Common Sense Media Review
By James Rocchi
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Movie based on anime series has lots of martial arts action.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dragonball Evolution
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Based on 20 kid reviews
Kids say the film is largely viewed as a terrible adaptation of the beloved anime and manga series, with many reviewers expressing disappointment in its character portrayals and unnecessary plot changes, particularly Goku's modern-high-school storyline. Some critics argue that the CGI effects and acting are subpar, although a few fans find some redeeming qualities in its positive messages.
- poor adaptation
- weak effects
- character changes
- negative reception
- mixed opinions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Raised by his kindly grandfather, Goku (Justin Chatwick) doesn't know where his mom and dad are -- but he's been told that when he's 18, all will be revealed. Unfortunately, that birthday coincides with the evil alien warlord Piccolo's (James Marsters) escape from thousands of years of bondage in search of seven spheres of power -- Dragonballs. According to his grandfather, Goku must hurry to gather the Dragonballs with the aid of a martial arts master (Chow Yun-Fat) a tech-savvy entrepreneur (Emmy Rossum), a rogue (Joon Park), and his high-kicking dreamgirl (Jamie Chung) ... before Piccolo does.
Is It Any Good?
Parents will definitely zone out during DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION, if only because it's nothing they haven't seen a thousand times already. The plot and characters feel lifted wholesale from other, better fantasy epics like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, and the normally welcome presence of Yun-Fat is not, regrettably, enough to make the proceedings fun for grown-ups.
That said, there's a strong chance kids will love it; the story is easy to follow, and there's plenty of bloodless mayhem to keep things moving through the mercifully brief running time. Also to the film's credit? A slightly more evolved sense of gender equity than most kids' action films (there are plenty of strong female characters who are more than just eye-candy or romantic interests). Dragonball Evolution will impress young fans, but anyone older than 10 who doesn't already know and love the source material will find it a chore -- and a bore.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why kids want to see the movie -- is it because of the specific story or because it's part of the Dragonball franchise?
Why do you think the filmmakers chose to make a live-action movie instead of an animated one?
Does any of the violence seem more serious because the characters are real people? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 10, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : July 28, 2009
- Cast : Chow Yun-Fat , Emmy Rossum , Justin Chatwin
- Director : James Wong
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Chinese Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of action/violence and brief mild language
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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