Overview
- Directors: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
- Company: Warner Bros. Pictures
- Release Date: May 9, 2008 (USA)
- Rating: PG for sequences of action, some violence and language
- Runtime: Approx. 135 min.
- Website
Synopsis
From writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the groundbreaking “The Matrix” trilogy, and producer Joel Silver comes the live-action, high-octane family adventure “Speed Racer.”
Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed 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 in the race that had taken his brother’s life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.
Slated for release on May 9, 2008, Speed Racer marks the Wachowski brothers first writing/directing collaboration since The Matrix movies. Joel Silver, who previously worked with the Wachowskis on The Matrix movies and V For Vendetta, is producing the film under his Silver Pictures banner.
The film stars Emile Hirsch (Lords of Dogtown) as Speed, Christina Ricci (Black Snake Moan) as Trixie, Matthew Fox (TV’s Lost) as Racer X, and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking) and John Goodman (Evan Almighty) as Mom and Pops Racer. Rounding out the main cast are Australian actor Kick Gurry (Spartan) as Sparky; Paulie Litt (TVs Hope & Faith) as Spritle; Roger Allam (The Queen & V For Vendetta) as Royalton; and Asian music star Ji Hoon Jung (popularly known as Rain), making his major feature film debut as a rival driver.
Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action Speed Racer will showcase the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers films.
Speed Racer is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures Production.
Fast-paced and heavily equipped with lots of colorful, bright special effects, Speed Racer is a movie that has both a retro and a modern feel to it.
Compliments
The first and foremost think I would like to point out is that the movie has a very retro feel to it, despite being a new movie, which gives audiences a unique experience. Half the movie is computer generated, and I feel that the artists did a good job. The effects are not exactly realistic but more surreal, contributing to the retro feel. The camera work is very interesting, and I like how the racetrack announcer sequences are composed. The music is nice in that it is a modern spin on the classic Speed Racer tracks. It was also nice that the movie greatly promotes the image of family and close friends.
Criticism
The film is very fast paced, perhaps a little too much, and it can leave more sensitive audiences dizzy. Also, the bright, flashy, multicolored lights may be a bit too much for some. The plot was not really anything too original and is predictable. Lastly, the movie contains numerous instances of bad language, too many for a PG rating in my opinion.
Conclusion
This movie can be a very fun movie, but it does have its downside. One more thing: Those who have followed the old T.V. show closely might have parts of the plot spoiled.
Ratings
- Acting: 9/10
- Cinematography/Photography: 9/10
- Morality: 7/10
- Plot/Storyline: 7/10
- Music/Score: 8/10
- Overall: 8.0/10
