WEBmikey: Speed Racer : 5 of 5

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Speed Racer : 5 of 5
5.13.2008 7:13 AM \| Link	I've been a fan of the Speed Racer anime since I was little, and it was practically my introduction into Japanese entertainment, so I've been looking forward to this movie for quite a while, even though I was skeptical about bringing this classic cartoon to the big screen. The film has received lots of mixed reviews, but for a fan of the original show like me, all of the reasons that critics have found to fault the movie are the exact reasons that I loved it! Instead of trying to bring the plot into modern times, the Wachowski brothers chose to keep the nostalgic, other-worldly style of the cartoon intact, only updating the presentation into a glorious explosion of video game color. The action is fantastic, and the visuals are filled with so much detail that I want to watch it over and over again to take it all in! Most of the casting is surprisingly good - Speed's hair is just right, Trixie is sassy, and I'm so glad they used a real monkey for Chim-Chim! On the subject of acting, there are a few unexpected touching moments between Speed and Pops and his mom which really add a nice dimension not seen in the cartoon. If I had to mention a couple minor negatives, it would have to be the new Sparky, who just didn't work for me, and they changed the use of some of the buttons on the Mach 5, which is actually the Mach 6 for racing, so I guess that's just fan nitpicking on my part! But there are so many other good things to mention - the liberal use of the classic theme song, the inclusion of several villains like Crusher Block and Snake Oiler, the nod to the Mammoth Car episode, the joke about Speed's red socks, and how about Racer X's voice? I thought the delivery was uncanny! I'm convinced that Speed Racer fans, if they embrace the spirit and fun of the original series, will really enjoy this movie. I certainly did, and I'm already dying for the DVD! Labels: movies


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