Customer Reviews

Speed Racer [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(134)
4 star:		(65)
3 star:		(33)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(30)

 

 

I can understand why some people might dislike this movie (just look at its box-office) but the one undeniable fact is that it perfectly captures the spirit of the TV show which was never really associated with profound human feelings. It's amazing how everyone involved in it simply decided to give it their all. Just look at the conviction with which Susan Sarandon and John Goodman recited lines that clearly feel out of a cartoon. Usually I hate movies with quick cuts and gratuitous CG effects and SPEED RACER is 135 minutes of quick cuts and CG so I guess nostalgia goes a long way. I was so glad they included the sound effect of the Mach 5 jumping over and over again. My only real complaint about the movie is that there was a little bit too much of the chimp for my taste.
I can't blame anyone for complaining on leaving the theater with a headache. The world outside the theater I saw SPEED RACER in looked so slow once the movie ended, this is one exhausting film but certainly worth it.

Recently it seems like cartoon and comic books are about the only thing that gets made into blockbuster movies. While Transformers made the robots look like real living hulks of metal in the real world, and there's just no telling what the proposed Robotech movie will look like if it ever actually comes out, Speed Racer takes what is becoming the rather unpopular method of visual style. If you've seen Sky Captain and the world of tomorrow, you're familiar with it. Everything has a computer-adjusted color look to it, a super-crisp, super-sharp look reminiscent of the stop-motion films of yesteryear. And like those films that made the 80's so much fun for fantasy and sci-fi fans, Speed Racer features fantastic landscapes like nothing else on Earth (only now they are computer-generated instead of hand-painted).

The story of Speed Racer the movie actually exactly the same as the old cartoon show of the 1960's. Speed Racer (yeah, that's actually his name) is an aspiring race car driver looking to become the best and win races, with Pop's company supplying the car and mechanic, and his mom, little brother Spritle, girlfriend Trixie and family pet chimp for support. Corporate thugs notice and try to either destroy, bankrupt, or otherwise make trouble for Racer Motors, and Speed teams up with Racer X (who may or may not be his presumed dead brother Rex), Inspector Detector, and a few friends he meets along the way, to bring down the bad guys and save the day. Yeah, nothing too complex story-wise, but hey, that's why you loved the cartoon show, right?

Everything a Cartoon Should Be

When I first heard there was going to be a Speed Racer movie by the makers of the Matrix, I was worried. Animated features and video games don't really have a good history as feature films. But after seeing Speed Racer in the theater five times, I have to admit, they got it pretty much perfect. The trick with making a cartoon movie live action, and intentionally making it look cartoony, is that you have to push everything into a consistent cartoon universe and have it make sense in it's context. In other words, you have to make things exaggerated, but not the point of total impossibility in the world you have created. You see in the Speed Racer world, cars have insane power, traction, control, and speed. So when you see the Mach 5 speeding around corners in insane power-slides, yeah it looks like a cartoon, but you accept it as actually happening in that cartoon. It never looks out of place. When the engine roars and cars explode into flames it isn't silly, it's movie magic of the best kind, like when Luke's X-Wing lands that shot into the Death Star in Star Wars.

It's hard to describe without actually seeing it for yourself, but the cartoon universe of Speed Racer really is created wonderfully in this film. Everything from the sky to the furniture has an over-exposed super-vivid quality to it, like a technicolor gone mad. There is CGI backgrounds galore, but they jive perfectly with that universe as well, because everyone is wearing super-bright colors as well, and everything is always in razor sharp focus. Actually, this may be the movie to make me upgrade to a Blue Ray player, because it has to be the ultimate benchmark for color, contrast, and sharpness for a long time to come.

The world of Speed Racer is amazing enough, but the way that the film is acted, shot, directed, and scored musically is what combines to make it a 10 out of 10. For starters, everyone is just so INTO their roles. Susan Sarandon as Mom and John Goodman as Pop Racer are both absolutely perfect, managing to become those stereotypical cartoon caricatures and at the same never come across as cheesy, over-the-top or unrealistic. Again, in the context of the film, they are part of the Universe. Pop talks to Speed like he really is his son, mom gives a heart-warming speech about how proud she is of Speed that really gets to you if you know what it's like to love your family. Never does anyone betray even slightly that they think their names are ridiculous or that they are saying silly lines. EVERYONE gives their lines like they are absolutely real. And if you're making a Star Wars or a Speed Racer, that makes the movie in the end. Everyone was great. From the mechanic and the little brother (a lot less annoying than the Spritle of the cartoon) to the absolutely gorgeous and incredibly cute-looking Trixie played to perfection by Christina Ricci (where the heck has she been and why now of all times did she decide to play a sweet, loveable babe instead of all those crazy weird Gothic-horror type roles?), you gotta love them all. I especially was overjoyed by how well Racer X was portrayed with icy stoicism. Just wonderful.

The near constant use of deep focus photography and other camera techniques, combined with tons of digital screen wipes and other minor tricks, results in an incredibly slick presentation that cascades past the screen like panels of a comic book in glorious living color. The comedy and dramatic buttons are always pushed to great effect, all while keeping things from getting too far from the light-hearted entertainment that Speed Racer should be. And when the orchestral remix of the Speed Racer theme kicks in, it's just magic.

You really can't expect much more from this movie than it already is. It's true to the spirit of Speed Racer, the characters are all acted perfectly, the story is classic, there are tons of great moments and Speed Racer tributes (like Speed's wearing his trademark blue shirt and red handkerchief and his classic pose when he jumps from the Mach 5, or the sound effect made every time the Mach 5's jump jacks are used). Speed Racer may not be perfect. The villains feel more Hanna Barbara than Speed Racer, the sprinkling of swear-words (and Spritle giving someone the finger?) really don't jive in the kid-friendly Speed Racer universe, and the visual style of this film is definitely not for everyone. But...

If you're like me and love comic books, video games, and anime, if you like to watch old shows just as much as new ones, if crazy CGI and a movie shot entirely with blue-screens makes you smile, and the Speed Racer theme kicking in full-blast just as Speed makes a triumphant comeback makes you cheer... this is the movie for you!

"When I watch you do some of the things you do," says Susan Sarandon in the Wachowski Brothers' "Speed Racer," "you take my breath away." This line pretty much sums up how I felt about the movie. "Speed Racer" is an absolute visual masterpiece, retooling the look of anime into an exciting, hyper-realized world of vibrant creativity. Every shot is like a cartoon brought to life, the neutral shades of the real world replaced with bold shades of red, blue, green, yellow, purple, and orange. It doesn't present us with a vision of the future so much as it presents an alternate reality, where racing tracks and cars defy gravity. Here's a film you have to see more than once for the imagery alone, because chances are you'll miss more than a few details along the way--every square inch of the screen is packed with visual delights almost all throughout. It isn't often you come across a movie this stunning, this lively, and this fun.

Based on the 1960s cartoon series created by Tatsuo Yoshida, "Speed Racer" puts it foot on the gas as soon as the Warner Bros. logo appears, interweaving the title character's back story with a heart-pounding race. Even as a young boy, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) has known nothing other than automobile racing; now as a professional racer himself, Speed is haunted by the death of his big brother, Rex (Scott Porter), a racing superstar who crashed eight years ago on a cross-country rally. The public believed that corporate sponsorship changed Rex into a money-grubbing backstabber, forcing him to turn his back on racing altogether. Naturally, Speed and his family are now completely against sponsorships of any kind, especially his father, appropriately named Pops (John Goodman). For this family, it's about racing, not money.

Here enters Royalton (Roger Allam), a slick corporate mogul who tempts Speed with the fame and fortune associated with being sponsored. In essence, Royalton wants Speed to sell his soul, much like Rex sold his. Despite an impressive city suite and the top-of-the-line cars manufactured in a highly efficient factory, Speed refuses to make a deal. Royalton angrily lets him in on a little secret: Car races are always fixed because, contrary to what Speed was raised to believe, making money is what racing is all about. With the help of his girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), and a mysterious masked man known only as Racer X (Matthew Fox), Speed infiltrates a number of races in an attempt to destroy Royalton's reputation as well as the need for corporate sponsorship. This won't be so easy, though; numerous factions are in cahoots with one another, all of which connect with Royalton to some degree.

If this sounds absolutely ridiculous, keep in mind that plot is not what "Speed Racer" depends on. This movie thrives on imaginative digital effects and spectacular racing sequences, all of which rely on lightening-quick edits and creative camera tricks for maximum entertainment. In this completely fantasy world, racecourses look like oversized Hot Wheels tracks, with sharp inclined curves, completely vertical drops, gaps to jump, and a variety of loops. Speed and his beloved car--the Mach 5--navigate these roller coaster-like twists and turns with ease and accuracy, as one would expect from a cartoon adaptation. Cityscapes are colossal, brightly colored, and sterile, looking much like the Worlds of Tomorrow depicted in science fiction pulp magazines. The sunny sky is a deep, rich shade of light blue, and it's accented with puffball clouds that are pure white. On DVD, one could easily pause a frame of this film and stare at it for hours while absorbing every single detail.

Just as impressive are the side characters, all of which add a little something to the story. Speed's youngest brother, Spritle (Paulie Litt), is a loveable scamp who often stows away in the trunk of the Mach 5. Always at his side is Chim Chim, his beloved pet chimp; together, they act as the film's comedy relief. Speed's mother (Susan Sarandon) is a caring woman who can weld car parts after making a mean stack of pancakes. The family mechanic, Sparky (Kick Gurry), absolutely shines during a wonderfully cartoonish martial arts sequence, one that makes you laugh just as much as it makes you cheer.

In a nutshell, "Speed Racer" has set a new standard for digital filmmaking, a standard previously set by brilliant films such as "Sin City" and "300." It's sure to snag Oscar nominations for visual effects, costumes, and cinematography, as well it should; watching this movie is an exhilarating experience, a perfect mixture of hard-driving action, childish whimsy, and visual creativity. The abundant imagery acts as a counterpart to Michael Giacchino's score, a cheerful opus that adapts the original theme song "Go Speed Racer Go." But all this wouldn't have worked without the actors, all of which were perfectly cast. Hirsch makes the title character both determined and vulnerable. Ricci gives Trixie a wide-eyed innocence that I absolutely loved. Allam is deliciously evil as Royalton, a sniveling, conniving villain you just love to hate. Sarandon and Goodman are convincingly down-to-earth as the parents of a racecar driver. And I have to give a lot of credit to young Paulie Litt, who not only delivered some of the film's best lines, but also played his part in the spirit of good fun. "Speed Racer" was all in good fun, definitely one of the year's most entertaining films.

Note to reader: Strange vote totals, yes? It's just the work of a cyber stalker--

Wow, what a start to our summer adventures!!

"Speed Racer" the movie and "Go Speed Racer Go," the single title song by Ali Dee and the Deekompressors, had us hip hopping out the theater door, down the sidewalk, and into the car, then jumping and spinning along, singing "Go Speed Racer Go." They (the Pretend Children) were singing to me, the great aunt, because I was whirling and jolting in my Pretend Mach 8 Ford Escape down the freeway home. Hey, I was down for that movie.

Watching the spinning images, neon lighted, anime-inspired, digitally produced, toons-like panels with insertion of real people in the mix was a visual feast and imminent barf all in one. Dizzying. Spiraling. Flipping. Neon lights (more). Crashing. Just to suggest the mental images of the race scenes. During a couple of close-up montages of the cars before digitizing began, I glimpsed real-time, real-life tiny model cars (my great-nephew has a huge collection). And in some of the martial arts fight-stop-go scenes, especially one with John Goodman, I was slooshed with a moment of a set-up of Goodman just standing there ready to squash the ninja before digitized action thrust him into zoom speed action.

(Actually, if I had never digitally filmed my own video, I might not have recognized those scenes, but I have and I did. Did it take away from the movie? No way. Actually, I felt privy to a second of movie making magic.)

As for acting, I was awed by everyone, especially the coolly suave Emile Hirsch (looking like a young Charlie Sheen) as Speed Racer; Christina Ricci, who I was sure was really Susan Sarandon's daughter with those big eyes and similar facial expressions; Roger Allam, as the big corporate villain, who played a Michael Caine-like villain almost as well as Caine does himself; John Goodman, who played, well, Goodman as Pops, Speed's father. Stealer of every scene in which he appeared was young Paulie Litt, Speed's little brother, who I was definitely sure was Goodman's real life son because the resemblance was so uncanny.

The story line was so complicated and told in such a complicated, back and forth manner, both narratively and visually (you'll have to see the movie to understand as this is a new kind of movie making and story telling, sort of magic realism on screen), that I was certain the Pretend Children would not understand. I quizzed them as I was hip hopping down the street to the car, while the boy was laughing and beseeching me not to embarrass him. I stopped. Their answers indicated complete understanding. Either I have little geniuses or the movie told its story in a less complicated manner than I first believed.

Is "Speed Racer" a good movie from a 9-year-old's standpoint? "I've had two good things happen two days in a row," he said. "I went to Chuck E. Cheese's yesterday and today I saw "Speed Racer."

You decide.

People need to realize that reviews are sometimes wrong. Sometimes something so new, so visionary, happens, that it just irks the reviewers. I don't know what it is, but "eye-ball lacerating"(NYT?) does not begin to describe the shock of visual freshness that is this movie. This is a totally reinvented color palette for a movie, it will leave you breathless. Yes it is heavily nostalgic, bit it's also very new. Yes the plot is simple, but in a way that's different from all those kid movies that are so flatulently tired of their own story-lines. Go speed racer, he always lands on top.

I wish American movie viewers would have given speedracer a chance. With a dismal 44 million dollar domestic gross, there is much little hope for a second film which needs to be told. To be honest, speed racer took race car films to the ground breaking next level, just as The Matrix did for Science Fiction. Both the Matrix, and Speedracer had me the viewer emotionally envolved, and dazed by the visual effects. We are lucky to have the unique young tallent of Emile Hirsch portraying the role of Speed. And if Suzan Surandon is willing to play the role of Speeds mother, obviously the screenplay had much depth which most action films lack. Last note to all Bluray owners, don't bother renting Speedracer, just buy it. It is a good quality film, and it is going to look amaizing on your HD t.v.

Somebody insisted that this film is only for kids 6-15. I am 52 years old, and I absolutely was blown away by 'Speedracer'.

I did not grow up with the 'Speedracer' cartoon. I know very little about the storylines. I also have learned that, over the years, not to always listen to critics, especially during the summer when films like 'Iron-Man' are dominating theatres. That said, 'Speedracer', from the makers of 'Matrix', is another extremely imaginative film. 'Speedracer' is FILLED (I emphasize this) with: tons of exciting car action (of course), loads of humor, a lot of tender moments, GREAT special effects, and a lot more action. And the music is fantastic. Watching 'Speedracer' is an experience, like a Disneyland ride. You are sitting in the theatre, but the filmmakers somehow pull you into the action (this wasn't IMAX). It's thrilling. As for the actors? Goodman, Sarandon, Hirsch (as Speedracer) and Christina Ricci, not to mention the rest of the cast, are just having fun with the rest of us. The story is good vs. evil, nothing more. What else do we need from a wonderful thrill ride??? Please don't listen to critics. And please consider what this poorly marketed film has to deal with: 'Iron-Man', next week 'Narnia', then 'Indiana Jones'... The list goes on. No wonder 'Speedracer' gets lost in the shuffle. This is a film that may be before its' time, as was 'Matrix'. Go see 'Speedracer'. It's for the kids. It's for the adults. And it is never offensive.

'Speedracer' is so exciting and warm-hearted and funny you will find yourself laughing and cheering all at the same time while you are trying in vain to wipe away the tears in your eyes. See it just once. I guarantee you will want to tell your friends. They will love it!!!

One of the coolest and most unique-looking movies I have ever seen. The Wachowski's have created a unique vision of the original 1960's cartoon while remaining faithful to the source. Bright vibrant colors, fast moving cars, anime-style action sequences and plenty of humor make for one fun movie. It's great for the whole family.

There is one word for this movie, whether you enjoyed it or not: MIND-BLOWING.

After leaving the theater, the real world seems flat and grey in comparison. At the start of the film, it takes a few minutes to adjust; there is no gentle transition into the crayola-on-steroids world of Speed Racer. Initially the computer-generated portions (nearly 70% of the screen at any given time) seem to clash with the actors, but they blend incredibly quickly and by mid-film there's not a thought in the world that these people aren't driving real cars. Because SO much of the movie is CGI, your mind tends to forget that either the actors or their surroundings are (or aren't) real, which makes the overall integration nearly seamless.

When I saw the original trailer on the big screen, at the time, I rolled my eyes (particularly when Trixie's bubble-gum pink helicopter flashed across the screen). I happened to catch a glimpse of it again recently on TV, and my interested was piqued a bit and I decided to read some online reviews.

Critics panned the "low-plot" storyline, firecracker graphics, and whirlwind pace, but more than a few viewers seemed star-struck, resulting in my decision to give it a go. What a good choice! I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the acting and real existence of plotline. At times the energy does boarder on frantic, but it was well-paced with appropriately timed dialog-driven interludes.

Emile Hirsch is phenomenal as Speed Racer, and Trixie (pleasantly un-exaggerated) was well-played by vixen Christina Ricci. Scott Porter absolutely shined as the teenage Rex, and while Matthew Fox did a decent job as Racer X (particularly during race scenes) he didn't quite have the necessary grit in his unmasked form. Spritle and chimp Chim-Chim will be as annoying as flies to adults but kids will love them.

The special effects are eye-popping and have thoughtful touches (like the streaks of residual light in the ice cave and detail of the cars). One place I felt they were overdone was the Royal Industries factory; I had the vague impression I was watching Oompa-Loompas on speed (no pun intended); the "tour" was so wild my eyes wanted to spin.

But the redeeming qualities of the film far overshadow any negativity, and by the final race you may fight the urge to jump out of your seat with adrenaline every time Speed's car is bashed or flies through the air. Before he crosses the finish line, Speed has one of those traditional movie self-recognition moments, which is wonderfully done with texture and color, and really allows the viewer to experience his intense emotions.

If you're looking for something realistic, serious, or intensely dialog-driven, I recommend trying another film like Iron Man. If you're looking for a great energy rush, heart, and a chance to be a kid again, go see this movie. It will really blow you away.

The only real downside of the film: beware the superbly freaky animated Star Wars trailer. It may ruin your appetite for your popcorn.

If you're a fan, or between 6 and 15, you'll love it. That's who the movie is made for - the next generation, not today's geezers. It contains all of the melo-dramatic elements of the show - the hidden evil behind seeming good (and vice versa) - the devotion to family - the unswerving commitment to doing the right thing - the friendly, platonic relationship between Speed and Trixie - the silliness of the comic relief - and the intensity of the cartoon violence and explosions.

The mystery of Racer X is rejuvinated by new plot twists in this movie - completely recreating the excited mystery I felt as a young adolescent. The actor (Matthew Fox) plays the part with perfect intensity and pitch. I only wish X had slugged Speed like he did in the series when Speed asked if X is really his brother Rex. (not really, but that was such a bizarre scene in the series that it sticks in my head)

No, the critics don't get it. But they might be right about how people other than fans will feel about it, too. The series appealed to young teens and the movie seems to hit the elements that will appeal to that same demographic today. The graphics are very much like the video games played by today's youths, but with much higher fidelity and intensity than stilted game graphics.

The melodrama matches the original series well. Pops and Mom Racer are analogous in their respective over-the-top gruffness and sweetness. As the critics point out, there are some long-winded speeches from Speed and others about right and wrong, which is exactly what I remember and loved about the series. Speed is ridiculously earnest, and exactly the person we each want to be.

I've been very excited about this movie and it completely hit exactly what I wanted in a full-production recreation of the quirk, charm and intensity of the series. My 6 year old loved it too. It may not be for everyone, but if you're a fan, or if you're between 6 and 15, you'll love it. The rest can go see Jane Austin.

God, I hope they make a sequel.