The Speed Racer (2008) Discussion Thread

[Escapay]

New Post on Tuesday, May 6, 2008:
So, is anyone else looking forward to Speed Racer? It opens on May 9.

I loved the cartoon as a kid, and have been anticipating the movie ever since...well, ever since I first learned it was being made and started this (ignored) thread in the first place!

Original Post from Saturday, April 21, 2007:
Had no idea that there was even a live-action version being done (and directed by the Wachowski brothers, no less) until I found this article:

Matthew Fox Is Racer X in Speed Racer

Cast list:
Speed Racer - Emile Hirsch
Trixie - Christina Ricci
Pops Racer - John Goodman
Mom Racer - Susan Sarandon
Racer X - Matthew Fox
Sparky - Kick Gurry

Thoughts? Complaints? Headscratching? Wondering if they're gonna include the lovable-if-sometimes-annoying Spritle and Chim-Chim?

Hopefully, this means we'll see a DVD re-release of the original anime series with some decent extras this time around. Stuff like episode commentaries, retrospective interviews, a documentary about the series, original Japanese tracks with English subtitles, etc. And if we're lucky, maybe they won't time compress any episodes, like they did with the last episode on Volume Four.

ETA:
The thread title used to read "Speed Racer (May 2008) - Matthew Fox as Racer X", and I've updated it to make it a regular thread for Speed Racer discussion.

Escapay

[Escapay]

So, is anyone else looking forward to Speed Racer? It opens on May 9.

I loved the cartoon as a kid, and have been anticipating the movie ever since...well, ever since I first learned it was being made and started this (ignored) thread in the first place!

Albert

(Oh yeah, if someone could move this to the Movies/TV/Music forum...)

[Disney Duster]

Okay I'll say a little...

I originally heard about it and thought it would probably not be able to be much like the cartoon or be that good.

Now I see the trailer and promos and it still looks very different from the cartoon and not that good.

I never saw the cartoon, I just saw glimpses of it to know this movie looks like a totally different entity.

However, it looks so cool. I mean, the backgrounds are like animated or something. And the bright colors. And the imaginative designs and occurences.

I don't think I'll see it unless someone I know wants to go, and that is unlikely. My mom used to love the cartoon as a kid and she says this movie looks too weird.

If Spritle and Chim-Chim are the kid and monkey in yellow, I saw them in promos. And I don't know how they won't be silly and annoying.

Oh yea, and the M on Speed's helmet keeps reminding me of McDonald's.

[PeterPanfan]

I'll will most likely see this film, as I loved the series when I was younger.

I've never seen a Christina Ricci film, except Casper, hehe.

[DarthPrime]

I never really cared much for the series, so I'll probably skip the movie. It may be a rental for me down the line though.

[Widdi]

I don't want it to, but I think it will bomb at the box office.

I'll still be inline on friday though. Hell anything with Matthew Fox in it is worth seeing once (I would say twice, but then I would have to see We Are Marshall Again... That other Matthew just sucks too much for that).

[Escapay]

Yay, discussion!!!

I don't think I'll see it unless someone I know wants to go

Well, you know me, Panfan, and Widdi (sure, just online, but knowing is still knowing!). So now you have a reason to go, lol. We'll all arrange to go to a showing at the same time, in our respective towns, and have our phones on conference call so we can hear each other say stuff like "Awesome!" and "Oh wow, that was badass!".

I've never seen a Christina Ricci film, except Casper, hehe.

Not even The Addams Family, Now and Then, or Sleepy Hollow? For shame, Panfan, for shame...

Albert

[Disney Duster]

Oh haha Escapay. I don't think I have conference call but that would be a cool idea. I still don't think I'll be seeing this unless I can go with someone who is going.

Does anyone know the reason behind the drastic interpretation of Speed's world, with the psychedelic colors and race track?

And Escapay, why are you holding back your actual thoughts on this film or the series in general?

[Escapay]

Does anyone know the reason behind the drastic interpretation of Speed's world, with the psychedelic colors and race track?

Because it's a complete 180 from what the Wachowskis did in The Matrix. Dark washed out colors replaced with bright overtly-saturated colors. Plus, it makes for terrific eye candy. The Mach 5 never looked better...

And Escapay, why are you holding back your actual thoughts on this film or the series in general?

Because even though I've had volumes 1 and 2 of the series on DVD (and still need to get volumes 3, 4, and 5) for a couple years now, I haven't watched them since I got them (a sad case with many of my DVDs that don't contain the words "Doctor Who", "Disney", or are part of the romcom genre), so I can't give that honest an assessment without having that refreshed take on the series again.

Also, I'm still just in awe over the trailer to compile my thoughts together on how I think the movie will be. But it's just got such a stellar cast that even if the story disappoints me, I'm sure the performances won't. I've been a fan of Christina Ricci since Casper (which, according to Panfan, is the only movie of hers worth seeing), and of Emile Hirsch since The Emperor's Club and the underrated The Girl Next Door (which normally wouldn't be my cup of tea for a movie, but there's something so...innocent and naive about the entire story even if it's just Risky Business: The Next Generation). Matthew Fox is probably the only lead actor in the ensemble that I'm slightly worried about. I enjoyed him on "Party of Five", but haven't really seen him in much of anything else (as I don't watch "Lost"). But given who Racer X is (at least in the anime series), he does look like he can pass for (well, I won't spoil it...). And of course, John Goodman and Susan Sarandon are too talented for words that even if they're just standing there watching paint dry, it'll be done masterfully.

Albert

[daydreamer22010]

ok..i remember the cartoon as young, young kid and at first i too was excited about the film.

Then i read more into the plot (i am not going to post the articles because they contain spoilers and such), and quite frankly i am not that excited anymore.

BUT i will see it the theaters.

[PeterPanfan]

I've never seen a Christina Ricci film, except Casper, hehe.

Not even The Addams Family, Now and Then, or Sleepy Hollow? For shame, Panfan, for shame...

Albert

Okay, you caught me. I have seen The Addams Family. I just forgot she was in it. And I just recentley purchased Sleepy Hollow!