Continuing with the series “The Secrets Behind the Screen,” in this second part, we will delve into Dragonball Evolution – one of the most infamous adaptations of a manga in the 21st century.
Dragon Ball – A Legendary Manga franchise
Dragon Ball (or as it is known in Vietnam, 7 Dragon Balls) is a multi-volume manga series created by Akira Toriyama. The series first appeared weekly in Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995, comprising 519 chapters that were later published in 42 volumes by Shueisha.
Inspired by the Chinese classic novel “Journey to the West,” the manga chronicles the adventures of the main character, Son Goku, from childhood to adulthood, as he trains in martial arts and explores the world in search of the Dragon Balls, mystical orbs that grant wishes. Throughout his journey, Goku encounters many friends and battles against various villains intent on using the Dragon Balls for their nefarious purposes.
Regarded as one of the most popular manga series of all time, Dragon Ball has sold over 126 million copies in Japan alone (as of the year 2000). By 2016, this figure had risen to 156 million copies in Japan and 240 million worldwide.
Dragon Ball is credited as a significant influence in shaping the manga boom in Japan, particularly from the 1980s to the 1990s. At the 2006 Japan Media Arts Festival, the series was recognized as one of the top three best manga of all time, alongside One Piece and Naruto.
Why is Dragon Ball Evolution considered one of the worst adaptations of the 21st century?
The film Dragon Ball Evolution was released in 2009. If you haven’t experienced the original Dragon Ball, you might find yourself disappointed while watching the movie. However, if you are a true fan of the manga series, the film will likely disappoint you even more—perhaps even to the point of outrage.
When 20th Century Fox decided to adapt Dragon Ball into a live-action film, despite the filmmakers retaining some elements from the original story, the character portrayals were drastically altered. The plot was riddled with clichés, lacking logic, and the characters appeared less than stellar, reminiscent of low-quality Japanese superhero films from the 80s. The overall execution of these characters turned the film into a lackluster production, often categorized as a teenage comedy, a fantasy adventure, or a poorly made Hong Kong film.
Apart from Justin Chatwin, the cast members participating in this film were relatively inexperienced. Even Justin Chatwin’s portrayal of Goku was far from impressive. The main characters (Goku, Bulma, Chi-Chi, Yamcha) and supporting roles (Piccolo) were poorly represented, lacking the depth and charm that fans had come to expect. The narrative progression was filled with awkward clichés, making the film feel tedious until the very end.
From a broader perspective, Dragon Ball Evolution may not be the worst Hollywood adaptation of all time; however, the brand of Dragon Ball is immensely significant. It is regarded as a legend, a symbol of the manga genre, and a cornerstone of Japanese culture as a whole. Thus, it is particularly disappointing that this adaptation has landed on the list of “the worst adaptations of the 21st century.”
The main culprit behind the failure of Dragon Ball Evolution is James Wong
After the film’s release and the ensuing disappointment worldwide, much of the blame fell on 20th Century Fox (the distributor) and Ben Ramsey (the screenwriter). In particular, Ben Ramsey was “cursed” for being labeled as the one who “ruined” Akira Toriyama’s legendary work.
James Wong, the king of Hong Kong cinema, is the production director of the disaster Dragonball Evolution
However, besides the “worst” labels mentioned above, one failure that few people recognize is that James Wong also participated in this film project. Moreover, this Hong Kong director was deeply involved in the production, carrying significant responsibility for the film’s overall direction.
According to Hong Kong media reports, it was James Wong who selected Justin Chatwin to play the lead role. The two later collaborated and agreed on Ben Ramsey’s script.
Moreover, Justin Chatwin’s involvement in this film was also attributed to James Wong. Previously, Chatwin had considered participating in the film Dragonball Evolution. However, after consulting with Wong, this Hong Kong talent withdrew from the project.
Withdrawing from Dragonball Evolution is one of the biggest mistakes in Justin Chatwin’s career
In contrast, while Dragonball Evolution grossed only $57 million worldwide, the film Dragonball was expected to earn around $145 million (~ 1 trillion Vietnamese dong) within its initial week of release. This is deemed one of the largest blunders in Justin Chatwin’s career and the entire film crew (though Wong bears some responsibility).
Seven years after the release of the disastrous Dragon Ball Evolution, Ben Ramsey, the screenwriter of the film, has publicly apologized to the entire fan base of this beloved series worldwide. Although it’s a heartfelt apology, it still holds significant value. As for James Wong, he has remained silent over the years.
