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DEATH RACE Is Test Screening! We've Got Reactions!
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
I went to see THE BANK JOB on Saturday afternoon (enjoyed it), and while I was in front of the the theater, the guy handing out screening passes offered me one for DEATH RACE on Wednesday night. I took the pass. I always smile when they ask me if I work in the entertainment business, knowing full well I'm not going to go sneak into their screening. I just like being invited.
One of our spies was there, though, and he sent in this quick reaction:
"Alright cocksucker. Fuck with me and we'll see who shits on the sidewalk!" So proclaims the highly-regarded actress Joan Allen in DEATH RACE, a role pretty far afield of her previous stuff. Here she plays a ruthless prison warden who oversees a brutal and bloody contest in which prisoners are pitted against each other with the prize -- if its possible to survive --of freedom. I saw it tonight in Chatsworth at the Winnetka theater.
Jason Statham plays Jansen, a former driver who has been set up and taken the fall for his wife's murder. He ends up at a maximum security prison accessible only by air or a narrow bridge that plays a key role in the finale. Its here at Terminal Island that Hennesy (Allen) oversees Death Race, an internet pay-per-view event in which drivers attempt to eliminate each other and claim freedom as the prize.
There is a plot of sorts .. Statham realizes he's been set yp with the murder and comes to learn that its no coimcidence that he's drafted into the race .. but its all secondary to loud, violent and non-stop racing action. The cars of each driver are souped-up, armor-plated and equipped with napalm-throwers, machine guns and rocket launchers, and each suits the persona adopted by the drivers who are players in the televised race. The drivers also have female navigators, who are bussed in from another prison. That women's prison definitely does not issue baggy orange jumpsuits. Which is good.
Its loud, fast and incredibly committed to depicting spectacular vehicular manslaughter, prison fist fights, muscles, remote controlled death and the ultimate warden slash see you next tuesday mastermind. Logic isn't a priority here, but its fun and the crowd ate it up.
If you run this, call me Earl Scheib.
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Oh Deary, dear. Does the President at least die?
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Sounds like The running man in cars. This is a plot that's been flogged to death. Prisoner's competing in some sort of fight to teh death for their freedom. I would have thought this would be a DVD release.
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4th mate, but nevermind.
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I could've written this "review" just from the stills and promo material out there and a basic knowledge of the original.
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hand grenade
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if you are talking the original.
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Only less orange.
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Can we ever have a movie where a guy actually DID murder his wife, instead of some sort of cliche set up behind everything? I mean, I would have just as much trouble liking a wife killer as anybody else, but, at the very least, it'd be a change from that stupid cliche of "framed man, looking for justice."
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I'm in.
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lets see where the needle goes next. im concerned that this little bit of blurb didnt mention the murder of innocent civilians for points tho.... cos without that it'll just be another tame/lame action flick with zero controversy.
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I've got a mate who has Death Race 2000 on DVD. So what? I hear you ask... and rightly so.
Well, the strange thing is that, by some bizarre mistake, his Death Race 2000 DVD has a G rating. Gold. -
I just blew snot out of my nose in an amusement!
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Bah!
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For christ sake... Is he trying to mees up his career?? I mean Transporter was great, second one was ok, but now getting involved with another car infested movie?He needs a new agent...Crank was bleh... I'm guessing Death Race will also be pretty awfull... Unless a spectacular vehicular manslaughter can make you go "Coooool" .. which would mean you have a problem...
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... if no "Euthanasia Day" at the local hospital, then it will be a completely pointless endeavour.
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This film is gonna suck for the same reason Speed Racer will, and the same reason the middle section of The Phantom Menace did. (Yeah the rest of PM sucked too). I just watched Akira at the theater last night. That had a story.
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Plant any review, any color for $29.95! Riiiiiiight!
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Its Paul Anderson...I think not.
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I like tits and arse as much as the next guy, but why the fuck would they have hotties anywhere near hardened cons even if they are from a women's prison?
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You can´t top Deathrace 2000
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Apr 17, 2008 7:16:16 AM CDT
Freefinger you froget Statham has already worked with Bolle..
by lemming
in that In the name of the King movie.
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This must be a work of fiction. Everyone knows women can't read maps for toffee !
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Apr 17, 2008 7:26:26 AM CDT
Damn! I would had never thought I heard words like that coming o
by mrjonz72
Im in based surely on that...it sets a certain type of tone...but I didnt even realize that the movie was that far into shooting to even have a test screening.
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Apr 17, 2008 7:28:38 AM CDT
"the ultimate warden slash see you next Tuesday mastermind"
by bobo_vision
You don't type the word slash when you're writing something. The spoken word refers to the slash symbol (/). So it would read "the ultimate warden/see-you-next-tuesday mastermind"
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Hmm my subject got cut off but what I was saying above was that I would never have though to hear words like that coming out of Joan Allen's mouth so I am in... but then I remember that Paul W.S Anderson is directing this..granted he is no Uwe Boll..but all of his movies to me have been just average..the only movie of his I truly didnt like was Alien vs Predator.
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Saw it again recently and was taken aback by how good it was. I had always remembered it as a cheesy exploitation nonsense kind of thing (and it is), but there's some solid satirical black humour in there, too. For a B-movie, it has an unusual amount of smarts to it.Anyway, my hopes aren't too high for this remake, although I wish they were. Anderson is not exactly known for his satire - more for his ropey attempts to knick anything and everything from James Cameron and Ridley Scott. Also, sometimes from himself. Will this film have a part where holograms are used in an expository scene? Man, I hope so...
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In that movie where she was going to be Vice President for Jeff Brydges. She looks like a chicken sometimes, but that just adds to her hotness because I love KFC.
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So why didn't Moriarty? Go to this? And why didn't he contest away the free pass? I would've gone to it. I am so desperate I would go to any advance screening. They only one I've been to was Borat which was fucking sweet. I wonder on how much free shit the overseeres of this site get and sit on and don't do anything. Also did I miss Moriarty's review of the Bank Job?
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Hey, nobody's perfect. Fuck off!
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Because it goes against screening rules. This site is already getting away with a lot by posting spoiler-filled reviews by people who attend screenings, but as long as they are sent in by anonymous spies, no one can be held accountable. It would be different if one of the site's reviewers did this. Some screenings are meant for reviewers, some are not.
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This is getting rediculous.
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is going to be busy with crap sequels. We have Crank 2, Transporter 3 and the Brazilian Job. I think we can honestly say that regardless of what his agent sends him, he'll do it. Shame that Transporter appears to have been the peak of his career and will now now do nothing but sequels and shit to earn his crust.
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He does this with every film he makes: He comes to a project with no understanding of it aside from some vague recognition of the title. He then ignores everything that made the original successful in some deluded "I can reinvent the wheel" fit of hubris. He then disposes of everything good from the original in favour of his "vision". And what do we get- a steaming load of donkey shite. Seriously, you think I'm joking, but look at his "efforts": Resident Evil- took the zombie film, removed everything that was cool from the game in favour of marines and FUCKING AMNESIA (the plot device for the truly clueless). AvP- Set it on earth. Predators look like linebackers. Namecheck "Weyland" because that'll fool us. Predator/ Human love story. Giant Queen. Chestbursters gestate in about 3 seconds. Predalien. Twat. Death Race- remove social satire. Add knuckleheaded "innocent man" storyline (has he ever had one original thought?). And anyone that writes "see you next tuesday" should be forcibly lobotomised until they can't spell "cunt" let alone work out that piss poor acronym.
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This movie is sure to be one of the greatest films of our generation! Now if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to go back to sitting on my windowsill and doing some photosynthesis.
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Damn You Michael Bay
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death race 2000 is an awful movie, not so awful it's funny, just plan awful.
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Running Man than Death Race (which I caught recently on TCM, after many years, gotta love TCM). So do you mean that people are going to give Doomsday a pass, but piss on this because it's directed by Anderson (Uwe Boll with a smudge more talent). Oh, and might as well start DRINO.
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Great intro to the review. Might not bother with this til it's on DVD.
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I do not mean that as an insult.
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it for Revolver, the one with a "hairy" Statham and Ray Liotta. It came and went in about a week around Christmas. They must've made that in the same week they did In The Name Of The King.
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She's in this? Gotta see it now. I've been a fan since Pleasantville.
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Tom Cruise's production partner, who also made the remake of The Eye. Cruise/Wagner making it safe for lousy remakes..
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I think this is how PWS and Boll still get work.
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I mean, they're about as dead as prequels. Enough already. I'd rather see another disaster film than a "framed and clear his name" film.
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...is, in my opinion, and after much thought, the finest actor of his generation. He is pure quality and I yearn to see him get cast in a real action movie...him pitted against James Bond? I would pay double to see that!
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Apr 17, 2008 10:29:16 AM CDT
If it doesn't have as much blood and tits as the original.
by knowthyself
Count me out.
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Certain actor's can make a career out of playing to their 'isms'(that is, their own persona's in every role they do/thought not to be very much of a stretch, ie..'acting'). There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you bring a certain quality or charisma to the screen. Go check out the movie 'London' to see Statham play extremely against his type. -
If so, I don't remember any. It had some kind of amusing satire but overall was too cheap and lacking any suspense. Of course that doesn't automatically mean that PWSA's remake will be better. He seems to have removed all the satire and turned it into a dumb action flick.
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This sounds like a lot of noise and little substance. Reality TV becoming modern-day gladiator exhibitions with convicts has been done. In the original it wasn't just a bloodsport to entertain the masses. The entertainment was everything and anyone was fair game. It was a society that allowed its professional athletes to literally get away with murder, whether their victims were other contestants or spectators.
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Ok cool. Now if you can tell me what theaters to go to where there are just guys hanging out passing out first screening tickets?
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... and the "hand" grenade, it's just NOT a real Death Race. That is all.
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Who writes this stuff? Is this supposed to be badass dialogue? That doesn't make anysense...is there some kind of shitting contest in the movie..trying to hit the street with your shit in a distance competition? Hit the street you win, shit on the sidewalk you lose? Coming soon..Shit Race 2000 -
A fucking Swede??!?!!("They're Norwegian, Mac.")What happened to Frankenstein? I just might be required to fart on this. Time will tell.
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Yes, there's blood and tits. if you dont recall that, you may have been watching the wrong frickin' movie. So much potential in this remake, but it doesnt sound like they've done the right thing... prisoners? no, the racers are in it because of the chance for celebrity fame. much more relevant today than when it was originally made.
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"That's a harrrrrrd shine!"
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Issued by the studio via Earl Schieb.
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It was more of a b-movie style drama and they had to have the action to show how sick society was.
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I'm in!
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He is this decade's Van-Damm. An athletic actor with average acting skills and some screen charisma. But taking every project that crosses his desk will lead him to cheezy straight-to-dvd action movie hell.
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In some spectacularly gruesome action movie demise.
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There I said it. What you going to do? Cry?
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now that Arnold, Stallone, Seagal and Van Damme are too old. I think he is perfect in certain roles, and he should be good in this.
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If you're in New York City, hang around in front of Lincoln Theater or Regal Union Square Cinemas in Manhattan, and you will eventually bump into someone handing out a ticket for a free screening. Anywhere else, its just pure luck and serendipity.
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This sounds wa-a-y better that a candy-colored nightmare starring a guy who spends the whole movie with an expression like someone's shoved a stick up his pipe.I'll take Allen and Statham over that anytime. And there's not a pointless chimp sidekick to be seen!
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Had a great turn in SNATCH and than he's done a million movies that have sucked...and he's not even trying anymore. WAR!?!?
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...if you're in LA there's usually a dude in front of Mann's and there's almost always a guy at the Basketball courts at Venice Beach...though his movie's typically suck. Checked out SARAH MARSHALL last week cuz I was workin on Hwood Blvd and there he is.
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SIMPSONS DID IT!
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highly regarded? Seriously...she's not total shite but even in a good movie like Bourne Ultimatum (assified shaky-cam notwithstanding), she had some cheesy delivery on some of her lines ("You wanna go home? Find Jason Bourne!" makes my eyes roll every time). She's got a weird upside down pear shaped head (one of Whitley's "Greys" in disguise maybe?)...wait...let me guess, she's done some schmaltzy sentimental victorian-era English bullshit drama? Seems like all you have to do is wear a goofy cow-milker hat, a polygamy dress, speak in a cheesily fake accent, surround yourself with English extras and title it after some "classic" novel and boom...instant "high regard". Again...I foresee serious farting on this...but I could be wrong (altho it won't be Allen's fault..unless she says "You wanna go home??!! Find Jansen!!). And for those with ass in their eyes...its god damn Frankenstein. Not some 80's tennis star name like fucking "Jansen". Unless of course you're Famke Jansen....she's allowed to do anything...forever...amen. Wear the red dress from "Deep Rising" and SHE can be Frankenstein and I'd fucking love it. Nuff said.
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Ready? (cough) "I'm cheap? You're tighter than the skin on your conga drum!" Thanks, I'll be here all week. Just dropped-in that bit of filler to match the content of the review (more like a press release). The original DEATH RACE 2000 is a Roger Corman classic, it was a bit provocative when it debuted (the director, Paul Bartel, insisted on political satire; he locked horns with producer Corman, who preferred a "straight action" flick). Some post-producton pruning was required to circumvent an X-rating. The remake was originally proposed by Tom Cruise; thank God this Cabana boy doesn't own the property (ever notice that whenever a tabloid tried to "out" Cruise, he instantly linked-up with some hotty? Marriage appeared to resolve the problem [hence the pathetic performance on Oprah's circus], though I suspect Katie Holmes is brushing-up on some auto-erotic compromise). As for the remake, gimme a break. The prison/freedom scenario, appended to the familiar DEATH RACE premise, has been reprised more often than DIRTY DOZEN rip-offs. By the way, I almost liked EVENT HORIZON but the last quarter--complete with too much HELLRAISER "homage"--kinda put a damper on the whole thing.
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Umm Pleasentville, Bourne, Contender, The Crcuible and so many more.
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Wow. This could actually make McTiernan's remake of Rollerball look good in comparison. Will it, too, be set three years in the future?
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And if so....I don't need to know anymore.
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Will take all the great stuff from the original film remove it and all a bunch of Paul W.S. Anderson ideas to fill the gaps. He gotta put his stamp on everything and make it his own. Which mostly likely means it will end up crappy.
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what has happened to her career?!
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or just a review of the IMDB credits?
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Um...uh...um?? You're as delusional as that guy in "A Fistful of Quarters". You know, the guy with the hot sauce who thought he was a part of something because he was good at Donkey Kong. Get over yourself nerdlinger. You're part of no business. That's right, i said it!!
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You'll always be the guy from Snatch to me. Really though, why is he in so many movies?
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Move along.
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...the original Death Race was good or something...it was shit then and it's shit if you see it today. It just fans the "cool" meters of fanboys. But the movie itself was never a "good" film.
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