TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Speed Racer [2008]


RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £8.50 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk 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 myth-making 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.

Emile Hirsch plays Speed Racer, younger brother of a deceased racing legend, Rex, and son of car designer Pops (John Goodman). The latter invented Speed's Mach 5, and is singularly unimpressed by an offer from a giant conglomerate that would lock Speed into exclusive racing services. Speed opts instead for family loyalty, incurring the wrath of the conglomerate's unctuous head (Roger Allam). With family honor on the line and the affections of girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci) behind him, Speed hits the track in hopes of fulfilling his destiny as a master racer. The cast is largely enjoyable, including Susan Sarandon as Speed's mom, Matthew Fox as mysterious Racer X, and a pair of chimps as the irrepressible Chim-Chim. All well and good, but in a movie that lives or dies by the excitement level of races that look like computer-animated Hot Wheels action, Speed Racer is a dreary adventure. --Tom Keogh


"You Think You Can Drive a Car and Change the World?"
Review date: 2008-09-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is obsessed with racing. Even as a boy (Nicholas Elia in these flashbacks), he couldn't concentrate on school but spent the day dreaming about cars. Of course, he comes by it naturally. Pops (John Goodman) designs race cars and older brother Rex (Scott Porter) is an up and coming champion. Things hit a bump when Rex and Pops fight and Rex leaves home only to die amidst allegations of wrong doing.

But racing is in the Racer family blood (no surprise with that name), and Speed seemed destined to take the crown. After making a splash at a local race, he catches the eye of Royalton (Roger Allam) who is a big sponsor of other racers. He promises Speed the moon, but when Speed turns him down, he turns nasty, threatening Speed and his family. Now he'll have to team up with the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox). But can they work together well enough to bring the truth to light?

I hadn't intended to see this movie, but after I read a rave review, I went to see it. And I'm glad I did because I loved it.

This movie looks amazing. The racing involves cars in bright lights zooming by. That makes it hard to follow at times. But I loved how it looked. Even the stuff off the track was filled with vibrant color. It was just made for Blu-Ray.

Now I will admit the story starts slowly and is predictable. But I got so caught up in things, I really didn't care. In fact, I was sorry to see it end. But when we reached that ending, I felt like standing up and cheering.

The characters never get too much beyond one dimensional. But I loved them anyway, rooting for the heroes and booing the villain.

Even though this movie was done by the Wachowski Brothers, it isn't one of their adult oriented epics. Yes, there is a moral to the story, but it isn't hit you in the face. And everything is in keeping with the PG rating. In fact, Speed has a younger brother who has a pet chimp, and those two steal every scene they are in. I loved them.

This is a movie designed for a foremost to entertain. And it did that for me. I can't wait to see it again, and I'm really hoping we get a sequel.

Similar Products

Reviews


Well, 3.5 stars, but still
Review date: 2008-08-31 Rating: 8 out of 10

I really wasn't looking forward to watching this movie. The Buzz was bad, the reviews (with the exception of a few) were horrible, and the film looked too cartoony. Also the film did badly in the box office aswell (apparently made $48m with a budget of $120m. In simple words, major flop). However, i am a fan of The Matrix, and i have always felt that the Wachowski's have a unique vision.
So with that in mind, i gave this film a chance, and watched it. In all honesty, i really enjoyed it. So it's cheesy (extremely at times), so the visuals are cartoony, and so the kid in the film (I'm talking the youngest brother) is a stiff actor. If you take this out of the equation, everything else about the movie is very good.
It has a good storyline, good characters, and the wachowski's even manage to make you care for the family. That takes some doing, even from the best of director's.Also, the race scenes, though obviously CG, are quite astonishing, as are the intercutting scenes (nice touch, keeps the story moving). Also, i was never bored, which is good considering i have a concentration span of a goldfish.
I know this film was bashed considerably, but i feel that if you get over the visual style, and excuse the cheese, it is actually an enjoyable movie, which can be watched with kids and adults. Also, on a final note, i can't remember the last time i thought Christina Ricci was cute, but she is in this film. Maybe it's a sign of better things to come. Overall, i feel, just give the film a chance, and you'll like it.

Neon bright, but slightly coma inducing
Review date: 2008-08-15 Rating: 6 out of 10

Drastically different film from the Matrix directors. Kid friendly racer based off Japanese manga. Average story and acting. Good CGI action sequences. Really obvious ending, with far too lengthly montage given to the goodies and about 5ns given to the badies and morals of the story! Enjoyable, but not great.

Dragged by son...But loved it!
Review date: 2008-08-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

Ok, I admit it I was dragged against my will to see this movie by my 8 year old son. But I loved it! The graphics are fantastic, I would hesitate to say better than the matrix and transformers. The story line was interesting enough to keep me and my parter rivited, the "people" aspect was great for my 6 year old girl and my son nearly fell off his seat with excitement at the racing (and I can't blame him!). The pace of this movie was fantastic there were young and old in the theatre and no one could take their eyes off the screen. I know some of the critics panned this movie but I loved its style. I will deffinatly have this on my Christmas list!

Inventive but charmless
Review date: 2008-07-21 Rating: 8 out of 10


My girlfriend dragged me into the cinema the other day to see this, so I was expecting some kind of shamefully high-budget Hollywood rubbish. What I saw was something completely different from anything else I ever have in this genre... but not particularly in a good way.

I have a bit of a soft spot for arty and unusual films... What I saw here, beneath the layers, was an 'art-house' feature just screaming to get out, and the contrast didn't feel comfortable at all. Amongst the action and special effects, Speed Racer contains a surprising amount of emotional depth, which (as far as I know) is hardly seen within this genre of film.

It tells the story of a young man named Speed Racer, who dreams of one day becoming a star in the extraordinary world of speed racing. The over-complicated plot line involves all the usual oh's and ah's, such as secret corporations hell-bent on bringing him down, mystery characters- never revealed until the end, a some-what touching love story, oh yea... and ninjas (?)

With the exception of the 2005 version of War Of The Worlds, the 2006 version of King Kong, and last year's Transformers, I'd say that Speed Racer contains some of the most brilliant CGI I've ever seen. As an audience, we are taken everywhere from sweeping deserts to beautiful futuristic cities. Some scenes are intriguingly cartoony, but don't worry- this is intentional. About an hour and a half through, when you're just starting to get slightly restless, the movie plummets towards a very flashy showdown of 'good vs. evil', making even the most emotionless audience members raise an eyebrow.

Now all the good stuff's out of the way, it's time for a moan: what I didn't like about Speed Racer, was A) The strange 'strictly-for-children' feel. (For example, there is a bit towards the end in which 2 characters are about to kiss, and the movie pauses so the audience can have a 'cooties warning' from Speed's younger brother.) This slightly put me off. B) The script sags in parts, and you find yourself starting to loose concentration. C) It's far too long.

So any way, even if you think you've seen all the Hollywood nonsense you can handle, try and squeeze in an evening for Speed Racer; though it slightly underwhelms expectations in most departments, it's somewhat worthy of being added to your DVD collection.



Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Emile Hirsch
Susan Sarandon
Christina Ricci
Matthew Fox
John Goodman

Creators:
Emile Hirsch (Primary Contributor)
Susan Sarandon (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321902216164
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-11-10
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 130 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2008
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Subtitled)
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Czech (Dubbed)
Language: Hungarian (Dubbed)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional