What can I say? you'll either love it or hate it, but you are certainly in for a visual feast.
Movies like Sin City and 300 (I know there were other movies before it, Captain Sky anyone?,but these were true big hits) use of green and blue screen as become a new trend, and this movie pulls it off perfectly.
Not only it helps to immerse yourself in this Wonderful, Colorful and Unbelievable world, but it also helps to make it Believable. I know it sounds strange, but once you'll see, you'll get it (or you won't totally agree with me ). I'll borrow a paragraph from IGN's review:
I must admit I wasn't much of a fan of the original show, sometimes I found it unbearable to watch. It was way too fantastic and exaggerated for my liking, but I did watched it from time to time (guilty pleasure, I guess) and I know what the story was and how the show worked (the buttons on the steering wheel, and how it they were used it over and over again in almost the exactly same fashion everytime), and when I saw that on the trailers I couldn't help to LOL and be intrigued by it: the things I hated, are there, the over the top action and sequences, and characters, are there.
Everything that made the 60's show famous, and entertaining for kids, it's in the movie, plus a few new twists.
From the very start of the movie, you're treated to a trippy and over colour saturated world that's is pleasing to the eyes: the Warner and Silver pictures logo welcomed you to the movie with a rainbow of colour that's just a taste of you'll get in the movie. We see Speed getting ready for a race, looking a bit nervous and thinking about his Brother Rex, then flashback (the first of many scattered throughout the movie) shows a young Speed in school, unable to focus his mind in anything other than racing, which it's a problem for him since his taking a test, from this point on every other character it's introduced in flashback sequences (except for Spritle, Chim-Chim and the bad guys of course) intercut with sequences of Speed racing in the very same track his bother Rex, used to take him to drive the Match 5 and, set a record time.
One way to explain this movie is to called it a Real life Anime, when Rex goes to pick up young Speed from school, we get to see for the first time, a cartoony, and yet a bit real, colourful bright and living world, which only gets bigger and more visually impressive as the movie progresses.
throughout the flashbacks we see the story of the Racer family, Speed's worship of his brother Rex, and Rex leaving the family to race, against Pops' wishes, and his eventual death. In the midtime, Speed is leading the race, only to realize he's competing against the ghost of his brother (anyone who played a racing game will know what I mean about "Ghost") to set a new record.
Once Speed wins the race, he's approach by the bad, corporate guy: Royalton, who tries to convince him, and the Racer family, to make a partnership and have Speed race for him. A great sequence unfolds, showing what seems to be a Star Wars' Tokio designed by Willy Wonka, full of neon and sky crappers (Imagine the Coruscant sequence in Ep I, but full of blue, pink and purple buildings and neon anime billboards and you might get the visual). After showing what Royalton offers (facilities, workshops, cars and luxury life) he's presented with the contract. But once Speed declines the offer, Royalton shows his true side (and his truth about the racing world) and swears to ruin the Racer family and ensure Speed "never finishes another race". Speeds eyes are open to a side of racing he did not know, and the struggle to help his family and fix the world he lives in begins....
I might seem too caught up with the visuals, but that's exactly what the movie has to offer, breathtaking, fantastic visuals, backgrounds and racing tracks, equally fantastic, and yet believable, well constructed cars design, great racing sequences (my favorites being the desert race, the mountain jumping race and the final race) and two good fighting sequences.
The story is not all that good, the movie has too much plot for it's own good, but it certainly delivers a moral message, not heavy, over elaborated existentialism like in the Matrix, a more subtle and heartwarming message about sticking up for yourself and your ideas to find, and make justice in the world.
The actors are OK in their roles, you can ask much out of them here, they play it like they are supposed to, it is after all Speed Racer, but unlike the cartoon world they come from, characters are given a subtle level of depth. Christina Ricci, is charming and candid playing Trixie, it suits her very well, And Mathew Fox plays a interesting Racer X, Goodman delivers one of the best (if not only) speech in the movie, when Speed [SPOILER - highlight to read]: is leaving the house, just like his brother Rex did, but this time realizes his error, and also manages to give hope to Speed that not everything in the world of racing it's fixed. It conveys emotion and it's a pretty well written scene.
Racer X reveal of his face was a good scene too [SPOILER - highlight to read]: I like how they didn't try to have Speed recognize him as his brother, the actor that plays Rex and Fox don't look alike but there's some similarities. The explanation flashback of his face was a bit too long, expected from a mile away, but it was good that at least they came up with a more believable explanation
Spritle and Chim Chim are almost a carbon-copy of their cartoon characters. There are times when the movie's plot scenes become too long, tedious or even boring, but Spritle and Chim Chim cut in, in totally unrelated, funny scenes doing their antics ... or sometimes they interrupt too serious dialogue by other characters to provide comedy relief. Some might find this two characters annoying. I didn't. I actually enjoyed watching them do funny, anime-like, sequences (The last scene "Disclaimer" they make it's their best joke IMO)
There's two fight scene that are totally different from each another, not only in choreography, but in style as well. One looks like a regular martial arts fight (Sparky provides great comedy relief, but Spritle and Chim Chim's anime jump/scream tops it), but the other one it's a more bizarre sequence: it's like a Batman 60's tv-show fight mix the Matrix's FX but done in anime-style... ..... It's fun to watch.
And there's also shoot outs .
If you are going to watch this movie, forget any prejudice and preconceptions you might have about it, and you would certainly enjoy it. The Visuals would make more than enough for any shortcomings the movie has, and you will leave the theater quite pleased.
If not, and if you hate the Wachowski Brother, then you will have more fodder to criticize them... Or better yet: Go watch Iron Man if you haven't seen it yet...
I think the Movie would have done much better if it were to have been released before Iron Man, and since it's a family friendly movie(sort of) it will have a lot of competition with Indiana Jones and Narnia, and It might end up failing in the Box Office. That would be a shame... hopefully I'm wrong.
I enjoyed the movie a lot ...................... I'd give a 4-out of-5 stars
BTW: High Definition it's how you must see this movie, The IMAX version would be the best way to see it, I think..... This movie it's gonna make a great BluRay Title
There's some exagerated HA-HA by the end of the movie, but it works
Some call this movie "Mario Kart - the movie"..... ....
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"When Gotham is ashes, you have my permission to die." -BANE
I saw Speed Racer. Its better than I had thought, but still I have problems. Way too much color. The acting was stale. Matt Fox is better on the small screen. Emile Hirsch doesn't pull off being young. The car acrobatic team should've been featured more. All in all just making $20 million the first 3 days is not good, not good at all. No sequel is coming.
critics havn´t got a clue about movies, most movies the have smacked I really enjoyed. The look to much for "shakespeare" type acting and all that thespian crap. When most folk just want to be entertained, and enjoy a good movie.
As long as theres action, top visuals and at least a bit of a story then Im happy.
well since someone said you'll either love it or hate it-and I've seen enough to know I'll hate it,still cant bash a film till you see it,but since someone said you'll either love it or hate it,guess I'll pay my way in to see IRONMAN,a movie I love and then do the old sneak in to another theater thing after its over so i can see it for free and not waste my money so I can come back and bash it then.
I was never a fan of speed racer, but i went to see this because i had nothing better to choose from. From the trailers i was concerned that, because of the colors and pace of the racing, there would be sequences that would be completely disorienting. Fortunately, this was never an issue. The action was handled well and i never found myself asking what is going on. The effects are very well done. Unlike sky captain, i never once felt like i was watching a movie that was filmed in a small room. The Cgi worked much like 300 in allowing you to immerse yourself in a believable and interesting world. The story and acting seemed more than passable, but i can see how some people would be bored in between the racing scenes, ESPECIALLY children. I didnt care for the story to much because i just dont like speed racer, not even with a western spice. It is definitely not a bad movie and not so deserving of all it's negative reviews.
In the end i'm just not sure who this movie is for. It is a bit to mature the younger kids, and a bit to silly for older teens and adults. The racing, however, can be enjoyed by everyone. If you want to see this movie, dont wait for dvd. Much like king kong and other event flicks, it is one you should see on the big screen to get the most out of it. If you're on the fence...,a 3 month wait for dvd is the way to go.
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(sig by Scythe)
KMC Community Forums
May 4th, 2008 06:16 PM
). I'll borrow a paragraph from IGN's review:
