Where did DBE fail, where the Autobots and Joes succeeded?

[MCDaveG]

If you ask me, Goku being so out-of-character is THE one big flaw that, if fixed, would have at least rendered the film "acceptable."

And more martial arts god damn it...... And if there were fight, it lasted for 30 seconds and choreograph was probably cripled cretin.

[Kaboom]

Yeah. Most of the fights that were there were at least half-decent. Goku vs Sgt. Carey's Lonely Hearts Club gang, for example, and I really did like Goku vs Roshi, too.

But for a series that's supposed to be all about the martial arts, it was drastically underwhelming.

[Ultimate_DB_Fan]

Regarding the supposed "sequel" to DBE, it ain't happening. The movie was just too much of a bomb/departure to warrant one, and I even regret seeing the film back when it came out. I remember going in the theater and only seeing like, 6 or 7 people in total... I sat there trying my best to like it, and did for awhile, but after Sabat gave his thoughts on the film, as well as the the guy who does Broli's dub-voice, I was then convinced that I needed to reconfigure my thinking.
In the end, it's truly, truly sad that we got what we got. This was pretty much the one and ONLY chance at a DB film to hit it big, but that was not to be the case.
The movie was supposed to be made YEARS ago, like in 2000 or something. The perfect actor to have played Goku by that point would've been Robin Shou, best known for his role as Liu Kang in the original 1995 Mortal Kombat film.

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

Honestly, I think one of the bigger reasons most people enjoyed Transformers and GI Joe is because most viewers were unfamiliar with any of the original stories and only remember the toy-line as kids. Group that with the fact that both movies were breath taking in terms of visual effects, well you are going to make a lot of people happy. Dragonball had that potential, but failed to deliver in look. It should be noted also that while the series is 20 years old like the other two series mentioned, Dragonball is still only 10 years old in America and the story is still freshly embedded into peoples minds. If Dragonball looked prettier and at least tried to stick to the story(unlike Transformers or GI Joe there is only ONE story) It would have done so much better, even with the same cast. But still, to this day I wounder, did kids like it? See, If kids liked the movie then to me DBE did its job. Now this movie will act as a gateway for fans of a later time period, much like Batman Forever and Batman and Robin did for me(nipple suit!).


On another note, someone had mentioned a few pages back that Dark Knight was a brilliant adaptation. For the record, Dark Knight the movie and Dark Knight the comic have nothing in common in terms of story(outside of involving Batman). The Story was completely Nolan's and to be honest I like the movie way more than I like Miller's comic.

The perfect actor to have played Goku by that point would've been Robin Shou, best known for his role in the original 1995 Mortal Kombat film.

No thanks. The supposed fan list of what if actors for the movie was "amusing" to say the least but ultimately not who I would like to see. Robin is an excellent martial artist but he really lacks the light hearted side of Goku in both looks and language. I'm sure I'm the minority with my pick but I think Johnny Yong Bosch would be the best Goku. He has the background in both acting and martial arts that would at least give him the edge over anyone else(that I can think of) at the moment. Also, especially because he's getting older Jackie Chan is my dream Roshi(but who didn't see that coming).

[Kaboom]

I'm sure I'm the minority with my pick but I think Johnny Yong Bosch would be the best Goku. He has the background in both acting and martial arts that would at least give him the edge over anyone else(that I can think of) at the moment.

Goku played by an ex-Power Ranger?

I could dig that.

[MCDaveG]

''On another note, someone had mentioned a few pages back that Dark Knight was a brilliant adaptation. For the record, Dark Knight the movie and Dark Knight the comic have nothing in common in terms of story(outside of involving Batman).''

I mean that it was great Batman story, because Batman is quite more free to do than other movies, I read about 35 Batman stories in comic books, that's not even 15% of that huge amount of Batman's releases over those 60 years.

But Dragon Ball is one narrow storyline from beginning to end. Making some big changes and derailing that much from original adaptation is great hazard and DBE as standalone movie was pretty bad with story and characters.

Tim Burton's Batman for example..... Dark, noir and neo-gothic movie. That was great Batman atmosphere based on 80's Batman comic books and noir mob oriented movies of art deco 50's era....

Christopher Nolan tried to implement Batman more to the real world and was inspired by various Batman stories and in result you got one picture and one new story in Batman Universe in two great movies....

What Joel Schumacher did?? Gayparade in colorful costumes..... There were too much colours, which are acceptable in Spiderman but not in Batman. Instead of Robin, boy who is traumatized by death of his parents and is a lot simmilar in fate to Bruce Wayne, you got some some dumb teenager (Robin returned as Nightwing in this age and is like younger version of Wayne, but he's not billionaire), who saw his parents killed before his eyes, but cares more about girls and everything is okay, my parents died so what, but you will pay Two-face, but now I will ride some fancy cars.So you can assume that this Robin is some retard to the original one. Believe it or not, Batman Forever is sequel to Tim Burton's movies, still looking like from some different dimension and also Schumacher ignored that Harvey Dent was black guy in the first movie, so he don't wanted to be racist or what??? Or there were two Harvey Dents on the same posts and lot more things to review......)

I feel pitty for Tommy Lee Jones in this movie, like some people here feel like that for Masters.

DBE is like Schumacher's Batman but have a pretty weak (almost nothing) story, bad acting (Masters was best actor in this movie in opposition to pretty weak main character) and cheap and bad looking tricks...

If you look on what Lucas and his team did with plates from eggs and plastic and it looks awesome even in new remastered edition and comparing it to some nowadays movies, where almost everything is CGI and you have that much freedom and power to apply your imagination and you will end with some colored water flow from hands and shots of desert accompanied by some weird CGI dragon......

[Super Sonic]

What Joel Schumacher did?? Gayparade in colorful costumes..... There were too much colours, which are acceptable in Spiderman but not in Batman. Instead of Robin, boy who is traumatized by death of his parents and is a lot simmilar in fate to Bruce Wayne, you got some some dumb teenager (Robin returned as Nightwing in this age and is like younger version of Wayne, but he's not billionaire), who saw his parents killed before his eyes, but cares more about girls and everything is okay, my parents died so what, but you will pay Two-face, but now I will ride some fancy cars.So you can assume that this Robin is some retard to the original one. Believe it or not, Batman Forever is sequel to Tim Burton's movies, still looking like from some different dimension and also Schumacher ignored that Harvey Dent was black guy in the first movie, so he don't wanted to be racist or what??? Or there were two Harvey Dents on the same posts and lot more things to review......)

I feel pitty for Tommy Lee Jones in this movie, like some people here feel like that for Masters.

Reason for the colors was partially due to the studio. WB wanted the Schumacher movies to be lighter than the Burton movies, because they thought they'd get more money if not so dark. And you got to admit it worked as Batman Forever did better at the box office than Batman Returns. Heck, Bob Kane himself called Kilmer the best Batman. And the movie was all about the Riddler anyway.

I'm sure I'm the minority with my pick but I think Johnny Yong Bosch would be the best Goku. He has the background in both acting and martial arts that would at least give him the edge over anyone else(that I can think of) at the moment.

I wanted that too.

[Hellspawn28]

DBE would have also been better if they had a better actor for Goku. Justin Chatwin was just awful, and James Masters as Piccolo was pretty bad too. He makes John Leguizamo as Clown/The Violator from the Spawn live action movie look like a oscar winng actor.

[Kendamu]

I'm sure I'm the minority with my pick but I think Johnny Yong Bosch would be the best Goku. He has the background in both acting and martial arts that would at least give him the edge over anyone else(that I can think of) at the moment.

Goku played by an ex-Power Ranger?

I could dig that.

If we're gonna use ex-Rangers as Dragonball characters, I think Jan from Gekiranger would be the best. Jan is the main character (Red Ranger), he's a super strong martial artist, he was raised mostly alone in the wilderness, and he's very happy-go-lucky. The guy who played Jan did a pretty good job considering the show he was working on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXtOusUF030

[Captain-Sora]

I'm sure I'm the minority with my pick but I think Johnny Yong Bosch would be the best Goku. He has the background in both acting and martial arts that would at least give him the edge over anyone else(that I can think of) at the moment.

Goku played by an ex-Power Ranger?

I could dig that.

If we're gonna use ex-Rangers as Dragonball characters, I think Jan from Gekiranger would be the best. Jan is the main character (Red Ranger), he's a super strong martial artist, he was raised mostly alone in the wilderness, and he's very happy-go-lucky. The guy who played Jan did a pretty good job considering the show he was working on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXtOusUF030

I really doubt he'd be a good choice, I mean what Super Sentai actor can be considered an actual good actor and not just a cringe worthy "act like an anime character" type of guy/girl? There's a thin line between being a convincing, excellent actor and just making the viewers feel embarrassed and dumb while watching someone act as stupid and cheesy as that.

I can totally see JYB playing him well though. Let's face it, it'd be impossible to act exactly like Goku without losing a shread of dignity by acting like a character who even the directed age group would blush at the sight of watching, but, I can totally see JYB at least pulling off that total nice, innocent guy routine well without being a total stiff like Chatwin did nor looking like a total moron on-screen acting ridiculously hyper.

[samuraigundam]

I really doubt he'd be a good choice, I mean what Super Sentai actor can be considered an actual good actor and not just a cringe worthy "act like an anime character" type of guy/girl? There's a thin line between being a convincing, excellent actor and just making the viewers feel embarrassed and dumb while watching someone act as stupid and cheesy as that.

I can totally see JYB playing him well though. Let's face it, it'd be impossible to act exactly like Goku without losing a shread of dignity by acting like a character who even the directed age group would blush at the sight of watching, but, I can totally see JYB at least pulling off that total nice, innocent guy routine well without being a total stiff like Chatwin did nor looking like a total moron on-screen acting ridiculously hyper.

Arent you being a bit contradictory?

On one hand, you say that acting like an anime character in a live action movie would be humiliating. On the other hand, you state that it would be impossible to portray Goku without acting as such.

Personally, I would love to see a live action movie based on an over - the - top anime like Bleach, where everyone is acting as exagerative as there anime counterparts - big spikey hair and all! Thats how live action adaptations of anime and manga are done in Japan and other Asian countries - and it works! After all, why shy away from what creations like DB are? Why not go full throttle, and present something completely unique to the American audience?

To be honest, I am surprised producer Chow didnt give DBE the kinetic greatness of the films he stared in, such as Kung Fu Hustle. Although, in my mind, I had always pictured a DB live action adaptation to start from the very begining, and be treated like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, since I consider DB to be almost Tolkien - esque, in that it creates a fully realised world, that abides by its own rules.

If Dragon Ball ever gets a live action reboot, I hope Toriyama asserts some sort of creative control over the script and production.

[Hellspawn28]

I believe Fox only made DBE since their rights where about to come to a end IIRC?

[Rocketman]

If Dragon Ball ever gets a live action reboot, I hope Toriyama asserts some sort of creative control over the script and production.

The man did Dragonball for a solid decade, largely against his will. He could not care less.

[Kendamu]

If we're gonna use ex-Rangers as Dragonball characters, I think Jan from Gekiranger would be the best. Jan is the main character (Red Ranger), he's a super strong martial artist, he was raised mostly alone in the wilderness, and he's very happy-go-lucky. The guy who played Jan did a pretty good job considering the show he was working on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXtOusUF030

I really doubt he'd be a good choice, I mean what Super Sentai actor can be considered an actual good actor and not just a cringe worthy "act like an anime character" type of guy/girl?

Out of over ten seasons, how many Power Rangers went on to be famous actors and actresses elsewhere in the longterm?

There's a thin line between being a convincing, excellent actor and just making the viewers feel embarrassed and dumb while watching someone act as stupid and cheesy as that.

I'm not saying Goku is Jan, but a guy with experience playing someone like Jan shouldn't find it too difficult to fill Goku's shoes. I mean, Dragonball isn't exactly cheese-free.

I can totally see JYB playing him well though. Let's face it, it'd be impossible to act exactly like Goku without losing a shread of dignity by acting like a character who even the directed age group would blush at the sight of watching, but, I can totally see JYB at least pulling off that total nice, innocent guy routine well without being a total stiff like Chatwin did nor looking like a total moron on-screen acting ridiculously hyper.

If you can give JYB credit after Power Rangers, why not give Jan's actor some credit, too? It's not like Adam and Vash were extremely similar characters but JYB pulled them off rather well. I'm not saying that JYB couldn't play Goku, but I find it easier to picture Jan's actor as Goku because I've seen more wide-eyed cheerfulness out of him than I ever have out of JYB (mostly due to the differences between Jan's and Adam's characters).

Then again, my ideal Dragonball movie would have about as much humor and cheese a combination of the JSAT Special, an ocean of Kraft commercials, and the Speed Racer movie (although I'd have less CG backgrounds and more real sets when possible).

[Captain-Sora]

I really doubt he'd be a good choice, I mean what Super Sentai actor can be considered an actual good actor and not just a cringe worthy "act like an anime character" type of guy/girl? There's a thin line between being a convincing, excellent actor and just making the viewers feel embarrassed and dumb while watching someone act as stupid and cheesy as that.

I can totally see JYB playing him well though. Let's face it, it'd be impossible to act exactly like Goku without losing a shread of dignity by acting like a character who even the directed age group would blush at the sight of watching, but, I can totally see JYB at least pulling off that total nice, innocent guy routine well without being a total stiff like Chatwin did nor looking like a total moron on-screen acting ridiculously hyper.

Arent you being a bit contradictory?

On one hand, you say that acting like an anime character in a live action movie would be humiliating. On the other hand, you state that it would be impossible to portray Goku without acting as such.

That's not exactly contradictory as I never insinuated that "Goku should act exactly as he was in the original manga/anime because it'd be the only way the film could work", not at all, but, that doesn't mean he has to act completely out of character like they did in DBE where he's a total stiff who never smiled. In that film, he was just an average teen who was very insecure about how others treated him and hated being an outcast.

With proper direction, someone like JYB could easily pass off a convincing act of being the nice and innocent character that Goku is as well as showing a side of selfishness because all he wants is to fight stronger opponents and doesn't give a care in the world about how he presents himself nor would he have to be over-the-top and silly to do it. Considering these live-action film ideas and DBE itself are adaptations, it's not like whoever portrays Goku is going to be the ideal anime hero we all know and love, but you can still pass off with an acceptable direction and not have it be a complete disaster at the same time which DBE sadly failed to do.

In that video of that Super Sentai show, that's not just over-the-top acting, that's just terrible acting overall. I didn't see any hint of a wild boy in that character, I just saw a guy acting like a buffoon.

If you can give JYB credit after Power Rangers, why not give Jan's actor some credit, too?

Well I could, but with the video you offered as an example for this actor to be like Goku, I just made a judgement call over what was given. If he has gotten better at acting and is more convincing then great.

[Saimaroimaru]

Not sure if this has been pointed out, but the recently released movie "Avatar" isn't based off of the American Cartoon.

I think DBE failed because it was an extremely poor movie with terrible marketing to boot. Just as a bunch of others said.

It didn't deserve success. The rest of the movies...well, I haven't seen GI Joe or TF2. Transformers 1 succeeded at being entertaining.

There is a movie coming out based off the amerime, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Airbender

[Kendamu]

In that video of that Super Sentai show, that's not just over-the-top acting, that's just terrible acting overall. I didn't see any hint of a wild boy in that character, I just saw a guy acting like a buffoon.

But... Goku was a bit of an buffoon at the beginning of Dragonball...

If you're going to dismiss a guy based on the first few minutes of his first episode of a Super Sentai, you might as well dismiss JYB for his first MMPR footage.

[Captain-Sora]

In that video of that Super Sentai show, that's not just over-the-top acting, that's just terrible acting overall. I didn't see any hint of a wild boy in that character, I just saw a guy acting like a buffoon.

But... Goku was a bit of an buffoon at the beginning of Dragonball...

If you're going to dismiss a guy based on the first few minutes of his first episode of a Super Sentai, you might as well dismiss JYB for his first MMPR footage.

I probably would if I looked back on it. But I'm used to what he has become now, regarding this super sentai guy, you just gave an example and I gave my two cents.

I guess in my mind I always just simply wanted a well done DB film without being ridiculously campy, nothing wrong with a little cheese factor left in though, the Spider-Man film franchise pulled that off nicely(well, the first two did anyway).

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

Sadly I don't think there will ever be a well put together Dragonball movie unless Hollywood or a new Director decides to take the series more seriously. A lot of the reasons why These comic book movie adaptations are done well(at least to the point of watchable) is because the staff of the movie had a lot of respect for the original work and characters. The best example of this would be Watchmen, Zack Snyder. He had a lot of love for Watchmen and his fanboy side just busted out when he took on the project. Dragonball, was handled with a lot less respect(and I'm starting to think it was because the franchise came from overseas) and was treated as nothing more than a cheap cash in. Basically, if you want a good Dragonball movie, you need someone like Snyder. You need a fan of the series, who knows it well and would use all his resources to make the best movie possible. Hey Mike, want to make a movie?

[Kaboom]

What needs to happen is we all need to pool together cash to send one of us to film school, so that individual eventually becomes a brilliant and renowned director who can make it happen.

I volunteer myself. PM me and I'll give you my mailing address so you can start sending the checks.