tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post7101616803144442209..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Film Friday: Speed Racer (2008)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-50745004837518292032013-02-17T16:14:52.602-05:002013-02-17T16:14:52.602-05:00tryanmax, I agree. I see this film as an ode to th...tryanmax, I agree. I see this film as an ode to the noble small businessman who takes out the corrupt international conglomerate. This is a pro-competition film in every way -- in sports and in business. This film is not anti-business or anti-capitalist. Unfortunately, conservatives have forgotten how to tell the difference. They now equate "rich" with success with capitalism and it never dawns on them anymore that we should not be supporting companies who abuse the system or use the power of government to get to where they are because they aren't capitalist.<br /><br />As for Apple, they definitely sue a lot of people, don't they? They've gotten very good at forum shopping too to find the right judges to help them. AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-53521289666547395102013-02-17T16:01:35.636-05:002013-02-17T16:01:35.636-05:00tryanmax, That makes me genuinely happy! I'm g...tryanmax, That makes me genuinely happy! I'm glad you really liked this film. I do too. I see so much in it and I wish more people would as well. I too hope this film develops a cult following.<br /><br />In terms of the review, I guess in hindsight I did downplay this one too much. I really do highly recommend this one, but I also do expect that most people probably won't like it because it's kind of a niche film in that regard -- it reminds me of <i>Scott Pilgrim</i> in that your expectations really matter and if you go in understanding how the film is to be taken, then it's brilliant... otherwise it's not.<br /><br />I think the film includes a ton of story that isn't evident from just listening to the plot, I think the characters are all deep and rich and three dimensional. I agree with each of your statements about this being an effective use of CGI, about the love story and the comedy flowing from the story, and about the villain being a deep characters and not just cardboard. I love how each character has their own motivation and they all come together at the right times.<br /><br />Even the villains have their own separate motivations -- Snake Oiler has a massive ego and inferiority complex, the Gray Ghost hates being a henchman and knows he was more but then learns that maybe he never was more than just a cheater, and Royalton who fought his way up from poverty and is now addicted to money and control -- both of which will vanish if he ever loses. These are all super character. Few films have a single villain this complex, this film has half a dozen.<br /><br />Finally, that is a great line from Pops and Speed. I think the film is full of those.<br />AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-73554923054985738452013-02-17T15:49:28.955-05:002013-02-17T15:49:28.955-05:00BTW, I'm frankly disgusted that any conservati...BTW, I'm frankly disgusted that any conservatives would find this film to be anti-capitalist. It just goes to show that too many self-described conservatives don't know what they are talking about. It's the same reaction I have to people who respond to Apple as a jewel of the free market. Personally, I see them as a cult that happens to sell electronics to fund their perpetual lawsuit machine. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-30063394021123461392013-02-17T15:33:01.944-05:002013-02-17T15:33:01.944-05:00Ah, yes, I did misunderstand what you meant by &qu...Ah, yes, I did misunderstand what you meant by "conflicted" and I concur, the critics do seem to want to see flawed heroes struggling with their dark sides. And in that department, this film is severely lacking. <br /><br />This film has really left me jazzed. I did not expect so much, and I frankly feel like your review doesn't do it justice. <i>Speed Racer</i> does not commit the sins that we frequently complain about. The heroes are uniquely qualified to confront their problems rather than being props in their own narrative. The villains are not 2-dimensional evil puppy kickers. The CGI is not employed for its own sake, but is a real world-building device (even as outlandish as this particular world is). The comic relief is woven into the story rather than being a "joke break." Likewise, the action also drives the narrative rather than breaking it. Even the romantic angle, scant as it is, doesn't feel like an "oh yeah, we need a girl, too" thing; Trixie feels like a character that belongs in Speed's circle. Plus, it's just nice to see a hero who isn't a cocky prick for a change. <br /><br />Frankly, I think <i>Speed Racer</i> is a brilliant film now that I've seen it. I was already enjoying the complex aesthetic from the very beginning--something that admittedly few would probably appreciate. But the moment I fell in love with the movie was this: <br /><br /><i><b>Pops:</b> You think you can drive a car and change the world? It doesn't work like that!<br /><b>Speed:</b> Maybe not, but it's the only thing I know how to do and I gotta do something. </i><br /><br />What amazes me most is that the movie contains a lot to think about, but you don't <i>have</i> to think about it. You can just sit back and enjoy the ride, too. Genius. I really hope this one gains cult status. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-63640438854284639762013-02-17T12:43:51.687-05:002013-02-17T12:43:51.687-05:00As for the relationship, I agree completely. That...As for the relationship, I agree completely. That's where the heart is in this movie. I think that Speed's character is amazingly well written. When he pulls up so he doesn't break his brother's record, you get a real sense of how he's struggling to hold onto his brother's memory. And then the way he attached himself to Racer X in the hopes of finding his "dead" brother is very touching. And then to not have Racer X reveal himself is really very sad.<br /><br />John Goodman does an equally amazing job of showing you the underlying pain within Pops at the loss of Rex and how he struggles to deal with the harsh words he spoke to his son before he died.<br /><br />You have to read all of this into the film, but it's there, it's obvious, it's meant to be taken from the film, and it's very emotional. And that really elevates this film way above what it appears to be at first glance.<br /><br />In terms of "conflicted," I agree that Speed is conflicted in a way... in the sense that he's struggling to deal with his feelings. BUT he's not conflicted in his values, which was my point in the article. I guess I should have been more clear. The critics wanted a character who suffers from a dark side and who is an anti-hero. Speed is not that. He's a hero through and through, and what conflicts him is personal -- his feelings for his dead brother. At no point does he ever consider selling out or doing the wrong thing, he just worried about being letting go of his brother's memory.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-49708169483049201102013-02-17T12:37:06.253-05:002013-02-17T12:37:06.253-05:00tryanmax, Excellent! I'm always happy to expo...tryanmax, Excellent! I'm always happy to expose good films to people! :)<br /><br />On your thoughts, I concur 100%. I can wait to hear more of your thoughts.<br /><br />First, I think the use of the word "cynical" is the tip off here. There is nothing cynical about this film and the fact the critics dismissed it as such is proof, as you say, that this film "represents a worldview which they clearly resist." In fact, that says it perfectly -- they didn't like the world this film stands for, so they were going to attack it one way or another. And the best way to attack it is to project their own worst quality on it -- cynicism, because this film stands for the polar opposite of the cynical world they would create if they wrote a film.<br /><br />Secondly, you are 100% correct about the problem of exposition. I've run into this with my own books... people either love them or hate them, there's very little middle ground. And the people who hate them tend to say things like, "we don't know anything about the characters' motivations." When I first heard this, it perplexed me a lot. The books are crawling with motivation... they are, in fact, <i>about</i> the characters' motivations. So where was this coming from?<br /><br />Well, it turned out that some people expect to be spoon-fed everything they need to know through exposition. If the narrator doesn't say, "He was happy," then these people apparently have no way to know that the character is happy. So to them, a book that that doesn't dumb it down and tell them everything they need to know in exposition is a book that doesn't contain that information at all. That was a stunning discovery, but it seems to be true.<br /><br />I think the same thing is going on here. Despite claiming to be sophisticated, I've found that most film critics are shallow thinkers. They need everything spelled out for them very clearly. <i>Speed Racer</i> doesn't do that. Even the descriptions of the race outcomes (often done through montages) are subtle in how they are presented -- leading to the claims of "narrative incoherence."<br /><br />And when it comes to the deeper moments, like the relationship between Speed and Rex or the way Pops cares for both, this film is very subtle in how it handles those. My guess is that these critics missed all of it because no one turned to the camera and said, "Pops is in a lot of pain because Rex died" or "Speed is tormented by his brother's shadow." To them, it simply didn't happen... hence, they saw "nothing that would interest anyone over the age do 10." Basically, since there are no speeches making these things obvious, they don't exist.<br /><br />(continued)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-53701052270568119122013-02-17T11:47:59.371-05:002013-02-17T11:47:59.371-05:00As promised, I moved Speed Racer to the top of my ...As promised, I moved <i>Speed Racer</i> to the top of my viewing list so I could intelligently engage this thread. <br /><br />I happen to think Andrew is selling this one short by downplaying its level of sophistication. Not that it is terribly sophisticated, but it certainly is more so that it's coming off at this point. As such, I happen to think that this film exposes the laziness of most critics. For all the in-your-face action and effects, some elements of the story are surprisingly subtle. I disagree that this film lacks a conflicted hero, and in fact, I find two. <br /><br />Speed Racer feels overshadowed by his deceased older brother, yet carries the utmost respect for him at the same time. So much so that he throws besting his brother's record at the beginning of the film. Yet he goes on to combat race fixing. This conflict may seem to get glossed over because we don't get any gushing monologue from Speed on the subject, but it is in fact dealt with in the subtext of the narrative as Speed clinging to the belief that Racer X is his brother gives him a reason not to hold back. Resolution is found when X reveals his face to Speed, and it is not the face of Rex. But Speed decides that the best way to honor his brother is to not hold back, but perform at his utmost. <br /><br />We also have Racer X, who is ultimately revealed to be Rex, but only to the audience. His secret is kept from Speed and the Racer family. This thinly-veiled double-twist is only exposed in the closing scene of the film, but it casts everything that precedes it in a different light, ending the film on a bittersweet note and robbing the elation from the moment prior. The entire conflict is dealt with in a few short lines, but that doesn't make it any less impactful to the story. <br /><br />The reason the critics missed both of these, I think, is because they weren't brooded over overtly and expositionally, but were rather handled more fluidly through dialogue and action--the foundational elements of drama. I also believe their dislike of the film was purely visceral. I wouldn't expect them to enjoy the film any better if they were able to find these themes, because they still represent a worldview which they clearly resist. But since it wasn't spoon-fed to them, they could only react instinctively, which is why they haphazardly toss about words like "cynical" to describe a story which is anything but. <br /><br />You might think I was impressed by this film, and you'd be right. I have much more I could say about it, but I have to get my kiddos to a haircut appointment. I'll check back later. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-83113430352146517612013-02-16T19:25:23.497-05:002013-02-16T19:25:23.497-05:00Max, It took me a second viewing before I liked th...Max, It took me a second viewing before I liked this one. I agree with you though, this film gets better as it moves forward and as you get more accustomed to their word and the story just takes over. The beginning involves a lot of narration which is needed, but it's as fun to watch as later scenes.<br /><br />That's hilarious about the film critic. I've caught some journalists at times talking about things they didn't actually witness or don't actually know anything about, but nothing so obvious as reviewing a film they clearly didn't see. LOL! It does make me wonder, however, how many reviews are written based just on "assumed content" rather than actual content.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-17520883169664382342013-02-16T19:09:17.235-05:002013-02-16T19:09:17.235-05:00I liked this one as well, when the film first star...I liked this one as well, when the film first started out it looked like it was going to be typical. But as the film progressed it kept getting better. I was quite surprised. <br /><br />We used to have a film critic in Phoenix. That was notorious for not seeing the films he was critiquing. It was very funny when he would get nailed in the editorial section. With people often stating, Mr Soinso's critique was not the film I saw. Commander Maxhttp://www.the-grey-ghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-16103805767724879482013-02-16T13:43:04.135-05:002013-02-16T13:43:04.135-05:00Shawn, I like Dick Tracy, I just wish they had mad...Shawn, I like <i>Dick Tracy</i>, I just wish they had made some different choices that I think would have helped a lot. The musical aspect really didn't work for me.<br /><br />I agree about <i>Speed Racer</i>, it's not for everybody, but is very enjoyable if you're that somebody.<br /><br />Totally agree about TTSS, it was deathly dull and a waste of talent.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-36737077483609873582013-02-16T04:34:44.256-05:002013-02-16T04:34:44.256-05:00I found Dick Tracy quite enjoyable and think it ho...I found <i>Dick Tracy</i> quite enjoyable and think it holds up pretty well considering it was supposed to an homage to the old school 3 color comics. <br /><br /><i>Speed Racer</i> was some great eye candy. Not for everybody, but really enjoyed it too.<br /><br /><i>Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy</i> was a real struggle to finish. Dull, dull, dull,at least in my opinion. What a waste of some really great talent.shawnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-20428646593014239562013-02-15T23:01:10.185-05:002013-02-15T23:01:10.185-05:00Scott, I suspect bad things about the new Die Hard...Scott, I suspect bad things about the new <i>Die Hard</i> film. So I'm happy to wait.<br /><br />I saw <i>TTSS</i> over X-mas and honestly didn't like it at all. I thought the plot was good, even if it was something I'd seen too much already in spy films, but I hated the direction... absolutely hated it. Honestly, I would have fired the director and started over if I was the producer.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-85799240035387965442013-02-15T22:56:42.266-05:002013-02-15T22:56:42.266-05:00Interesting. I can't say I'm too familiar ...Interesting. I can't say I'm too familiar with Warren Beatty's other work so I have no idea where <i>this</i> falls in his overall filmography.<br /><br />I will admit it ends a little too neatly, with all the henchmen getting killed off in seemingly one 30-second montage.<br /><br />Not to go too off-topic...<br /><br />...it looks like I'll be waiting for Blu-Ray to check out the latest <i>Die Hard</i> movie. I've read comparisons to both <i>Batman & Robin</i> and <i>Beverly Hills Cop 3</i> and it seems to feature all the worst aspects of modern-day action filmmaking... all wrapped up in only 90 minutes. The other films were 2+ hours and I'm pretty sure we can expect an extended cut later.<br /><br />I'll happily review it later in the year. :-)<br /><br />Also, I just watched <i>Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy</i>. Interesting story, great cast... but I felt it meandered a bit too much. This was a case where I might've liked it had it been directed differently. (I've never read the book.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-75699098284365007812013-02-15T22:46:46.064-05:002013-02-15T22:46:46.064-05:00Scott, I almost reviewed Dick Tracy the other day....Scott, I almost reviewed <i>Dick Tracy</i> the other day. Visually, that's a great film. It's definitely the pre-CGI equivalent of this film. BUT... making it a musical was a mistake, especially making it such a weak musical. Also, despite the cool chances they took with the costumes, the makeup and the sets, they took no chances at all with the direction and it feels disconnected to me -- like it was designed by some pretty visionary people who all left, so the producers hired some hack to direct it using what was already set up.<br />AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-91295525351973002762013-02-15T22:41:17.364-05:002013-02-15T22:41:17.364-05:00Andrew -
Okay, that works for me. :-)
By the wa...Andrew - <br /><br />Okay, that works for me. :-)<br /><br />By the way, as its resident defender, go easy on <i>Dick Tracy</i>! Considering they were still using old-school techniques back then, I'd say Warren Beatty and Co. accomplished what they set out to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-79805604959130669402013-02-15T21:52:19.119-05:002013-02-15T21:52:19.119-05:00Scott, I think there's a difference between wh...Scott, I think there's a difference between what I'm saying and what you're thinking. Let me explain.<br /><br />In a movie like, <i>Transformers Gimme Money</i>, I would agree that the visual effects are basically an assault meant to numb you into submission. Things are thrown at you so fast and so constantly that all you see are blurs and the hope is that your mind just shuts down and you accept what you are seeing. Essentially, it's the CGI version of the shaky-cam, where they create action by just shaking things enough that you get too sick to verify that nothing is really happening.<br /><br />That's not the case here. In this instance, the entire world is vibrant and colorful in ways that our world is not. And that color isn't just from CGI, it's their clothes, the way the sets are painted, the way everything glows. These color and the lights aren't meant to make you look away, they are meant to pull you in and immerse you in this world. The idea here is to make this world feel like that moment you first walk into a toy store or a candy store and you see unlimited possibilities before you start to recognize everything that's there.<br /><br />In other words, the color here is meant to create a fantasy world you want to drink in... whereas, The CGI in <i>Transformers</i> is meant to distract you and confuse you in the hopes of tricking you into thinking there is more going on than you think.<br /><br />One is meant to make you want to look, the other is meant to makes you close your eyes.<br /><br />I think that's a huge difference and that's why I would absolutely praise the visuals in this film even if I didn't like the movie.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-34157261703935394512013-02-15T21:39:16.651-05:002013-02-15T21:39:16.651-05:00Andrew -
Indeed, this film is a virtual assault ...Andrew -<br /><br /><i> Indeed, this film is a virtual assault of color and sound and action. It’s so overpowering to your rational mind that it literally forces you to accept its reality.</i><br /><br />Again, I think that if you didn't like this movie, something like the excerpt above could just as easily be used against it.<br /><br />But, hey, it's just me. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-15107334726690997162013-02-15T21:32:50.117-05:002013-02-15T21:32:50.117-05:00Scott, I'm not saying you're wrong, I'...Scott, I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just curious what things you see that we normally criticize?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-68284127322771669452013-02-15T21:25:40.644-05:002013-02-15T21:25:40.644-05:00Andrew -
It just seems like this movie indulges ...Andrew - <br /><br />It just seems like this movie indulges in a lot of things we normally complain about in other movies. On the other hand, I'm usually the first one to excuse such things if the movie itself is good. I guess that's why the overpowering visuals work here yet may not work elsewhere.<br /><br />I wasn't making a direct comparison between <i>Speed Racer</i> and the <i>SW</i> prequels - apples and oranges! (Very bad oranges, that is.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-36426240933629560442013-02-15T21:20:55.309-05:002013-02-15T21:20:55.309-05:00Bev, LOL! I'm sure he liked you too. :)Bev, LOL! I'm sure he liked you too. :)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-48652113461629881412013-02-15T21:11:06.458-05:002013-02-15T21:11:06.458-05:00Okay, would I be revealing too much in saying that...Okay, would I be revealing too much in saying that I had a crush on Speed Racer when I was a child? Don't judge me...BevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-1559047921046905222013-02-15T19:33:26.687-05:002013-02-15T19:33:26.687-05:00Outlaw, I'm not surprised it's true. I...Outlaw, I'm not surprised it's true. I've seen some crazy things about high school football in Texas and a couple other places.<br /><br />I hope you enjoy the film. Just remember this is pure escapism. It's nothing more. So go in with that mindset.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-9091032196707648902013-02-15T19:28:24.857-05:002013-02-15T19:28:24.857-05:00Andrew, I would say the part about families being ...Andrew, I would say the part about families being obsessed with it and forcing kids to play isn't cynical, it's true. My 2 cents as a Texan.<br /><br />I will have to take a look at this film. The previews turned me off, but I did watch the show from time to time as a kid.Outlaw13https://www.blogger.com/profile/17232117096525959967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-35038453587057864192013-02-15T19:27:50.999-05:002013-02-15T19:27:50.999-05:00Snape, He didn't call this film "fascist,...Snape, He didn't call this film "fascist," he called <i>300</i> fascist.<br /><br />I think that's a good description -- corny movie free from cynicism. This movie won't change your life, but I found it to be excellent escapism.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-78689180861489757852013-02-15T18:28:13.289-05:002013-02-15T18:28:13.289-05:00I should be checking this out soon. I'll see a...I should be checking this out soon. I'll see any movie that leftist critics call "fascist"! I wouldn't be a good "fascist" if I didn't! lol<br /><br />The overuse of CGI in the movie is a bit of a turn-off, though. <br /><br />I'm also not a huge fan of the Wachowski bros or whatever they are...<br /><br />I agree not every movie has to be Citizen Kane or a feel bad depressing movie! A corny movie free from cynicism can also be good, if those critics just get their heads out of their asses. Mr_Severus_Snapehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09114381805017025426noreply@blogger.com