Customer Reviews

Death Race 2000 - Special Edition [UMD for PSP]

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

So these are the words of Calamity Jane, a contender in Roger Corman's low budget farce, "Death Race 2000." It is interesting that Amazon paired Corman's film with Norman Jewison's "Rollerball" and for good reason: one movie is pure satire and played strictly for laughs while the latter is a far more serious and somber commentary on the media, America's love affair with violence steeped in what we call "sport," and the cult of celebrity. Both films explore these themes quite differently, yet both are entertaining as they are disturbing.

As a black comedy, "Death Race 2000" is more or less a cheaply made exploitation flick (budgeted at approximately $300,000), that never pretends for an instant to be anything more than a satire of the future and a parody of "Rollerball"--a far more ambitious, absorbing and expensive film.

Corman's film depicts a "game"--the Transcontinental Death Race--designed to cater to society's need to channel its aggression and hostile impulses as sort of a 21st century equivalent of the Roman circus offering spectators both entertainment and a catharsis in its more manic and kinetic moments.

Yes, the film is crazy--from the attack on Frankenstein by the French Air Force to Thomasina Paine (hilarious!) and her revolutionaries' thwarted attempts to assassinate "Mr. President" and end the Transcontinental Death Race once and for all. While the special effects in Corman's film are decidedly low-rent, save for some interesting matte paintings injected at the beginning of the film, the cars themselves, customized by car designer James Powers, are both creative and imaginative. The film, for the most part is amusing and very funny. The "Real Don Steele" is terrific as the commentator with one-liners that will leave you laughing.

While Carradine's "Frankenstein" looks utterly ridiculous in a plastic helmet and a vinyl body suit, a pre-Rocky, Sylvester Stallone steals the show and seems far more comfortable in the role of "Machine-Gun Joe Viturbo." Stallone would be a household name a year later with "Rocky" released in 1976. Before he assumed his US Senate seat representing his home state of Iowa, a bespectacled Fred Grandy, preceding his "Love Boat" debut on ABC, also manages some laughs as "Herman the German."

This DVD release with its extras and commentary is a vast improvement over the Digital Multimedia release that looks like it was pirated-off someone's VHS copy recorded in EP mode. For Corman fans, this would appear to be the release to shoot for. And according to IMBD, Corman is presently working on a big budgeted sequel due out sometime in 2008.

Hey, what more can I add that hasn't already been said? When this first came out in lurid color on the Big Screen I loved it. And I love it today after watching it a hundred times. Carnivorous cars driven by caracature cowgals and gangsters, nazis with names like "Mathilda the Hun" and "Herman the German", and a mysterious champion named Frankenstein whose oft-rebuilt face is always masked, not to mention the Resistance, the French Air Force, and all the other "dear friends". Just don't get to like any of them too much. If you've never seen this sick, hilarious parody, get it now. Mr. President will love you for it.

Finally, fans of Death Race 2000 can enjoy this satirical film in the original widescreen format (1.78:1). My compliments to Buena Vista Entertainment for making the effort to release this film in the format that originally graced theaters and drive-ins in 1975. Not only do the pulse-pounding car race scenes benefit from this, but also the "cramped" dialogue sequences between Annie & Frankenstein are loosened up. Paul Bartel's great direction - not to mention the 2nd unit direction of the race sequences - is really on display here: no longer hacked up in a full-frame format, it's really quite a slick picture. The widescreen presentation really pays off in the flick when the 5 racers initally split up (at about the 10:40 mark) and especially in Calamity Jane's bloodthirsty pursuit of Matilda the Hun (after Matilda's scoring of Jane's navigator). Of course, the explosions benefit immensely as well.

The 10-minute featurette with Roger Corman, Mary Woronov, Martin Kove, and writer Charles Griffith are enlightening, especially Kove's description of his effeminate depiction of Nero the Hero. What is obviously missing, though, are comments from Sylvester Stallone & David Carradine. I'd also have loved to have Roberta Collins' & Fred Grandy's take on the film (odds of that are no better than a snowball's chance in h***, but one can dream can't he?).

I recommend getting this DVD (the Special Edition, released 12-13-05) before it disappears. I have a feeling this may be the best edition we'll see of Death Race 2000 in the DVD format. Enjoy it for what it is - biting satire that could have only been made in the 70's exploitation film days.

I took my younger brothers to see this when it came out and we had a great time at the show. It's low budget to be sure but it's more in keeping with the independent spirit of film making and the punk rock attitude that started circa 1975.
However I can't believe that no one has complained about the con job of the faux widescreen transfer. This edition is just the full frame version with the top and bottom chopped off to make it look like widescreen. My previous full frame edition has more information. Shame on Buena vista for lying to us.

This movie I had always heard about but never got the chance to catch it. Now I know where Toxic Avenger got the scoring pedestrians from. The original road rage Death Race 2000. I was watching and was wondering just when was the death going to kick in then it happened and it didnt stop. Great movie! Sylvester Stallone was pretty funny in this movie as he portrays Machine Gun Joe Paturbo ( I think thats how you spell it). David Carradine portrays Dr. Frankenstein and you think he's a freak at first but he is David Carradine so he's going to be weird anyway but its cool in the movie. They tied everything into this movie patriotism, road rage, liberty, humor and alot of naked women. Which is always a plus. But anywayz its a great movie especially if you liked the scoring from Toxic I check out the originators. I bought the box set and Pirahna came with it as well good deal but I dont know about those other two movies but this and Pirahna guaranteed satisfaction.

This movie is watchable time and time again. How can you beat a young Sylvestor Stallone? The off-beat humor cannot be topped. I rate this as one of the top three low budget science fiction movies ever. The other two: "A Boy and his Dog" and "Creation of the Humanoids". It is my favorite Roger Corman movie also. But ... do yourself a favor and pass on the bogus sequel called "Deathsport". The original has a certain magic but the second try does not. Well, I have to go now there are still some pedestrians left in the world.

I purchased Death Race 2000 based on the previous review, citing extras and superior quality compared to a previous Digital Multimedia release. But this copy I received appears to be that very inferior previous version mentioned: no extras, dreadful sound and picture.
Don't be fooled like I did! You really have to view the fine print and sometimes do a little homework. This is the SECOND time I've received an utterly worthless (to me) pirate-quality release of a classic motion picture when ordering from Amazon. Shame on you, Amazon! Exercise a little quality control and stop mixing and matching reviews with different pressings of the same movie. There is a world of difference.
This SUCKS!

Here is a rather bizarre premise. What if, in the future, there was a race between New York & California? Not such a huge concept you say, right? Well, this race has quite a "catch" to it. What if the objective were to run over as many people as possible between NY & CA? What if there were cameras everywhere to "keep score" of how many people you flatten?

Well, that's the twisted story of DEATH RACE 2000. It certainly has to rank as one of the best "B" movies ever made. Of course, it is a bit of a biting satire on the American love for violence. As all good satires refrain from doing, however, it doesn't get "preachy" about things. You're sure to surprise yourself at some of the scenes you'll find yourself laughing at.

This is the funniest role I've ever seen Sly Stallone portray. He is a great fit as the Italian mobster. David Carradine is good as the "Frankenstein" character. The girls in the film are all pretty hot, and (a Corman trademark) they all take their clothes off @ one point or other.

All in all, this is a can't miss if you're a fan of the "B" movie genre. It's absurd, low-budget and great fun!

Death Race 2000 is a film where a cross country race in which points are gathered by running over pedesterians on the road. It is a very dark and very sick, yet very funny at the same time. I especially like a pre Rocky Sylvester Stallone as one of the contestants who probably enjoys the race too much. This movie goes to show that you do not have to spend a lot of money to make an entertaining film.

Death Race 2000 can be summed up neatly in a single sentence: It is a post-apocalyptic ...B racing movie. I can't deny that I enjoy the movie, but let's face it, it really stinks. The storyline alone is laughable: in the future, a corrupt American president rules the country from abroad, providing "bread and circuses" to the masses in the form of violent entertainment. Our hero, Frankenstein (David Carradine), is an iconic part of it all. He's the #1 driver in a cross-country road race in which killing pedestrians is rewarded with points. Stallone pays Machine Gun Joe Viterbo, Frankenstein's ruthless nemesis who will -- gasp! -- do anything to win! The race is plagued by pro-democracy rebels who want to sabotage the violence with their own violence, and kidnap Frankenstein to coerce the government into democratic reforms. Oh yes, it's one of those bloodthirsty, pro-democracy guerilla groups! But Frankenstein has reasons for wanting to win that go beyond the glory of fame . . . . The reasons don't make much sense, but I won't spoil it by giving them away.

Stallone's acting actually steals the show -- he's an above-average actor in a far below-average move. He even makes it look credible when skinny-armed, slow-moving Carradine, who punches like a 12 year old girl, beats him up.

...Actually, the movie's dialogue, sets and acting are very, very amateurish. ... The satire is thin, the humor is virtually non-existent (except for some pretty hard and well-justified whacks at the media), and characters have not the slightest bit of depth or logic. There are a lot of scenes involving gratuitous nudity (exclusively of women) and characters will sleep with their mortal enemies, try to kill them and then (literally) five minutes later embrace them lovingly, etc. I particularly like the scene where a saboteur tries to drive Frankenstein off a cliff and, as soon as he stops her, he gets out of the car (leaving her in control of the car), walks to the edge of a cliff directly in front of the car, and stand there contemplating the universe. Instead of finishing the job and killing him, the saboteur follows him and gives him a hug.

That said, the cars themselves are very imaginative and there is good action. Some of the special effects are well above par for a B-grade movie like this one. And, for all the terrible acting, [bad] script and silly plot, there is just enough fun in it to make your typical low-brow action-loving American, such as myself, sit still through 90 minutes of it. On the other hand, my wife, who is not a non-low-brow, non-action-loving American, found it utterly to lack redeeming value.