Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins

Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins (Chinese: 新七龍珠　神龍的傳說; pinyin: Xīn qī lóng zhū Shén lóng de chuán shuō; lit.: "New Dragon Ball: Legend of Shenlong"), also released as or Dragon Ball: Ultimate Edition, is an unofficial 1991 live-action remake of the first Dragon Ball animated film Curse of the Blood Rubies, made in 1986. 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.

Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins
Directed byJoe Chan
Jun Leung
Produced byJeremy Cheung
Joe Chan
Written byScreenplay:
Jackie Lam
Original Story:
Akira Toriyama
StarringCharles Chen
Jeannie Hsieh
Wong Chung-Yue
Cheng Tung-Chuen
Pang Sam
Kam Tao
Lee Yee-Kuen
Music byAllan Ko
CinematographySam Chan
Edited byGrand Cheung
Distributed byFilmswell International Limited
Release date
  • 1991 (1991) (Original edition)[1]
  • 2007 (2007) (Ultimate edition)
Running time
85 minutes (Original edition)
100 minutes (Ultimate edition)
CountryTaiwan
LanguageMandarin

It was produced mainly in Taiwan and shot in Nantou forests, with some scenes shot in Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, 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) is a happy go-lucky boy who claims to be the descendant of "the Monkey King." Based on the character Son Goku of the original Dragon Ball series. Played by Charles Chen.[2][3]
  • Seetoe (ㄚ頭 Yātou) is a girl who nearly runs over Son Goku. Based on the character Bulma of the original Dragon Ball series. Played by Jeannie Hsieh.
  • Sparkle (孫悟飯 Sūn Wù-Fàn) is Goku's grandfather who is kidnapped by King Horn. He is based on Grandpa Son Gohan of the original Dragon Ball series. Played by Jin Tu.[4]
  • Piggy (小豬 Xiǎo Zhū) is an overweight shape-shifting man who accompanies Son Goku and Seetoe on their journey to gather the Dragon Pearls. He is the descendant of Zhu Bajie (The Pig Fairy in English dub). Based on Oolong of the original Dragon Ball series. Played by Pang San.[5]
  • La Ping/Westwood (樂平 Lè Píng) is a bandit who tries to loot Son Goku, Seetoe and Piggy, while they travel. Based on Yamcha of the original Dragon Ball series. Played by Cheng Tung-Chuen.[6]
  • Miss Knowwhat/Snowhite (白冰冰 Bái Bīng Bīng) is a talking and wise-cracking cockatoo, she is the companion of la Ping. Based on Pu'ar of the original Dragon Ball series.
  • Turtle Hermit/Turtle Man (龜仙 Guī Xiān) is an old man who lives a solitary life on an island, he is said to be one of the greatest fighters in the world. Based on Kame-Sen'nin in the original Dragon Ball series. Played by Huang Zhongyu.[7]
  • Jen Jen/Jade (珍珍 Zhēn Zhēn) is a girl whose village was destroyed by King Horn. Based on Pansy of the first Dragon Ball feature film The Legend of Shenlong (known as Curse of the Blood Rubies in the English version). Played by Li Yijuan.
  • King Horn (牛魔王 Niu Mówáng) whose sole mission in the film is to acquire the Dragon Balls for world domination. Based on King Gourmeth of the first Dragon Ball film The Legend of Shenlong, or Pilaf in the original series, but resembles Lucifer from the second film. Played by So Yu Fung, and dubbed in English by Rick Thomas.
  • Zebrata (斯巴達 Sībādá) is the henchman of King Horn who works as one of villains alongside Maria in the quest to collect the Dragon Balls. Based on Vongo of the first Dragon Ball film The Legend of Shenlong. Played by Kong Lung Sing.[8]
  • Maria (瑪琍亞 Mǎlíyà) is the henchman of King Horn who works as one of villains alongside Zebrata in the quest to collect the Dragon Balls. Based on Pasta of the first Dragon Ball film The Legend of Shenlong. Played by Eveline Oranje.

References
  1. The Database of Taiwan Cinema 新七龍珠 Archived 2004-11-23 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Charles Chen
  3. 陳子強 Chan Chi-Keung (1)
  4. 金塗 Gam Tiu (1)
  5. 胖三 Pang San
  6. 鄭同村 Cheng Tung-Chuen
  7. 黃仲裕 Wong Chung-Yue
  8. 江龍昇 Kong Lung-Sing
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