Americans love taking Japanese creations and making them their own. Whether it be to destroy them (Godzilla), to profit from them without acknowledging the original (Iron Giant from Gigantor, Lion King from Kimba the White Lion), or to just copy them outright (The Ring, and countless other repackaged Japanese horror movies). The latest in this trend comes courtesy of the Wachowski brothers who gave us the wonderful The Matrix, the awful the Matrix Reloaded, and the even awfuller the Matrix Revolutions.
The straightforward concept of the 1960’s Speed Racer series is given a darker tone (but not too dark since it is a children’s movie and full of family values) reminiscent of Rollerball, where one man takes on the evil corporation that challenges his sport. The drivers and cars are a cross between the original anime and Death Race 2000, while the races look like they were designed by a demolition derby fan with a love of Hot Wheels and Tron. None of these are negatives. It is deceptively easy to enjoy a story packaged with such gusto. The film is an assault on the senses with kaleidoscope sets and costumes, hypercolourful direction packed with CGI, live action, flashbacks, interludes, and overlays, and enough references to the original to show respect. The fight scenes were a pleasant surprise and are better than those in most big budget Hollywood action films these days. And I have to mention John Goodman's best line...
"Was that a ninja?"
"More like a non-ja. Terrible what passes for a ninja these days."
Go Speed Race, Go.
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