Comments on: “Speed Racer” is one for the record books

By: ChrisKnudsen

ChrisKnudsen — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:19:28 +0000

Finally caught this in the dollar theaters. Holy man dude. This was a lot of fun and holy crap, style oozed everywhere. Thanks for the good review. I am glad that Emile Hersch didn’t die in Alaska in this one.

By: Cheesydog

Cheesydog — Thu, 29 May 2008 04:20:21 +0000

Thanks for such a great review! I honestly cannot remember the last time I have been so angry at the sheep-like, drone mentality absolute drivel of the average movie critics response to a movie.
I had zero expectations coming into this movie, but like with any movie I watched it with an open mind. I 100 percent loved it. I was actually shocked at how much I was enjoying myself, and I think at one point during the climatic ending my mouth was hanging open and I stopped breathing, I was so riveted by the action, and yes my eyes did get a bit misty, which I found unbelievable. This movie is wonderful in so many ways, it does as you say make you feel like a kid again. The storyline is so very simple (how on earth do critics call it convoluted?) yet it draws you in nonetheless with compelling and characters completely invested in their roles. This type if movie has never been seen before, it breaks so much visual ground, and is just so easy to get lost in. It takes about 5-10 minutes to acclimatise yourself to the visual style but one you do, you believe in it, or I did anyway. Anyway I needed to get that off my chest.

I’m so sick of hearing how fantastic Iron Man is and how much better it is than Speed Racer. I watched it and it is ok. Just ok. It is not a Batman Begins, it is not a Spiderman 2. In fact I found it completely predictable and did not show me anything new, or make me feel anything different. Downey and Jeff Bridges raise it to a good enough level to enjoy but it is not deserving of the praise heaped upon it.

Speed averaging 35% is just tragically unfair to what the Wachowski’s have created. perhaps they were just too far ahead of the time.

By: RacerChex

RacerChex — Sun, 25 May 2008 06:31:59 +0000

I have to admit, I saw Speed Racer and pretty much disliked it for the first half of the movie. Then around the second half I got it. I have recently rewatched Speed Racer on DVD. There is nothing there in that old series for an adult to return to other than memories. And the movie does kind of make you a bit weepy eyed in that last moment of the race. Because you get the point… sometimes there is no big answer… no God ordained purpose to all of this… other than how you’ve run the “race” (your life) and how you feel about yourself at the end of it. You are the only one who can interpret that. My interpretation on Speed Racer? It was great. Gonna see it again!

By: skunky

skunky — Wed, 21 May 2008 05:05:17 +0000

I entirely agree with the last two comments, I myself was about to weep at the magnificence of the last leg of the last race (as you so eloquently put it). It was without doubt a grandeur achievement.

I believe that this movie is very much a work of art; an unrelenting expedition into the human psyche and the foundations of the soul. Free from the tyranny of modern cinematic expectations and low-tier overhyped storytelling.

This film is without a doubt whatsoever one of the most breathtaking and unique films that I’ve ever seen.

By: Eric Melin

Eric Melin — Mon, 19 May 2008 06:56:29 +0000

There was a certain influx of emotion in me as well, but I think it was more due to the sheer playfulness of the film than a last-minute revelation. Although it wavered, the smile didn’t leave my face for too long during this unique adventure. It may not be perfect but bold is the perfect word to describe it. Simulating anime is one thing, but moving forward with that as your staring point is daring, and “Speed Racer” is nothing if not daring.

By: WeaverBard

WeaverBard — Mon, 19 May 2008 06:30:19 +0000

I love this film - I must admit that at first glance of the previews before Speed Racer hit the theaters I felt a sinking stone in my belly - the assualt of color as I saw the city skyline had me wondering “Am I watching the movie Robots?” I have deeply fond memories of the original cartoon and wondered could this movie measure up. Two-thirds of the movie went by with my grumpiness intact, and then I finally got it. The Wachowski Bros. didn’t care if I liked this film - they were on a mission to re-invent the story telling process - to awaken my senses in a daringly inventive new way - to not do it like the did it before and had the guts to boldly create a brilliant vision. Exaggeration seemed to be the name of the game here - for a character such as Speed Racer could not exist in a world like ours, but only an exaggerated one. And to my utter surprise, in the last leg of the last race of the film, as Speed finds he’s “reason” for racing - I wept - tears spontaneously streamed down my cheeks (I’m a 41 year old man) - there was a magnificence, passion and beauty in watching Speed overcome his obstacles and declare himself - fully self expressed in the face of ridiculous odds - in a blur of color and speed and victory. I found myself riding in the car with him - looking into my life where I have given up and where I can still declare myself - and finish my own race in a blaze of light and pure expression. The Wachowski’s are champions of the human spirit and their films boldly declare (in metaphor) what is possible for each of us - if we choose it. What a world we could delight in if we all “chose” to be as bold. BRAVO!

By: RCM

RCM — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:43:31 +0000

Wow, 4 times, that’s awesome! I can’t remember the last movie I loved a movie enough to go see it 4 times in theater. I usually max out at two for my favorites these days.

“Ratatouille” is certainly a fine movie (it did receive a screenplay nomination after all). I just got all bent out of shape when just about every review for “Speed Racer” I read smashed the movie for it’s simple story. I was hoping that more critics would be like Mr. Melin, and have some appreciation for the creative visuals it displayed. I don’t know why I felt it necessary to smash Pixar, except, I guess they aren’t charming me quit is much as they use too. Still, “Wall-E” looks like it has great potential, so I’m looking forward to that. To be honest, many element of “Speed Racer” aren’t as good as most Pixar films, I was just completely smitten with the animation.

By: ChrisKnudsen

ChrisKnudsen — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:03:21 +0000

Yeah, Cars does receive the most critism out of all the Pixar movies and I still think it is a great movie despite it being Doc Hollywood with cars (yeah it does get that comparison quite a lot) but it is probably my least favorite out of the Pixar movies. Ratatouille is however my favorite Pixar movie by far where I went and saw it in theaters 4 times and more than likely was my favorite movie of last year and might beat out Babe as my all time favorite family film.

I will try and see Speed Racer in theaters for I generally agree with Mr. Eric Melin’s reviews hence why I chose Scene-Stealers as my premiere selection of film critism.

By: RCM

RCM — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:45:57 +0000

I don’t think Pixar films are bad, they just aren’t impressing me visually anymore. The animation behind them is obviously beautiful, but I feel like they’ve lost some of their creative rigger, and it wouldn’t hurt to change it up some stylistically. While watching “Speed Racer” I couldn’t stop thinking of the Pixar movie “Cars” (which is why I made the analogy in the first place). Each of these films are as equally childish in nature, as they are beautiful in the CGI movie making medium, but I had a lot more fun with “Speed Racer”, it just felt different and interesting, while “Cars” felt like more of the same. Though granted, Pixar films are still funny (just not as funny as they use to be), and “Speed Racer” is not. One could also say that Pixar movies have slightly more 3 dimensional characters (silly 3D pun intended), and Racer’s characters are kinda flat (again, pun, stupid, I know). Still, I enjoyed Racer more, the Pixars are starting to bleed together in my mind, but “Speed Racer” is going to stand out with great originality.

“Retarded cat man”, hmm, I like it. I might just change that to my screen name.

By: Eric Melin

Eric Melin — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:10:40 +0000

Hey Knudsen, simmer down, buddy. RCM is just pointing out a little critical hypocrisy. Pixar doesn’t ever get taken to task for simple themes, but this film is being crucified for it. I agree with him–there’s nothing inherently wrong with a simple family-as-one theme, what makes a simple story interesting is the way you tell it. Besides being stylistically daring, this one worked for me. It just didn’t go about it the same way everybody else does.