Accelerator

Yeah, I liked this movie. It's actually quite good. Strange that the DVD (region 2) I rented to watch it on kept returning to the menu after each chapter (on my Powerbook G3). I don't know whether other people have also experienced this problem, but it seriously detracted from the overall movie. The movie is great in itself though. It's somewhat of a realistic "Gone in 60 seconds" or a serious "Cannonball Run".

I saw this movie last Saturday at the UGC cinema, Dublin (as part of the Dublin Film Festival).

My comments?? Probably the best 87 minutes of movie-making magic in the past twenty years. Storyline, script, camera work, cast, inter-play of characters, production, directorship...and music.

Vinnie and Gang - you've done the Irish proud. If you haven't seen it yet - don't delay....you're in for the ride of you're life.

When I saw this movie, I had never heard anything about it before. Often that's the best way to see a film, and have an objective look at it. This movie starts of promising with a car chase scene, accompanied by loud drum and bass-like music. The tone is set: another movie about young people in the slums of some Anglo- Irish city ( compare Trainspotting), with lots of modern music. The music in fact is the only thing that remained interesting during the whole movie. For the rest, it's nothing more than a sympathetic effort to make a film about these youngsters, their boredom and the illegal race it results in. Oh, and there's something about the problems in Northern Ireland as well! Most of the characters are quiet flat and the acting often is well meant, but very poor. And the race, witch takes up most of the time of the movie, is in fact a bit boring. There are much more interesting films about illegal car races, like for example the classics "Two-Lane Backtop" and "Vanishing Point" ( I bet you the makers were influenced by these movies!) Finally, I recently saw a much more interesting and natural film about youngsters and their problems, with no car chases at all, and hardly any loud, modern music. That was the recent Swedish picture "Fucking Åmål". Now there's a movie I'd really recommend!

I rented a few movies a few days ago, and I watched this one last because I wasn't sure if it would be a good one. Well I was totally surprised after seeing just 10 minutes, the suspense is so good, it gives a very real impression about teenagers doing crazy stuff, there's a very good storyline, it's funny sometimes, there's good action, nice cars and also some drama.

Afterwards I really felt like this was the first good movie I had seen in months.

If you haven't seen it yet and you like some tuned cars racin, kids doin very crazy stuff and a bit of drama, you'll love it!

"Accelerator" is an enjoyable and competently directed movie. The plot has been touched on by other reviewers but what disappointed me was the director's insistence on character development rather than concentrating fully on the race and having a winner. I suppose that would have been too predictable.

As for the characters the statuesque Sharon and myopic Anto are probably the most likeable. Sharon (Mary Murray) has the most sensual screen presence I have seen in the last ten years.

Negatives - the smug, patronising, irritating and condescending Ripley and Spock played by the extremely overrated and arrogant pair that is Mary Ellen McCartan and Philip Richey.

Overall I'd say 5/10