Coming signs of the Apocalypse: Live-action Dragon Ball Z

[Derek Meister]

Ben Ramsey Adapting Dragonball Z for Fox
Source: Variety
Friday, June 25, 2004

Screenwriter Ben Ramsey ("The Big Hit") has signed to adapt Dragonball Z for the big screen for 20th Century Fox, reports Variety. Dragonball Z was adapted from the "Dragonball" manga created by Akira Toriyama and later developed into a Japanese anime series.

"Dragonball Z" follows the adventures of an adult humanoid alien who's just discovered that he was sent to Earth to blend in and destroy our population but instead elects to protect it from an oncoming alien onslaught.

Ramsey recently wrote the adaptation of Marvel's Luke Cage at Sony's Columbia Pictures, as well as Static for Columbia-based producer Neal Moritz.

[nutsak]

Oh shit no. No, wrong, this is bad.. terrible in fact. Dragon Ball Z = terrible. it is BaDong.

STOP MAKING STUPID MOVIES ABOUT STUPID CARTOONS THAT ONLY RETARD CHILDREN AND MORONS (like my sisters ex) LIKE.

-Bruce.

[Duality]

I can't wait to see what kind of foam hair they'll use! Their budget will surely put those wretched cosplayers to shame!!

Honestly, I kind of look forward to these live-action remakes. If for no other reason, than to cull the stupid companies from the anime industry and make room for companies that have an actual clue.

With this, and ADV's Evangelion live-action production, its only a matter of time.

However, I am honestly curious to see what the live action Cutie Honey (http://www.cutiehoney.com/) movie is like. The trailers gave off this fantastic tokusatsu vibe that I think can't be missed.

[Bill Dungsroman]

I can't wait to see what kind of foam hair they'll use! Their budget will surely put those wretched cosplayers to shame!!

Honestly, I kind of look forward to these live-action remakes. If for no other reason, than to cull the stupid companies from the anime industry and make room for companies that have an actual clue.

With this, and ADV's Evangelion live-action production, its only a matter of time.

However, I am honestly curious to see what the live action Cutie Honey (http://www.cutiehoney.com/) movie is like. The trailers gave off this fantastic tokusatsu vibe that I think can't be missed.

You see, that's the best part. This film will suck, and suck hard, but no DBZ fan will ever admit it! It will push the very limits of fanboism, I brashly predict, and I'm interested in the results (that do not under any circumstances require me to watch the fucking thing). Or something like that. But then I don't "get" (or get) anime of any kind, especially not the DBZ kind (why, imagine my disappointment the day I learned it was Dragonball Z and not Dragonballz).

[Andrew Mayer]

Or worse, what if they find a writer who manages to crack the nut and makes this amazing film that totally rocks.

Honestly, having had to watch and annotate 60+ episodes for work (buy me a beer and I'll tell you a story...) I got that there is something of value in the show. Toriyama isn't an idiot.

Despite that it never really clicked for me. I was glad to get out of DBZ prison. But I can imagine that there's a decent 2 hour movie hidden there somewhere...

[Duality]

Or worse, what if they find a writer who manages to crack the nut and makes this amazing film that totally rocks.
Andrew is the Magical Man! From Happy Land! With a gumdrop house on lollipop lane!

[Bill Dungsroman]

Or worse, what if they find a writer who manages to crack the nut and makes this amazing film that totally rocks.
Andrew is the Magical Man! From Happy Land! With a gumdrop house on lollipop lane!

DUALITY STEALS THE WORDS!!!!!!! FROM MY MOUTH!!!!!!!

[Derek Meister]

I got that there is something of value in the show. Toriyama isn't an idiot.

From the more sane fanatics, I've gathered that the first series, "Dragon Ball" , while not something I'd willingly subject myself to, isn't anywhere as bad as the second series, "Dragon Ball Z", which has become the stereotype of the ten-episode overpowered fights we've all come to know, whereas the third series, "Dragon Ball GT" is a mix of the adventuring of the first series and the fights of the second.

I have to admit I have a personal weakness when it comes to live-action versions of anime series in that I will watch them at least once no matter how bad, just as I do any crappy comic to live-action movies I've come across (I'm looking at you 1970s Captain America and Spider-Man).

I actually liked the american-made cheese of the two "Guyver" flicks, was pleasantly surprised at the live-action "You're Under Arrest" series, and find a special guilty pleasure in the so-bad-it's-good, power-rangers-level-production of the live-action "Sailor Moon" series.

[Duality]

I have to admit I have a personal weakness when it comes to live-action versions of anime series in that I will watch them at least once no matter how bad, just as I do any crappy comic to live-action movies I've come across (I'm looking at you 1970s Captain America and Spider-Man).
Then you should do a search for some old episodes of Supaidâman (http://www.stomptokyo.com/movies/s/supaidaaman.html) (Toei's Spiderman). Its awesomeness is overshadowed only by its ridiculousness.













... and Spiderman's giant robot (http://www.stomptokyo.com/img-m6/supaidaaman-d.jpg).

[Fussbett]

Who will play Dragonball's "Commander Black"?

http://saiyanprincess.i8.com/images/rr_black.gif

[Uncle Larry]

http://www.comedycentral.com/gallery/chappellesshow/images/cs_seas2pics_2.jpg

[Derek Meister]

Then you should do a search for some old episodes of Supaidâman (http://www.stomptokyo.com/movies/s/supaidaaman.html) (Toei's Spiderman). Its awesomeness is overshadowed only by its ridiculousness.

Oh it's been on my "must-have" list for a long time. God knows if I can watch the american 1970s Spider-Man and Captain America made-for-television movies, I can only look foward to a Japanese Spider-Man in the same way that I would the India Spider-Man (http://www.gothamcomics.com/spiderman_india/).

[Duality]

Good grief. Those shoes!

My brother's got some of the Toei Spiderman eps on VHS. I've been trying to get him to port them over to VCD for me to torrent out. I'll let you know when I get to it.

[Andrew Mayer]

Or worse, what if they find a writer who manages to crack the nut and makes this amazing film that totally rocks.
Andrew is the Magical Man! From Happy Land! With a gumdrop house on lollipop lane!

DUALITY STEALS THE WORDS!!!!!!! FROM MY MOUTH!!!!!!!

Okay. Did you guys miss the part where I said I watched and ANNOTATED 60+ episodes?

Annotated. One "fun fact" about DBZ every 30 seconds, for over 60 episodes.

When we focused test the annotations the response was "Huh, what text? Oh, that text. Yeah, I ignored that."

You now owe me a beer.

[Duality]

Do both of us owe you a beer, or can we go halvesies for one?

[Munky]

If this is a sign of the Apocalypse, then we already had it...

http://www.badmovies.org/movies/dragonball/index.html

[Andrew Mayer]

Well, if it's a DBZ style apocalypse, you can relax.

We have like 40 more episodes before anything actually happens

[Bill Dungsroman]

Okay. Did you guys miss the part where I said I watched and ANNOTATED 60+ episodes?

You did? Holy shit, Andrew, what the hell did you do that for?


Annotated. One "fun fact" about DBZ every 30 seconds, for over 60 episodes.

Let me put it this way: The Incredible Hulk had several hundred comics and a totally awesome TV series to draw from, plus a name director and a decent cast. It still sucked. Me 'n' Duality are just being cautious. Actually, I'm looking more at the fan base's response: rejection, or blind devotion? Forums and LOLzers are standing by!


When we focused test the annotations the response was "Huh, what text? Oh, that text. Yeah, I ignored that."

You now owe me a beer.

Conclusion: watching DBZ in detail makes you crazy.

[Andrew Mayer]

Okay. Did you guys miss the part where I said I watched and ANNOTATED 60+ episodes?

You did? Holy shit, Andrew, what the hell did you do that for?

I did it for Cartoon Network. We had developed an online animation site, and Funimation gave us the Frieza Saga. Having constantly updating "Fun Facts" underneath the video was my bright idea.

It was a monster success, but there was no licensing model to support it.



Conclusion: watching DBZ in detail makes you crazy.

Say what you like, but in 2001 it was the number one highest rated show on basic cable, and it was selling more books than any other book in the world, including the bible.

I can understand why you hate it, believe me. But after watching that many episodes I can also understand why kids like it.

Believe me when I tell you that there's a lot worse animation out there.

[Anders Hallin]

I can imagine Dragonball, like Sailor Moon, gets a lot of undeserved crap just for being so prevalent.

[EviLore]

...Undeserved?


;b

[Duality]

Dragonball, I would say, does get undeserved attention. I absolutely loved the original series.

Though maybe that's just because I felt a kinship in lecherous Roshi.

[Anders Hallin]

...Undeserved?
Yes, relatively speaking. I haven't read anything of Dragonball though, but I have seen several episodes of Sailor Moon, and while it's often silly, there is definite quality there. It just suffers for being the first successful magical girl show.

[quatoria]

I can imagine Dragonball, like Sailor Moon, gets a lot of undeserved crap just for being so prevalent.

And for being so crappy.