|
|
Post by StarOpal on May 12, 2008 11:27:07 GMT -5
So went and saw Speed Racer this weekend. Hmmm.
It's a bright, shiny, loud, shallow popcorn flick. The bad guys actually go *Grr!* and chomp on cigars. The races go on a little too long. The flashbacks get a bit much (especially at the end with the scenes from the movie that you've been watching). And Spritle needs to die. Right now.
And yet... And yet... I enjoyed it immensely! I don't plan on buying it, I'll probably never go out of my way to watch it again, but if your going to see it, see it in a theater.
Some times it's all about expectations, and mine were undecided and low. Well maybe not low, so much as very simple, and what those few simple things were, were met. I thought John Goodman was good as Pops. Matthew Fox and Scott Porter? So dreamy! I gotta get back into TV. The movie is fun (though a lot of the jokes fall flat) and what little heart is there, is done all right (while there's this whole big business vs. little guy story, I'd say it's more about fathers, sons, and brothers).
Dramamine is advised.
|
|
|
|
Post by DocD83 on May 14, 2008 20:44:07 GMT -5
A review I read summed it up nicely: Speed Racer is like Hello Kitty on bad acid.
Aside from a visual style that should peclude most epileptics from ever seeing the film: the acting was flat, the races absurd, the jokes corny and apparently aimed at an age group far too young to remember the series (not necessarily a bad thing, but the ads I saw definitely seemed to be going for the older, nostalgic set), what plot there was limped along on crutches, there was obvious positioning for a sequel, and that monkey should have been a side dish in the Temple of Doom long ago.
That said, I can say a few nice things about it:
(1) I now have an excuse to inflict some monstrosity of a movie on my friend as payback for talking me in to seeing Speed Racer. I'm thinking Doom Generation.
(2) The industrialist guy actually was fired up and bombastic enough to compete with the effects. I enjoyed his big speech, despite the absurdity of its contents. Everyone else needed some stimulants--Speed hardly seemed to be awake during some of the races.
(3) There was the skeleton of a decent action movie plot, it just needed to be emphasized and fleshed out.
|
|
|
|
Post by StarOpal on May 15, 2008 11:59:38 GMT -5
the acting was flat, the races absurd, the jokes corny and apparently aimed at an age group far too young to remember the series (not necessarily a bad thing, but the ads I saw definitely seemed to be going for the older, nostalgic set) Doc did you go in thinking it would have ANYTHING to do with the show? Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. And they did leave it open for a sequel. Which would be one of the most horrible ideas evah. |
|
|
|
Post by DocD83 on May 15, 2008 18:51:57 GMT -5
I don't think I ever actually watched the show, I was just making a point about the maturity level of the jokes and how the promos suckered me into thinking the movie as a whole might be more mature.
|
|
|
|
Post by aargmematey on May 15, 2008 21:47:24 GMT -5
Man, even though everyone is apparently racing away from this movie (...booooo), I'm still way excited to see it. I think it has reached the Morbid Fascination Appeal in my mind. I'll probably end up enjoying it just for the sheer absurdity/overall badness of it (same thing happened w/ Daredevil. And Blade. And Hackers. And way too many movies that I own and love)
|
|
|
|
Post by TheOogieBoogieMan on May 15, 2008 22:05:47 GMT -5
I've got a free pass to see this next week, so...suckiness be damned.  |
|
|
|
Post by CheshireKat on May 20, 2008 11:44:01 GMT -5
(1) I now have an excuse to inflict some monstrosity of a movie on my friend as payback for talking me in to seeing Speed Racer. I'm thinking Doom Generation. Ok, seriously, that's like shooting a guy in the stomach, for giving you a paper-cut. |
|
|
|
Post by DocD83 on May 28, 2008 21:28:36 GMT -5
Now you know to be careful when handing me a sheet of paper.
For the record I decided to go easy on him and made him watch "Requiem for a Dream" instead, which I happen to like but which stood a good chance of being a punishment.
|
|
|
|
Post by TheOogieBoogieMan on May 29, 2008 10:21:55 GMT -5
You know, for all the movie's faults, I was too busy taking in all the pretty colours and sweet racing scenes to really notice and/or care about them (except for when people stopped racing and started talking, then it got pretty noticeable). I was also too busy spending the first half of the movie wondering where else I had seen Royalton before, and spending the second half feeling proud of myself for remembering him in V for Vendetta.
A little footnote: About two minutes in, my theatre had to shut the movie off to fix a problem with the sound. The rest of the movie played fine, and I ended up getting another free movie pass because of the technical difficulties. Excellent! *air-guitar riff*
|
|
eatmyshorts
Ghostbuster
"Do you like-a-da Fat Boys?"
Posts: 536
|
Post by eatmyshorts on Jun 24, 2008 13:00:15 GMT -5
I loved this movie! It reminded me of a Hot Wheels playset come to life, which is something I've been dreaming about since childhood. Great job!
|
|
