Dragonball: Evolution

Based on the popular Japanese manga series, the hyperkinetic fantasy-adventure Dragonball: Evolution is long on action but short on story as it follows a kid named Goku (Justin Chatwin), who receives a “dragonball” as a birthday present from his grandfather Gohan (Randall Duk Kim). According to grandpa, only seven dragonballs exist, and the one who possesses all of them can call upon a mystic dragon to grant any wish. Goku decides that dragonball-collecting is a worthy pastime and to this end enlists the aid of a team that includes Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat), a middle-aged Chinese mystic; Bulma (Emmy Rossum), the young female owner of the only-known dragonball-detecting device; and Chi Chi (Jamie Chung), the hottest girl in Goku's school. Unfortunately for Goku, his interest in dragonballs is shared by Lord Piccolo (James Marsters), a 2,000-year-old villain whose chief accomplice, the warrior enchantress Mai (Eriko Tamura), is prepared to do whatever it takes to beat Our Hero and his friends to the remaining relics. Director James Wong wastes little time on the narrative, instead serving up a surfeit of energetic, stunt-crammed fight sequences that may appeal to series fans, but few others. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include the Fox Movie Channel production “Life After Film School with Justin Chatwin” with the star (25 min.), deleted scenes (11 min.), a “Making a Scene” featurette (10 min.), a “Goku's Workout” training featurette (5 min.), a gag reel (3 min.), and the music video for “Worked Up” performed by Brian Anthony. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are a “Goku's Quest” interactive game and a bonus digital copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a lackluster live-action manga adaptation.] (E. Hulse)