Speed Racer (The Wachowskis, 2008)

[Fierias]

Weerasethakul tapped to direct Speed Racer sequel???

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

I'm sure there was a point to that piece, but I guess I'm too dumb to get it.

[domino harvey]

there's a general rule of thumb: If you're not The Onion, don't write "funny" fake news.

[Oedipax]

Getting the jump on April 1st, perhaps.

[Antoine Doinel]

Here's the 3-D one sheet (click and drag the image).

[Antoine Doinel]

New international trailer.

[Dale]

I think the Wachowski's are brilliant, but the ads make me queasy! They've gone for a Tokyo neon look and I'd always hoped a darker, tougher take on the cartoon.

Dale

[John Cope]

Here's a look at the first seven minutes, courtesy Hollywood Elsewhere.

[Magic Hate Ball]

Just got back from this. Imagine your happiest childhood memory dressed in violent neon and swirled around in a cotton candy machine, and it's probably going to look a lot like Speed Racer. Really, really fun. I've never seen the original show, but yeah, really, really fun. The corny kiddie parts were balanced with perfectly universal humor, and it really comes off well. I recommend you see this in IMAX, because it's just overwhelmingly, eye-stabbingly gorgeous. If you're expecting anything other than an acidic video game cartoon film, you're probably going to be disappointed. Also, lots of moving heads.

[Cold Bishop]

It's just overwhelmingly, eye-stabbingly gorgeous.

Agreed, since I feel like stabbing myself in the eyes every time I see the trailer.

Compared to that, Oedipus had it easy.

[THX1378]

Went with a friend and saw it at the IMAX. I can't belive how many bad reviews this film is getting because it isn't that bad. It's a check your head at the door film and have fun for two hours. Everyone in the theater *and it was packed for an afternoon screening* was having fun and a good time. Thats all this film was intend to be. I don't think the brothers were out to make a film like the Matrix again and blow peoples minds. They wanted to make a film that people could go and just have fun with. My only beef with it was that some of the neon CGI was overkill, but they pulled off the best looking live action cartoon feel for a film I've ever seen. And at least everyone in this film works well and acts like their having fun compared to when I tried to watch 20 minutes of Scooby-Doo and everyone looked liked they had been dammed to hell. It's not a bad way to waste 2 hours this weekend if you want to see a movie, but I'd say see Iron Man still if you haven't seen it before seeing this.

[domino harvey]

It's a check your head at the door film and have fun for two hours.

This argument is without question my biggest pet peeve: a film that is good is defendable and a film that is not is not. Saying 'Well, don't think about it' does no favors to any movie. I praised the last Die Hard film because I felt it was good and could defend such a claim if necessary. If you liked Speed Racer, defend it on its own terms. Saying it's mindless garbage but fun aids zero people in looking at the film in a new way.

[miless]

In the New Yorker review, Anthony Lane calls the film "Pop Fascism"!

[Galen Young]

Saw this on IMAX today -- loved it. What a great way to rinse the mind of that neo-con WMD wet dream Iron Man, which I saw yesterday. The Wachowski brothers have created one fucking unbelievable orgasm of CGI insanity. It's way too long for the kiddies, takes far too long to set up, people will complain about the politics -- brilliant! Never saw that coming in the trailer. Once it finds its groove, it drops down the rabbit hole for good and never lets up.

Wonderful cast, loved that even all the smallest parts where played with some great actors -- Benno Furmann, Moritz Bleibtreu, Richard Roundtree just to name a few. John Goodman is hilarious. Christina Ricci behind the wheel during the Casa Cristo road rally -- perfect! Look forward to seeing this again.

[Jeff]

one fucking unbelievable orgasm of CGI insanity.

I hope they use this as a pull-quote in future advertising.

[Magic Hate Ball]

Saying it's mindless garbage but fun aids zero people in looking at the film in a new way.

It's not garbage, it's just really fun. It's the cinematic equivalent of a roller-coaster, which makes it hard to describe. It's not for everyone, I suppose I could say. It's captivating and ridiculous, and makes one feel like a ten-year-old again. It's just two hours of compact fun. To be honest, it's pretty much just what I was asking for from it. I'm not sure what critics are asking for. Award-winning monologues? Realism? It's Speed Racer, not Network or Grand Turismo.

Everyone who thoroughly enjoyed Speed Racer will most likely be unable to convince the other side, those who didn't, of exactly why they enjoyed it.

As a side note, I have never seen the original series.

[dx23]

As a side note, I have never seen the original series.

Has anyone seen the cartoon? I'm asking this because I haven't seen one person anywhere say that they have seen an episode of the series. It feels like everyone knows that there was a cartoon named Speed Racer but no one bothered to watch it.

And by the way, I have never seen the original series either.

[domino harvey]

Box office estimates from Friday project the new Ashton Kutcher comedy beating this in sales this weekend.

[Barmy]

Camashton is check-your-head-at-the-doorier than Speed Racer.

[jbeall]

Has anyone seen the cartoon? I'm asking this because I haven't seen one person anywhere say that they have seen an episode of the series. It feels like everyone knows that there was a cartoon named Speed Racer but no one bothered to watch it.

I've seen it. It's a run-of-the-mill episodic cartoon with cheap production values. It's got the typical conceit of someone whose job is unrelated to saving the world or fighting crime... saving the world and fighting crime. Most of my friends growing up were really into Speed Racer, but it never did anything for me, although I did wind up buying Chim Chim's Badass Revenge because of it.

Anywhoo, let's put it this way: although I was familiar with the cartoon, I didn't care either way when they announced that the film was in the works.

[waxy]

Has anyone seen the cartoon? I'm asking this because I haven't seen one person anywhere say that they have seen an episode of the series. It feels like everyone knows that there was a cartoon named Speed Racer but no one bothered to watch it.

It's weird to think not many people have seen the show. Speed Racer ran on MTV in the 90's back to back with Ren & Stimpy, evenings. Not too many cartoon watchers on the board? It's nutty fun with a little bit of a lost-in-translation feel

Anyway, anyone can see it now. Free, even!

[Galen Young]

Has anyone seen the cartoon?

I grew up on it. All I remember is the theme song, the Mach 5 and that I thought it was really really cool. (when I was a little kid that is...)

[malcolm1980]

I disliked it. If I wasn't bored out of my mind, I was either getting a headache by the visual overload or annoyed by the fat kid and the chimp. The Wachowskis produced some really nifty visuals but the intentional cheesiness gets in my nerves. The music is great but it's all blah to me.

[Morbii]

I saw this trailer today at a friend's house and I actually thought it was a joke trailer. I don't recall exactly what channel it was on or exactly what I thought they were advertising, but I didn't really get the impression that it was a movie (even WITH the movie credits at the end).

Blech

[Barmy]

I was...annoyed by the fat kid and the chimp.

That's it, I'm not going to this.