Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins

Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins
Directed by	Joe Chan Jun-Leung
Produced by	Jeremy Cheung Joe Chan
Written by	Screenplay: Jackie Lam Original Story: Akira Toriyama
Starring	Charles Chen Jeannie Tse Wong Chung-Yue Cheng Tung-Chuen Pang Sam Kam Tao Lee Yee-Kuen
Music by	Allan Ko
Cinematography	Sam Chan
Editing by	Grand Cheung
Distributed by	Filmswell International Limited
Release date(s)	1991[1] (Original Edition) 2007 (Ultimate Edition)
Running time	85 min (Original Edition) 100 min (Ultimate Edition)
Country	Taiwan
Language	Mandarin

The protagonists, from left to right: Seetoe, Piggy, Jen, Turtle Man, Gohan, Goku, and La Ping.

The antagonists, from left to right: Zebrata, King Horn, and Maria.

Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins (新七龍珠　神龍的傳說, Xīn qī lóng zhū Shén lóng de chuán shuō^?, or Dragon Ball: Ultimate Edition) Originally released in America as "Dragon's Pearl," is an unofficial live-action remake of the first Dragon Ball feature film The Legend of Shenlong (known as Curse of the Blood Rubies in the English version), made in 1991. The plot revolves around a rag-tag group of heroes, led by Son Goku ("Monkey Boy" in the English dubbed version) trying to stop the antagonist named King Horn from using the wish-granting Dragon Balls to rule the world.

It was produced by Taiwan and shot in Nantou forests, with some scenes shot in Thailand.

Plot

In order to conquer mankind and rule the universe, King Horn sets out to find all seven of the Dragon Pearls. With two of the seven already in the evil king's possession, it is now up to the remaining five owners of the pearls — Son Goku (Son Gohan is the Owner, Son Goku is his adopted grandson), Piggy, La Ping, Turtle Man and Seetoe — to destroy King Horn and his two powerful warriors, Zebrata and Maria, before it is too late.

Characters

• Monkey Boy (孫悟空 Sūn Wù-Kōng): The main protagonist of the film, a happy go-lucky boy who claims to be the descendant of "the Monkey King." Played by Charles Chen Zi-Jiang (陳子強). Based on the character Son Goku of the original DragonBall series.
• Seetoe (ㄚ頭 Y-Tóu): A girl who nearly runs over Son Goku, she becomes a companion of him in hopes to acquire the Dragon Balls while on his quest to rescue his grandfather. Based on the character Bulma of the original DragonBall series. Played by Jeannie Tse (謝金燕).
• Sparkle (孫悟飯 Sūn Wù-Fàn): Goku's grandfather who is kidnapped by King Horn. He is based on Grandpa Gohan of the original DragonBall series. Played by Jin Tu (金塗).
• Piggy (小豬 Xiǎo Zhū): An overweight shape-shifting man who accompanies Son Goku and Seetoe on their journey to gather the Dragon Pearls after Son Goku defeats him in a short fight. He is the descendant of Zhu Bajie (The Pig Fairy in English dub) and is later revealed to be the owner of a Dragon Pearl. Based on Oolong of the original DragonBall series. Played by Pang Sam (胖三).
• La Ping/Westwood (樂平 Lè Píng): A bandit who tries to loot Son Goku, Seetoe and Piggy, while they travel. While being scared of women, shown when he see Seetoe for the first time, he is the compaion of Miss Knowwhat/Snowhite, a talking cockatoo. He proves to be a valuable rival and allie of Son Goku and the others when he helps to defeat King Horn and is proven to be the owner of a Dragon Balls. Based on Yamcha of the original DragonBall series. Played by Cheng Tung-Chuen (鄭同村).
• Miss Knowwhat/Snowhite: A talking and wise-cracking cockatoo, she is the companion of la Ping. Based on Puar of the original DragonBall series.
• Turtle Hermit/Turtle Man (龜仙 Guī Xiān): An old man who lives a solitary life on an island, he is said to be one of the greatest fighters in the world. He gives Son Goku a magical cloud for transportation, which he claims he captured centuries ago, and which he summons through a use of comical dance movements. Based on Master Roshi in the original DragonBall series. Played by Wong Chung-Yue (黃仲裕).
• Jen Jen/Jade (珍珍 Zhēn Zhēn): A girl whose village was destroyed by King Horn, she sets out to obtain the Dragon Balls to wish the damage away, and along the way meets Son Goku and the others. Based on Penny of the first Dragon Ball feature film The Legend of Shenlong (known as Curse of the Blood Rubies in the English version). Played by Lee Yee-Kuen (李宜娟).
• King Horn (外星魔王 Wàixīng Mówáng): The main antagonist, his sole mission in the film is to acquire the Dragon Balls for world domination. Based on King Gourmeth of the first Dragon Ball feature film The Legend of Shenlong (known as Curse of the Blood Rubies in the English version) but resembles Lucifer from the second film. Played by So Yu Fung (蘇阮峰).
• Zebrata (斯巴達 Sībādá), the henchman of King Horn who works as one of villains alongside Maria in the quest to collect the Dragon Balls. Based on Major Domo of the first Dragon Ball feature film The Legend of Shenlong (known as Curse of the Blood Rubies in the English version). Played by Kong Lung Sing (江龍昇).
• Maria (瑪琍亞 Mǎlíyà), the henchman of King Horn who works as one of villains alongside Zebrata in the quest to collect the Dragon Balls. Based on Raven of the first Dragon Ball feature film The Legend of Shenlong (known as Curse of the Blood Rubies in the English version). Played by Eveline Oranje (歐蘭英).

References

1. ^ The Database of Taiwan Cinema 新七龍珠

External links

• The Magic Begins at the Internet Movie Database