Kotaku: Dragonball

Live Action Dragon Ball Trailer Successfully Fails

Mike Fahey — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:00:00 MDT

Someone at the Brand Licensing Expo Europe 2008 managed to catch this cam footage of somewhat less-than-eagerly anticipated film adaptation of the popular manga/anime/video game series Dragon Ball. As was expected, it looks relatively hideous, from Chow Yun-Fat's hideous costume to James Marsters reprising his role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Spike, who in turn tries to portray Lord Piccolo. Don't worry about the sound, there is none in this early preview trailer. Somehow I think we're better for it.

Dragonball Teaser Trailer [Trailer Addict - Thanks wwm0nkey!]

Dragonball The Movie The Game

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:00:00 MDT

Like most big Hollywood movies, the makers of the Dragonball flick are planning a video game... based on the movie. But there are already tons of good Dragonball games that are, you know, based on the anime/manga. Regardless! Twentieth Century Fox has a new Senior Vice President of New Media Licensing who's drawing up a list of Fox flicks that could turn into video games. Included in that list is apparently movies like the upcoming Avatar from James Cameron along with Dragonball from some dude. If you think actor Justin Chatwin looks strange as Goku just wait until he's mocap'd for your 3D gaming pleasure.

Fox taps THQ vet for video game post [Playthings via Dragonball - The Movie]

Oh Hollywood, What Did You Do To Dragonball?!

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:30:00 MDT

Manga Dragonball has been adapted into anime and countless video games no problem. Turning it into a Hollywood movie seems to pose more of a problem, though. It's not easy! Early images of the movie, which stars Justin Chatwin from War of the Worlds and Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-Fat, didn't exactly set the world afire. While the filmed-in-Mexico Hollywood flick has been repeatedly delayed, there have already been talks about doing a sequel. Anyway, what's reported to be images from the movie trailer below. No surprises here, really. Well, save for that albino vampire Piccolo thing. Maybe the actual trailer is better. But probably not.

Dragon Ball | ¡Nuevas imágenes del apocalipsis! [Nerd Drama via Dragonball Movie Blog via ANN]

Dragonball Movie Cast Pictures

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:00:00 MDT

Yes, yes. We've already seen the Hollywood Dragon Ball movie's Goku Justin Chatwin. Now, we can see the other people as other people, too! Scans of Japanese movie mag Roadshow Magazine have high quality pics of Bulma (Emmy Rossum), Yamcha (Joon Park), Chi Chi (Jamie Chung) and Master Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat). Even if this movie sucks, the on-screen hair looks amazing.

More Scans [DB The Movie]

First Official Dragonball Movie Promo Image

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:00:00 MDT

Maybe we've been a little harsh. Maybe Hollywood's Dragonball movie will actually be good. Maybe not! Without an official trailer, all we've had were some crummy quality on-set images. Now we have a somewhat crummy quality scan! Here's the first official promotional image for the DB. It appeared in manga Shonen Jump, where the original Dragonball manga appeared. (Hollywood got that right!) A translation of text that appeared on the promo:

I’ll grant you a wish…!!

Rumor after rumor but [now] Dragonball live action movie finally comes true!
Director James Wong of Final Destination, and producer the revolutionary film maker Stephen Chow of Shaolin Soccer. Remarkable casts are Son Goku is Justin Chatwin who played Tom Cruise’s son in Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, and Master Roshi is Chow yun-fat of Pirates of the Caribbean.

All Dragonball fan’s wish are granted now ! We will continue to offer new information to you on Jump Cinema Island !

Another thing they got right: Justin Chatwin's Goku-hair. It's spectacular! Hit the jump for the full image.

Justin Chatwin as Goku [Dragonball The Movie]

Have A Look At The Dragonball Movie Teaser Poster

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:00:00 MDT

Here it is! What's apparently the English-language Dragonball poster, which has the tag:

The Legend Comes To Life 2009

It's not terrible. Maybe the trailer won't suck! Maybe this will be a decent movie!! Who knows?

Dragonball Teaser Poster [/Film via Dragonball The Movie]

Goku Will Die In Second Dragonball Movie (Huh?)

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:00:34 MDT

Sigh. Producer of the Dragonball movie Tim Van Rellim has revealed that Goku will apparently die in the next Dragonball flick adapted by Hollywood. (Bwah? Mistranslation?) Oh, m'kay, sure, whatever! War of the Worlds actor Justin Chatwin is filling out the orange training suit in the upcoming movie. While originally thought the film was pushed back to next year, the producer now says they're gunning for a late summer or October release. About shooting the flim in Mexico, Van Rellim says:

Durango has been a phenomenal place to shoot. We had many sets and the truth never felt paparazzi or harassment of the press and elsewhere and in other productions. It is a very quiet place, we were treated very well.

Because no one cared and those who did wanted you all to stop? No! We kid.
Goku Dying, Dude [El Siglo via Dragonball: The Movie]

Image of Justin Chatwin's Double In Goku Gear

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:00:02 MDT

Can't wait for the Dragonball movie? You'll have to! It's been delayed to next spring. To hold you over, here are some images from Spanish site Infotaku. Here's a pic of Justin Chatwin's stunt double dressed in his Goku outfit — previously, we saw Chatwin himself in an orange t-shirt. There are more pics, and if you think the stills look crappy, image them moving and with sound. Shudder. Writes one commenter over at Infotaku: "Quien quieres vomitar conmigo?" Dude, we already started vomitar-ing months ago.

[Infotaku has asked us to remove the link to his site because the traffic is crashing his servers and has caused his account to be suspended, sorry Josep]

Crappy Looking Dragonball Movie Getting Crappy Looking Sequel?

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Does it matter if the Dragonball flick was pushed back from this summer to next spring? Does it matter that the movie looks like dookey? No! Apparently, Dragonball 2 could be shooting first quarter next year. Some of the movie's sets are still in place where it was shoot in Mexico, waiting! It does matter how the flick does, though. Whew, that's good. There is a God.
Dragonball 2? [Movieland via Dragonball - The Movie via TokyoGraph via a geek by any other name]

Dragonball Movie Delay Shocker!

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:00:46 MST

Oh noes! The eagerly anticipated, likely to stink Dragonball live action film has been delayed. According to website ComingSoon.net, the Twentieth Century Fox motion picture has been moved from August 15, 2008 to ~~April 1~~ April 3, 2009. Meaning? We'll have to wait that much longer to make fun of it. The reason for the delay has something to do with Dragonball being released against other movies like Star Wars: The Clone Wars. We believe it has something to do with the movie sucking. Really, why not just release it straight-to-DVD and be done with it?
No Dragonball Movie [ComingSoon via Anime News Network] [Pic]

Ernie Hudson in Dragonball Movie (Hooray!)

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:00:12 MST

We could be posting other stuff right now, but fuck that. We wanna talk about Ernie Hudson. The Ghostbusters star has joined the cast of the live action Dragonball movie that's filming in Mexico. If for some amazing reason, the live action Dragonball movie does not suck, we have one person and one person only to thank. That person is Ernie Hudson.
New DB Movie Member [Variety via Anime News Network] [Pic]

Why Aren't These Guys Making the Dragonball Movie?

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 03:00:52 MST

When you watch this fan made Dragon Ball Z showdown between super Saiyan Goku and bad dude Freeza, ask yourself this question: Why is Hollywood making a Dragonball film and not these guys? Just imagine what they could do with a proper budget and shudder at what Hollywood will do with one.

DBZ Fan Movie [SWF Blog via Japanator]

1,500 Mexicans Needed for Dragonball Flick

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:00:11 MST

Live in Mexico? Like Dragonball? You're in luck! The DB movie is looking for extras. No experience necessary! It looks like the cattle call has already commenced. This is actually the coolest news to come out of the Dragonball movie shoot. In an age were all crowds scenes are CG, it's pretty neat that the producers are using actual people for the shoot. Too bad they seem to be mucking up the rest of the flick. Then again, after the censoring the anime got when it came to the US, this movie should just be par for the course.
More than 1,500 People [Movieland via Otaku Times]

Dragonball Actor "Hopes" He Does a Good Goku

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:44 MST

You've seen the set images. But those are just pictures. And as we all know, films are moving pictures. Now how about some behind the scenes footage. Above is an interview with Justin Chatwin, who says this about playing Goku:

Um, the character of Goku, an important character to play, uh, been around on kid's cartoons for a while, uh, so I hope I do a good job.

THIS MOVIE IS DOOMED. Hit the jump for hidden camera footage of the cast being introduced to reporters. The M.C. even forgets Justin Chatwin's name. No, really! Video Dragonball [Otaku Times

First Dragonball "Fight Scene" Image

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:06 MST

The first Dragonball set images showed a shoulder bag and a muscle car. Not promising! Neither is this fight scene image. Perhaps it's just missing movie magic. You know, editing, camera work and suspension of disbelief. Boy that last one is going to be hard.
Lights Camera Action [El Siglo de Torreon Thanks, Ernesto!]

Early Dragonball Movie Images

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:00:42 MST

Worried about that Dragonball movie? You, and the rest of humanity. Even if Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-Fat has joined the cast, we're still skeptical. These onset Dragonball set images from Mexico City don't really help. That's Justin Chatwin (Tom Cruise's kid from War of the Worlds) as Goku. He's about to be hit by a car or something. Dunno, really. Does it ever matter at this point?

There's a closer shot after the jump.

Exclusive Pics [HoyCinema, Thanks Pedro!]