Speed Racer (Full Screen Edition)

This is easily one of the most Underrated Movies of the Century.When this movie came out, the effects were very cutting edge, but now, they do retract from the quality of the film somewhat.Even so, that is basically the only fault of this film.I very rarely rate any film 5-stars, and I have an extremely sensitive rating system.Most movies, I rate, fall between 1-3 stars, and I think that I can make worthy arguments on those judgments.Assigning this kind of value to a film indicates a very high level of story production value.The fundamental message of the film is about the value standing up for what is right, even though all can seem lost, at times.In this day-and-age of gory-violent, hyper-sexual, and depraved film making, it's so rare to find a production where people love each other, value others, and have genuine integrity.It seems like Hollywood wants to convince everyone that corrupt people aren't so bad.You can't tell who the bad guy is, anymore, in films, because they want to bring the villain justification, and murder the innocent without excuse.Not so, in Speed Racer.This is a classic story of innocence versus malevolence.There are clear moments when Speed is confronted with serious things that he doesn't know how to deal with.He listens to people who care for him, and he fights for what is right.So refreshing, and that much more rewarding to see him find that what he was doing had value, in the end.Despite aesthetics, and corny-silliness here-and-there, the core of this film is 5-stars, and it's something you can watch over-and-over with all ages.Again, this is one of the most under-valued movies of the last century.It probably in my personal list for Top 10 Greatest Movies of All Time.

I saw this in theaters on its first run and didn't quite know what to make of it, but we were in agreement on a few things: (1) we REALLY liked it, and (2) it was probably the best live-action adaptation of a cartoon/animated series EVER, and (3) it *totally* captures the spirit of the original 1967-68 series -- and the latter has both the advantages and disadvantages of the source, lol!Seriously, give this movie a shot -- or a second shot, if you wrote it off the first time you saw it. Although this movie may best appeal to those of us who remember and liked (or loved) the original cartoon series, if you watch with an open mind, you'll find it a rewarding movie viewing experience. And if you must view it with little kids, they'll probably love it, too.At this point, many live-action movies have adapted comic books and graphic novels (300; Sin City; the numerous DC and Marvel adaptations); and some have adapted cartoons, but badly. Speed Racer manages to stay true to the spirit and of the original Speed Racer cartoon show, and the visual possibilities of comic books/manga and cartoons, while using up-to-date big budget film-making technology and special effects to bring it into the 21st century -- yet still honoring the source.This movie can be appropriately viewed by both young and old*. Except for like 2 swear words, this could easily be rated G; there is no sex whatsoever, the violence is bloodless and cartoon-ish, and even the race car crashes are appropriately futuristically safe courtesy of the Kwik Save bubbles that save the drivers (unlike, say, my memories of 1970s F1 car races *shudder*).But underneath all the flashy special effects and CGI, the heart of the Wachowskis' Speed Racer is about brotherhood, coming of age, leaving home, separation from parents/family of origin, loss, the love/warmth/support of family, and the eternal battle of naive idealism and passion against cynicism and corruption.The thread of loss is stronger than one might think because Goodman, Sarandon, Hirsch, and Elia/Fox play their roles earnestly. The core plot, outlandish as it seems on paper, is done dramatically (but not melodramatically) and taken seriously. That's how Speed Racer really hits you in the heart -- because, from the very beginning, Speed is competing with the memories of his race-car driver brother who left home in disgrace.But the movie is also very uplifting and (perhaps naively) optimistic about family love, about doing the right thing even when you don't know what to do, about the ability of just one person (not to mention a team) to make a difference and helping good triumph over evil -- and those are some of this movie's many charms.If that sounds too ridiculous and lofty, most of the action consists of fantasy race car driving sequences that are like Top Gun, Death Race 2000, Mad Max (both of them), Formula 1, demolition derby, street racing, and stunt car driving were combined with bright neon LEDs and a neo-noir aesthetic to create a cyberpunk-scifi future style of car racing. The driving sequences are exhilarating -- it's like you ARE a (futuristic) Matchbox car on a i(futuristic) track, and it comes off every bit as awesome as you would think. (Plus the Wachowski's throw several psychedelic hints in with the visuals just to let you know the soft spot they have for their stoner fans -- but you don't have to be high to appreciate it, because it is AMAZING as it is.)This is NOT one of those remakes that knowingly satirizes and makes fun of its source. This version, and everyone in it, takes its (silly) source material as seriously as the source took itself. Ironically, that seriousness which everyone embraces gives Speed Racer a likeable (if somewhat kooky) charm you don't expect. As with superhero movies, it helps when movies like these take themselves seriously, no matter how absurd plot, characters, &/or setting may seem -- if they don't take themselves seriously, you have trouble suspending disbelief.Campy, satirical, nudge-nudge-wink-wink adaptations have their place -- but Speed Racer is not one of them, and I am so glad the Wachowski's didn't go that route. I'm also glad that all the actors were able/willing to commit and take the roles seriously -- that can't have been easy, given how much was clearly filmed in front of green screens.Though I bought the DVD, this movie *begs* to be seen on a big screen in a theater. Even the biggest home theater TV can not do it justice; the action and special FX are simply too big for small screens.Speed Racer is really like a live-action cartoon. To judge it any other way is to misjudge, misunderstand, and underestimate it. Although it is a live action film, too much of it is CGI/special FX to be compared to live action films. And although it is not a cartoon, the composition of scenes and camera angles (such as deep focus shots with part of someone's face in one section of the frame, and the scene behind them taking up the rest of the frame) is much more of a cartoon/animation and comic-book-like aesthetic than it is live-action.If you liked (or *loved*) the original series, you will probably like this movie. Among the good points: The principal players in this movie were *really* well cast. Of *course* John Goodman is Pops! Of *course* Trixie is played by Christina Ricci! Susan Sarandon is perfect as Mrs. Racer, though she doesn't get to do much (but that's pretty faithful to the series too). The Wachowski's remind us that, yeah, Trixie *did* fly helicopters and planes in the original series, and in her way, she was like an anime version of Mrs. Peel (Diana Rigg) on the British TV show The Avengers.Emile Hirsch I was iffy about, until I saw the movie. Though his hair is obviously dyed black, he really does capture the look of Speed and the innocence and earnestness of the character. His disillusionment and yearning really come through.And Matthew Fox as Racer X -- well, aside from his vaguely threatening and intentionally enigmatic demeanor (not to mention the mask and the head-to-toe leather...), in a short but powerful montage of Racer X's history at the end of the film, Fox will break your heart without saying a word.Roger Allam and Ben Miles return from the Wachowskis' V for Vendetta and Allam is every bit as villainous as before. The secondary and foreign casting and bit players are outstanding -- and diverse. The Wachowski's could have gone typical Hollywood and cast all white actors with a token person of color here and there, but they really didn't here. I mean, Shaft/Richard Roundtree as Ben Burns? That's inspired. Cosma Shiva Hagen (yes, Nina Hagen's daughter) as a non-evil Royalton minion Gennie is lovely (though she almost has no lines). I'm not familiar with Rain's music, but he's great as Taejo Togokahn, as is Nan Yu as Taejo's sister Haruko.I absolutely love Nayo Wallace as Minx; she's badass because she's a brainiac. Benno Fuhrmann is a convincing and serious Inspector Detector. Hiroyuki Sanada and Togo Igawa are good as Mr. Musha and Mr. Togokahn, though, like Susan Sarandon, they don't get much to do. Although, who knows -- with lesser caliber actors and lesser commitment from them, this movie might not be as good as it is.The costuming, props, CGI, and set designs, in addition to the actors' commitment to even the small roles, really add to the hyperreal live action cartoon aspects. All the villainous race car drivers and their fixers play their roles with gusto. They are creepy, hilarious, and threatening by turns. John Benfield is fantastic as Cruncher Block and Waldemar Kobus is hilarious as one of his henchmen (I don't know the other henchman actor's name, but he's equally good).Christian Oliver is alternately wonderfully sleazy and whiningly petulant as Snake Oiler. The Hydra drivers are hilarious, and The Flying Foxes (don't know the actresses' names) are scary-sexy and malicious. The Thorazine drivers are throwback-freaky and the actors play them to the hilt. Julie T Wallace is memorable as Cruncher Block's semi-truck driver, trying desperately to save their truck (wherein they're beating Taejo for refusing to lose races like he's been paid to) from Racer X's car mounted machine guns and insane driving. She's styled and costumed so much like one of Alex's droogs from Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, that I wasn't sure if she was transgender. I had to look her up (after multiple viewings) to figure out whether she was an actor or actress.The bad points: just as the original cartoon was over-the-top slapstick silly and Spritle and Chim-chim were similarly annoying, they're here in all their obnoxiousness. If you didn't like Spritle and Chim-chim in the 67-68 cartoon, you won't like them any better here (although they do give young kids the most obvious characters to relate to). But the way they're portrayed is, again, utterly faithful to the cartoon series.The Wachowski's have, as usual, slavishly paid attention to every detail in this film -- and it really shows. If you pay close attention (or watch it multiple times), Speed inherits Rex's bedroom, down to the wall-paper/paint job and race car driver posters (but of course he would, hero-worshiping his brother as he does). They thoughtfully embellish their love of the cartoon with a fully fleshed out but faithful world that is unlike anything I've ever seen -- it isn't live action, it isn't cartoon. It doesn't look like Sin City, it doesn't look like Waking Life -- it is its own thing, and it works perfectly to bring Speed Racer to life in a feature film.*(However, for adults of a certain bent -- and like the Matrix flicks -- there are some fetishistic aspects to the costume design that may jump out at you.)

This is a movie based on a popular japanese cartoon series of the 60's that developed quite a following in american when it was shown - redubbed - over there. apparently. because I'd never heard much about it before and thus I was able to approach this movie as a member of the general viewing public rather than a die hard fan.Speed racer is the name of the title character of the film. and he's a young man who drives race cars for his family race team. not quite over the death of his elder brother after a fall from grace as a driver, speed is offered a role driving for a team run by an industrialist. saying no reveals to him how corrupt the sport is. despite finding he has a few allies out there, it's a long hard road for speed to become a champion and clean up the sport.the directing and the style of the film tries to make it look like what is basically a live action cartoon. whilst this can be a bit jarring for the first fifteen minutes, not least thanks to some rather obvious cgi backgrounds, you do get used to it after that. the inventive use of editing and some beuatifully coloured scenery only adds to the effect.The cast are all pretty good - especially the chief villain - and as an adventure story it's not bad. You will find yourself getting quite caught in some of the race action. Yet thie may not quite succeed in grabbing all the age groups. spritle, speeds young brother, and his pet monkey are comedy support characters and are clearly meant to be charming and funny but they're horribly irritating. although if you're of their age group then you'll probably love them. trouble is that age group will want to see fast races and excitiement, and they may get bored during all the character stuff. And there's a fair amount of that, especially in the first hour of the film.This clocks in at 129 minutes. on the whole it's an enjoyable spectacle, but it may not be for everyone.the dvd is a rather basic package. It begins with a trailer for the movie get smart. which you can skip past via the next chapter button. and a trailer for a speed racer video game. you can't skip this but you can fast forward through it.The language tracks on offer are english czech and hungarian.the subtitles are english czech hungarian and romanian.there are just two features by way of extras:spritle in the big leagues has the actor who plays the boy touring the set. it runs for thirteen minutes, and thankfully any attempts at humour work okay. It also is quite interesting if you wonder what goes on on movie sets.Sooed racer: supercharged!: runs for fifteen minutes and uses footage from the film and a few new sequences of computer graphics to make a documentary suppoesdly from tv in the world of the film about the various drivers and race teams from the races. as a way of filling in background details it has it's moments, but a lot of the technical details of the cars it goes into may not grab you unless you're really into that kind of thing.And that's the dvd. Okay package. not a bad movie

Bought this as a gift for a family member. They love it. They watched it three times in one day!

Don’t know

I bought this film to see how 'Rain' was doing in Hollywood. How sad that he reduced to making such a low rubbishy movie. I have not seen anything so bad for a while. After the first 20 minutes, I just couldn't tolerate it any more. I fast forwarded it all the way through but I don't think I had missed anything. The ending was just as stupid. All in all, it is not worth watching at all.

its an old film but worth getting