Speed Racer (Three-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] | ![Speed Racer (Three-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516W1ITA4hL._SL160_.jpg)
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| Directors: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Actors: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $35.99
Buy New: $16.99
You Save: $19.00 (53%)
New (27) Used (9) from $16.99
Rating:  122 reviews
Sales Rank: 58
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), Portuguese (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Blu-ray
Number Of Items: 3
Running Time: 135
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 1000026375
UPC: 085391176459
EAN: 0085391176459
ASIN: B001CD6FKS
Theatrical Release Date: May 9, 2008
Release Date: September 16, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand new; still in shrink wrap!!
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
An over-the-top, sensory overload experience determined to replicate its frantic, television-anime origins, Speed Racer is wild enough to induce a headache or wow a viewer with one dazzling effect after another. Adapted for the big screen as a live-action feature, Speed Racer is written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, the sibling team behind the intensely satisfying The Matrix and its busier, less interesting sequels. Where the rich mythmaking of The Matrix was entirely accessible, however, Speed Racer's overwhelming and gratuitously complicated story exposition is an enormous challenge to follow, let alone embrace. After a while, one simply surrenders to the unbroken din of dialogue concerning corporate chicanery, corruption in the sport of racing, and a value conflict between racing as a family business versus multinational cash cow. At the same time, the film's hyper-real equivalent of the old Speed Racer cartoon's great whoosh of color, motion, and edgy production design--such as inventive uses of scene-changing wipes, bold framing, shifting perspectives--are more overbearing than fun. Emile Hirsch plays Speed Racer, younger brother of a deceased racing legend, Rex, and son of car designer Pops (John Goodman). The latter invented Speed's Mach 5, and is singularly unimpressed by an offer from a giant conglomerate that would lock Speed into exclusive racing services. Speed opts instead for family loyalty, incurring the wrath of the conglomerate's unctuous head (Roger Allam). With family honor on the line and the affections of girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci) behind him, Speed hits the track in hopes of fulfilling his destiny as a master racer. The cast is largely enjoyable, including Susan Sarandon as Speed's mom, Matthew Fox as mysterious Racer X, and a pair of chimps as the irrepressible Chim-Chim. All well and good, but in a movie that lives or dies by the excitement level of races that look like computer-animated Hot Wheels action, Speed Racer is a dreary adventure. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 117 more reviews...
Pleasantly surprised October 6, 2008
Speed racer was one of my favorite cartoons growing up. Having heard the generally negative to very negative reviews for the movie I passed on it in the theater. Those reviews suprised me because of the stellar director and cast.
Having just seen the movie on DVD I can honestly say I enjoyed it and appreciated the casting and nods to the original series. Emile did a fine job in the lead, Spridle was well done, John Goodman, Christinna, etc. The original series was always melodramtic and over the top with Speed saves the day or even the world but the film-makers took that and used it about as well as could be done.
The dialogue does make you cringe at times but overall it is a very enjoyable ride and fans of the original series will not be disappointed at all. We even get the Chim-Chim Spridle double-team in trench coat. As for the DVD itself; few extras, just a couple of entertaining shorts, and no commentary. Bottom-line as a fan of the series I am very glad I saw it. Much better than critics would leave you to believe. If you never saw the original series, still enjoyable. Great cast, some neat visuals, and likeable characters.
Surprisingly good October 5, 2008
Wow.
I really wasn't expecting this film to be this good. I gew up watching the original Speed Racer cartoon which is why I was even slightly motivated into giving this movie a try. Usually when Hollywood tries to turn once-popular television into feature films, the results are mindless tripe (with a few exceptions).
First off, this film is a visual riot. There is so much color and so much going on that I can only assume that the average viewer appears to be in the REM stages of sleep while trying to soak it all in. However, the visual aspect of the film is breathtaking to a fault. What I mean by that is, most of the colors in the film seem to be put there just for the sake of having color. The source of the colors and light don't really seem to make any sense and it often interferes with your ability to visually grasp what is going on in the foreground. So much is happening and there is so much background color and light, you kind of feel like you're getting lost. But still, the film is worth watching just for it's visuals alone.
Secondly, this film is PERFECTLY cast. Emile Hirsch puts in a good performance and is an excellent embodiment of the iconic cartoon hero. John Goodman IS Pops Racer. No other actor could have personified the character the way he did. The other actors fill their rolls quite well (Christini Ricci, Susan Serandon, et al), but Hirsch and Goodman seem to be the stand-outs. The actors could very easily have delivered their performances as tongue-in-cheek (wink, wink - nudge, nudge), but they, of course, being professionals, put themselves into their roles and they do it quite well.
The racing sequences are actually pretty good if not all together physically possible. Just as characters and vehicles in the cartoon often defied the laws of physics, so too do the characters and vehicles in the film. The Wachowski brothers chose not to go after realism, but instead made the film into an homage to this classic animated series. Some of the fight scenes also defy the laws of physics and at one point, a fight between the heroes and a band of "ninjas" turns into something pretty juvenile and kid-friendly.
The story was actually pretty good as well. I wasn't expecting any real plot line at all, but I was relatively surprised. One professional film critic stated that this film would only appeal to those that are 10 years old and under. I disagree. Although the kids are sure to like this film, it can hold the attention of the adults as well; particularly if those adults grew up watching the world's first television cartoon to ever be broadcast in color.
Give this movie a try, but keep an open mind. If you do, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
 Fantastic October 5, 2008
I am an international customer and was very happy to recieve my dvd of speed racer in just over a week from the date of purchase. This movie is fantastic and i recommend it to anyone who enjoy seeing futuristic car racing and some action thrown in.
GET IT NOW! October 3, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I loved it! its fun to watch and gives me a title I can enjoy with my kids with something that I grew up with. Just like the old carton but made more modern.
Decent October 3, 2008
I'm gonna give it 4 stars just because it's pretty close to what I expected to see and this is just the kind of movie that they made. So for what it is, a very cartoony story and images, it's right on the spot. My 12 year old son was barely interested, but he opted out of watching it to go play video games instead. My 2 year old son was semi-interested. My daughter and wife wouldn't even watch it. I thought it was alright. I like the picture and sound and it's a good movie to just have on in the background when only the 2-year old is home and he's fiddling around with toys in the room. That's about it, I can't really slam it because it's pretty close to what I expected to see, and also what I'm sure they intended to make.
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