Xin qi long zhu (1991)

Directors:

Joe Chan
Leung Chung

Writer:

Akira Toriyama (character)

Release Date:

1991 (Taiwan)

Genre:

Fantasy | Action

Plot:

This live-action version of the popular Japanese animated series Dragon Ball. A villainous king known...

Plot Keywords:

Manga | Remake | Based On Comic

Cast

Charles Chen Zi-Qiang	...	Son Goku (Monkey Boy)
Jeannie Tse	...	Bulma (Y-Tou)
Tung-Chuen Cheng	...	Yamcha
San Pan	...	Oolong
Zhong Yu Huang	...	Turtle Hermit Muten Roshi
Kam Tao	...	Son Gohan
Yi-Juan Li	...	Pansy (Jen Jen)
Ruan-Feng Su	...	Gourmeth (Horn King)
Long-Sheng Jiang	...	Vongo (Zebrata)
Eveline Oranje	...	Pasta (Maria)

Also Known As:

Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins (International: English title)
Dragon Ball: Ultimate Edition (International: English title) (DVD title)
Dragonball: Ultimate Edition (International: English title) (DVD title)
New Dragon Ball: The Legend of Shenlong (Taiwan) (informal English alternative title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Taiwan

Language:

Mandarin

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec) (VHS/DVD rating) | Australia:PG

Company:

Filmswell International Ltd.

Trivia:

The film was mostly shot in the forests of Nantou County, Taiwan, with some scenes also shot in Thailand.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During one of the final shots, Lord Horn loses his power over the huge group of people. Everyone is supposed to fall, but there is a whole group of people still standing, looking quite confused.

Quotes:

Bulma: Hey, did you buy your license?

Movie Connections:

Version of Dragonball Evolution (2009)

Wacky fantasy action movie

Live action movie based on Akira Toriyama's well-known Dragon Ball manga and anime.

While it's overall appreciation by many doesn't seem anything to write home about, I would like to note that, while some changes were obviously made, it is actually very close to the spirit of the original Dragon Ball manga as well as the original TV series, which itself often got quite silly indeed.

Sure, things got a bit more serious in the DBZ follow-up series, but most of the film's main characters are close to their manga origins, and some of the events in the film are close to the original as well.

That said, this film will probably never win any movie awards, but it is a lot of fun, and a curiosity for all the Dragon Ball fans out there.