“Is Goku Truly a Saiyan?”: The Flaws of Dragon Ball’s Disappointing Live-Action Film

Dragonball Evolution stands as a glaring example of a poorly executed live-action adaptation, particularly when it comes to portraying the beloved character Goku and the rich lore of the Dragon Ball universe. Released in 2009, this film has earned a notorious reputation, primarily for its failure to adhere to the source material created by Akira Toriyama. With its significant missteps, including miscasting prominent roles and the perplexing decision to place Goku in a high school setting, the film struggles to find any semblance of redeemable qualities.

The Dragon Ball franchise is one of the most recognized manga and anime series globally. Consequently, any adaptation must rise to the occasion to meet the expectations of its vast fanbase. Even those who haven’t dived into the series are likely familiar with iconic characters such as Goku and Vegeta. Therefore, the shortcomings of Dragonball Evolution are particularly disheartening, as it fails to accurately depict even the most fundamental attributes of Goku’s character, including his unique backstory and the origins of his incredible powers.

Lack of Confirmation Regarding Goku’s Saiyan Heritage

One of the most glaring omissions in Dragonball Evolution is its failure to use the term “Saiyan.”This absence raises questions about Goku’s identity as an alien warrior in this rendition of the narrative. While Goku’s status as a member of the Saiyan race was a retcon introduced later in the manga, it has become an integral part of his character development and the overarching story. Unfortunately, the film neglects to confirm or explore this aspect of Goku’s lineage.

In the original saga, Goku’s alien status is revealed through the character Raditz, marking a pivotal moment at the start of the Saiyan Saga and the onset of the Dragon Ball Z anime. However, Dragonball Evolution chooses to simplify Goku’s childhood, merely portraying him as a teenager living with his grandfather, Gohan. The film presents a vague backstory in which Oozaru is mentioned to have “traveled by meteorite,”without any elaboration on crucial details like Goku’s Saiyan ancestry or the existence of Planet Vegeta.

Oozaru: A Misinterpreted Concept

The character Oozaru is depicted drastically differently in Dragonball Evolution. In the original Dragon Ball narrative, Goku’s transformation into a giant ape occurs when he gazes at the full moon, provided he has not lost his tail. However, in the live-action adaptation, the term “Oozaru”is not used in this context; instead, it is redefined as an ancient god that previously served Piccolo. This alteration introduces a convoluted backstory involving an ancient conflict for Earth, which diverges significantly from the established lore.

Historically, “Oozaru”translates to “great monkey,”yet the film appropriates this name to refer to an entirely different character trait. The narrative insinuates that Goku is the reincarnation of this ancient being, destined to awaken during an eclipse. This version of Goku lacks a tail—an essential characteristic of Saiyan heritage—and rather than causing the death of his grandfather through transformation, Gohan’s demise directly results from an attack by Piccolo, a significant deviation from the original storyline.

Goku transformation in Dragonball Evolution — Custom Image by Dhruv Sharma.

These alterations lead to a fundamental misunderstanding of Goku’s character, as the film fails to honor the essence of what made the original story so beloved among fans. By reimagining Oozaru’s role in such a dramatic way, the movie implies that Saiyans may not exist in this alternate universe, presenting yet another critical lapse in storytelling.

Complicated Origin Story: A Missed Opportunity

The film opens with convoluted exposition, offering a voice-over that narrates Piccolo’s and Oozaru’s initial battle against Earth. Instead of leveraging this opportunity to delve deeper into Goku’s true origins, the plot becomes bogged down in unnecessary details, detracting from the character’s compelling backstory. Rather than a rich adaptation, Dragonball Evolution opted for a generic fantasy narrative, missing the chance to incorporate meaningful elements directly from Goku’s history.

While simply referencing Goku’s tail or mentioning Planet Vegeta wouldn’t have transformed the film into a success, these details could have helped ground it in the essence of the Dragon Ball franchise. Ultimately, the absence of a sequel is perhaps a blessing, as it leaves fans wondering how characters like Raditz and Vegeta would have been portrayed given the convoluted treatment of Goku’s story.

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