Kevin's Watch

www.rottentomatoes.com/m/speed_racer/
35% Fresh. Not too good.

Well Speed Racer doesn't seem to be wowing the critics. From the trailers I've seen and the reviews I've read the film's cutting edge visual approach might end up being it's Achilles heel. It seems to be information overload to the point that you can barely assimilate a fraction of what you are seeing, making it somewhat distracting. Some reviews seem to like the central theme of the importance of Family. I just don't know and may not find out as I'm probably more likely to skip Speed Racer and save my $7.00 for the Dark knight.
When I was a kid here in Florida I didn't see Speed Racer at all so I don't have any youthful nostalgia attached to seeing the film. However I am intrigued by what I think the Wachowski's are trying to do here and will definitely check it out on dvd when the time comes.

Y'know, I really didn't expect too much from this. I read a review the other day on AICN where they were hopping up and down about it. Maybe that should have been the first sign.

I would like to see it, and it seems like seeing it in the theater would be best, but definitely matinee and definitely after the crowds have died down.

I love the Speed Racer cartoon.
But I can't even watch the commercials for the movie due to the annoying color graphics.
I'm sure it's explained in the movie but I have no interest in risking having an epileptic seizure by watching it.
It reminds me of one of the N64 Mario race games I have.

Try telling 4 kids eager to go see it that we aren't going to go. I think we will got to the theater where we can get in for $3.25 a person.

It looks like crap to me. No chance I'll be seeing it.

ditto

Not a chance. It looks terrible (not that the source material was great), and I loathe the Watchowski's style. I think The Matrix was the worst thing to happen to action films, and the sequels are arguably two of the worst big-budget films ever made.

Even if I had kids who bugged me into going to this, I'd sneak in some Jack Daniels. Maybe a pillow.

Cail wrote:Not a chance. It looks terrible (not that the source material was great), and I loathe the Watchowski's style. I think The Matrix was the worst thing to happen to action films, and the sequels are arguably two of the worst big-budget films ever made.

You're such a psychotic, deluded fool!!!!

Cail wrote:Not a chance. It looks terrible (not that the source material was great), and I loathe the Watchowski's style. I think The Matrix was the worst thing to happen to action films, and the sequels are arguably two of the worst big-budget films ever made.

Spot on.

I must also agree that Cail (God) has spoken.

I guess I am in the minority on this one.

I brought my boys to see it Friday night. I was looking forward to it as just as much as they were. The film was a fun ride throgh the nostalgic past of the original cartoon series.

Did I go to this movie expecting much? No, not really...but I was not going to miss it. Speed Racer was my favorite cartoon growing up, and I just had to see the movle. And so what if it may not be a 100 on the tomatometer...I don't even know what the hell that is, and have never exactly followed critic's choices in the past, anyway. I don't think a bad review would ever keep me from going to see a movie that I wanted to see. I would rather make my own judgements.

IMO, the movie was pretty good, if not for the race scenes alone. The myriad of colors, the scenery, the action...all was done very well.

But, like I said...I guess that I am in the minority on this one.

It has to be better than the impending live action Dragon Ball Z film.

35%? That's better than I was expecting it to get, based on the crappy trailer I saw.

I'm not sure what people were expecting. This is a movie about Speed Racer, and it was just as over the top as the cartoon was. It did a great job capturing the spirit of the cartoon (even if it was woefully short on typical Speed Racer lines) and even a kind of zeitgeist of the late 60s and 70s of the old Speed Racer. All this while throwing in the heavy doses of CGI and Wachowski-esque stylistics (reminiscent of The Matrix while not retreading it) that a modern audience would expect. I can see how the bright colors and frenetic pace, especially in the first 20 minutes, would put off some people, but I have to wonder why those people would even want to see this movie.

As far as the temporal setting, I think it was intentionally blurred. Some pieces of the movie you'd think were from the 30s, others from the 70s, and still others from the fairly distant future (at one point, I was even expecting the Futurama theme music). If you're looking for any kind of reason why things are the way they are, I think you'll be disappointed. I'm still not entirely sure what the whole anti-corporation angle was about, to be honest (mainly, why would a major corporation's largest competitors be in with them on race fixing?).

My only major gripe is that the movie is at least 20 minutes too long. I can see why it would be hard to cut any of the subplots, but it really should've been done. One less strand, I think, would lead to a lot less confused viewers. My minor gripe is that I'm too old to go see this movie on acid.

Anyway, I liked it and so did my wife and five year old son (who loves anything and everything about cars).

And if anyone sees it, I'd appreciate verification that I did in fact hear the phrase, "[Discarded like a used tampon]."

LOL, well we are going to go see it too. I will listen for that phrase.

...just don't tell me ChimChim is the one who says it...

Syl wrote:I'm not sure what people were expecting. This is a movie about Speed Racer, and it was just as over the top as the cartoon was. It did a great job capturing the spirit of the cartoon (even if it was woefully short on typical Speed Racer lines) and even a kind of zeitgeist of the late 60s and 70s of the old Speed Racer. All this while throwing in the heavy doses of CGI and Wachowski-esque stylistics (reminiscent of The Matrix while not retreading it) that a modern audience would expect. I can see how the bright colors and frenetic pace, especially in the first 20 minutes, would put off some people, but I have to wonder why those people would even want to see this movie.

As far as the temporal setting, I think it was intentionally blurred. Some pieces of the movie you'd think were from the 30s, others from the 70s, and still others from the fairly distant future (at one point, I was even expecting the Futurama theme music). If you're looking for any kind of reason why things are the way they are, I think you'll be disappointed. I'm still not entirely sure what the whole anti-corporation angle was about, to be honest (mainly, why would a major corporation's largest competitors be in with them on race fixing?).

My only major gripe is that the movie is at least 20 minutes too long. I can see why it would be hard to cut any of the subplots, but it really should've been done. One less strand, I think, would lead to a lot less confused viewers. My minor gripe is that I'm too old to go see this movie on acid.

Anyway, I liked it and so did my wife and five year old son (who loves anything and everything about cars).

*nodding*

I went in hoping it would at least bring me some nostalgia of the t.v. series. I agree totally with jel and Syl, on all points. I'm glad I saw it in the theater. I am also glad Hyperception and I decided to go while Beorn was in school and not pay $10 for him to see it. Having never seen the anime series, I think he'll do fine watching it on DVD.

Syl wrote:And if anyone sees it, I'd appreciate verification that I did in fact hear the phrase, "[Discarded like a used tampon]."

...sorry Syl, Hyperception and I both kept an ear out for it. If it was said, it slipped right by us...

Syl wrote:And if anyone sees it, I'd appreciate verification that I did in fact hear the phrase, "[Discarded like a used tampon]."

Yes! I heard it too! I just saw the movie three days ago. No one believes me, so I searched Google and found this thread.

It was during the rally race, just after Speed knocks one of the Snake Oilers off the track.

Sorry to bring this thread back, I know it's almost a month old, but I thought you'd still like confirmation.

Nice!

Actually I'm glad it came back, because I forgot to add my two cents.

Admittedly, I saw it for the first time in the right mindset ( ) but it still hit me in a very positive light. It was meant to be a tribute to that old, over the top animation with lots of bright colors and strange movement. And that's what it was. The camera angles, and the way they edited the movie, really conveyed the same strangeness and nostalgia.

All the bright compositions and loud motions, really made the race scenes incredible. As long as your operating off of my slogan "suspend your disbelief" then the races were spec-fucking-tacular. The soundtrack only made it better.

All in all, zero substance, but 100% entertainment. A great watch.