I make my living watching and criticizing movies (well part of my living anyway) and thus am a professional. This means that reactionary reviews of movies are right out. My opinion is my opinion and other critic's opinions are theirs. But I can not and will not allow the stuck up douche bag critics of the world to tear down Speed Racer anymore! I mean what the fuck is wrong with the film world when over two hours of seizure inducing car racing and karate fights made up of pure awesome starts getting torn apart for being boring. Were they watching the same movie?
I mean it's based on Speed Racer for God's sake. Here's the plot: cars go fast, cars do awesome things, Speed thinks his brother might be Racer X, cars go fast again. Insert a family lesson and something about morals, Speed Racer wins the big race. There I summed the entire film up for you and I'm telling you right now you still want to go see this movie. If you're going into it expecting more than that then you need to get the stick out of your ass and learn how to have fun. I mean one of the lead characters is a hilarious monkey. Why would you ever critque this film for not being deep enough?
In my opinion the W brothers have crafted their best work since the Matrix. Remember when you left the first Matrix and all you wanted to do was watch all the amazing fights again? Well all I wanted to do after leaving Speed Racer was watch the awesome car chases again. There is one where a car launches a bee hive as a weapon and to avoid it the Mach 5 flips over it. Bee hives! Cars flipping! Epilepsy! I don't know why you would still be reading this and not seeing the movie.
Just in case you're terribly worried that the film plays too much to the kids there is plenty of fan service (along with a cuss word!) in there too. The brothers clearly know the terribly dubbed world of Speed Racer and while they don't go as far as to make the actors voices move out of sync with their mouths there are plenty of obvious nods to the original cartoon. Can you say red ascot under a blue shirt with a white collar? Or perhaps jumping out of your speeding car at the end of a race towards the camera and brining your arm up across your face in a manner that is more than awesome, it's super awesome.
Yes, I will admit that the movie goes on for a bit too long but it does this in order to bring you another F-Zero like race around another insane track. There are far worse reasons for a film to be too long (Lord of the Rings, I'm looking at you) especially when this one never really gets boring. I'm not sure where the critics who got bored at the film derive their fun from because if you can't be brought to the edge of your seat by cars that are basically doing gymnastics then you should see your doctor because I think you're brain isn't receiving whatever brain thing that makes you able to see awesome. Also they must not be able to hear because the score is a wonderful remix of the original Speed Racer theme and if that doesn't get your blood pumping nothing will.
I'm not saying this in the next academy award winning movie, nor is it the next Matrix, I am saying that the Wachowski Brothers have constructed one hell of a thrilling ride for kids and adults that's jammed packed with Anime references, humor, adult material and enough retro love to keep any fan of the series from bitching too much.
Gah! Some times my fellow critics annoy the fuck out of me.
5 out of 5. Even if you hate everything else about the movie seeing the races on the big screen is the only way to go.
Awesome reveiw. I don't quite know who listens to critics but again, half of the time critics don't like movies that win awards/sway the crowd/whatever.
I really don't see why this movie shouldn't be a hit as it does great for a Speed Racer movie.
My brother used to be a Speed Racer nut, so I'll probably see this with him. Even with your glowing review I still feel that this may be a complete trainwreck with some snazzy races thrown in, but I guess I'll see for myself, eh?
I'm definitely excited for this flick. Glad to hear you approve, Cow.
King, you (or anyone else who's on the fence) should check out the first 7 minutes of the film that Yahoo has. If you hate that, you probably shouldn't see the movie.
Trust me, go see this. I saw a midnight showing of it last night with 2 of my friends and we all loved this movie. Were 20 btw and this movie is not just for kids.
I do movie reviews do, not professionally, because I hate all the movies receiving awards, yet I hated the living shit of em. (lost in translation....)
Please go see this movie. You will not be disappointed. Cow also mentioned a car throwing a bee hive. Theres also a car that throws snakes!!! That and theres an awesome fight scene with a monkey. A FUCKIN MONKEY!!!!
I don't know about this.. I'll check it out but TWO HOURS of anything, Speed Racer included, sounds a little TOO much. Unless Christina Ricci is sexing everybody in the movie..including the monkey.
^what king3vbo said. Your review makes me go a long way towards being willing to watch it, but it looks so terrible...
And I never watched this as a kid.
I wanted to see this movie after the first trailer was released. I just feel like there were a lot of ways this movie could have sucked or been made wrong, but it looks exactly like the cartoon only with real actors. That equals success in my opinion.
Let's say that I really liked Iron Man because of the sharp writing and professional acting, without ever once thinking it needed more action, but could have easily passed on the stupid and obligatory "bad guy fight" at the end. Am I not this movie's target audience?
I'm going to agree with Cowzilla 100%. I saw this movie with him (although I missed the first 15 minutes--DAMN YOU D.C. TRAFFIC!) and I was thoroughly entertained. I really thought I was going to hate this movie, but I couldn't help smiling through 80% of it.
If you're looking for sharp writing (MaxVest), Speed Racer isn't going to do it for you. However, if you are looking to have your head explode and feel like an eight year old again, this is your movie.
There are definitely slapstick and painfully sappy moments abound, but I found myself oddly entertained and moved by them. On all accounts, the individual parts of this movie should make it "bad," but, as a total package, it charmed the hell out of me. Plus, I had a cheesesteak and played mini golf afterwards--best day ever.
P.S. Ask Cowzilla how hard I rocked him on the golf course; I was incredible.
reading this I seriously thought you were being a troll but then I realized you wouldn't do that. I'm so confused... maybe ill see it at the drive in or ... not and just rent it.
I'm glad to see it getting positive reviews. Some expect every film to be a blockbuster, while many forget how to make a fun and enjoyable film.
As an anime fan, who never really saw much Speed Racer anime, but still knows the source material, from what I'd seen of the trailer last year, I was positive W Bros could pull it off.
Well said, brother!
I'm going to IMAX for this baby, for sure.
Yes, people are way too critical nowadays. I mean, it's okay to critique a flick, but to brutally bash tha hell out of it is dumb. Unless, of course, it's warranted. House of the Dead. Sucked. Really sucked.
I've talked to people who saw Iron Man and were like, "It was okay." Are you freaking kidding me?! Okay?! It didn't change my world, but the movie was pretty got damn awesome in my book.
Anyway, man - I'm going to see Speed Racer and I know exactly what to expect! Can't wait...
Hi,
Names Matt Razak and I'm just a gamer with a Wii and a 360. I'm also really, really, really, ridicously good looking and a ninja...and humble. If you haven't noticed from my selfless self promoting or my Monday reviews I'm a film critic for a living at a local newspaper in Northern Virginia. I write at That VideoGame Blog but my heart will always belong to D-toid.
Right now I'm working on these games:
Contra 4
Lost Odyssey
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(# 0) on 05/09/2008 09:37
(# 1) on 05/09/2008 09:43
(# 2) on 05/09/2008 09:49
Damn.
(# 3) on 05/09/2008 09:49
(# 4) on 05/09/2008 09:50
(# 5) on 05/09/2008 10:08
(# 6) on 05/09/2008 10:08
iron man, then speed racer...
i fucking love may.
(# 7) on 05/09/2008 10:13
I really don't see why this movie shouldn't be a hit as it does great for a Speed Racer movie.
(# 8) on 05/09/2008 10:41
I trust you cowzilla, I really do... but... it looks so awful...
(# 9) on 05/09/2008 10:45
(# 10) on 05/09/2008 11:09
(# 11) on 05/09/2008 11:24
(# 12) on 05/09/2008 11:36
King, you (or anyone else who's on the fence) should check out the first 7 minutes of the film that Yahoo has. If you hate that, you probably shouldn't see the movie.
(# 13) on 05/09/2008 11:39
I do movie reviews do, not professionally, because I hate all the movies receiving awards, yet I hated the living shit of em. (lost in translation....)
Please go see this movie. You will not be disappointed. Cow also mentioned a car throwing a bee hive. Theres also a car that throws snakes!!! That and theres an awesome fight scene with a monkey. A FUCKIN MONKEY!!!!
(# 14) on 05/09/2008 11:43
(# 15) on 05/09/2008 11:45
(# 16) on 05/09/2008 11:52
(# 17) on 05/09/2008 12:49
And I never watched this as a kid.
(# 18) on 05/09/2008 13:06
(# 19) on 05/09/2008 13:10
(# 20) on 05/09/2008 13:46
If you're looking for sharp writing (MaxVest), Speed Racer isn't going to do it for you. However, if you are looking to have your head explode and feel like an eight year old again, this is your movie.
There are definitely slapstick and painfully sappy moments abound, but I found myself oddly entertained and moved by them. On all accounts, the individual parts of this movie should make it "bad," but, as a total package, it charmed the hell out of me. Plus, I had a cheesesteak and played mini golf afterwards--best day ever.
P.S. Ask Cowzilla how hard I rocked him on the golf course; I was incredible.
(# 21) on 05/09/2008 14:14
(# 22) on 05/09/2008 15:13
second, there's no way this movie is good.
but... to each his own.
(# 23) on 05/09/2008 19:47
As an anime fan, who never really saw much Speed Racer anime, but still knows the source material, from what I'd seen of the trailer last year, I was positive W Bros could pull it off.
I'll definitely go see it now.
(# 24) on 05/11/2008 23:57
I'm going to IMAX for this baby, for sure.
Yes, people are way too critical nowadays. I mean, it's okay to critique a flick, but to brutally bash tha hell out of it is dumb. Unless, of course, it's warranted. House of the Dead. Sucked. Really sucked.
I've talked to people who saw Iron Man and were like, "It was okay." Are you freaking kidding me?! Okay?! It didn't change my world, but the movie was pretty got damn awesome in my book.
Anyway, man - I'm going to see Speed Racer and I know exactly what to expect! Can't wait...
(# 25) on 05/12/2008 19:26
Now to convince someone to go see the movie with me.