Its funny, when I first talked to Cap about the movie, I liked it a lot more than him (which isn't saying much obviously)...but I think I approached it with insanely low expectations. As I started to write the review though, I realized that I didn't really have a lot of good things to say. I think the most aggravating thing to me was that it felt like they shot two movies, one for adults and one for kids, and then when they couldn't decide they just threw scenes from both of them in to make one movie.

I definitely agree that I'm over the Wachowski Brothers. In fact, I would almost go so far as to say that the Matrix was a fluke. A lucky stab. Since then I don't think these fellas have done a lot that's really worth talking about.

I have some other questions about Speed Racer though. Does Trixie live with them in the cartoon? I found that to be a little odd for a psuedo kids movie. Also, does the Racer family just have a new kid every 15 years. Talk about spacing your children out!
Anyway, I'm interested to hear what someone else thinks...

Even the reveiws didn't make this movie look good. -_-''

If you know the old Speed Racer cartoons, the movie is a riot. It plays out like a live action, full length episode of the cartoon. I went to the movie hoping it to be as cheesy and ridiculous as the cartoons and was not disappointed. I grew up on the cartoons, and seeing the movie was like seeing a well done tribute to one of the first japanese cartoons to come to America. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. My whole family did in fact.
However, I can see where the bad reviews come from. A lot of people who go to see this film are not acquainted with the old TV show, and see it as badly dialogued with cheesy comedic relief and garish colors. But that's the appeal of the old show coming through the interpretation of the Wachowski brothers. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it, SimpleCap, but I completely did. :)

Welcome Sereni. I think a lot of what you are saying is true, at least for me (I know Simplecap knows the cartoon well, and agreed that it was a good replication). I've certainly seen the cartoon, but I didn't watch it regularly. I still feel strongly though that the movie could have been better...at least from a writing/editing perspective. But I'm glad you liked it! I enjoy so many of the actors from that movie, I really didn't want it to completely bomb!

So I FINALLY saw Speed Racer last night. It wasn't as awful as I thought it was going to be, but I'll probably never watch it again.

First off, I liked the style. I know lots of people had issues with it, but I thought it was a nice homage to the cartoon. It was a little much at times, but it didn't look like anything I had ever seen before, which gets points from me.

Tina, I agree with the whole adult v. kid movie. They'll throw the s word around, Spritle will flip off the camera, and yet, they throw in the caveat before the G-rated kiss at the end. Weird. Also, I agree with you about the constant presence of Trixie, even in the middle of the night - - totally bizarre.

I thought the story was kind of lame - - but worse than that, it was not told very well at all. What kills me is that so much time was taken on the production of this movie and yet, they can't spend a little more time to get the screenplay in a good place? BOO.

Plus, there wasn't enough Racer X. :)

LetsGoBuffs wrote:

Plus, there wasn't enough Racer X. :)

I could not agree more with you on that point. And all the others too...but especially that one. ;)

puke

LetsGoBuffs wrote:

Plus, there wasn't enough Racer X. :)

Little Red Death wrote:

I could not agree more with you on that point. And all the others too...but especially that one. ;)

SimpleCap wrote:

puke

"All y'all" crack me up! ;)

I just saw speed racer for the first time last week, on blue ray. And while i'm not ready to admit it was what I would invision as speed racer, I can at least see where the Wykovski brothers where going with it. It was like visual crack, and when I was done I was entertained. But I probably won't ever see it again either. Thank goodness for blockbuster.com

Okay, all this recent talk "drove" me (sorry, couldn't resist) to see the film. Mixed, mixed impressions... I'm not sure I'll add anything new (no, this time I won't be pointing out underlying themes, real or imagined ;)).

First, my expectations were so low after reading most of the comments here, that I have to admit I enjoyed it. I just had fun watching it - and I think it was rather visually dazzling, although I couldn't get "George Lucas vomited a Willy Wonka pod race on the screen" out of my head, which actually just made it that much more fun (thanks, Cap!).

I agree with most of you - lousy, predictable plot, and weird flip-flopping of content from kid-friendly to adult-oriented and back again. But my aforementioned low expectations and the nostalgia I felt for this recreation of a childhood memory made up for it. (I can remember pretending to push the Mach 5's various lettered buttons in my family's own parked car!) And I thought the actors captured their various characters well, which I appreciated.

So, no great loss seeing it, but it won't end up in my collection, either.

What I did love was when they'd do the driving shots of the drivers in profile with the world whizzing by in the background, just like the cartoon. Also, when they would do large profiles of people as slow wipes between scenes -- touches like those are what I really enjoyed about the film.

I watched this at long last..... It was colourful..... and, erm..... weird in a Japanesey way.

You make me laugh Jamesbloke. Quote:

It was colourful

With your permission, I'm definitely going to have to use that in a review. It's beautifully vague, yet accurate. :)

SimpleCap wrote:

puke

I couldent a gree more