Speed Racer – the live action adaptation of the classic anime was released this past weekend. Can the movie be any better the anime? Can the movie be any good as a stand alone film? Will anime fans be fans of Speed Racer?
plot summary
The Racer family has been building and racing custom cars for years. Racing is in their blood and a daily part of their lives. Speed Racer, the middle son of three, is a born race car driver. When he masterfully wins the race at Thunderhead, he draws the attention of Royalton Industries.
The owner of the megacorp makes Speed an offer to drive for his team. Speed refuses, and he and his family become targets of a vengeful corporation. The only way Speed can ever hope to take down the corrupt Royalton Industries is to race cross country with former rival, Racer X, in the infamous Casa Cristo, the same race which took the life of Speed’s idolized older brother Rex.
There’s more at stake than the family business, however, and Speed must discover the true reason to why he races in order to save not only his family, but racing itself.
review
Speed Racer proves Americans can not only make live action anime, they can make fantastic live action anime. But what it really takes to make it work is love. Love of anime and love for film making, two things renown anime fans, the Wachowski Brothers have in spades.
The movie was in a word, amazing. I went in with no expectations and went away with a glowing feeling of satisfaction. Everything that is anime is translated, almost verbatim, into live action. The colors, movements, action and perspectives, which are the hallmarks of this medium, are defined beautifully in a movie that has no right to be as good as it is.
Let’s face it, the original Speed Racer anime was bad. Although the anime is a “classic”, the concepts were bad, the animation was bad, the execution was bad. But this movie has taken a broke down, shoddy piece of “classic” anime and transformed it into something which is more “Anime” than the original.
Fans may be temporarily taken aback by the wash of vibrant colors that fills the screen. Yet just like watching your first anime series, what seems strange at first starts to feel comfortable, homey even. This is what real life anime should be; loud, sexy, fantastic and a little overwhelming.
The visuals aren’t just a homage to anime, though, they are anime. The beautiful people and creative character designs populating Speed Racer are what make anime so appealing and unique. But you don’t have to be an anime fan to appreciate a movie this engaging and fun. It’s hard not to get swept up in the excitement of a race, or a fight with ninjas and colorful villains. The theater audience was cheering as Speed flew down the impossible race tracks- everyone was in on the action. The pervading bubblegum feel of the movie didn’t feel childish, however, just fun. Adult fun. Fun like we imagined adulthood would be like but never was. Fun with an edge, sexy fun but not too naughty.
Speed Racer has something for everyone; bright colors and monkey mayhem for easily distracted youngsters, hot young actors and plenty of race car action for easily distracted adults, and plenty of plot and story for the serious minded movie goer.
Character Development
It was shocking how good the story was. I didn’t even think there would be any story, but Speed Racer had a human, touching plot: A family, torn apart by miscommunication and perceived betrayal, begins to heal, only to be threatened again by the same things which nearly destroyed it before.
It’s also a coming of age story. One in which Speed Racer must deal with his own inner struggles and decide which path he’ll set his future down. There was a subtle maturity to the plot which was slightly masked by the overt visuals. It still managed to shine through, however, and was more of a plot than the entire anime series had combined.
Speed Racer had good depth and was brilliantly fleshed out in well plotted flashbacks. His brother, Rex Racer was an even deeper character than Speed, and given just as much thought. The story centers much upon the brothers past and the terms upon with which they both lead their lives.
Character Design
The movie had a delightfully international cast. It was impossible to pin down where, geographically, the movie was taking place. Judging by the amazing array of nationalities, the story could be set anywhere and everywhere. And the international appeal wasn’t watered down. The various languages weren’t subtitled, which lent an exotic hint to the audio. The viewer was left wondering at an accent or a language. Where’s that guy/ gal from? It was all woven together so well, it added color and depth to the details, and details make or break a movie.
Character designs adhered to the original anime, but were given a boost. The designs looked good, not cheesy. Trixie looked fantastic, better than she should. Her short skirts and adorable bob hairstyle are offset by alluring makeup and bright lipstick. The men look a tad bishounen. There was a balance of Japanese and Western aesthetics to the appearance of the cast. They were all attractive when they were meant to be and appropriately creepy elsewhere.
Certain fight scenes have action lines, much like the original anime did. The effect pulls the movie that much closer to anime. The colors are all anime, however. In any other movie, the colors would be an instant fail, but in Speed Racer, nothing else would have worked.
Visuals
This movie gets high marks for flawless visuals. The CG was fantastic and worked well. The Wachowski brothers have honed their style down to an art and Speed Racer could well be their masterpiece. The action was heart-pounding and not distracting in the least. Visuals pull you in and put you right there in the center of the action, not just watching it.
Music
Michael Giacchino scored Speed Racer with music simultaneously orchestral and electronic. The score lent Speed racer a mature, yet fun vibe.
Acting
Emile Hirsch did a fantastic job as Speed. He came across as appropriately conflicted and innocent and balanced the emotions well. He even managed to put in some of surprised “Oh!” gasps from the anime’s English dub without making it come off as hokkey.
Christina Ricci also did a good job but she managed to annoy me with her character. Her energetic/ sexy/ cute version of Trixie was confusing and attractive, which had the combined effect of annoying me.
Matthew Fox, who portrayed Racer X, did the best job interpreting the anime version of the character. His monotonous and mysterious voice was one I remember well. Matthew Fox did a very convincing job overall as Racer X.
The rest of the cast were also good, but the main characters outstripped them all.
Conclusion
This was an anime live action adaption with a holistic approach so thorough, it touched on everything which is anime and then some. Speed Racer is what live action anime should be, and was as much fun and engaging as any anime, if not more so. There was some pandering to younger audiences in certain scenes, which was distracting and unnecessary, but not overly so.
Looking beyond the visuals, the story was anime as well, as was the storytelling. I was beyond merely entertained with this movie, I was engaged and charmed.
Rating
Speed Racer gets 4.5 outta 5 Hammies!
Dang it. You did that on purpose. Now I have to actually pay to see it just to debate your review in good conscience.
@Dwight, I think you’ll be surprised at how good this movie really is. I honestly thought it would suck. I was prepared to roll my eyes and make disparaging comments, but instead was entertained. It takes a lot to change my mind, believe me.
I haven’t seen the movie, but read a lot, like A LOT of bad reviews about this movie. I heard despite the extremely high budgets in making the movie, it debut poorly at box office. That makes me think many times whether or not to watch the movie. :/
Oh, i forgot, i must add, i really liked Emile Hirsch’s works before. I think he’s talented at acting.
@Ren, The thing about movie critics is they’re journalists with a “J”. God forbid they ever enjoy something which doesn’t have any taint of the elusive golden boy Oscar. And they hated, positively hated this movie. If I recall correctly, they hated the Matrix too, not to mention the Matrix initially did very poorly at the box office. Something in the realm of $19 million opening weekend. I remember there was no one in the movie theater when we went to see the Matrix, the place was practically deserted. The second and third time we paid to see it in the theaters (we brought ALL our friends) the place became more and more crowded. Now it’s a modern classic. Go figure.
Was Speed Racer good? Yes. Was it Oscar material. No. But it was hella fun and anime brought to life. If people aren’t fans of anime, they can still enjoy the movie, but not as much as someone who’s been indoctrinated in the culture. I thought I would hate this movie, but I ended up loving it. I’ve learned not to listen to the same people (critics) who hate on movies I love. I say, if you want to see this movie, don’t let a bunch of stuffy shirts ruin it for you.
I must add, geeks love this movie. Wired gave it a good review as did Harry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool. I’d much rather take their word on how good a movie is than some guy writing for the New Yorker who still calls anime “Japanimation”.
Haha, yeah. Oh, and some of them just refer to it as “cartoon” rather than “anime”. Ouch. Not cool.
I’ll have to rent this when it’s available. I haven’t seen any reviews on the movie, other than fan ones, but it looks ok.
Omg, Rachel. We agree for once!!! I too loved speed racer. Maybe even a bit more than Iron Man. I’m definitely buying this one once it hits dvd. And, I might even catch it in the theater one more time before that happens.
After reading a review like this, I might just have to enter a movie theatre for once in forever. Hm, no time this weekend, but maybe the next if I remember…
@Caitlin, yes, do rent this, but try and watch it on as big a screen as possible for maximum awesomeness.
@Chris N, yep this one is definitely a keeper on the ol’ DVD shelf. And if I have the cash, I’ll be back in theaters for another hit of the crazy action.
@Christopher Fritz, try and see this on IMAX if you have the $$$. Next time I go, I’m shelling out the extra $4 for the full experience.
Hmm, I may actually have to go check this movie out. When I first saw the previews I was not all that impressed, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it…
IMAX Here I come!
I so agree with everything you said concerning critics! I hate people who want take the time to see the movie because of what a fucking critic said….arh…I LOVE THIS MOVIE!
I have the cash for IMAX, but not the time nor the transportation to get to one =P
I went to an afternoon matinée showing to fit around my schedule, and while there were only a few people there, we were all laughing along and people were cheering and whooping. And I left the cinema with a grin the size of a crescent moon plastered on my face. The Brothers seem to have delivered a real crowd-pleasing extravaganza of a film.
The racing scenes were bleeding spectacular. I mean “spectacular” in a way that has never even been imagined. Honestly, it deserves an Oscar nod just for art design. What’s so ingenious about the opening sequence is that it not only sets up all the characters with entertaining and emotional efficiency, but it also establishes how the cars work in this fantasy world. So despite the races being faster than anything you’re ever likely to see, the main action beats are always delivered with a clarity and a style that will keep you thrilled beyond belief. Each race is perfectly crafted with the stakes and the challenges rising further and further with each successive scene…until we reach a final showdown that leaves you utterly breathless. Literally. And the “visual vocabulary” of the film is truly innovative. It’s like the camera is no object. As an audience member, you’ve never felt freer. Unlike the stylistic approach of the recent Star Wars prequels, which generally used locked off cameras and relatively tame tracking shots, Speed Racer ducks into, under and around the action in a way that opens up the medium like no other film before it. Compared to other film in its greenscreen sub-genre, this leaves movies like Sin City and 300 looking rather timid by comparison.
But at the heart of it, this is really a film about fathers and their sons. A coming of age story about hope, expectation, and the pain of loss. I found myself with a lump in my throat while watching the movie. Wait, let me rephrase. I found myself with a lump in my throat within ten minutes of the film starting. Emile Hirsch, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox and Scott Porter as the young Rex Racer all provide intimate and genuinely moving performances. Make no mistake about it, this film is the definition of joviality on celluloid. But the story is basically driven by the shadow of a lost family member from the very first scene in the film, and that’s what really makes the film worth watching. As well as being immersed in a fantasy world of drop dead gorgeous visuals, of course.
In the same way that Sin City was an exaggerated, impressionistic noir, and just as 300 was an exaggerated, impressionistic war movie, Speed Racer plays as an exaggerated, impressionistic 1960s kid’s show. Which is exactly what it is. It’s campy. It’s fun, And it’s full of humour and heart. Of course, brooding characters and over-the-top gore is easier to sell than camp, colourful fun, but allowing oneself to become absorbed in the film’s style makes for a rewarding experience. I’ve heard complaints about the film’s exposition, but the only scene where I could perhaps understand that criticism was about half way through when Taejo’s family troubles were being told. But even that zipped by very quickly and the audience still understands exactly what was at stake in the upcoming race. So if it is a flaw, it’s a minor one at best.
The characters are warm and lovable, the villains are wonderfully hissable, the actors’ performances are all suitably camp, and the morality tale at the center of it – the battle of family versus corporatism – gives the story a real spirit. And makes the races all that more enthralling to watch. It’s infectiously charming, and even at 129 minutes the film glides like a T-180 on ice. I was convinced I was only in there for about thirty minutes, and when it finished I was left gagging for more.
So what’s the verdict? Well, it’s a tricky decision between 4 and 5 stars. While the story wasn’t exactly the peak of literary greatness, it was very well told. Despite its two hour plus running time, the narrative was sharp, the emotionality was touching, and the plot turns were genuinely exciting. If the film was not such a special effects extravaganza, it would probably have been given a 4 star rating. But the film does have incredible special effects. And it does offer an absolutely sublime spectacle. Not only that, but the Wachowskis seem to have yet again set another industry standard – one that will likely be copied and mimicked for years to come. Until the Brothers reinvent the wheel for a fourth time, that is. And as such, the rating for this film is for something that could easily end up becoming highly influential classic.
Bring on Speed Racer 2!
@Xias, The IMAX will be great for this movie!
@Cliff, I think movie critics had it in for this movie from the get go.
@Manfred Powell , sounds like you had as much fun as we did!
I also loved the live action Speed Racer. To me it was a masterpiece and way better than Iron Man.
@Harry Maria, I loved Speed Racer too. It was an excellent transition from anime to live action.