Dragonball Z live action film Ideas.

[Kaboom]

But at the end, what kind of hint would/could you give to the non-fans watching that it's actually Goku in the space pod flying away from Namek and not some random bad guy, without them having to ask their friends who coerced them into watching?

Maybe something like that. But mainly because Piccolo, Vegeta, and Kuririn are definitely dead, and Goku definitely killed Freeza, and thus he was the only one left on the planet.

-_- Kaboom, why are you so awesome?

I really don't know. These things just happen.

[DaemonCorps]

Awesome breakdown of a DB trilogy, Kaboom .

As someone else mentioned, I agree that DB just seems so different from the sci-fi martial arts thing that's DBZ, that the only way I could really think of combining the two is having something like what Snail said about having the Budoukai get interrupted by Saiyan ships and then going on from there.

Kaboom, your little re-write of having the entire Earth get prepared for the Saiyans coming to invade is pretty interesting. I can see Bulma in that scene, passing out some kind of extra-strength guns to all the non-fighters in the crowd, made by her.

As I continued reading your little synopsis, I thought that having Krillin stay on Namek only to have him die by Freeza is kinda well... lame. I know that that's pretty much how the manga had it, but I was thinking of him being at least being a bit more helpful.

I was thinking of Krillin seeing Piccolo's regenerative powers in the first movie, and noticing that Freeza doesn't have such a power when he throws a Kienzan at him, only to have Freeza dodge it, with just his tail removed. After figuring that out, he tries to tell Goku as they (maybe Vegeta and Piccolo included, unless they've already been killed) continue to fight Freeza, but unlike the manga, nobody really has enough time between throwing and dodging punches to talk to anyone. The fact that Goku's not exactly the brightest light bulb out there also adds to the audience thinking "Augh, if only Goku was smart enough to figure it out on his own!"

It's not until Goku finally puts two and two together that he finally gets what Krillin was trying to tell him about Freeza. But it's right at that point that Freeza lifts Krillin into the air and explodes him. Like in the manga, this triggers Goku's SSJ transformation. A little re-write/sidenote I'd like to add here is that 1) a significant point is made preceding the SSJ transformation that it takes time to learn an actual technique (you can't just look at some new kind of ki-blast and copy it right then and there) and 2) the SSJ transformation, being the uber power-up it is, allows the person to be able to copy another person's move right off the bat. Upon reaching SSJ, Goku takes Krillin's move, the Kienzan, and uses it to slice Freeza to bits. If there's time, there can also be the whole thing Goku loaning his energy to Freeza and Freeza using it against him, yadda yadda, but I think, the scene can stand well on its own right there.

I never really liked how Krillin was merely used like a stepping stone that Goku used to reach SSJ, so I think this "re-write" would be good for Krillin's character.

Building off of what Big Momma said, I was thinking of Goku stil being in that healing chamber, and suddenly breaking out of it, as he sensed that Vegeta and Piccolo died, leaving poor ol' Krillin by his lonesome.

You also brought up that in your version, Namek would be a special planet that couldn't be reached because of some kind of something. Does this mean that once Freeza broke this something that anyone else would be able to reach the planet (ie: our heroes) as well? 'Cuz if not, and the heroes would have to reach the planet through some kind of portal device thing (maybe made by Bulma) that could transport someone to any place (maybe looking like a watch in the sense that you wear it on your wrist and so, each person has to wear one, since they can only transport one person) then I was thinking of having those devices be destroyed during the fight with Freeza (hehe, maybe putting them on your wrists wasn't a good idea after all) just to make it seem that much more impossible for Goku to be able to escape.

The bit with having one of Bardock's team survive planet Vegeta's explosion was also a pretty nice touch, as Goku never really learns that his father played such a significant role in his race's past, huh? Also, the idea of having the survivors from the Saiyan invasion live on a "drifting colony fleet" just has me picturing the characters living in some kind of space station a la Xenon: Girl of the 21st Century. It's still a neat idea, though, and as you mentioned is the perfect opportunity for cameos. Having Trunks there to give the downtrodden heroes the hope they needed would be a pretty nice touch, too (even though that might just add to the already confusing time-travel in the series...). You could even hint that it's Trunks post Cell/Androids being killed, meaning that he definitely would be pretty hopeful of stuff eventually ending up for the better in the future.

There could also be some little references to the more hardcore fans out there. For example, if there would be a scene where Piccolo and Nail fuse, there could be some kind of series of dramatic camera changes, leading the fans to start to expect Piccolo spewing his infamous "YES, YES, YES" dub line... only to have him quietly say something like "Wow" or "Holy Sh*t." As long as they don't include that horrendous "Over 9000" reference in the movie, I think I'll be fine.

Eh, it seems like I'm just fleshing out what you guys are saying, since I've just got too much work on my hands to make my own little synopsis from scratch. Oh well .

[Kaboom]

As I continued reading your little synopsis, I thought that having Krillin stay on Namek only to have him die by Freeza is kinda well... lame. I know that that's pretty much how the manga had it, but I was thinking of him being at least being a bit more helpful.

"..."

I never really liked how Krillin was merely used like a stepping stone that Goku used to reach SSJ, so I think this "re-write" would be good for Krillin's character.

Well by that point I was more concerned with just getting the movie finished. Something like what you suggested would be cool. Krillin's the most apprehensive and cautious of the heroes, so he'd probably pick up on things like that.

You also brought up that in your version, Namek would be a special planet that couldn't be reached because of some kind of something. Does this mean that once Freeza broke this something that anyone else would be able to reach the planet (ie: our heroes) as well?

Yeah, that's kinda what I figured. Whatever needed to be done would either reveal the previously hidden planet, or remove whatever obstacle prevented reaching it. There's gotta be something special Freeza needs to do, otherwise he'd conquer the rest of the galaxy AFTER gaining immortality.

Also, the idea of having the survivors from the Saiyan invasion live on a "drifting colony fleet" just has me picturing the characters living in some kind of space station a la Xenon: Girl of the 21st Century.

I was thinking more along the lines of "Titan A.E."

[IncredibleGuy]

I'm sorry, but you lost my interest there. No offense. =/

Hehe! Well, I'm sure you're note the only one.

I could leave Goku as a boy, but he'd have to be at least 8 or 9 years old in that case (maybe I should've mentioned that earlier). Basically, I'd like to keep my movie as non-macho as possible. Early Dragon Ball is an incredibly hilarious and deeply satisfying adventure, and if I could translate that same hilarity through such an off the wall theme as "don't underestimate the power of a 2foot tall, muscle-less child" then I'd feel more than content with myself.

[Death-T]

I'm sorry, but you lost my interest there. No offense. =/

Hehe! Well, I'm sure you're note the only one.

I could leave Goku as a boy, but he'd have to be at least 8 or 9 years old in that case (maybe I should've mentioned that earlier). Basically, I'd like to keep my movie as non-macho as possible. Early Dragon Ball is an incredibly hilarious and deeply satisfying adventure, and if I could translate that same hilarity through such an off the wall theme as "don't underestimate the power of a 2foot tall, muscle-less child" then I'd feel more than content with myself.

Yeah, a live movie adaption of Goku in early Dragon Ball would have to be more of an 8 or 9 year old to really get his character across. A 12 year old would just be to big.. And stuff.

[IncredibleGuy]

Now I get the feelin' you're just being nice

[Snail]

Plot.

The world is thrown into crisis when two spacepods fall from the sky and collides into a heavily populated city during an important event. The World Martial Arts tournament is put to a halt, when two alien beings, who name themselves, Vegeta, and Nappa, emerge from their spacepods, and threatens mankind in their search for a fellow comrade; Raditz, lost somewhere upon the Earth. Unbeknownst to the world, a man named Son Goku must rise to the occasion, along with his friends and foes to challenge these outsiders. In a desperate attempt to do their part, Gohan, Yamcha, Kuririn, and Bulma ventures off in a search for the legendary Dragonballs, in case Son Goku and his comrades fail. The truths about Son Goku's ancestry are revealed during his face-off with the villains.

With Vegeta's defeat, and Nappa's death, Vegeta reveals that beings far stronger than every individual present upon the battlefield are making their way towards the planet. News worsens as the search for the Dragonballs come to a stop, as the remaining four star ball is nowhere to be found.

As a result, preparations for their arrival are being made. As a sort of sixth sense, Piccolo's mental connection to an unknown being eventually instructs him to accompany Son Goku towards a floating fortress, hidden far above the earth and beyond the clouds. There, Son Goku consults with the one who calls himself Kami Sama.

Elsewhere, Vegeta is moved and held in an isolated, and extremely protected facility; Vegeta is succumbed to a plethora of scientific studies, and he is the subject. All electrical devices around the world go haywire for a moment, as an alien message is broadcast throughout the world. Bulma visits the facility where Vegeta is being researched upon, in hopes of using Vegeta's knowledge to decipher the alien message. However, before Bulma reaches the chamber where Vegeta is held within, the facility's alarm systems are activated. The Red Ribbon army have breached the facility, and are planning to capture Vegeta, for reasons unknown at the moment. There is a brief resistance from Vegeta; however, in his weakened condition, the Red Ribbon army eventually captures him; along with Bulma as well.

Fearing another incident in which more cities would crumble upon the arrival of more outsiders from space, the humans make preparations. The Royal Defence Force is dispatched throughout the world awaiting orders. Elsewhere, Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Kuririn and Gohan prompt to launch an assault against the Red Ribbon army headquarters, in an attempt to rescue Bulma, after discovering the situation that had occured at the scientific research facility.

Things heat up, as five spacepods crash upon the Red Ribbon army headquarters. Five alien beings emerge from the pods, and proceed with their assault upon the area. Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Kuririn, and Gohan arrive at the scene. Tenshinhan, and Yamcha goes on the offensive against the five aliens, as Kuririn and Gohan enter the building in search of Bulma. The beings speak in a foreign tongue, however the leader of the pack quickly adjusts, and communicates properly towards Tenshinhan and Yamcha; he introduces himself as Captain Ginyu, the leader of the other four that stand behind him. After a brief introduction, the other four aliens disappear into the headquarters, as Tenshinhan and Yamcha faces Ginyu.

Kururin and Gohan split up within the building. Suddenly Recoome appears and challenges Kururin. Gohan heads recklessly into any path when suddenly he collides into Bulma. She leads Gohan and herself towards Vegeta's whereabouts, claiming that he is the only one who can help. Suddenly, Guldo appears and attacks Gohan. Incidently, Bulma darts off and finds Vegeta. In a panic, she scrambles through a set of chemical containers, and finds the one she needs, and proceeds to inject Vegeta with the chemical. The saiyan bursts open the metal bonds that kept him trapped. Burter and Jeice detect Vegeta with devices lodged upon their ears, and suddenly appears in front of Vegeta. Vegeta quickly kills Jeice, and Burter is left with the responsibility to capture him.

Recoome leaves the tattered Kururin on the floor before he could kill him, as he detects Jeice's death, and Burter's need of assistance. Gohan fends for himself against the rabid Guldo, but eventually puts the alien out
of conciousness.

As the battle rages on in the Red Ribbon army headquarters, the unthinkable occurs, as a monumental spacecraft, accompanied by thousands of smaller spacecrafts appears in the sky. The Royal Defence Force concentrates their forces upon that area, as an immense war erupts upon the massive desert.


* Still rough, and unfinished, so please don't mind the bad grammar Chunks and chunks of ideas not yet included. Expect a revised version with a conclusion soon.

Continued.

btw, I don't want to be reading anybody else's ideas yet. Afterall, I don't want to be accidently copying others' work. So don't think I'm being bitter, and not commenting on your ideas kaboom, Daemoncorps

[caejones]

Pretty effective, from the looks of it; even though it seems to cover a lot, it does so without filling sctterplotted, so as long as itsnot ridiculously long, you've got yourelv a kickass DBZ First-hundred-episodes-and-a-bit-of-DB!

[Snail]

Just throwing this out there; if I were to select an actor to play Goku, I'd say Jason Scott Lee at his prime would have been very fitting.

[DemonKingPiccolo]

As much as I'd like them to keep true to Dragon Ball, the movie is no doubt going to use a villian from Dragon Ball Z. Vegeta is probably the best choice, also the Saiyan saga is the easiest to follow for general viewers. Also it's the DBZ saga that's most closely relevent to the actual Dragon Balls and over-all plot. Also the cool thing about the Saiyan saga is that it's beginings can be traced all the way back to Pre-Dragon Ball anyway, and is the most relevent saga when talking about Goku's life, and how he got to be where he is.

If they don't do something with the Saiyan saga, my next choice would be either Freeza or Piccolo.