SwiftKarateChop

I’m so stoaked to be writing about this movie, just the thought of Speed brings back so many amazing childhood memories. Another title brought to us by those silly Wachowski brothers. (Did anyone wonder what their first names are? It’s Larry and Andy, I had to look it up.) They have done great things and that doesn’t stop here. I’ve always been a fan of the Speed Racer anime. It’s got that ‘old’ style akin to Lupin the 3rd, which just makes the nostalgia factor skyrocket since I’m too young to have seen it in it’s time so accept this review as a star-stricken kid.

Storyline:
Pros:Every episode basically followed the same story plot and this movie follows suit and while that may seem boring, if you get into the nostalgia of it it definitely is not. Highlight for spoiler: I took a dump right there in my chair when he jumped out of the car and did his signature pose that you see in the above picture. The races keep you (nearly) on the edge of your seat and the Mach 5 is every Nascar driver’s dream. Holy Cock-block, Batman! Is that a bulletproof shield? You can bet your ass it is.

This film pinpoints every character perfectly. Christina Ricci plays an amazing Trixie (Despite ‘Cool Beans.’) Matthew Fox (Lost) does well in his role as Racer X, by keeping the mystery alive while still subtly letting you know who he really is. Spritle, Chim Chim, and Pops are all also well done. And as I sat there looking at the array of ‘bad’ characters, and how ridiculous they all look (which is accurate to the anime) it made me want the Wachowski brothers to remake Dick Tracy. I swear I saw Prune Face somewhere in there.

Cons: If you never really got into the anime you probably won’t like the storyline as it is LONG and drags on at times because it’s so predictable. Trixie, seriously, SERIOUSLY, cool beans? and I honestly remember Inspector Detector being a little beefier. Big ‘beat shit up’ man in the anime, but portrayed as a short skinny ‘mastermind’ type here even though he doesn’t really.. mastermind anything. :[

Soundtrack:
Pros: For only having one song, they did a great job of remixing it for each situation. Go, Speed Racer, Go!
Cons: ONE FREAKING SONG.

Effects:
Pros: This is where the movie shines through. I was absolutely blown away by the color palette they used. It's so VIBRANT. Even the scenes of young Speed in the classroom are masterfully done. I really want to explain what it looks like but I feel like I'd ruin it for those who haven't seen it. The race tracks all look spectacular, like you're driving 1000 miles per hour through a coloring book of a kid who can't stay in the lines. And every time Speed whipped out one of his new car gadgets it looked perfectly fluid, and exactly how I remember it. DID YOU SEE HIM SHED THAT FLAT TIRE?!!!11one Spoiler!: Pay special attention to the walls while Speed is on the Grand Prix track, holy running zebras!

Cons: I really could have done without all the times they zoomed from persons face to persons face, but then again it stayed true to the anime so I can't bitch too much. The background also looked a bit weird at times, like it didn't fit? Spoiler?: I don't know if this is an effects con or simply a movie con, but there's a track where he goes on a loop and while hes in the top of the look (the part where you're upside down) he does a flip over another car, then lands back on the track still upside down. I don't really think gravity works that way.

Overall:
Despite RottenTomato.com's 2.7/10% I'm giving this movie an 8/10. That is to say I loved it to the fullest, and while sitting down to analyze the movie I had an incredibly hard time finding something I thought was truly bad about it. This is the kind of movie that becomes my movie of the year (that's assuming the new cgi Star Wars is bullocks) and I'm wholly tempted to go spend 9 bucks to see it again. Well worth your money.