Tweetnopsis: #SpeedRacer:Classic anime character races like crazy across psychedelic landscapes. Delectable visuals offset the cartoonish plot and chimp.
It might seem hard to believe – if this wasn’t an adaptation of the first Japanese cartoon to make it to the US of A, that is – but “Speed Racer” is not only the name of this film, but it’s also the name of the main character. As the gifted, racing-obsessed middle brother of the Racer family, Speed has risen to the top of the racing world and is on the brink of a championship, and the redemption of his family’s good name. At the heart of things, Speed Racer is all about race car driving. Beyond that, off the top of my head I think there’s an evil conspiracy to fix races in order to control the stock values of auto manufacturers in there as well, or something equally as inscrutable to the young audience that this film is apparently targeted at.
While some of the die hard fans of Speed Racer have been into the Racer family since the late 60s, my relationship with Speed Racer goes back to the days of the high def format wars. Having made a promise to myself that I wasn’t going to wade into the 1080p waters until a clear victor had emerged, I had plenty of time to ponder over which movie would be my first purchase in the new format. There were plenty of candidates, but I finally decided that the perfect candidate to make best use of the high definition visuals was Speed Racer. What’s funny is that all I was basing it on was the trailer – the effects, Emile Hirsh and the Wachowski Brothers at the helm was all the convincing I needed.
However a movie cannot achieve greatness by special effects, a rising star and notorious director alone, just ask Michael Bay – or don’t ask him, I doubt he realizes this. When Speed Racer finally entered my collection (in second spot – Iron Man having jumped the queue as a birthday present) I became acutely aware of the films several shortcomings, even while I was marveling over the strengths I had anticipated. Yes, it’s aggravatingly targeted at the child audience at times, but the youthful primary colored look is irresistible. Sure, the performances seem pretty stilted (not Emile Hirsh or Susan Sarandon, mind you) but they’re right in line with wooden animated performances from back in the 60′s. Essentially you have to leave your cynicism at the door and accept that there’s gonna be some emotional moments that also involve a chimpanzee in a diaper. So no matter what the critics have said, or the middling box office returns have shown, or the confirmed act of animal cruelty that happened during the production of the film that I was only just made aware of, it is a visual bombast that exploits every last pixel of your HDTV, and I still get swept away by the way all the films get tied together in the final seconds of the last race. So it’s kind of two movies, although to most people it seems like only one – a bad one.
Uncles & Aunts: Transformers, Richie Rich, The Flintstones, The Matrix
Nieces & Nephews: Astroboy, GI Joe
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I love this movie!
Word to your mother, Nick! I know it’s not really as old as the movies from the Vault tend to be, but it strikes me that it’s just as forgotten and unappreciated.
My favorite from the Wachowskis. I like the sincere story, crazy visual style and I think the special effects are used to give this film a great sense of momentum.
And all the races are so fun to watch. Fast, colorful and exciting.
It’s a film I enjoy every time I watch it.
Also, the Wachowski weren’t brothers when they made this film. Take another glance at the credits.
I dunno, James. That whole sex change thing was a rumour propagated by IMDB and other wings of the Internet. From when last I watched the film, I don’t think I noticed that Larry had changed his name to Lana – although I could be wrong. For all my digging, I haven’t been able to come up with conclusive proof that this happened or not.
That being said, I agree with you on all other points, even if Matrix Reloaded is my favourite from the Brothers [or siblings
].
Twitter: kaiderman
August 6, 2011 9:27 am
WAAAAAAAIT!!! Wait, wait, wait! Let’s be clear… The Matrix is their best film, hands down. You CANNOT possibly like Speed Racer or Reloaded better than The Matrix! That’s fucking insanity!
Now, Kai, you know there’s a difference between “best” and “favourite”. Although I’m surprised you don’t wanna chime in on the whole Lana/Larry thing…
Twitter: kaiderman
August 6, 2011 9:48 am
No difference here. I’ll let you pass for your Canadian sensibilities but James not so much!
Yeah, I believe he’s Lana now. Do a google image search and he’s pretty feminite.
Twitter: kaiderman
August 6, 2011 9:51 am
No confirmation on a sex change but he is living as a woman.
I can and do like Speed Racer and Reloaded more than The Matrix. I still like The Matrix a lot, but it doesn’t have The Merovingian and it doesn’t have ninja and bean related jokes.
Twitter: kaiderman
August 6, 2011 12:53 pm
Your joking, right? If not, this is more disturbing than your tree obsession!
I would never joke about Speed Racer.
Twitter: kaiderman
August 6, 2011 9:29 am
I was surprised at how good this film was! Great film and really fun to look at. Made an uninteresting property, very interesting to me.
I think the movie will continue to age well – and will affirm its status as “the most expensive avant garde film of all time”.
I do think it’s a film ahead of its time. I think it also paved the way for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, which has a very similar style.
Very interesting! I’d never considered that before, but it does share several similarities in compressing time and space – as well as incorporating video game elements into the narrative.