Release
Date: May 9, 2008 (conventional theaters and IMAX) Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon,
Matthew Fox, Hiroyuki Sanada, Richard Roundtree, Ji Hoon Jung, Benno Furmann,
Kick Gurry, Paulie Litt, Roger Allam Genre: Action MPAA Rating: PG (for sequences of action, some violence and language)
Review: An over-the-top, sensory overload experience
determined to replicate its frantic, television-anime origins, Speed
Racer is wild enough to induce a headache or wow a viewer with one
dazzling effect after another. Adapted for the big screen as a live-action
feature, Speed Racer is written and directed by Larry and Andy
Wachowski, the sibling team behind the intensely satisfying The Matrix
and its busier, less interesting sequels. Where the rich mythmaking of
The Matrix was entirely accessible, however, Speed Racer's
overwhelming and gratuitously complicated story exposition is an enormous
challenge to follow, let alone embrace. After a while, one simply surrenders
to the unbroken din of dialogue concerning corporate chicanery, corruption
in the sport of racing, and a value conflict between racing as a family
business versus multinational cash cow. At the same time, the film's
hyper-real equivalent of the old Speed Racer cartoon's great whoosh
of color, motion, and edgy production design--such as inventive uses of
scene-changing wipes, bold framing, shifting perspectives--are more
overbearing than fun...more
EN 5 Second Review:
Nostalgia makes us want to love this movie, and visually
it really delivers, but something just doesn't feel right overall about
it.
DVD Extras:
"Spritle in the Big Leagues" featurette, CG cars featurette.
Blu-ray Disc Extras: Includes a full-disc DVD game "Speed
Racer Crucible Challenge" and a bonus digital copy disc.
Movie Spotlight
Speed Racer Release
Date: May 9, 2008 (conventional theaters and IMAX) Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Director: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski Screenwriter: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon,
Matthew Fox, Hiroyuki Sanada, Richard Roundtree, Ji Hoon Jung, Benno Furmann,
Kick Gurry, Paulie Litt, Roger Allam Genre: Action MPAA Rating: PG (for sequences of action, some violence and language) Official Website:
SpeedRacerthemovie.com
Plot Summary: Born to race cars, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is
aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is
the memory of the brother he idolized—the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a
race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill. Speed is loyal to
the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the
designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and
tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s
maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret—some of the biggest
races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top
drivers to boost profits. If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see
to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line. The only way for Speed
to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his
own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie
(Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival—the mysterious Racer X
(Matthew Fox)—to win the race that had taken his brother’s life: the
death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.
EN 5 Second Review:
Nostalgia makes us want to love this movie, and visually
it really delivers, but something just doesn't feel right overall about
it.
This
is a movie that is giddily, gorgeously overwhelming Tom Marstaud: Dallas Morning News
Think of the Wachowski brothers' latest creation as a giant
wave crashing down on you. It's best to relax and let it engulf you,
turn you upside down, break and leave you gasping and tingly all over.
Don't resist; you'll just get bounced around and wind up feeling
battered and bruised...more
Looks
like Andy and Larry ate a kaleidoscope, then vomited all
over the screen Greg Maki: Star-Democrat
How far the Wachowski Brothers have fallen. It wasn't so
long ago—1999, in fact—that they were the hottest thing in
the entertainment world. The Matrix revolutionized
and energized not only action movies but filmmaking in
general, expanding the limits of what can be done with
technology and making Keanu Reeves cool beyond all reason...more
EN 5 Second Review:
Nostalgia makes us want to love this movie, and visually
it really delivers, but something just doesn't feel right overall about
it.