Ok, here's my take on it.

Now, I went in expecting the worst. I hated the trailer for one, and was ready to walk out of the theater with the worst spent 8 bucks of the day. However, I had the feeling that if this works, it was going to be pretty darn good. If not, its going to be absolutely rubbish. The good news, its done by the Wachowskis. Therefore, there was a chance they could make it work. And make it work they did. Its good. Its darn good. And its so unconventional and hyperkinetic that there was no way anyone can make a good trailer out of it. The scenes just don't work in trailer form. Its cheesy, but in a good and imaginative way. It looks like the future seen through the glasses of an LSD intoxicated dude in the 60s and rendered by Pixar. Its Roger Rabbit but with 3D cartoons instead. Yes, its garish, absolutely over the top, thoroughly gaudy and is probably the most excessive thing on film, ever. But it has the spirit and heart to pull it off. The story is pretty rudimentary but I feel it has an edge of sincerity. Enough to get the audience rooting for the movie (unless you are some high minded snob trying to intellectualize everything). The Giacchino score is great fun and uses the original Speed Racer theme to great effect (and in many variations too!). Definitely a fun movie, if totally unorthodox. Admittedly, its going to be a love it or hate it thing. It was clear from the outset that conventional critics were going to hate it. Yes, its not memorable, I won't defend it to the death and I'll probably find it 45mins too long on a repeat viewing, but its fun, sincere, cheery and light. There are far worse ways to spend a lazy hot summer afternoon these days. For me, I love it. ***1/2 out of ****

Burga - who plays lots of videogames, is not an anime fan in general, was a bit of a childhood Speed Racer fan, does not have ADD and believes his inner 5 year old is still very much alive.

This post has been edited by BurgaFlippinMan: May 8 2008, 09:13 PM

Its candy. Big colorful sweet candy. And a lot of it. Its up to you to decide whether you want or still need some candy these days.

Burga - now craving for the Giacchinno score to tide him over till Indy IV arrives...

This post has been edited by BurgaFlippinMan: May 8 2008, 05:42 PM

Actually its the worst reviewed movie on RT.com so far this year. But hey, like i said, it was never going to be a critics darling. But it does have something...I'd roll the dice and watch it.

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Added on May 8, 2008, 8:56 pmI didn't recognize him (i'm not big on Asian pop culture), and I thought he was just the token Asian dude until I saw his name in the credits.

This post has been edited by BurgaFlippinMan: May 8 2008, 08:56 PM

It definitely has a thin story, but its played sincerely.

I felt that the first bit of the movie, where its a juxtaposition of Speed's race and the backstory of his brother was exquisitely executed.

For summer movies, you have to go with your gut. I think POTC3 was better than POTC2 despite it scoring lower on RT. Across the Universe also only scored around the 50s but its one of my favorite films of 2007. Incidentally, Across the Universe is one of those films which just get better and better the more you watch it, as its glowing DVD reviews (where its often based on the respective reviewers second viewing or more) would attest. Speed Racer will probably be a love it or hate it. Worth a gamble for one of the nice surprises this year. Its just bizzare that I don't think there is any way a critic could defend it and maintain respectable credibility.

Surely that title goes to Superman: The Movie with a score of 93%?

IINM, usually the studio who made a film doesnt actually see a cent of the worldwide gross. They get a one off payment from the local distributor and thats it. That is why the U.S. gross is immensely important.

I honestly had more fun in Speed Racer than I had in Iron Man.

Burga - who thinks Iron Man is about as good as the first Spider-Man

Burga 2 - who thinks Spider-Man seemed better than it actually is because when it came out the world hadnt had a good comic book adaptation for over a decade.