20080617

Go Speed Go.


I don't often do the "movie review" type post. However, I'm compelled to write about Speed Racer. Ready for it: This is probably one of the finest movies I've ever seen. Really. This movie is visually stimulating. It's an anti-"300"- There's no washed out colours here. It's hyper vibrant.

There is a story, and yes it's as lame as the original cartoon. If you want to see a movie for it's plot, then save your cash. But, if like me you enjoy letting your imagination go and can be drawn into exotic locations and fast paced dizzy-ing race action then you can't be disappointed.

It has been said that this is the most technically accomplished movie to date. It pushes the latest rendering techniques to their limit. Occasionally, during the film I remembered that these actors were never once seated in even a mock car during filming, they sat on a car seat with a steering wheel mounted on a wire frame. Actually nothing is real. It has been all designed, drawn and rendered by some very creative and talented illustrators, artists and computer technicians.

Above all, this movie strikes me as a tribute to animation. During the film there are references to early animation styles and techniques. There's even a tribute to the earliest of animations the Zoetrope, which was invented way back in 1830's (see the image above). There's all sorts of animation in this film and tributes to various artists. There's a good nod in the film to op artist Bridget Riley. The tessellated sequences towards the movie's finale will just make your brain go "zing".

My only criticism of the film: Racer X's leathers should have fit him just a little bit tighter and he should have been just a tad beefier - closer to the original.

4 comments:

Darth Gateau said...

bless! You're such a nerd. It's such an extreme of nerdy passion, it's undeniably cute!

Dave said...

I agree wholeheartedly. This is a complete visual feast and should be treated as such. We've talked about going again, and I would love too. It will take many many viewings to get everything out of the visual aspect of the movie. Bring on the DVD!

Darth Gateau said...

Yikes! Perhaps I should go and see rather than being cheeky. I could learn something.

Mr Jones said...

There is only one man on here that fits his leathers snugly..