SPEED RACER (2008)

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I'm angry.

Critics have bashed this movie left and right. calling the effects cheap and nauseating. critics are saying the film gave them a headache. critics are saying the movie is heartless... soulless. saying the actors ridicule themselves with their performances. that racer x was too wooden and that emile hirsch looked dead in the film...

Critics are dead to me. this was really the last straw for me. these old hacks who critique films so harshly (even films up for prestigious awards) want a film that is perfect or takes them back to their old fucking generation, or... i just don't know. i never take huge stock into what a critic says but when i read the dozens of reviews making SPEED RACER out to be the worst film ever made it really struck a chord in me.

I saw SPEED RACER on IMAX and it was one of those rare films that pulled me and all my emotions in. the visuals were just an amazing extra for me. it was the story, lessons, morals, and family dynamics that had me choking up and in the end in awe because the characters and story really pushed the already groundbreaking visual effects to new heights.

The cast was excellent. most notably john goodman as POPs who goes through great transitions in showing the greys rather than blacks & whites of being a father, Susan Sarandon played the kind of mom that tugged at the heartstrings because of her devotion, love, and belief in her son, Christina Ricci was cute & sexy as Speed's loyal girlfriend Trixie, Emile Hirsch brought intensity to the action scenes and a quiet and hopeful naiveness to the smaller scenes- he played it great and really had me rooting for him. but its chim chim and sprittle that steal the film, speed's younger brother and the pet monkey. every scene they were in had the whole audience laughing and the pet monkey really had great lines (i'm kidding lol). the standout for me though (and not for critics) was Matthew Fox as Racer X. he brought an attitude or maybe just his charisma or presence to the role that was just... well... cool. like harry knowles said at aintitcool.com his actions and little hints of emotion (like a smile) had me thinking this is one cool guy. but its a scene where Racer X reveals his face to Speed and the dialogue between them that shows this guy just might have an interesting career ahead of him.

And the visuals were an experience. the only way to truly appreciate this film is to see it on IMAX, seriously just shell out the 15 bucks because the visuals will assault you like no other. i really need to see it again because there was so much happening that i missed and forgot so many cool scenes. and the way the movie flows is just amazing it felt like just one long scene where the transitions and edits fused and melted with each other, the movie flowed so intensely and so smoothly AND SO FAST that the 2 hours and 15 min run time felt short.

There really is no way to explain the visuals and flow of this acid inpired film. YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT.

The effects and the heart of the film really effected me. its rare when i'm smiling in appreciation for a film from beginning to end. the last race in the film is intense, emotional, and uplifting and i gotta be honest with you just the last 20 min race made me HAPPY and put me in a better place.

And thats all i can say about this film in that as soon as it started i forgot the stresses of our world and my personal life, it transported me to another world and one i'm grateful i got to experience.

Don't be a hater because its PG and has bright colors, don't listen to the critics who have across the board smashed this film to kingdom come, just turn your brain off, sit down, relax, and enjoy the show.

SPEED RACER gets a B.

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