Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a young talented driver who is beginning to get attention in the media as the next best thing on the race track. He is approached by Royalton (Roger Allam), who wants to buy out Racer Motors and become Speed’s sponsor. Speed declines the deal only to be threatened by Royalton on how he can’t win without his sponsorship. The movie then becomes a race for Speed to prove Royalton wrong and expose him for the cheat he is.
I am not a fan of the old anime, and I have never watched it. I know of it and have a few ideas of what it was about, however I never gave it a proper chance. I found myself liking a few of the characters as the film progressed: Royalton, Sparky (Kirk Gurry), Trixie (Christina Ricci), and Racer X (Matthew Fox), due to their over the top nature, but it still didn’t outweigh the bad acting from a lot of the actors. The story in this movie was the equivalent of a dried out coconut. It seems huge and filled with sweet jelly, but as you get it cracked open you realize how empty it really is. The movie is about racing and amazing visuals, and that’s it. However, what the movie set out to do it accomplished brilliantly.
The visuals are definitely the highlight of the movie. As with any Wachowski film you can expect some new found technical addition to film. This time they bring us the (what I call) “Full Focus” picture. This is where every aspect of the film is in focus, there is no foreground or background just one layer. And it is very noticeable. I also loved the techno blaring colours being flashed at me for over two hours.
I believe that any real anime fan will enjoy this movie. However, this is where the movie falls short, in that in order to enjoy this movie you must be one of two things:
-
an anime fan
-
four years old
Another thing, I don’t believe that anyone will like this movie unless you go to the theatre to see it on the big screen. And before you ask… NO!! Noone has paid me as a advertiser, but this is just what I think. Due to the lack of a story and lots of bad acting, the movie comes down to visuals and directing. And I think if I were to have waited for the DVD to see this movie on my 20” screen TV I would hate it. SO if you are remotely interested in the movie go to the theatre to see it.
Overall the movie is a blast even though at moments you will be reminded that it is a children’s movie. You can overlook those things easily when you see all the brilliant epilepsy inducing graphics.
IMDB says 6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes says 35%
I say 7.0/10
You say 7 out of 10. I say fuscia :)
I suppose it wasn't really a surprise that it wasn't that impressive. Seems like a DVD movie though. :)
@ Douglas
your just being annoying….
@ Nathan
I'm serious when I say, if you want to have a chance of enjoying this movie, (unless of course you own your own private theatre) you need to go see it on the big screen at the theatre. The TV won't cut it.
ye but gman, i dont want a seisure. :|
yeah well this movie was great, people argue too much over semantics such as flashy colors and real cartoon like appearances. OMG wait wasnt originally a cartoon??? im neither an anime fan nor four years old and i thought this movie was amazing. it would never be the same on a small tv. the colors, the emotion, the experience this movie provides makes it great considering it doesnt take away from that fact that it is a kids cartoon show. great job to the wachoski brothers on this, giving full grown adults a great movie-going experience without leaving the kid inside stuck at home.