of Kung Fu Hustle set to produce, DBZ fans were simultaneously skeptical and hopeful of what the Americanized results would be. But when the movie was rushed into production on the cusp of a writer’s strike, with a writer and director who didn’t know anime from Animorphs, and the reported $100 million budget reduced to $30 million, the final product made Dragon Ball fans and casual viewers both explode in rage much like Son Goku himself.
From the whitewashed casting of Justin Chatwin as a decidedly geeky version of Goku, to the legendary Chow-Yun Fat embarrassing his good name as the slovenly Master Roshi, to James Marsters wearing cheap looking makeup as Piccolo that looks stupider than his spiked hair on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the multi-racial casting is the least baffling aspect of a film that is nothing but baffling. With seasons worth of exposition from the show shoved down into an 85-minute movie, and special effects that make Quantumania look like Endgame by comparison, Evolution is truly a de-evolution in the art of cinema that would put even Martin Scorsese into an existential crisis, as well as a spit in the face to the anime’s fanbase. Kame-Hame-Ha? More like Kame-Hame-Nuh-Uh.
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[@EJK2099]

It's awful. End of story.

[@bradentwidwell7955]

It's not T.O.P awful

[@janembahhh]

Honestly I just wanted a live action DBZ movie. It sucks penis but it’s still a movie 😂

[@YuniorGamboa]

Best comedy of that year😂

[@mildsoup8978]

Amen

[@Scifi4life]

Better than thor 4

[@michaelstrong5383]

Dragonball Evolution is to Dragonball fans as what The Last Airbender film was to Avatar fans: A mistake that shouldn't exist at all.

[@chasehedges6775]

A beautiful, accurate comparison

[@ChristianFrates1997]

Same for Fant4stic.

[@michaelstrong5383]

@@ChristianFrates1997 Ugh! Don't even get me started on *THAT* trainwreck

[@jtgd]

True. Wish thanos snapped those movies away

[@EazyRocko]

I would rather watch Dragonball Evolution than Last Airbender that movie is straight asscheeks

[@KGBeast.]

This movie is just unforgivable

[@ChristianFrates1997]

You know who else is unforgivable? Chris Sabat and his casting couch.

[@KGBeast.]

@@ChristianFrates1997 Yeah I lost all respect for Sabat and his stupid misbehavior

[@mrfacestab5758]

No. Dragon Ball: Evolution is a masterpiece. Best way to torture Dragon Mid Balls L fandom who make fun of cancer survivors. 😂😈

[@bobgunter9608]

Ernie Hudson playing Pokémon with his kid in that short little segment on the Pokémon thing is way more interesting than anything in this movie

[@wstine79]

I remember seeing this on DVD from Redbox. Chow Yun-fat as Master Roshi was the best part of this movie. Future Trunks needs to slice this movie with his sword.

[@ChristianFrates1997]

At least the PSP game is little more faithful to the manga.

[@Alucard0715]

Cell needs to suicide it.

[@xgray2012]

I should also mention that in the manga and in the anime, Son Goku had a monkey's tail as a child when his grandfather found him in his escape pod since he was part of the Saiyan race. And in the source material, it wasn't a solar eclipse that allowed Goku to turn into the great ape, it was a full moon that began the transformation sequence and the only way to turn Goku back into a human, was to cut off his tail

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

turn him back BEFORE the moon sank again behind the horizon you mean ;) After King Kong escapades like rampaging through whole countries.

[@cesarramirez7194]

Don't forget that Master Roshi under the guise of Jackie Chun destroyed the moon to turn Goku back to normal during the 21 WT and Piccolo destroyed the moon to prevent Nappa and Vegeta from using the moon to turn into great apes until Vegeta created that artificial moon.

[@Phoenix_-vh3fs]

yeah thats my biggest issue this movie, they didn't stick with the source material.

[@azimiza1210]

And goku (his pre-awesome hero days) was never a serious kid/teen around his master/friends. He grew up being raised by an old man, never went to school and spent his time practicing martial art. He didn’t knew much about the outside world hence making him socially awkward in a funny way. While in the live action, he was portrayed as mediocre teen who wear jacket to school with the most mediocre hairstyle.

[@RedDragonM1]

I told Vic Migngnoa about this movie...he couldn't believe what he was hearing! "Wait..Krillian's not in it?" "Who's playing Master Roshi?" "HIGH SCHOOL..." His eyes kept getting wider and wider...and he leaned in and said to me "Are...are they TRYING to piss off the fans??? Are you serious?"

[@angelinacamacho8575]

Sir they didn't try they did....

[@RedDragonM1]

@@angelinacamacho8575 Yup. And Vic saw the movie! I warned him...and he said "IT was the WORST thing I've seen in my life....makes Transformers look like sound of music..."

[@angelinacamacho8575]

@@RedDragonM1 omg lol

[@youtubedj9298]

Lol, you told him? You don't think he heard about it before you?

[@RedDragonM1]

@@youtubedj9298 HE HAD NO IDEA!

[@hhairball9]

I remember going to Blockbuster to rent it for my friend who was visiting from Wales. He'd not seen it. The clerk took the box, did a double take and looked at me with concern and sadness. "Have you seen it yet?" I laughed and said, " Yes, I know, it's the worst movie I've ever seen, but my friend hasn't. I've already warned him!"

[@teddyfurstman1997]

Truly an insult to both the legendary Dragon Ball and DBZ franchises.

[@blackhole495]

There isn't a word to describe this movie. I remember watching this & afterwards left me scratching my head in rage & bewilderment.

[@ZonnexNecton]

It’s beyond awful. Most money goes towards Chow Yun Fat, first class seats for the writer/producer/and director, drugs, prostitution, more drugs, ransom money from a kidnapped crew, casket for the dead crew, more drugs, and few left for the cast. The rest like the abandon Jean factory to film the 99% scenes was free.

[@SuperSaiyanGuyver]

Goku being in an American High School has led me to win many arguments with my wife when she gets angry about the things the Lord of The Rings movies didn't have that was in the books. No Krillin is telling. Look at the live-action American Guyver movies. They left out Tetsuro. It should be a rule: Do NOT remove the main character's best friend. They are there for reasons. And why didn't they make Ernie Hudson's character Chaiotzu? Turn into the skid. Get that so wrong its just funny. Should be noted: Justin Chatwin's character in Shameless has an alias that is revealed much later in that series. The Kakarot jokes write themselves.

[@CaptainCat101]

It doesn't even work as a stand alone movie

[@ChristianFrates1997]

It’s just really bad fanfiction.

[@Windwalker88]

I rather fight 3 polar bears then watch this movie again

[@grapeshot]

One of the most horrible movies I've ever seen. Instead of waterboarding somebody just show them this movie and they'll tell you every secret they know.

[@wstine79]

That's just cruel. Watching this would suck out the soul of the viewer faster than Cell could.

[@Phoenix_-vh3fs]

I agree, i would rather watch paint dry than to see this horrid waste of a movie

[@mania4270]

I love this movie. I hate that db fans are that obsessed with the source material that anything that offers changes gets trashed. They hate the English dub because a few lines are changed. DB fans suck more than this movie will ever

[@grapeshot]

@@mania4270 well I can't speak for everybody to me it's just a terrible movie to me. I wouldn't call myself a Dragon Ball Z fan. I did like Tree of Might.

[@livingabstraction2206]

Is this an awful movie? Absolutely. But is this movie just so incompetent an adaptation that it's almost impossible to take it seriously as an adaptation and just appreciate it as a Goofy action movie? Absolutely. And it gave us the Dragonball Super series so like all good you know.

[@Kaylor_Ryan]

This movie is awful and painful to watch

[@JAM92]

It's like American studio executives hate the idea of American children legitimately experiencing media produced by places like Japan! You can bet all the Jelly doughnuts in the world It's because they're worried that some kids might see the value that other cultures could have on them. But they want kids to just think about America and how great it is as much as possible!

[@johnnyd3158]

For better or worse, this film was at least responsible for revitalizing the Dragon Ball franchise with Dragon Ball Super.

[@xgray2012]

I agree.

[@kyliethelittlespider-mangirl94]

Agreed!

[@pheunithpsychic-watertype9881]

Toriyama: they're ruining this franchise' integrit. And I care. What is wrong with me?

[@jtgd]

Given the year, I’m surprised he wasn’t called “Gayku”

[@NaturallyMe2011]

I remember seeing this, and then seeing The Matrix Revolutions. The fight between Smith and Neo is what the fight between Goku and Piccolo should have been.

[@1997residente]

Should be a mix of Shang Chi and Man of steel

[@Sandlot1992]

Thanks for my request Dude!

[@JeonardShadby505]

You're welcome man, I had an easier time of making it than I initially thought as a non-fan. Glad I fulfilled the assignment!

[@T0asty-]

What movie? I don't see a movie.

[@nuberiffic]

That Yamcha dubbing skit felt like something straight out of Xavier: Renegade Angel

[@ScooterinAB]

The only good thing about good about movies like this and the history as offensive anime dubs is that the Japanese copyright owners finally decided that the rest of the world exists and that only they should be involved in sharing their properties with the world.

[@oscarf5433]

Giving us a white Goku, from that point o was certain that the movie would flop big time .

[@Wickedweeknd21]

Your videos are amazing Jesse! Very entertaining and i always look forward to them.

[@lp0pic]

This

[@tecpaocelotl]

I think they should have started with Dragon Ball so the child actor could grow into the part, kind of like Harry Potter.

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

I'd probably cast a 10 year old to play 12 year old Goku.

[@marshallhuffer4713]

5:41 - Ron Perlman was originally offered to play Piccolo but turned it down to work on Hellboy II: The Golden Army.

[@inaaronshead7331]

Just Awful

[@Aragorn7884]

DOA or Tekken next? 🤔😅

[@mania4270]

I honestly like this movie. It reminded me of those cheesy, goofy kung fu movies like the forbidden kingdom. I know its not faithful to the source material but i dont care, i had fun.

[@SuperSaiyanGuyver]

Hey even as a FAN of the source material it can be goofy fun. I'll give you this: it's better (and more faithful to the material) than at least Batman+Robin and the American remakes of Fist of the North Star or Guyver. I love ALL the properties involved and frankly Evolution here has a worse rep than it really deserves.

[@corinthian123]

Same for sheer comedic relief; I’d give it about 8 stars.

[@mania4270]

​@@SuperSaiyanGuyveryeah at least evolution was decent and competent. The main problem fans have is that it's not faithful but yeah that makes sense, the story of dragon ball spans many yrs and you'd have to change some things to make it work as a film. I'm not saying the movie was perfect but at least they made master roshi a perverted martial arts master, piccolo performance was good, and the story loosely followed the manga. Goku and Bulma meet, they have an altercation, Goku doesn't wanna give up his 4 star ball because it's sentimental and agrees to help Bulma find the rest. But again, when I was a kid I loved mortal Kombat and super Mario bros movie so the cheesiness feels nostalgic for me

[@wstine79]

"What's Jesse Shade's Awfully Good Power Level?" Vegeta: "IT'S OVER 9000!"

[@xgray2012]

*"WHAT 9000?! THERE'S NO WAY THAT COULD BE RIGHT!! IT CAN'T!!!"*

[@Casey3-P-O]

My favorite part of the Dragon Ball movie is when Trey Parker gets hit by eggs. Good times.

[@xgray2012]

@3:29-3:41 *OUCH!!!* I felt like something pointy just plunged itself into my heart knowing that this man who is familiar by many for doing two franchises that starred Keanu Reeves actually did this unholy piece of shit if a movie.

[@LeonardoKlotz]

You know, a mean-spirited story is the result of lazy writing

[@ChristianFrates1997]

In the words of Lobo: This is crap!

[@cyrusmorris9599]

This movie is the perfect example of a soulless cash grab, A lot like men in black 2

[@RIGHTEOUS_RAGE]

You would think with current CGI, a producer would be making millions of of a follow up that actually smashes.

[@lareolanKFP]

That would require brains. Hollywood has run out of those, that's why they've been churning out nothing but shitty sequels and outright garbage masquerading as movies.

[@G-Thang26]

I swear the 2:33 mark of the 2 dudes going Super Sayai got me at work crying laughing LMAO!!!!!!! 😂😂😂😭

[@alienboy1322]

You know what's sad? This film can be the textbook example of why Hollywood shouldn't touch animes and mangas. I'm so glad that I never saw this film. I only know it by its notorious reputation. Dragon Ball fans, you and the series deserves better.

[@jelliott12b]

Damn. Just spoiled the d&D movie like that. No warning 😅😭

[@mechwarrior-oz7pn]

The studio should have embraced producer Stephen Chow’s casting and creative input on the movie. His Hong Kong movie Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons which came out 4 years later embraced the quirkiness and spirit of the anime more than that Americanized abomination. Since he was originally approached to direct the movie, but lost creative control, his adaptation of the Monkey King story really felt like a direct jab at US studios and especially how 20th Century Fox sidelined him.

[@KermitTFYT]

If I was trunks I would have saved this timeline instead of his own to save us from this movie ever being made.

[@Nhawk316]

Dear God, the horror,the ptsd!

[@LoneCanadianPoet]

"Uwe Boll: Evolution" is what this movie really is.😆

[@jtgd]

7:51 lmfao I swear this video is funnier than the entire movie’s quips

[@ScooterinAB]

And better written.

[@wstine79]

I hope the "Oogie Loves" movie is on a future Patreon pole.

[@motherplayer]

This film was the result of Toriyama coming back to the franchise since the film was that bad, and that Piccolo actor James Masters would come back to DB Super to play Zamasu, to MUCH better effect.

[@ChristianFrates1997]

That was a smart decision of him.

[@motherplayer]

@@ChristianFrates1997 Depends on who you ask. No question it's been better than this film, but you also have to accept anything can change at anytime with Toriyama writing since he is well known to not plan things out much. Worked better in DB, but much more scattershot now.

[@neonicon8500]

Only good part about this movie is looking at Chi Chi

[@RoverIAC]

Most people use their key to open their locker.

[@cyrusmorris9599]

He looks like he’s constantly trying to hold back a mega deuce

[@ToylandChairman666]

A serious guilty pleasure of mine. I heard about the film going into production, then I completely forgot about it until I found the DVD for sale at a video store. I bought it, only vaguely familiar with the DRAGONBALL anime in my youth. I enjoyed it, and it even got me into watching the anime again. The anime is better of course, but I still like the film.

[@blackRXrider]

Live action Knights of the Zodiac is better.

[@3tacoman]

I remember being so excited for this , especially with Emmy Rossum and Jamie Chung being in it . Then we got maybe the worst movie ever made 0/10 and just disrespectful to the OG manga and anime

[@TheKeyser94]

Now we have something equally worst, Knight of the Zodiac, that fans already comparing the movie to Evolution.

[@oscarf5433]

Awful at so many levels I don't even know where to start

[@coreygimps]

The editing on this is so great. Hilarious

[@ghostprince4284]

The Concept Itself Was Unique And Had The Potential To Be Good Film Had The Creators Left It In The Oven It A Little Bit Longer But It Was A Half Baked Film With Half Baked Development With Half Baked Creativity Which Turned Out To Be Bad Souffle Of A Movie.

[@JaymesMedia]

We don’t speak about this movie for a reason. You should go Ghost In The Shell next

[@brianoconnell6459]

I'd have to say the live action adaptation of DBZ is about as bad for manga/anime as The Super Mario Bros is for video games.

[@MrJaaaaaa97]

God that movie is awful, its existence alone is a sin for humanity

[@paulieswalnut]

As a huge Buffy fan I wonder if this is an eternal torment James Marsters' Spike pays for his murderous ways in that series.

[@megatardx]

6:53 the slow mo yell is hilarious

[@millicentthecat]

Let's not forget goku became an air bender for some reason

[@mysteriousstars122]

*This movie was awful but unforgivable 😂*

[@davidmassey5549]

First stop calling this a DB movie Second This isn't entertainment this is torture

[@Silver-rx1mh]

All I kept thinking was what a waste of James Marsters.........:(

[@jtgd]

They laugh because they’re prepping for Vegeta’s laughing at people’s face

[@John-wn4ow]

RIP Akira Toriyama.We all miss you and your master work will be cherished forever.This movie from 2009 at least is forgotten.

[@jtgd]

Release the Snyder DBZ!

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

It MUST'VE bombed; I don't recall ever even seeing a trailer. (Also, kudos on the proper pronunciation of "manga". It's the first time on KZbin I've heard it right. =] ) Now, can you do it's Awfully-Good sister-film 'The Legend of Chun Li'? =D

[@christophergray7982]

Kung fu hustle is a legendary film. This movie was unbelievably horrible.

[@pyrok007]

American werewolf in Paris was at least funny

[@pompeiicruz6927]

I laughed so hard during the dentist bit lmaoo

[@worldaccumelites848]

THIS MOVIE IS HORRENDOUS. burn it!! burn it to the ground.

[@mitijr2031]

Hurts that Stephen Chow's name is attached to this travesty.

[@frankdux5785]

Love ur videos for sure but the audio mix almost killed me! So quiet when ur talking so i have to jack up volume, ur clips are way louder, and when i got a text message in my car my heart nearly blew the fuck up.

[@nathanhaug7640]

I enjoy your content however, some equalization in audio would be awesome! Keep it up

[@veteranredbeard6222]

When she says "DBE...catchy name" i died inside. Literally a crappy 4th wall breaking reference to the movie title.

[@abdelali9279]

For some reason I thought Aaron Paul played Goku, can you imagine that? "Goku, Goku, we need to find the Dragon Balls Goku, before that Gus Daimaku finds them!"

[@fluffylilcookie7916]

I saw this in theaters, and have it on DVD! It's cringe af, but has many enjoyable points for me 😊 Alzo, didn't realize James Marsters dubs DBZ! I loved Zabuza!

[@entertainmentpowerfuchs5744]

Please next Episode The Last Airbander.

[@redxreview]

Chow Yun-fat did this and Bulletproof Monk- basically same movie / I hope he was paid a lot for his dignity

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

At least Grandpa Gohan does not say "with great power comes great responsibility". That alone is by now an immediate movie downgrade by at least 5 of 10 points.

[@Luciphell]

Bulma's name is a pun on "Bloomers", which is underwear in Japan. Her father's first name isn't Brief. Their family name is Briefs, it's another pun on underwear. Which is why she and Vegeta name their children "Trunks" and "Bra".

[@dimosguy1987]

it's not awfully good like The last Airbender movie. It's just bad. The Room is Peak cinema of it's so bad that it's good

[@BigEOT3]

It’s okay Jesse, now King of Fighters you should do that crap. That’s an insult to SNK and fighting game fans. And even makes this look like Alita Battle Angel by comparison. Though prepared to see Deadpool 2 director David Leitch play the beloved Terry Bogard if you ever tackle that.

[@mesger_makes_and_grows3826]

Wish there was warnings of guardians and dungeons spoilers...

[@DamanKingBear]

Holy 13 yrs on and only found out now that theres an end credit scene

[@jtgd]

12:51 that face is probably the real reaction

[@user-wh3up6tb9r]

The Karate Kid Trying to make a fantasy and failing? I used to look forward to reading the original story every week when I was a kid! I have never seen this movie and I don't think I will in the future!

[@abdelali9279]

2:39 with these videos there's always a skit or joke that makes me like in the first minutes, these videos are that good!

[@jamesbounds]

Happy that you covered this one.

[@danielcontreras561]

Good job on the video!!

[@exileayahika]

Now Disney owns the rights to this... "intellectual property". They almost tried to do a live action Sailor Moon movie with Geena Davis attached as Queen Beryl. We were spared, sorry DB fans.

[@billsquire2010]

Oh my God. I needed to find this today so badly. Thank you sir!

[@supersaiyanjack9233]

What were they thinking mai works with emperor pilaf not piccolo

[@RoverIAC]

As a DBZ fan I found this film to be Lame & Disappointing.

[@tednygma7304]

Dunno... As a non dragon ball watcher i have a feeling I'm going to love it

[@ThatBoyRashaad]

Guys whats worse? Dragon Ball Evolution or The Last Airbender?