Speed Racer

[innerSpaceman]

From what I've heard, the visual design intrigues me. Not enough to pay or, rather, to find the spare movie-going time that other films won't easily consume ... but at least I'm looking forward to some element of it on DVD, rather than watching out of obligation to my fond childhood memories (or in spite of them).


Visual fantasticness is certainly an element to why I'd choose big screen over TV ... but there's got to be more going for a film than that.

[Crazybirdman]

You really should see it in the theater. It's won't be anywhere near as spectacular at home.

And honestly, has there ever been a re-make of anything, TV Show, cartoon, book, or older movie, that fans of the original like? Nothing will ever compare to nostalgia. I'm not saying the movie was great by the way.

[Deebs]

Originally Posted by Crazybirdman

You really should see it in the theater. It's won't be anywhere near as spectacular at home.

I wholly agree with you.

This definitely wasn't my first choice for Mother's Day entertainment, but I wanted to do something the kids would like, so we went. It was a visual treat, very bold. Really fun movie. Christina Ricci surprised me. I never expected so much perkiness from her.

[RStar]

The plot, as mentioned, was pretty week just like the cartoon. The acting was, well, Speed Racer. I think they were spot on with the look of the cartoon. It was a blend of live action and cartoon I have never seen before, the visuals were amazing. If you wait to see this at home you will lose a good bit of the main reason to see this film, unless you have a large HDTV. The type of car racing they did was so unlike anything I've ever seen before, except on the old cartoon, which I haven't wached since I was a kid, so the memories came flooding back.

Surprisingly, for a film that I thought was a stupid idea, I enjoyed it quite a bit. If they did it more straight laced standard live action movie, it would have been stupid. The blend of cartoonish (which, BTW, was in the back drops) and live action is what made this film work for me.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Crazybirdman

You really should see it in the theater. It's won't be anywhere near as spectacular at home.

And honestly, has there ever been a re-make of anything, TV Show, cartoon, book, or older movie, that fans of the original like? Nothing will ever compare to nostalgia. I'm not saying the movie was great by the way.

While nothing is ever universally loved, I think X-men, Spiderman, LoTR, The Godfather and Jaws all pleased the vast majority of their pre-movie fans.

[Moonliner]

Also, if you all don't stop denigrating the original animated masterpiece with patiently false accusations of "weak plot", undeveloped characters or visuals that were anything less than revolutionary, I'm going to meet you in a dark alley one day with a tire wrench and a slightly anthropomorphised monkey.

[Kevy Baby]

The problem with the original animated series is that it suffered from a weak plot, undeveloped characters and visuals that were much less than revolutionary. I hope to some day meet someone in a dark alley with a tire wrench and a slightly anthropomorphised monkey to express that.

[Gemini Cricket]

All I remember about the original series was the theme song and the monkey.


There was also a techno remix of the theme and sound clips from the series that was released in the late 90's or so by a group called Alpha. That was awesome.

[flippyshark]

For what it's worth, you can watch the original Speed Racer for free, with limited commercial interruptions, on hulu. I've loaded up the first two-parter, and in my post-op drowsiness, I've found it puts me to sleep in a hurry, in spite of its being so brightly colored, and the voice acting so emphatic and noisy.

Hulu has been a godsend, though. I've been able to watch a whole season's worth of 30 Rock and fantastic movies like Empire of the Ants, At The Earth's Core, and the 70s Burt Reynolds classic White Lightning, from the comfort of my bed. I hope their selection grows, as this is a pretty good alternative for people like me with no TV. (I'm not kidding.)