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Published on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 8:21am |
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A Pair Of SPEED RACER Reviews And That New Music Video!
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
I’m hoping Warner Bros. won’t make me wait until opening day to talk about this movie, because right now, I’m a little amazed by the negativity still buzzing around it. I’ve seen it, and although I can’t review it, I don’t think it’s some sort of state secret to say I think it’s pretty great.
Still... I’ll hold off for now and let this first spy offer his opinion instead:
Dear Harry,
I’m a long-time reader, but this is only the second review I’ve written for Ain’t It Cool. The first was a review for “The Passion of the Christ” a few years ago when I saw an advance preview for pastors at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. The other day I got a surprise invitation from my brother to see “Speed Racer” here in St. Louis. He’s on staff at a church in the area, where I also attend, and a gentleman in the church has a daughter who works for a PR firm that represents Warner Bros. They were putting on a screening here in St. Louis, and she was allowed to invite a few people.
The screening was held at the Des Peres 14 Cinema on the west side of St. Louis. This particular theatre is also the headquarters for the Wehrenberg theatre chain that has many locations in the area. We arrived a little before 10 a.m., met the gentleman’s daughter who had invited us, and were escorted through a series of halls featuring all kinds of memorabilia. We didn’t have time to look at it very long, but I remember seeing posters and other items related to “Star Wars,” “Gone with the Wind,” and “Psycho.” There was also a life-sized stuffed lion. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t connected to “Star Wars.”
We reached the theatre and went inside. It was a small room with about 30 comfortable seats and a small conference table down front. There were a grand total of seven of us in the room. The projectionist came in and asked if we were ready, and the movie began. I’ll give my thoughts on several aspects of the film:
STORY – If you’re reading this review, you probably already know the story. For those who don’t, I’ll summarize: As his name suggests, Speech Racer (Emile Hirsch) thinks about one thing: racing. He comes by it naturally, since it’s a family affair. His Dad (John Goodman) runs an independent racing team. His Mom (Susan Sarandon), younger brother Spritle (along with his pet monkey Chim-Chim) and girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci) all contribute in their own ways. Speed’s older brother Rex was presumably killed in a racing accident years earlier. When the head of the giant Royalton corporation tries to persuade Speed Racer to sell out and join his team, the answer is a clear “no,” which doesn’t go down well. Speed Racer sneaks off to participate in a race, and Royalton and his racing thugs try to take him down. The rest of the story consists of Speed Racer and his family taking on Royalton to expose his corruption and win the ultimate victory in the Grand Prix race. Along the way Speed is assisted by the mysteries Racer X (Matthew Fox).
ACTING – I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was surprised at the level of acting. The original material isn’t exactly Shakespeare. But I was taken aback and how well the family drama played, especially the tension between Pops (the Dad) and his sons Speed and Rex (via flashback). Perhaps because I have a 4-year old son myself, I thought this was actually one of the most effective elements in the movie. Susan Sarandon and Christina Ricci do well in their roles, although they aren’t really the focus. The movie is obviously geared toward the 12-year old crowd, since Spritle and his money are featured generously throughout. Emile Hirsch also gives a surprisingly emotional performance in what could easily be a cartoon caricature.
VISUALS – What would a Wachowski Bros. movie be without cool special effects? The most noticeable thing that sets the visuals apart is the bright color palette. This is a direct contrast to all of the deep, dark depressing movies these days. It is a visual opposite to “The Dark Knight.” The colors are bright and in your face. I give the directors props for doing something different here. But could they do something different with racing scenes? In a word—yes! The racing is very creative, and even though it’s not realistic in any sense (and it doesn’t need to be), they somehow managed to put things on screen we’ve never seen before. The cars, particularly the Mach 5 and Mach 6, are extremely cool. I felt like a little kid again seeing them on screen.
RATING – I mention the rating not because it’s a particular concern to anyone reading this site, but because I was surprised at the language in the film. There are a few mild expletives, and Spritle gives a bad guy the “finger” in one scene. I was under the impression the movie was going to be rated G, and this will surely be a PG.
Overall, I give the movie and thumbs up for providing a fun film that is mostly family-friendly. Don’t expect anything vastly deep or meaningful from the movie—it’s just Speed Racer. But it’s sure a lot of fun. By the way, the gentleman’s daughter (who was the PR rep) mentioned something about setting up screenings for “The Dark Knight” in IMAX. If I’m lucky enough to see that one, I’ll be sure and send a review.
If you use this, call me “Music Prof.”
This next guy reviewed the film for his own blog and then sent us this heads-up:
Hey Harry
I was at a press screening of Speed Racer in London today! I have a review live on my own site CPC Movies here!
Feel free to use it on AICN. Please label me as either Dreddcucumber or Darth Mattitude of CPC Movies if you do.
And finally, about a dozen of you sent me the heads-up on the MySpace exclusive debut of the music video for the theme song. The song itself does nothing for me aside from the samples from the original, but the footage is outrageous. My one warning is that it might actually be too much footage if you haven’t seen the film yet. The end of the video is one of my favorite visual flourishes in a film overstuffed with them.
Go Speed Racer Go Music Video
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Reader Talkback
Bammmmmm by Thunderbolt Ross | Apr 28th, 2008 08:22:52 AM | The haters are own'd by William Ashbless | Apr 28th, 2008 08:28:27 AM | ROTJ by abn3r p3pp3r72 | Apr 28th, 2008 08:29:36 AM | Anyone seen my dad? by Bastard Son of Superman | Apr 28th, 2008 08:31:35 AM | 2nd one obviously isn't a
plant by Lost Jarv | Apr 28th, 2008 08:37:31 AM | Best AICN Typo EVER: SPEECH
RACER by robertplant | Apr 28th, 2008 08:39:01 AM | new trailer by av123 | Apr 28th, 2008 08:46:33 AM | About that lion... by bobjustbob | Apr 28th, 2008 09:23:30 AM | The daughter has the hots for
this guy. by Diagnostic | Apr 28th, 2008 09:31:34 AM | Not only do I not understand
the SR negativity, by greenstyle92 | Apr 28th, 2008 09:32:13 AM | Oh YEAH! by travis-dane | Apr 28th, 2008 09:40:26 AM | SR negativity by Lost Jarv | Apr 28th, 2008 09:40:36 AM | Audiences only respond... by Redfive! | Apr 28th, 2008 09:54:48 AM | I Still think it looks SUPER by hatespeech | Apr 28th, 2008 09:54:53 AM | Man, Matthew Fox in that
costume by Leopold Scotch | Apr 28th, 2008 09:55:32 AM | Best Film of May? by Saluki | Apr 28th, 2008 10:16:12 AM | That song is million flavors
of petrified ass juice.. by quantize | Apr 28th, 2008 10:21:31 AM | here he comes, here comes
Speech Racer by ArcadianDS | Apr 28th, 2008 10:28:25 AM | Lost Jarv by MusicProf | Apr 28th, 2008 11:17:25 AM | Matthew Fox by PotSmokinAlien | Apr 28th, 2008 11:27:54 AM | Kinda funny.... by JayWells87 | Apr 28th, 2008 12:34:26 PM | Fox by Leopold Scotch | Apr 28th, 2008 12:36:49 PM | Needs a Vic Mizzy score by thegreatwhatzit | Apr 28th, 2008 12:57:39 PM | that was really bad. by frankenfickle | Apr 28th, 2008 01:06:31 PM | Holy Shit! by stuatfunnyordie | Apr 28th, 2008 01:14:57 PM | I hate the look of this film by DirkD13" | Apr 28th, 2008 01:16:49 PM | by the way | Apr 28th, 2008 01:18:36 PM | Damnit, is the video stopping
halfway for anyone else? by Johnno | Apr 28th, 2008 01:30:36 PM | Again, why no J-Rock? by Anna Valerious | Apr 28th, 2008 01:33:04 PM | The racing is so fast in Speed
Racer that it doesn't mean
anythi by Orionsangels | Apr 28th, 2008 01:34:03 PM | Speed Racer in the 23rd
century! by Orionsangels | Apr 28th, 2008 01:39:35 PM | Matty Fox/ Leopold by PotSmokinAlien | Apr 28th, 2008 01:48:13 PM | Looks loud, brash, childish
and retarded by Kizeesh | Apr 28th, 2008 02:05:54 PM | Music Video by Quantum Leap | Apr 28th, 2008 02:32:21 PM | Chimp-The Movie by Motoko Kusanagi | Apr 28th, 2008 02:51:16 PM | Really Cool by Teddy Artery | Apr 28th, 2008 03:51:53 PM | Damn You Michael Bay by MCMLXXVI | Apr 28th, 2008 04:20:47 PM | WOW by t40stunt | Apr 28th, 2008 04:20:57 PM | and the song makes it worse. by t40stunt | Apr 28th, 2008 04:23:53 PM | That was the most horrifying
video ever. by Breotan | Apr 28th, 2008 04:36:28 PM | WOW by odo19 | Apr 28th, 2008 04:38:00 PM | GOD DAMN RIGHT! by LordEnigma | Apr 28th, 2008 04:39:41 PM | i like how the reviewer
said... by seekshelter | Apr 28th, 2008 04:43:55 PM | Looks like Spy Kids by FILMFUNK | Apr 28th, 2008 05:55:52 PM | Well... I'm not really a
plant... by Johnno | Apr 28th, 2008 06:28:15 PM | They use EXPLETIVES and
someone gives the FINGER in a
G-RATED FI by Gozu | Apr 28th, 2008 07:24:35 PM | AND FUCK CUTTING OUR SUBJECT
LINES SHORT! by Gozu | Apr 28th, 2008 07:34:00 PM | Plant checklist by Darkling | Apr 28th, 2008 07:35:07 PM | Isn't there a character
missing.... by DukeStKing | Apr 28th, 2008 07:41:10 PM | It Looks Totally Amazing /
Insane / Campy / Brilliant by LaserPants | Apr 28th, 2008 07:51:30 PM | Like Transformers... by Larry of Arabia | Apr 28th, 2008 07:52:31 PM | Sparky? by LaserPants | Apr 28th, 2008 07:52:55 PM | Sparky! by DukeStKing | Apr 28th, 2008 07:57:02 PM | I love awesome! by Skankardly | Apr 28th, 2008 08:41:58 PM | G rated? by BartholomewNeff | Apr 28th, 2008 09:24:54 PM | Mach 6? by Darth_Nader | Apr 28th, 2008 09:47:03 PM | Nah, Speed Didn't Always Race
The Mach 5 by LaserPants | Apr 28th, 2008 09:49:46 PM | What? by DeadPanWalking | Apr 28th, 2008 10:27:03 PM | Looks pretty busy..... by Quake II | Apr 28th, 2008 11:51:09 PM | Better remix - DJ Keoki by Dingbatty | Apr 29th, 2008 01:06:17 AM | Hating on the haters : the
brand of a moron by quantize | Apr 29th, 2008 02:03:09 AM | Darkling, once again by Lost Jarv | Apr 29th, 2008 03:07:35 AM | CHIM CHIM FOR WORLD
DICTATOR!!! by LaserPants | Apr 29th, 2008 05:52:41 AM | Hating On Haters That Hate
Haters: The True Brand Of
Moron by LaserPants | Apr 29th, 2008 05:55:14 AM | Pure Fun! by max314 | Apr 29th, 2008 06:20:17 AM | What's with the rap & hippity
hop? by m_prevette | Apr 29th, 2008 08:58:54 AM | Darkling and Lost Jarv by MusicProf | Apr 29th, 2008 09:47:24 AM | I DO NOT HATE LaserPants'
hate-filled post. by Pennsy | Apr 29th, 2008 10:14:41 AM | Mach 5 and Mach 6 by elvenblade | Apr 29th, 2008 12:22:14 PM | I'd love to see a "Speech
Racer" franchise by Aethyrr | Apr 29th, 2008 02:08:14 PM | As someone said, Talkbackers
ARE the real Plants! by Johnno | Apr 29th, 2008 04:35:57 PM | quantize, what defines a
moron... by Johnno | Apr 29th, 2008 04:40:51 PM | Hey MusicProf or
elvenblade...... by Quake II | Apr 29th, 2008 04:50:01 PM | RE: "Looks loud, brash,
childish and retarded" by v1cious | Apr 29th, 2008 07:19:43 PM | ALPHA TEAM, dammit! by Samuel Vimes | Apr 29th, 2008 08:18:16 PM | Quake II - about the visuals by MusicProf | Apr 29th, 2008 10:54:51 PM | Thanks for the response. by Quake II | Apr 29th, 2008 11:50:09 PM |
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