pinkpriscilla

Like all these other reviewers, I have no idea why this movie is being considered a dud. Did they watch the same film I did??? It was visually spectacular, with that retro Jetson's look to the sets and costuming, the excellent acting, and the spirit absolutely true to the anime. The Wachowski brothers totally win!

I do have to admit that Speed Racer was the love of my life when I was 10 years old, and probably responsible for my love of fast cars, as well as cementing in place the principles of honor and ethics my parents strove to teach me, so I have a bit of a bias...

But wait. What's all this about the story having no plot? What?? Did these critics fall asleep or did the bright flashing colors put them in an epileptic coma? No, the plot is no Bourne Identity, or did they expect one of those convoluted Asian stories? Speed Racer is not intellectual material. It's pure popcorn fun with the only real conflict there is: Good Guys vs. Bad Guys, and how well the Good Guys measure up.

Emile Hirsch was perfect as Speed. That doe-eyed, vulnerable look, along with the perfect costuming (can anyone forget the blue polo shirt with white cuffs and collar, and the red bandanna?) and the black hair falling into his eyes...

Matthew Fox as Racer X was beyond perfect. The costume was spot-on in every way. He even sounded like the anime character.

Paulie Litt as Sprytle stole every scene he was in, even without the chimp, and was so adorable that he didn't come close to being as obnoxious as the anime character.

I could go on and on... and on... but it just makes me want to go see it again.

For myself, sitting in that theater, hearing the distinctive sound of the jump springs for the first time in years made my eyes tear up. Ah Speed, you made me feel 10 years old again....

Along with Speed Racer, Kimba the White Lion, Gigantor, and other late 60s anime, this was another that I loved. It played for a short while on PBS and then disappeared, not even in reruns. Even as an adult, I remember this show being special. Unfortunately, no one I know in my age group seems to recall it when I mentioned it, and I was beginning to think I was crazy! I vividly remember as child being struck by the magic chewing gum that allowed him to breathe underwater most of all, although having a mermaid and a dolphin as friends came in close seconds. Hopefully some day someone will get a clue and this will be released on DVD like all the other ones, especially considering some of the junk that is out there for kids nowadays.