The Dragon Ball saga has left fans mesmerized to the core through the original manga created by Akira Toriyama sensei and the anime adaptations that followed. However, despite being such a massive fan-favorite that almost everyone loves, the story failed to deliver perfectly in its first and last Hollywood live-action adaptation to date from 2009, which starred Justin Chatwin in the lead.
In fact, one of the most hated and criticized elements of the Dragonball Evolution film was the fact that Chatwin was chosen to play Son Goku, whose performance also didn’t sit well with fans. But that wasn’t the worst part, for from the plot elements to the superpowers to the way the animated characters were brought to life, DB fans were met with the worst nightmare of their imagination.
These Things were Worse than Justin Chatwin’s Goku in the Dragon Ball Live-Action Film
Although Justin Chatwin‘s Kakarot is inevitably one of the most badly received portrayals in the history of live-action adaptations, it isn’t the worst of it all. If anything, there were things far, far worse in the movie that fans still can’t believe the creator managed to mess up.
For instance, James Marsters’ King Piccolo in Dragonball Evolution drew tremendous criticism from fans and critics like never before. Why? Because besides the performance, the filmmakers also messed up the mere appearance of the supervillain shown in live-action.
As was seen in the movie, they didn’t do even one bit of justice to the Great Demon King as they transformed him into something that looked more like Brainiac, i.e. Superman’s nemesis and the super-intelligent alien member of the Legion of Doom in the DC Universe!
In fact, these aren’t only our words, for even the fans who have been fairly acquainted with Akira Toriyama sensei’s original DB universe can’t help but make this comparison between the two after watching this overall disaster (more on this later).
Then there are all the superpowers and fight scenes in the James Wong-helmed movie that are anything but accurately adapted from the source material. Like the Kamehameha Wave attack, for instance, which is one of the most popular attacks of the Dragon Ball saga.
Instead of adapting it to its original form (which might have been easier than what they ended up doing), they made certain changes to it — seemingly to make it look more dramatic and juicy — like having Kakarot fly off with the beam instead of pushing it onto his opponent.
Needless to say, all of this coupled with other features and adaptations of the story (which were ostensibly not adapted from the source material, because if they were, they wouldn’t have been this bad) had fans pissed off and dissatisfied to the core.
Fans are Once Again Reminiscing the Worst Parts of Dragonball Evolution
While criticism is one thing, at this point, fans have actually started trolling the film with their sarcastic jokes on it while reminiscing all the worst parts of the Chatwin-starrer disaster. From King Piccolo to everything else, they are calling out each and every aspect of it.
Here’s what they are saying about it all on X:
This has to be the Worst kamehameha in Dragon Ball z history pic.twitter.com/zkOxcT3igz
— 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐚 ☢ (@King_Sukunaaa) April 21, 2024
Omg Goku defeated Braniac
Dc Verse is in shambles pic.twitter.com/dmxLG667xb— 𝐔𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 🎯 (@Unariel_) April 21, 2024
This unironically looks better pic.twitter.com/ohfQwS6L1v
— Daniel D. Dunken (@DeepSeaKingFan) April 21, 2024
even this guy did it better💀 pic.twitter.com/CQhKU2XD2b
— Redd (@ReddAnimations) April 21, 2024
Bro flew off with the beam instead of pushing the beam on his opponent 😭
— Aizen (@__Aizensama__) April 21, 2024
I think the laws of physics are crying and that says a LOT from a franchise that generally ignores them. Like, they really wanted to somehow do the iconic Kamehameha pose but the also iconic launching up at the Great Demon King and managed to fuck up both.
— The Erased Chronicles & Heart of Adventurers ❄ (@HeartofErased) April 21, 2024
Everything about it has to be the worst in dragon ball history
— Fardin Khandaker (@FardinKhandake2) April 22, 2024
That nigga don’t look like no Piccolo to me
— Dragon Breaker (@Dbreaker76589) April 21, 2024
The actor for Piccolo fought back against the creators of this to keep Piccolo green. Now that said where's the actual real Piccolo at? 🙂
— Blaze (@BlueBlazeGX) April 21, 2024
Clearly, Dragonball Evolution failed to live up to the mark that Toriyama sensei’s blockbuster universe has left behind in people’s hearts. This is why even the sequels that were initially planned never really came to be.
But of course, if you still wish to watch it, you can stream the movie on Prime Video.
