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Movies / On DVD / Speed Racer
Speed Racer

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Speed Racer (2008)

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37 %
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Reviews Counted: 189

Fresh: 69

Rotten:120

Average Rating: 5/10

Consensus: The Wachowski Brothers have overloaded Speed Racer with headache-inducing special effects, and neglected to develop a coherent storyline.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for sequences of action, some violence and language.

Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release: May 9, 2008 Wide

Box Office: $43,929,341

Synopsis: Based on the 1960s Japanese-manga-derived animated TV series of the same name, SPEED RACER follows the adventures of the title character (Emile Hirsch), a young race car driver who sits behind the wheel of the lightning-fast Mach 5... Based on the 1960s Japanese-manga-derived animated TV series of the same name, SPEED RACER follows the adventures of the title character (Emile Hirsch), a young race car driver who sits behind the wheel of the lightning-fast Mach 5 vehicle. Aided by his family, which includes Pops Racer (John Goodman) and Mom Racer (Susan Sarandon), and his devoted doe-eyed girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed racks up victory after victory, but still lives in the shadow of his late older brother, Rex (Scott Porter), who died in a race. When Speed garners the wrath of Royalton Industries, he must team up with the enigmatic Racer X (Matthew Fox) to defeat the ruthless corporation. Written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, the masterminds behind the MATRIX films, SPEED RACER replaces the gritty techno patina of that blockbuster series with a polished, brightly hued virtual reality. Though the eye-popping visuals threaten to eclipse the acting, the fine cast gamely makes the most of their green-screen environment, particularly the likable Hirsch, who won acclaimed for his decidedly different INTO THE WILD role, and LOST's always-noble Fox. Adding to the movie's giddy mood are Paulie Litt and his chimp companion, who provide comic relief as Speed's playful younger brother, Spritle, and Chim Chim, respectively. While definitely a case of style over substance, SPEED RACER is a movie meticulously designed to appeal to families and kids, especially the Spritle-like young ones. [More]

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Susan Sarandon, Christina Ricci, John Goodman

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Susan Sarandon, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Matthew Fox, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rain, Richard Roundtree, Roger Allam, Benno Furmann, Kick Gurry, Paulie Litt, Nicholas Elia

Director: Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski

Director: Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski
Screenwriter: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Producer: Joel Silver, Grant Hill, Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Composer: Michael Giacchino
Studio: Warner Bros.

[See More Credits]

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    The Cars
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  • Racer X
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    Speed Racer
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    Three Minutes of Speed
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    Video Interview
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  • RT Speed Racer Revue
    >
    RT Review Revue - Speed Racer, What Happens in Vegas
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    First Seven Minutes
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    Speed Racer exclusive featurette
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  • Building The Cars
    >
1 - 4 of 13

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Release:

Sep 16, 2008

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Keep Case
  • Widescreen

Audio:

  • (unspecified) English

Additional Release Material:

  • Featurette - Explore the cars and tracks used in the film and see how the heart pounding races were created without a single real car

Reviews for Speed Racer

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Ratings Image

Cut from car to driver to announcer to audience and over and over again, ad nauseam. Such pretty racing scenes, so little to actually see.

Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | comment Comment
11/14/08
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
10/18/08
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
10/18/08
Screen International
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
10/18/08
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: NPR | comment Comment
10/18/08
Bob Mondello
NPR
Ratings Image

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
10/18/08
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: CNN.com | comment Comment
10/18/08
Tom Charity
CNN.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Planet Sick-Boy | comment Comment
10/18/08
Jon Popick
Planet Sick-Boy
Ratings Image

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
10/18/08
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
10/01/08
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com
Ratings Image

The arty blockbuster has arrived, and it's as flashy, accessorized and auto-erotic as can be. Which creates a strange sensation indeed, that it's not just the cars that are smoking, but those Wachowski brothers as well, and whatever's in their pipes too.

Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
09/22/08
Prairie Miller
NewsBlaze
Ratings Image

Maybe it's all flash and little substance, but there's no denying the appeal of that flash....

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
09/15/08
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com
Ratings Image

The Wachowskis blur the definition of "children's film" as much as the original cartoon challenged Western perceptions of "children's television".

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
08/22/08
Shane Burridge
rec.arts.movies.reviews
Ratings Image

And here we have a prime example of why studios should not be funding the creations of The Wachowski Brothers. While visually dazzling, the film's paper thin plot and the cheesiness of its actors are a huge disservice.

Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | comment 1 Comment
07/13/08
Wesley Lovell
Oscar Guy
Ratings Image

The appeal of this frenetically-paced fantasy is probably limited to 10-year-olds, gamers and fanboys.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia) | comment 1 Comment
06/13/08
Vicki Roach
Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Ratings Image

This is fairly simplistic anti-corporate fare, told in a way that occasionally defies comprehension as well as gravity. Impressionistic is the word.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment 1 Comment
06/13/08
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)
Ratings Image

An overlong and downright boring story, with its plodding family scenes interspersed between the action sequences, makes Speed Racer a bit of a flooded engine.

Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment Comment
06/13/08
Pauline Adamek
FILMINK (Australia)
Ratings Image

Resembling little more than a two-hour video game, the high-energy movie is positive enough about the strength of family to forgive the challenges of the format and simply go along for the (very loud and noisy) ride offered by the Wachowski brothers.

Full Review Source: Courier Mail (Australia) | comment Comment
06/13/08
Des Partridge
Courier Mail (Australia)
Ratings Image

At the finish line Speed Racer comes across as an indulgent fantasy project for the Wachowskis.

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (Australia) | comment Comment
06/13/08
Shannon J. Harvey
Sunday Times (Australia)
Ratings Image

Given that Speed Racer itself is basically an elaborate commercial, the anti-corporate message inevitably rings hollow.

Full Review Source: The Age (Australia) | comment Comment
06/12/08
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Latest News for Speed Racer

October 06, 2008: Filme.Acasa: Un blockbuster de arta a sosoit la linia de final. Este sclipitor, accesoriat si auto-erotic. Speed Racer iti face inima sa pulseze de trei ori mai repede. Opens in new window
More...

September 22, 2008: The arty blockbuster has arrived, and it's as flashy, accessorized and auto-erotic as can be. Which creates a strange sensation indeed, that it's not just the cars that are smoking, but those Wachowski brothers as well, and whatever's in their pipes too. Opens in new window
More...

September 15, 2008: RT on DVD: Speed Racer Zooms to Blu-ray!
Get the pop rocks and Coke ready -- Speed Racer is out this week! We'll tell you what new releases to skip over, when Death Proof and Planet Terror are headed to Blu-ray, and... More...

September 02, 2008: RT's Summer in Review: The Best, The Worst, and Our Favorite Films!
The summer movie season of 2008 ended last weekend, and boy, was it a good one. Led by box office smashes like Iron Man, Wall-E, and The Dark Knight, Hollywood raked in the... More...

See More Topics...

Related Forums for Speed Racer

Alexmovietracker01
Wow, I've never liked a "Flop" so much!!!
by: Alexmovietracker01 9/30

Alexmovietracker01
Wow, I've never liked a "Flop" so much!!!
by: Alexmovietracker01 9/30

Alexmovietracker01
Wow, I've never liked a "Flop" so much!!!
by: Alexmovietracker01 9/30

You are all wrong - Speed Racer is a TRIUMPH
by: asha23 9/27

Archmage_Quintus
Do yourself a favor
by: Archmage_Quintus 9/18
See All

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