Rated PG for sequences of action, some violence and language.
135 Minutes
Written and Directed By: Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski
Staring: Emilie Hirsch, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Christina Ricci, Scott Porter, Christian Oliver,Jack Herforth, Kick Gurry, Christian Oliver, Paulie Litt, Roger Allam, and Matthew Fox
Racing’s in our blood. Like for Pops, it isn’t just a sport. It’s way more important than that. It’s like a religion. And in our house, the major sponsors are kind of like the devil. I don’t mean to offend you, sir, and I do appreciate your offer, but after all we’ve been through, I don’t think this kind of deal is for me. -Speed
Review
From scene one I can see every ones pores, especially Matthew Fox’s. Everyone has sweaty pores. Is this important and tie in with the cartoon? I don’t know, but even with the cartoon flavored back round I found myself fixated on the clear and distinct pores. As the movie continues I realize it has no relevance, but just some visual mishap that I can’t stop obsessing over. Other than the clever Chimp pajamas wearing boy faces the first forty minutes was so dull I had the time and inclination to understand why the Wachowski brothers wanted the pores to glisten. Was Speed Racer really a vampire from Twilight? I wasn’t sure, but then the story picked up and I had other things to distract myself.
The implementation of the old cartoon animation is a great homage but doesn’t really click in at first. With the characters entering the animation world instead of the animation entering the world of people the special effects become a new way to view movies, and it is truly difficult to adjust to. At first it just feels like you’ve been lost in a bag of skittles, where people happen to be living and racing funky cars. It’s very likely this appealed to original fans but it’s also easy to see how it would be too giant a leap for a general audience to take in.
It is unfortunate the first quarter of the film is completely mind numbing. I appreciate the attempt to do back story and develop each character to try and offset the insane style the film is shot in, but the film is so obviously overwhelmed by it’s bright exterior and it’s draw to the actual racing, that the characters play a distant second fiddle, especially when they are constantly delivering the most awkward lines known to man. There is surprisingly good and committed acting, but unfortunately the dialogue is so despicable it’s hard to forgive. The lazy way the flashbacks are used only furthers the disconnect from the character’s and the suspense of living in their present.
Matthew Fox makes a pretty amazing performance of keeping straight lips and never speaking. All I could think of was Billy Zane and Phantom. Fox does fine looking constantly frustrated on Lost, and if that were the goal of his character Racer X, he would have been a success, but the goofy chimp had more style and personality. Goodman does a nice job of grounding some of the scene, but his film wife, Susan Sarandon unfortunately just seems vacant, and her voice sounds funny, like all of her scenes were voice-overs. Christina Ricci was kind of thrown in as eye candy. What was really her purpose other than to walk around looking pretty going: “Yes Speed, no Speed, whatever you want Speed!” That’s a response that has a pleasant ring to it when thinking of the sexy and beautiful Ricci, but it did nothing for the story or characters.
The best part of the movie and what makes it even moderately worthwhile is the race scenes. It’s truly something we’ve never seen before, and the use of escapism entertainment here is top notch. It’s exciting, fun, humor is evoked, and there is a sense of suspense that can’t be denied. If the movie succeeded anywhere it was here. The Ninja battle was hysterical! “More like a nanja………..terrible what passes for a ninja these days.” It had me in utter hysterics.
Speed Racer has an ounce of cheese but that’s to be expected when considering it’s done in this very original style that spent most of it’s focus paying homage to it’s cartoon creators. It’s unfortunate it took so long to wake up, because the second half wasn’t too bad. It would have been awesome to see it the theatre though. It may have been as close as I’ll ever get to tasting the rainbow. This might be a great movie for someone on an acid trip, but for me it was okay at it’s ultimate best.
Fair review. I didn’t even bother with the story as the Blu Ray pic was just so epic I kept staring at the pretty pretty scenes, oblivious to anything else happening.
Didn’t know whether I was tripping or having a fit. Would definitely be a hundred times better on drugs. Lots of drugs.
Note: only when researching this did I realise that Larry Wachowski is now a woman; LANA Wachowski. Google that name and check the pics… very interesting.
I can imagine it would be quite the experience, just as I had wished I had been able to see it on the theater.
On Wachowski………..I’m going to search now.
That was almost a Paragraph Fil Review… COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AVOIDED!
I,,,can’t…spell…
I’ve been hearing awesome things about this movie since I started by blog and I have no idea why. This looked like eye candy at best, and I think my sentiments are gonna be more inline with yours, but strange all the same. Good review, gotta see this for myself apparently.
I think Paragraph Films got it right. To be properly enjoyed hallucinogenics should be involved, otherwise my lukewarm appreciation for what was achieved is about the best one can expect.
I only saw this cuz the Wachowskis did it… I have no affinity for the source material… but, I was actually pleasantly surprised with the film. It was fun… coulda done without the monkey though I’m sure it’s from the cartoon.
My biggest problem was actually with how boring the first half was. Totally shocking.
I remember sitting in the theater watching this movie. I was trying to process the floating heads, shiny images, and disconnected sequences when suddenly my head exploded. I’ve yet to fully recover.
Great review
Some awful things cannot be undone.
Thanks Univarn.
I didn’t hate this but I believe the Wachowski’s spent too much time (and money mainly) making a film to appeal to die hard fans of the series. It went over the heads of a lot of non fans.
Ballsy approach though it would have benefited from adapting it and not going for a shot for shot recreation like 300 or Sin City…also betting casting all around wouldn’t hurt either:P
I got the feeling it was created more for that, which is why it didn’t appeal to me as much. It was pretty, but beyond that I had no connection with it.
Heather, I’m so glad you decided to review this title, but jeez, why don’t you tell me one of your favourite blurays so I can dump all over it? Okay, it may not be one of my favourites, but it was the movie I decided would be the first bluray I would buy before I even owned a bluray player. Despite its laundry list of flaws including Rain and “non-ja” jokes, it’s painted with exactly the colour palette I wish the whole world was painted with. There’s also something transcendent about the way the movie ends, and something so weird about how it creeps up on you too.
If I was gonna read anybody eviscerating it, I’m glad it was you… watch your back come June though.
I don’t know the magic of it on Blu-Ray! I think I mentioned in my review that I had wished I could have seen it on the Big Screen. It was visually stunning, and by the second half got considerably better, but the first forty minutes was MIND NUMBING for me.
And I liked the “Non-ja” jokes. Teehee.
Bring it on! I’m ready! If it’s Avatar you want to blast I may draw blood, just saying.
I saw it on the big screen and it was like biting into a juicy explosion of fruity color, pretty decent film!
I was very disappointed with this movie. As you leaned towards, the first half of the movie was soooo slow, and then by the time the second half came around, I was just wanting it to end.
Also, the reminds me that it’s been a couple years since Ricci has put out anything for us to watch. Other than Monster, this decade hasn’t treated her so well, especially compared to the 90s.
Oddly, I really like this film. In fact, I think it’s the best think the Wachowski’s have done.
I think the opening 40 minutes do a great job of setting up all the characters and backstory while also giving us some amazing, trippy action. Yes, the style is at the forefront but I think it’s what makes the film such a blast to watch. It’s one of those films I can pick up in a moment and enjoy from beginning to end.
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