I recently watched Speed Racer the film.
It's fucking amazing.
I think that like most people, I was familiar and aware of the iconic IP (and knew the catchphrases like "GO SPEED RACER GO") but I never really watched the cartoon. So when the movie came out 3.5 years ago, most people just kind of overlooked it. Like "oh, they made a movie of it" and then that was the last time it ever entered their mind. Now that it's out, many consider it the best live-action anime adaptation to date.
I can't recommend this movie enough. It almost has no right to be as good as it is.
It stars some pretty respected actors. Emile Hirsch, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox (from Lost), and Rain if you're a fan of him.
The visuals, oh my god. It's a Wachowski film, so you know it's going to be amazing. It's MIND-BLOWING. With a style unmatched by any movie before or after it. From the very first logo you see on screen to the end of the credits it's just an overwhelming sensory experience. The sets are also amazing and crazy. The cinematography is outstanding. People have said the film was ahead of its time...imagine this movie in 3D. Also, it looks very much like a live action cartoon. From IMDB:
The action is also fucking incredible and as intense as this post. Your heart will be pumping. They do the racing like it's never been done in another movie...you just have to watch it to understand. You absolutely feel the sense of speed and the camera cuts are never too confusing. The music is also very well done. The score is also AMAZING and enhances the mood of the scenes. I've had the song they play in the credits on repeat for a few days now. Don't click this if you haven't seen it yet because I feel like you need to hear it in the movie as it ties the film together very well on a special note, but for those of you who have watched it already: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAI4Mdaa89I
The story is also very good. There's drama and twists and turns, no pun intended. The protagonist is very likeable and you'll be cheering for him to win (in racing and life). It will hit on some emotional levels. Is it campy? I'd say no. Of course, it's a very exaggerated world, but never in the movie are you ever taken out of it. The dialogue isn't overdone and feels very natural. There's even a chimp in the family and you just accept it.
By the end of it, you'll be like omg this is amazing. And you'll recommend it to everyone you know, like I'm doing now to you.
TLDR: Go out this instant and buy it on Blu-ray, rent it Blu-ray, whatever. Just go see it as soon as humanly possible. It will be one of the most fun, visually stunning, and intense action movies you will ever see.
The Blu-ray is only $7.99 on Amazon!
GO SPEED RACER GO!!!!!
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Trust GAF! Speed Racer is GAF's favorite movie. Here are the members who recommend the movie (I'm constantly adding more from this thread!):
THE LIST
&Divius, -COOLIO-, -NinjaBoiX-, -Yeti, 2th, AAK, AbsoluteZero, Acrylic7, adamsappel, aechris, Aegus, AgentOtaku, Akkad, Alphahawk, alraydius, AlternativeUlster, Alx, AmMortal, Anasui Kishibe, AndresON777, Andvary, Angry Fork, Anton Sugar, arena08, Arthrus, Aselith, Ashhong, aznpxdd, BakedPigeon, Banana Kid, bathala, Bearillusion, bedlamite, Belfast, bengraven, BenjaminBirdie, big ander, Big Baybee, biggkidd32, Big One, Bit-Bit, Blackace, blame space, blindrocket, Bloodwake, bluebird, bob_arctor, BocoDragon, Boober, borghe, Boss Doggie, BotoxAgent, boutrosinit, Box of Bunnies, brandonh83, Brannon, Brazil, BTRA, Buckethead, Burli, BurritoBushido, BY2K, B_Rik_Schitthaus, Captain_Spanky, castle007, Ceebs, ChackanKun, ChefRamsay, Chinner, Choabac, Christopher, ChryZ, ChunderMan, cjtiger300, ckohler, Cmagus, coldvein, ColonialRaptor, colt45joe, ColtraineGF, comedy bomb, Coolio McAwesome, cory., Costanza, CowboyAstronaut, crazy monkey, Crewnh, Crunchy20XX, crustikid, CTLance, ctrayne, Dabanton, daegan, Dali, Dan, DarienA, Dark Octave, Darkpen, Darth Pinche, Darth Tigris, Dave Long, daviyoung, Dead, Dechaios, Dega, DEO3, desh, DieH@rd, digita1alchemy, digital, DJ88, djplaeskool, DJ_Tet, dmshaposv, DoctorWho, DominoKid, donkey show, DonMigs85, DrAndonuts, Dr Frasier Crane, Druz, dr_octagon, Ducarmel, edornob, Effect, EktorPR, ElFly, Elhandro, El_Victor, EMBee99, EmCeeGramr, Empty, entrement, Erico, Eric P, Esperado, EulaCapra, evildede, EvilDick34, Evlar, EYEL1NER, Ezalc, ezekial45, Fersis, Firest0rm, Fixed2BeBroken, flintstryker, Flynn, Forceatowulf, Ford Prefect, Foxix, Foxtastical, FreeMufasa, From The Dust, Gahiggidy, Gamer @ Heart, Gary Whitta, gconsole, GDGF, GenericPseudonym, george_us, Ghost, Gila, Gilby, godhandiscen, goku1693, goldlion054, Goreomedy, Gouty, GrayFoxPL, greenhadoken, greycolumbus, GreyMatter, Grinchy, Grisby, guise, GuitarAtomik, Hamlet, Harry Dresden, harSon, haunts, hayejin, heliosRAzi, HIGH DEF JEFF, hiredhand, hiryu, Hitokage, HomerSimpson-Man, hsukardi, icarus-daedelus, Iceman, Ignatz Mouse, iirate, Ike, ILOVEASIANS, Innotech, I Push Fat Kids, ItAintEasyBeinCheesy, jadedm17, Jamie OD, JasonMCG, Jason Raize '75 - '04, JasoNsider, Jawmuncher, Jax, JCX, jediyoshi, JennyTablina, jett, JGS, jmdajr, Jme, JoeFu, Joe Molotov, JordanLMiller, joshlee, JoshuaJSlone, kaching, Kaijima, Kaizer, karasu, Karma Kramer, keanerie, Kenak, KevinCow, Keyouta, Kikujiro, KillerAJD, KillGore, Kitschkraft, Korey, Kowak, KR3W, Krev, krypt0nian, Kung Foo Kid, Kung Fu Jedi, Kyoufu, lacinius, Lakitu, lazybones18, Lead Based Paint, Lebron, legacyzero, lobdale, Lorr, low-G, lsslave, lunarworks, Lv99 Slacker, Lé Blade Runner, MacGuffin, maharg, Makoto, Mariolee, Mason, Matts Legacy, Matt_09, Matt_C, MechDX, medrew, megashock5, Meier, Messofanego, metsallica, MicH, Mike Works, MisterAnderson, MisterHero, MobiusPigeon, Monocle, Monroeski, Mr. F, Mr. Sam, Mr. Spinnington, Mr Jared, mrklaw, Mudkips, MultiCore, MWS Natural, Myansie, Myke Greywolf, mYm|17|, mysticwhip, Nakazato, Naked Snake, Nappuccino, Narag, neight, Nekobo, Neo Child, NimbusD, NomarTyme, NoRéN, nskinnear, Oblivionmancer, Ookami-kun, Outtrigger888, Pachinko, Pachterballs, papercut, Parallax, Patryn, PepsimanVsJoe, permutated, PhoncipleBone, PkunkFury, Plasmid, Platy, Pollux, polyh3dron, poopee, PowderedToast, Prime crotch, Prince of Space, Prophet Steve, Pseudo_Sam, R-User!, Radec, radioheadrule83, Ragnarok, Rahxephon91, RaidenZR, Randam_Hajile, RaoulDuke, Raptor, RatskyWatsky, Raydeen, ReBurn, ReiGun, Relaxed Muscle, remnant, ReturnOfTheRAT, rhfb, Ridli, Rindain, Riskbreaker23, RobbieNick, ROBOKITTYZILLA, RoboPlato, robot, RoninChaos, RSLAEV, RubxQub, RurouniZel, Ruze789, SabinFigaro, saelz8, Sallokin, saltine161, Satchel, Scarecrow, Scrow, Scullibundo, Scythesurge, Secret_Riddle, SephCast, Seven Force, Shin Johnpv, shintoki, Shinz Kicker, shira, Shiv47, SHOTEH FOCK OP, SirFodderton, Snaku, Snowman Prophet of Doom, Solo, SonicMegaDrive, Son of Godzilla, sooperkool, Soul Beat, Soul_Pie, soundscream, so_awes, SpacePirate Ridley, SpeedingUptoStop, speedline, Spotless Mind, sprsk, SpudBud, spuit*11, Stackboy, Stahsky, Stealth Editor, SteeloDMZ, Stench, SteveWinwood, StickyFingers, StoOgE, Stupacabra, sublime085, SunhiLegend, SuperPac, Switters, T1tan, TaeOH, TDLink, tdrdrgn, Technosteve, teepo, Templar Wizard, texasairhead101, Tguy, Thai, The Dutch Slayer, thehypocrite, The Interrobanger, THE NO LIFE KING, therapistfinder, thesoapster, The Storyteller, The Take Out Bandit, thezerofire, ThisWreckage, TigerUppercut, Tim-E, Timbuktu, Timedog, Tim the Wiz, TJ Bennett, Tommie Hu$tle, Tortfeasor, tribal24, Triz, TylerD, ultron87, Unbounded, UnluckyKate, Untracked, UrbanRats, VAIL, VaLiancY, vareon, Veal, VGChampion, VictimOfGrief, victormartin, ViewtifulJC, Vincent Alexander, Vulcano's assistant, w1ndst0rm, wackojackosnose, Wario64, Warm Machine, whatevermort, Wheeljack539, Whimsical Phil, White Man, Willco, Willy105, WinFonda, wonzo, Wray, WyndhamPrice, xrich, xsarien, Yager, Yuripaw, Zaphod, zeioIIDX, zeitgeist, Zekes!, zephervack, Zophar, blakep267, BHK3, Agent Icebeezy, neostapler, LewieP, rootbeerafloat, Jesus Carbomb, jasminlovesyoux, mrjohill, H2intensity, The Kree, The Technomancer, MindCollizion, MattKeil
SunhiLegend said:Incredible movie.
jett said:This movie deserves a better kind of gif(s).
Anyway, speaking of visuals, in a recent thread about the Matrix trilogy someone pointed that the sequels were lacking in "iconic" or memorable visuals. Speed Racer has got to be the complete opposite of that. Nearly every frame in this movie is gorgeously composed to deliver maximum awesome:
Some GAF Reviews:
When I picked up this movie earlier today, I really did not know why. I usually don't buy into GAF hype when it comes to critically panned movies, games or what not. Generally they do get panned for a reason.
(I'm looking at you, Sucker Punch)
However, I guess Speed Racer has been mentioned enough times as some sort of misunderstood, fun movie that it managed to peak my interest (in other threads, never did visit this one before now).
But seeing as I did not enjoy Scott Pilgrim (so sorry) very much, I had low hopes for this film. They seemed similar: Weak, quirky promises that somehow get elevated by great execution when it comes to visual style. This seemed exactly the same, except aimed at a younger generation than me which didn't bode well. Still, I got it cheap and finished it a couple of minutes ago.
And it was also only a couple of minutes into Speed Racer that I was engrossed. It was just such a fun movie. I guess one could say it is also dumb but who cares; it made me feel like I was 13 again. The opening told so much in little time, and the way they shot the ending race (and climax) was just an orgasm in visuals and music. And if you're not moved at the end then you have no fucking heart.
I will watch it again and try to convert other people doing so, but I can see why some doesn't like it since it's not dark, gritty and realistic. But for me it was such a fresh air to see a movie going all out in the visual department. It was basically a cool painting coming to life, again and again. And again. With some great music in the back ground. And even though the characters and plot is, well, weak, it was good enough for what it was.
Thank you GAF for making me see this movie, and I'm so sorry that I did not watch this at the cinema.
