Speed Racer

[mcnooj82]

Originally Posted by Alan "Nordling" Cerny

That part's the only place where the script gets away from the Wachowskis.

The 5 times I saw the movie in theaters, it was the moment I used to go to the bathroom or get snacks. Perfect movie movie!!!

[Chris Spider]

Count me in as a supporter. I love how crazy-fun this movie is. I will say that Spritle bugs the hell out of me; the actor doesn't bring anything extra to the part, nor does he seem like a real kid. He seems like a Movie Brat, and the only reason I wouldn't chop him out of the film entirely is because of his simian co-star.

One thing I love about the movie is that it successfully embraces its cartoon nature; I can imagine scenes like the martial arts fight in the snow or any of the races falling completely flat in lesser filmmakers' hands, but the Wachowskis fully commit to the "unreality" of the film, and as a result, it works. My personal favorite non-race action scene is Racer X's assault on Cruncher Block's truck; at that point, I was completely on board for the rest of the film.

[Nabster]

Yea I loved this film as well, and not just for the trippy visuals, which were awesome. It was actually a very entertaining film, its too bad kids didn't bother with this film since I think they would've loved it if they had. The kid and the monkey were uniformly terrible, and John Goodman was weak too, too broad.

[Ben Thomas]

Originally Posted by Nabster

John Goodman was weak too, too broad.

Get outta here. Goodman was spot on.

[mcnooj82]

The kid, as much as I didn't like him, really fit right in with the tone of the whole thing. For a character I didn't really care for, I thought the actor did a good job. Playing a cartoon kid.

[Matt M]

And if you can't appreciate a kid and a monkey hopped up on sugar tear-assing through a factory on a golf cart while air guitaring "Freebird," I feel sad for you.

[Judas Booth]

As much as I disliked this movie, I will totally defend John Goodman in it. He was perfect in every scene that he was in. Susan Sarandon was pretty solid as well (and she looked REALLY good, too).

[Mattioli]

Originally Posted by Matt M

And if you can't appreciate a kid and a monkey hopped up on sugar tear-assing through a factory on a golf cart while air guitaring "Freebird," I feel sad for you.

You speak truth.

[Chris Spider]

Originally Posted by Matt M

And if you can't appreciate a kid and a monkey hopped up on sugar tear-assing through a factory on a golf cart while air guitaring "Freebird," I feel sad for you.

OK, that part was pretty good. And yeah, the kid did a good job at what he was hired for. I just thought he was irritating rather than amusing most of the time. Still, he's hardly enough to sink the film.

And those who bash Goodman or Sarandon are crazy; they're completely believable as parents and people.

[mcnooj82]

Originally Posted by Matt M

And if you can't appreciate a kid and a monkey hopped up on sugar tear-assing through a factory on a golf cart while air guitaring "Freebird," I feel sad for you.

That and his epic anime 'speed-line' fight against the ninja.

[Chris Spider]

Originally Posted by mcnooj82

That and his epic anime 'speed-line' fight against the ninja.

True, true. Let me revise my statement: He was irritating sometimes, and it occasionally grated.

I think the thing I like about this movie is that the Wachowskis, for all the visual bluster, are actually telling a story again. True, it's a simple story, but it's a breath of fresh air after the endless pontificating of the Matrix sequels (which I enjoy on a purely visual level and not much else). And I appreciated the twist on Racer X; I didn't buy it for long, but it was a nice little reworking of the, uh, "mythos".

[mcnooj82]

The moment he annoyed me the most was when he and Chim-Chim meta-popped up in a doctor garb right before Speed finally got to kiss Trixie at the end. That actually really annoyed me. Hahaha.

[dontEATnachos]

It's a simple story but still great because it shows a lead character who, even though he's making all the right choices, still has to face adversity. My favorite part is that the lead character although tempted never actually made the selfish choice and it still cost him. It's not a bad message for kids.

And the movie is a ridiculous explosion of colors and visuals.

[mcnooj82]

One of the things I've come to love about the film is how the Wachowskis gave me the same message they tried to express in the Matrix Revolutions, but with more emotional resonance.

This:

Neo: I just have never...
Rama-Kandra: ...heard a program speak of love?
Neo: It's a... human emotion.
Rama-Kandra: No, it is a word. What matters is the connection the word
implies. I see that you are in love. Can you tell me what you would give to
hold on to that connection?
Neo: Anything.
Rama-Kandra: Then perhaps the reason you're here is not so different from
the reason I'm here.

Got boiled down to this:

"It doesn't matter if racing never changes. What matters, is that we let racing change us."

Though that said, I've actually always liked that scene in Revolutions.