Director: James Wong
Cast: Justin Chatwin,
Emmy Rossum,
James Marsters,
Chow Yun-Fat,
Jamie Chung, Joon Park,
Eriko Tamura
Release Date: 10th April 2009
When I saw the title “Dragonball Evolution” on DVD, my thought immediately went to the manga animated series projected on TV a few years ago but the live action movie has nothing to do with it. Regardless of what some critics said about wasting money on making such a crap movie, I personally watched and enjoyed it. Of course the story is fictitious and unlikely to happen in the real world. On the flip side it does offer enough action and adventure to amuse teenagers as well as adults.
The Plot
World’s fate hangs in the balance. Demonic alien Picolo has come back to earth to destroy it. To fulfil his wish he has to find the seven mystical dragon balls, gather them and pronounce his wish.
The scene starts with the young, charming and good looking Goku (Jusitin Chatwin) fighting hand to hand on an elevated rope with his grand-pa Gohan. He has all features of a young energetic boy to please girls but mission awaits ahead-He has find the seven dragon balls and stop Picolo’s evil plan to destroy earth.
Goku spent his entire life with his grandpa and is very attached to him. On his eighteenth birthday Gohan gives him a dragon ball and tells him that he has to find another six like that and pronounce a wish. A bit later Gohan dies and Goku is left alone to face his destiny. Does he take matters in hand or will he retract face to the challenge. As mentioned earlier the story does not stand out “from the crowd” compared to other action/adventure movie but what I like is the philosophy in it.
Life is a battle ground. What do we do when we have a mission to fulfil and that every step is loaded with adversities? When suddenly we don’t know where to begin with, what to do and that the only close parent we have suddenly disappears leaving us to confront ourselves and our destiny. We have a choice in life either to be strong and carry on or we quit. Goku suddenly loses his grand pa and has no one to guide him. He nevertheless has to move on with his life and fulfil his mission. In the middle of the crisis he takes a step of faith and decides to carry on, something he learned from Gohan. His determination leads the way. He must the find the remaining dragon balls.
Our parents are our guide and teacher who give us all the love, support, training and advice we need to go through the storm of life. From a very young age they teach us about the pros and cons of life and help us to make as much as possible the right choice for our life. They transmit knowledge and spice it up with words of encouragement. Goku had grandpa Gohan to guide him. He’s been trained and prompted each time with word of encouragement. “You must have faith”. Does he apply the teachings in his life or does he follow his own way. In fact he listens to grandpa and acts accordingly in front of each obstacle.Achievements in life are not given on a golden plate but on the battlefield. Every task we undertake is a challenge and very often we lack patience and motivation especially when things stir up and turn bitter. Instead of persistence we become impatient, lose faith and get off track- mission unfulfilled.
Heaven favours the brave. In the middle of the fight it seems that Goku loses ground and goes towards his own destruction but he keeps his faith and does not get off track, he fights, stumbles and fails not once but a few time. Adversity hits hard but he does not quit. At this stage we see the fighter who regardless of difficulties, decides to fight with all his energy. To encourage himself he memorises grand pa words and fights back. He ends up a conqueror.
Dear reader nothing is easy in life. The bible says something like that: “let’s fight the good battle of faith”. That’s just a movie for kids but what you learn from it is the bravery, patience and determination of a young kid.
Are we going to take his example and apply it in your life? I learned from that movie.
Buy a DVD here:Dragonball: Evolution
