The 2009 flop film "Dragonball Evolution" was a disappointment on many levels — story, screenplay, performances, etc. — and the film's writer, Ben Ramsey, has recently admitted that he did not do justice to the popular Japanese manga.
ComicBook. com reported that Ramsey instructed a blogger working on a book about "Dragonball Z" in America to pass along an apology to fans of the franchise.
The Dao of Dragonball describes the film as "reviled by fans," and when the site reached out to Ramsey for a comment on the film's production, here's what the writer had to say:
"I knew that it would eventually come down to this one day. Dragonball Evolution marked a very painful creative point in my life. To have something with my name on it as the writer be so globally reviled is gut wrenching. To receive hate mail from all over the world is heartbreaking. I spent so many years trying to deflect the blame, but at the end of the day it all comes down to the written word on page and I take full responsibility for what was such a disappointment to so many fans. I did the best I could, but at the end of the day, I 'dropped the dragon ball.'"
He added, "I went into the project chasing after a big payday, not as a fan of the franchise but as a businessman taking on an assignment. I have learned that when you go into a creative endeavor without passion you come out with sub-optimal results, and sometimes flat out garbage. So I'm not blaming anyone for Dragonball but myself. As a fanboy of other series, I know what it's like to have something you love and anticipate be so disappointing."
Ramsey also stated that he intends to make it up to fans by creating "something really cool and entertaining" as projects driven by passion are the only kinds he works on now.
Starring Justin Chatwin, Emmy Rossum, James Marsters, Jamie Chung and Chow Yun-fat among others, "Dragonball Evolution" released in April 2009 and was a critical and commercial failure.
