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Speed Racer (2008, Wachowskis) - GO WATCH THIS NOW
- Thread starter Korey
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Pachterballs
Banned
Fucking awesome movie. Never understood why people hated it, or why more people didn't see this on the big screen.
my big screen experience was no good. screen was dim. audio wasn't loud enough. walked out thinking "eh"
watched it on bluray+big screen. HOLYMOTHEROFGOD!
quintessentail bluray.
Not only is the movie awesome, but even it it did suck (which it doesn't), it flat out has the best racing scenes onscreen and also one of the more purer sports messages out there. The final race was just a pinnacle of all the races which were fabulous in their own right.Fucking awesome movie. Never understood why people hated it, or why more people didn't see this on the big screen.
For those who don't understand what they are saying about the final race, here's a low-res version of it.
Obviously, it has spoilers (Speed Racer wins).
Obviously, it has spoilers (Speed Racer wins).
AgentOtaku
Member
Pretty sad that the Blu-ray is Dolby Digital only. No DTSHD or TrueHD =(
it's also single-layered
it could look even better
The emotional impact of the race if lost if you haven't seen the whole movie, so yeah...
AgentOtaku
Member
Yep
RoninChaos
Member
I enjoyed it. Visually it's fucking amazing.
RubxQub
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Should I lower my expectations for what the visuals are going to be like for this movie so I'm not disappointed?
I'm setting myself up right now to watch this with the lights off and the volume up in anticipation of it being incredible. Need to know if I should dial my expectations from 11 down to 10 so I don't get disappointed.
I'm setting myself up right now to watch this with the lights off and the volume up in anticipation of it being incredible. Need to know if I should dial my expectations from 11 down to 10 so I don't get disappointed.
Harry Dresden
Member
I put this movie in the same aisle as Scott Pilgrim.
It's a great movie that I love, but I can understand why the general audience didn't receive it well.
It's a great movie that I love, but I can understand why the general audience didn't receive it well.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
Yeah. Despite loving the original cartoon show, I did not go to see this movie in theaters...at least, not right away. In fact, I was pretty down on it when I heard about it and the trailer didn't do anything for me either.
After all, I'd been burned on so many cartoon-to-live action movies over the course of time that Speed Racer couldn't have possibly been any good. Inspector Gadget, Rocky and Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle, Duddly Do-Right, Mr. Magoo, Transformers, Super Mario Brothers, and countless others that I've thankfully blocked from my memory for being piles of wreaking garbage.
However, it was GAF that got my ass into the theater to see it, despite my misgivings. And I'm glad I did. This is the one cartoon adaptation to rule them all. Well, that and Tintin(which seems to be sharing a similar fate, at least here in the States).
After all, I'd been burned on so many cartoon-to-live action movies over the course of time that Speed Racer couldn't have possibly been any good. Inspector Gadget, Rocky and Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle, Duddly Do-Right, Mr. Magoo, Transformers, Super Mario Brothers, and countless others that I've thankfully blocked from my memory for being piles of wreaking garbage.
However, it was GAF that got my ass into the theater to see it, despite my misgivings. And I'm glad I did. This is the one cartoon adaptation to rule them all. Well, that and Tintin(which seems to be sharing a similar fate, at least here in the States).
Harry Dresden
Member
TinTin was wonderful.
No, the visuals (& editing) are top notch but intentionally non-realistic. So tone it down only if you were expecting to not tell the difference between real and simulated. However, the two are blended together perfectly.
Harry Dresden
Member
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
This is a good way to look at it, and I agree.
SuperPac
Member
I think at the time, audiences and critics expected a gritty re-envisioning a la Batman because it was the Wachowskis. They brought us The Matrix, you know. Instead, the movie they made was very true to the cartoon including being over the top cheeseball (including the acting).
Completely amazing film. Happy to say I saw it in the theater (tho' my girlfriendnow wifehad no interest in seeing it so I had to go by myself).
Completely amazing film. Happy to say I saw it in the theater (tho' my girlfriendnow wifehad no interest in seeing it so I had to go by myself).
I have seen neither Spielberg 2011 movie yet. Tintin maybe next weekend.
staticneuron
Member
You misunderstand. Sin City ( to an extent, 300)and the Hulk did a great job of emulating "Living Panels" while SP incorporated comic elements into live scenes. These movies are different approaches entirely. I understand preferring on visual style to another but it isn't entirely accurate to say they did it better when they weren't even aiming for the same goal.
I never saw SP in theaters so on Blu ray the colors looked vibrant to me. Of course they weren't bludgeoning my face with an artist's palette like Speed racer did, but I wouldn't call it muted.
I'm a huge fan of the Wachowskis...I'd even go so far as to say The Matrix sequels were underrated. I've never realized it until now..but I've actually never seen Speed Racer. Missed it in theaters because everyone I knew thought it looked horrible (plus the critical reception wasn't the greatest).
It seems to get a whole lot of GAF love.. I guess it's time to finally check it out.
It seems to get a whole lot of GAF love.. I guess it's time to finally check it out.
Tornado Condor
Member
Yeah, the movie is boring as fuck. The incredible visuals are not good enough to keep me watching it.
Mengy
wishes it were bannable to say mean things about Marvel
I've never liked Speed Racer 2008. Love the old cartoon, but I find the movie boring. Sure, the visuals are cartonnish and crazy and outlandish, but they just fucking irritate me. And the races did not excite me at all, I felt no sense of tension or urgency or wonder in any of them. I just don't like the route the brothers took with this one. But it has been a few years, maybe I'll buy this on blu-ray and bring it home and watch it in hi def on my 61" with surround and see if time has allowed me to finally appreciate whatever it is all of you love about it...
You have to give the Washowski's one thing though: they sure did make a movie that was unique and polarizing. It never fails to stir debate and conversation not only here on GAF but also in real life too.
You have to give the Washowski's one thing though: they sure did make a movie that was unique and polarizing. It never fails to stir debate and conversation not only here on GAF but also in real life too.
HIGH DEF JEFF
Banned
Do you have surround sound?
The sound mix of the final race is incredible. I don't know what came first the edit of the race or the music..but they sync perfectly. And when the Indian announcer gives her "Speed Racer Go!" at the very end you will, hopefully, get fucking chills.
There is nothing to be SAID about the visuals. You just have to see them.
But it's not just what you watch the movie for..this movie more than any I've seen in along time gives you a real sense of family. The Racer family is so wholesome and Speed, just like his cartoon self, is a good guy who always wants to do good. I like that stuff. I like a movie that's POSITIVE.
They way they talk about "racing" in the movie isn't meant literally. Substitute "racing" with anything you are passionate about in real life. When I saw this for the first time I said I wished I had a younger brother to show the movie to. It really is a message movie for kids. It promotes doing what you love because you love to do it. When you see the final race, they use a series of call backs that really drive that point home. It's incredibly done.
Finally..YES, Spritle is annoying. You have to be familiar with the cartoon to let that stuff not annoy you. To someone not versed in "Speed Racer" you might hate the kid. Deal with it. ; )
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
One thing I love about the setting is that despite racing being "serious business", they know about it and played with that thinking a lot.
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
The visuals were top notch, but we didn't love it solely for that.
Also the villain was awesome. That hamming - glorious british hamming!
Also the villain was awesome. That hamming - glorious british hamming!
Anton Sugar
Member
I rented this last night. I bought it this morning. Thanks, OP.
Woot, thanks for checking in! Another one joins the ranks. I'm glad so many people are giving the movie a shot!
All the professionals involved with the movie should get love. The set designers, for example...the track designs are awesome, like the giant kanji letters on that one track, the zebras, and the cave (such a genius move to have a set piece like that..don't want to spoil it).
SonicMegaDrive
Member
I do have to wonder how many of the huge fans of this film also say "graphics aren't everything..."
I wish I loved it but I just didn't. Even the way they would spin the cars and such strained my already-slack credulity.
Me.
I love it for it's tongue-in-cheek nature and faithfulness to the source material. The sfx are just a nice plus.
GO SPEED RACER GO!
I was genuinely expecting to come into this thread and have to describe how much of a vile film this was. Fortunately, it wasn't vile - it was gorgeous, exciting and, most surprisingly of all, dramatic. The plot wasn't just cartilage to join the races together; if anything, it was the other way round.
I can see why it's a divisive movie, but I'm glad the Wachowskis so plainly refused to compromise.
I was genuinely expecting to come into this thread and have to describe how much of a vile film this was. Fortunately, it wasn't vile - it was gorgeous, exciting and, most surprisingly of all, dramatic. The plot wasn't just cartilage to join the races together; if anything, it was the other way round.
- Everyone in every movie should explain their motivations in a brutally literal manner in an extended monologue.
- Political intrigue? In a racing movie? Shit, alright. Makes sense, really.
- Fuck Spritle.
- Some of the greatest smack talk ever committed to film: "Let's pinch these turds off!"
I can see why it's a divisive movie, but I'm glad the Wachowskis so plainly refused to compromise.
The Matrix sequels are still turds that need to be pinched off.
Another success story. Come on skeptics, get on it!
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
Welcome aboard!
Anton Sugar
Member
Fuck all y'all, Spritle is awesome for this scene alone.
RobbieNick
Junior Member
This movie is like an orgasm of the eyeballs. The cinematography is like nothing I've ever seen. Everything's in focus at all times. The effects and colors just explode out tof the screen. I'd love for this to be in 3-D. Outside of Spritel (who acts exactly like he does in the anime so yea, He's annoying), they do a great job with the characters and I love the F-Zero style of racing going on here. It's a must-have on Blu-Ray.
I watched it today on blu-ray. Loved it. Remove some of the scenes with the monkey and the younger brother (not all of them, as I think the brother is an important character overall), especially that final scene with them that completely ruins what was otherwise a perfect ending, and you have a masterpiece. A fucking masterpiece.
Thank you for this thread.
Thank you for this thread.
Anton Sugar
Member
Perhaps it was just a bunch of LOST nostalgia, but I totally teared up during
Racer X's reveal at the end. Doe-eyed Jack...gets me every time!
JasoNsider
Member
Thanks to this thread (and Mario Kart 7 time trials for Neo Bowser City) I watched this flick to get into the spirit of racing. Holy moly it was so ridiculous and awesome at the same time. I loved it! Just completely mental fun.
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
The only copy I have is the DVD. I really need to look for the BR edition!
Community Forum
Member
Every time I watch this movie I like it even better than the previous time I watched it.
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