Dragonball Movie Update! What is UP with this?

Kid Trunks · Post by **Kid Trunks** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:13 pm

Is anyone Asian in Dragonball? The characters don't look Asian. And theres no difference between races, other than the occasional black guy.

Post by **Herms** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:19 pm

Various characters have Asian (and pseudo-Asian) names, lots of characters wear Asian clothes, and many of the locations have an Asian feel to them, especially early on (Toriyama has said that he wanted to make the series more Asian, in contrast to Dr. Slump's Western feel). But everyone is drawn in Toriyama stlye, so they don't look too Asian, but then they don't look too much like any other race either.

Chrono Trigger · Post by **Chrono Trigger** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:26 pm

Kid Trunks said : Is anyone Asian in Dragonball? The characters don't look Asian. And theres no difference between races, other than the occasional black guy.

Apparently by some peoples logic "It was made in Japan by a Japanese man so therefore Son Goku as well as the entire cast should have been Asian." Other people think "Oh well Dragon Ball is based on Journey to the West which is a chinese story so the Toriyama's characters are meant to be Asian anyway."

Kid Trunks · Post by **Kid Trunks** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:27 pm

You don't think they look white? They do to me at least.

Post by **Herms** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:36 pm

I think they're way too stylized to look much like any race. Which is why I'm not all too big on the very idea of a live-action movie. Some people don't like the idea of Goku being white or Asian, but for me the idea of a live-action Goku itself seems wrong. Which isn't to say that I think this movie will necessarily be bad or anything, just that I personally would have liked it much more if we got a string of high budget animated movies that retell the story rather than live-action movies.

Kid Trunks · Post by **Kid Trunks** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:41 pm

I think we all want that.

Daburcor · Post by **Daburcor** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:56 pm

SSj Kaboom wrote:Why don't you guys just make your own movie then, if you think you know how to do it so much better than the professionals?

The fact that they are professionals means absolutely nothing.

Here are some other movies made by 'pros': http://www.imdb.com/chart/bottom

Chrono Trigger · Post by **Chrono Trigger** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:02 pm

They still have more knowledge about making movies than anyone here so it absolutely means something.

SonEric84 · Post by **SonEric84** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:19 pm

Herms wrote:I think they're way too stylized to look much like any race. Which is why I'm not all too big on the very idea of a live-action movie. Some people don't like the idea of Goku being white or Asian, but for me the idea of a live-action Goku itself seems wrong. Which isn't to say that I think this movie will necessarily be bad or anything, just that I personally would have liked it much more if we got a string of high budget animated movies that retell the story rather than live-action movies.

That's exactly how I feel about this topic.

dragondyle · Post by **dragondyle** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:28 pm

Wow! Looks like they are making a lot of books for this movie.

Dragonball The Movie Junior Novel
Dragonball The Movie Chapter Book, Volume 1: The Discovery
Dragonball The Movie Chapter Book, Volume 2: The Search
Dragonball The Movie Chapter Book, Volume 3: The Battle
Dragonball The Movie Sticker Book

I'm looking forward to the sticker book.

djkalteraphine · Post by **djkalteraphine** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:36 pm

dragondyle wrote:Wow! Looks like they are making a lot of books for this movie.

Dragonball The Movie Junior Novel
Dragonball The Movie Chapter Book, Volume 1: The Discovery
Dragonball The Movie Chapter Book, Volume 2: The Search
Dragonball The Movie Chapter Book, Volume 3: The Battle
Dragonball The Movie Sticker Book

I'm looking forward to the sticker book.

Absolutely.

SSj_Rambo · Post by **SSj_Rambo** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:10 pm

Wow, they're milking this for all it's worth.

Xyex · Post by **Xyex** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:10 pm

The reason they have set him up in high school is to have him appeal to a high school crowd nothing more.

Yeah... no. If it was done to appeal to the 'high school crowd' it'd take place entirely at the school, be R rated, full of nudity and swearing, and star more white leads.

djkalteraphine wrote:
Xyex wrote:
Why make him a High School student?
Convienience. They can set up a half dozen things in about 15 minutes with the school. Where as starting in the mountains would take about 40 minutes.
Lemme stop you there.

Dragon Ball: Path To Power, 11:10 into, Son Goku hops on Bulma's capsule bike, preparing to leave the mountains.

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (edited), 11:12 into, Son Goku boards Bulma's capsule jet with the intention of leaving the mountains.

I know live action and animated are different mediums, but uh, 40 minutes for something that historically has taken 11? Honestly, setting things up in the High School would take longer, because of all the side characters they're introducing.

You're forgetting, we're not dealing with a Japanese made movie. We're dealing with an American made movie. Conventions are somewhat different. Also, the side characters, aside from Carry, would be introudced after the other material, most likely. Also, Goku's strength display (especially confirmation that his strength is abnormal) would come long after that 11 minute mark you cited. Where as it'd be done and over in less than 10 in my outline.

I mean, if you follow something like the Path to Power formula and the first person Goku meets, aside from Bulma, is able to fight fairly evenly with him.... where exactly does this establish his strength is beyond the norm for Dragonworld? In fact, in Path to Power, they don't cover everything I've mentioned until around the 30 or so minute mark, I believe. I've never actually timed it so I could be off, but I know there's a lot of stuff between it. But that is when he's seen plowing through the RRA forces at Musscle Tower.

MyVisionity · Post by **MyVisionity** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:10 pm

Kendamu wrote:
Chrono Trigger wrote:Not that it changes anything but you guys make it seem like it's totally and utterly changing every single thing about the story. He still meets Bulma and goes looking for the 7 Dragon Balls which if I'm not mistaken happened in the source material. If changing at least ONE thing is going against the source material then I guess The Lord of the Rings movies were as equally crippled as this movie.
So what you're saying is that it would be okay if Batman became Batman because of a chemical accident that mutates a utility belt from his waist and his parents were still alive and well because otherwise he's still fighting crime.

For one, this movie is based on Dragon Ball, not Batman, whose story is iconic in America.

Another thing is that Batman's parents' murder is *the* primary event that has always defined him. Son Goku living alone in the mountains is not. It does define a lasting aspect of his personality, but it's not what drives him or completely explains his character.

And the Lord of the Rings is a novel, which you could expect a straightforward adaptation from, as opposed to a comic book or cartoon series, which are usually re-imagined.

Chrono Trigger · Post by **Chrono Trigger** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:17 pm

SSj_Rambo said: Wow, they're milking this for all it's worth.

Was this not expected !?

Adamant · Post by **Adamant** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:19 pm

Xyex wrote:I mean, if you follow something like the Path to Power formula and the first person Goku meets, aside from Bulma, is able to fight fairly evenly with him.... where exactly does this establish his strength is beyond the norm for Dragonworld? In fact, in Path to Power, they don't cover everything I've mentioned until around the 30 or so minute mark, I believe. I've never actually timed it so I could be off, but I know there's a lot of stuff between it. But that is when he's seen plowing through the RRA forces at Musscle Tower.

In the manga, it's not explained until chapter 5, more than a month into the series. Some things can honestly be taken for granted.

Post by **Herms** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:33 pm

Xyex wrote:You're forgetting, we're not dealing with a Japanese made movie. We're dealing with an American made movie. Conventions are somewhat different.

What conventions are you referring to? Both Japanese and American film studios make kid-targeted movies that take place in a high school setting, as well as ones that do not.

djkalteraphine · Post by **djkalteraphine** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:34 pm

Xyex wrote:
djkalteraphine wrote:
Xyex wrote: Convienience. They can set up a half dozen things in about 15 minutes with the school. Where as starting in the mountains would take about 40 minutes.
Lemme stop you there.

Dragon Ball: Path To Power, 11:10 into, Son Goku hops on Bulma's capsule bike, preparing to leave the mountains.

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (edited), 11:12 into, Son Goku boards Bulma's capsule jet with the intention of leaving the mountains.

I know live action and animated are different mediums, but uh, 40 minutes for something that historically has taken 11? Honestly, setting things up in the High School would take longer, because of all the side characters they're introducing.
You're forgetting, we're not dealing with a Japanese made movie. We're dealing with an American made movie. Conventions are somewhat different.

Yeah, American films like this are usually overblown and lack heart. Gee, silly me.

Xyex wrote:Also, the side characters, aside from Carry, would be introudced after the other material, most likely. Also, Goku's strength display (especially confirmation that his strength is abnormal) would come long after that 11 minute mark you cited. Where as it'd be done and over in less than 10 in my outline.

Dude, Goku gets hit with a FREAKING CAR, decides to LIFT IT OVER HIS HEAD AND THROW IT, just before being SHOT IN THE FACE, with which he stands and replies "What kinda magic is that?!". What the hell kind of display do you want?! Juggle the friggin' moon?!

dragondyle · Post by **dragondyle** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:08 pm

Release dates for Dragonball (from IMDB.com)

Japan - 27 March 2009
Belgium - 8 April 2009
Brazil - 8 April 2009
Egypt - 8 April 2009
France - 8 April 2009
Germany - 9 April 2009
Netherlands - 9 April 2009
Russia - 9 April 2009
Finland - 10 April 2009
Italy - 10 April 2009
UK - 10 April 2009
USA - 10 April 2009

I find it funny, dispite this film being made for America, almost everyone else is getting it before us. Japan's early release date was already expected.

SSJ2bardock · Post by **SSJ2bardock** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:08 pm

If those dates are accurate, why are they releasing it in Japan before America? I know Dragonball is Japanese, but this movie is made in America ( well, it's being filmed in Mexico but you get the point ) so why don't we get this first? This just doesn't make much sense to me.

Kanzenshuu

Dragonball Movie Update! What is UP with this?

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