The Fight Between Human and Alien Never ends in Cinema History: Dragonball Evolution and Race To Witch Mountain

It is a fight Between a Monkey and 2 Aliens this week.
Finally, here is one action movie that is both entertaining and none of that long winded origin talk.
The story of Dragon Ball: Evolution introduces Justin Chatwin as the main Character with from the beginning, an apprentice of his own Grandpa on martial art. It is a training to contain the anger within him that comes natural with his nature. Now I don’t want to spoil the plot for those that have no idea about the story.
The whole movie retains most of the structure of the 1990’s Manga comic. The main character a fighter, gone out to join his martial art sifu and train. The action is brilliant and funny at times and gracefully executed as if Justin has been trained for years. With the Chinese martial art and stunt crew as the backbone of the movie and the newly emerging visual effects team of Stephen Chow movies. The story on most part stick to the original. The Alien Got, the Toi San Martial Art tournament, how he met his love interest, and his loyal friend Buma and Yamcha.
There’s plenty of joke and fresh new ideas of the storyline both for those that love the story and those that not. Although it may not have the English charm that the US audience love so much. Still the adventure is great to see.
Emmy Rossum did a great change in her previous still as the Character Buma. It’s a total 360 degree change for her. And Justin looks fantatic in this movie as Goku. Plenty of fights and plenty of laughter.
It is after all a comic movie with a backdrop in the year 2300 where the old ideas that green Alien is known as God, the martial Art emphasizes on the usage and manipulation of Qi, and the building and story brings about marvelous modern invasion and imaginary location with both modern and old structure. It’s like The Chronicles of Riddick meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets Street Fighter (but much, much better)
Audience will have great fun and before you know it you’ll be wishing the 1 and a half hour movie could be longer. And remember not to leave your seats too early for there’s a back line at the end after the main credits.
As for the 2 Aliens, it’s the combination of 2 kids from outer space, the Rock and a mountain.

Race to Witch Mountains proves to be the more familiar Disney Kids friendly pleasure Aliens movie. Though this movie there’s only one ugly Alien. That’s the one that’s on the back of the kid, hunting to kill them.
The comic relief all come from the huge in comparison Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in this revamp of the 1975 version. Yet the movie is no child’s play. There’s some Matrix in it, some very memorable E.T. moment in it. All the running and chasing may proves to be a bit single minded at times. But to tell the truth, I’m all captivated by the almost fully grown, Alexander Ludwig and AnnaSophia Robb (who seems to remain the same the whole year). If you look closely, Alexander has prove to be one good looking kid that ‘s moving really close to the realm of hardworking handsome young actor status. He got that look and charisma I’m sure that most talent and casting manager see in him too. As for AnnaSophia…… she is probably the most sought after teenager after Dakota Fanning of our time. I just hope that they will be able to reach for the grown up someday much easier as Rob Pattinson and the gang does.
Anyway back to the story, Witch Mountain is a tricky one, you have to build up the conspiracy with the joke and the action and then the chasing and hunting. Because without those it proves to be a very empty story, so the portion of everything actually be planned really carefully and holding every inch of the film together from the first minute to the last of the 120 minutes.
I’m sure the US audience will love Witch Mountain more. For me I’d prefer Dragonball, cause it’s one of the most original story and idea there is that didn’t bored the s**t out of me for months now on the screen.
Witch Mountain is not boring but it’s not unique either. But if you ask me, watching Dwayne, AnnaSophia, Alexander and Justin doing their thing best on screen is a pleasure by itself.