The visuals were insane, too much even!

SPEED FAIL.

The Wachowski Brothers could have trimmed this film down 25-35 minutes, and it would have been a lot better for that. Exhausting is the exact word to describe this movie. I loved the visuals, especially the transitions and cartoon like effects where they had different layers on screen at the same time, like animation cells. Also the anime joke between the little kid and chim chim was funny.

I could get half the visuals, I'm red-green colour blind :(

being an emile hirsch fanboy, i enjoyed this film more than i expected going into it. i thought it had a good mix of entertainment for the young audiences as well as for those going to see the film transitioned from anime. the colors and cinematography was uncanny and just mind-blowing, but the runtime was a bit long. i am curious as to how they could have trimmed it down though with the same story line, i don't see it. i also don't see how iron man made 100 million and this will wind up making in the 30s.

:-/

extremely entertaining, like any movie it all depends on what you are expecting. i was expecting to be blown away visually...and i was. so i thoroughly enjoyed it.

I WANT MY MONEY AND MY TWO HRS BACK

I liked it for what it was. It reminded me of a line from Family Guy about the Bernie Mac Show, "I dont' know what the devil he is saying, but there is a lot of bright colors and movement, it keeps my attention."

I had no expectations whatsoever. I found the storyline rather wholesome (the hero drinks milk, of all things, when he wins the race) and more family-friendly than most "family-friendly" films I've seen. The visuals will surely produce sharply contrasting views: The whole film feels like living within a story within a video game. Personally, I enjoyed it. The Speed Racer cartoon always felt like a game and the movie is faithful to that origin. The action sequences (most of them are races) are more exciting than the Episode I pod race, and there was plenty of comic reliefe (including John Goodman fighting a Ninja and calling him a "nonja"). It was very entertaining indeed and I have to confess I will probably see it again. I wonder what effect the visuals will have on audiences and am rather curious about the boxoffice tally.

very fun... nice family movie... excelent in IMAX
FX and sounds awesome... it was what I spected....
Bien por los hermanos Wachowski...

I thought the movie was fantastic. It sucks that all the critics are bashing this movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The visuals were amazing, can't wait to see it on shrooms. Hahaha. But in all seriousness, I thought the Wachowski's conquered the feat of creating exactly what a "live action cartoon" should be like. It was exactly that. I do think that the story was lacking just a little bit, but they cut out what they could to keep the story rolling. I would have liked to have seen a bit more development in how and really why Rex became Racer X, it was a little ambiguous. All in all I think it was a really good journey. I'm most definitely going to see it again in theaters. Probably at the imax.

I watched it last night at midnight, and maaan , did it deliver

true, the story is paper thin and corny, but for the context it was actually pretty well done. I personally hated all these critter sidekicks back in all the toons, but this movie actually made me like the chimp!!!!

Everything has already been said about the stunning visuals… but like the movie breaks almost every rule in film making text book (regarding time and shot selection) and this is not just “because we can do it”, but it all makes sense in the context

again, it’s a totally love it/hate it movie
but I dare to say I liked it way more than Iron man and I absolutely would go watch it again one more time. At least this movie is trying something new…

ps. this is NOT PG… some sequences are way more intense than a kid can handle

ps2. this is the only movie in my book that should be watched frame by frame

Its so refreshing to see that someone actually comes and pushes everything that you just thought was done already with Sin City/300 green screen/cg backdrops craze.

Loved it, and I went in with not many expectations. The story is light, but you're not going for the story, you're going for the overall experience, which definitely delivers.

for PG movie it was decent....wasn't as bad reviewers said it was...

started off a little slow and could have used 20mins cut down..besides that it was a good kid's movie...more entertaining than Pirates3 or Spidey3 were

@ Christopher Marc

THAT'S COMPLETELY TRUE! I can't see why critics are hating it SO MUCH. I thought it was OK. Not awesome, but really entertaining.

I agree with the fact that it may have been a bit to long, but I thought it was amazing!! The story was good, it had a good moral and the visuals were like nothing I have ever seen or imagined. The end race seen makes me want to see it again. The races were like watching a Kung Fu movie where the cars are doing the fighting. I will probably get haters but Speed Racer vs. Iron Man... Speed Racer all the way!

visually, I was completely blown away. The story I felt was compelling although maybe not as compelling as it could of been. Honestly though, I loved it. A whole bunch of Friday night fun for me.

There is a point in Speed Racer where Taejo Togokhan says to Racer X (Matthew Fox) -- "Don't tell me what I can't do!!!" -- thought it was a funny Lost joke...

Thought it was great. Very fun.

eklab, I might have to see it just for that joke, haha.

But I kinda wanted to see it anyway. I'm happy to hear a lot of positive reviews for the movie, and surprised even. Sounds like a good time at the movies.

I didn't care for Iron Man other than Robert Downey Jr. and I didn't care for this other than Emile Hirsch's pretty pretty face.

again, this movie ruled. as far as commercially viable popcorn flicks go, what more could you ask for? I liked it better than any of the extraneous sequels from last summer, and hope it does double what it's expected to take in at the box office.

Just got back from it and have to say I was impressed. Now i'm not saying that just based on how much I liked it but how impressive it was that the Wachowski's really went balls to the walls with everything. Nothing was subtle and everything popped. Now it was waaaaay to long in my opinion but I don't know how someone who saw the movie and didn't like it can't at least acknowledge the Wachowski's succeeded in what they were going out for. A live action cartoon to the fullest with all the pros and cons. I loved it for what it was.

It was fantastic. Racer X was the best part. Matthew Fox played X well.

Loved it. The visuals made me have an eye-gasm. They were killer. The story was much better than I thought it was going to be when I entered the theater. Overall, it is a very fun movie.

if you are paying to see this movie then there is absolutely no way you'll be dissapointed. while i'm not comparing it to these films i think it's a crazy mix of death race, tron, and dick tracy. of course not as good but you get the idea. really though, the bashing i've read is by people predisposed to hate the wachowski's and/or the idea of speed racer, but it's actually a uniquely entertaining experience.

The many homages [to the original] were very well done and most were so subtle it was obviously playing to the hardcore fanbase in that respect. I agree, about 22 mins coulda been chopped off but the family arc [straight plane?] actually felt authentic. If not a little all over the place and obvious. Being an avid car nut i was surprised i wasn't as drawn out by the fact none (except one TVR ;) of them were licensed. As long as one is forewarned this is indeed a PG-rated, family-primed flick i'm sure there's something in here for pretty much any non-self-"jaded" person can not pretend to not enjoy.

If you were warned and you were chauffeured to the movie simply because the fact your age doesn't allow you to drive a car yet, you will unequivocally love it. It's not dumbed down for kids nor does it speak down to them. The slapstick and silliness never felt so forced that it didn't make sense in the context of the subject matter. And yes, that damn Chim-Chim flings his poo at one point. Take that, Roger Allam's american career!

i loved it !!

Awesome.

Just got back from the IMAX showing with 6 of my friends. We all enjoyed the hell out of it! We were laughing and amazed from the wonderful spectacle. Also most of the people in the theater stayed for the whole credits and the general consensus seemed like they all liked it. I honestly don't know why this movie is being hated on so much. It was a fun, exhilarating ride.

Holy shit,

I love reading all these glowing reviews for Speed Racer. Guess I better check it out.

Hmmm. I heard some pretty dismal reviews and some decent reviews from critics, but I like grasping an audience's views the most.
Sucks that it had a shabby plotline, but the visuals make it look interesting enough, I'm catching it in theatres.

I just came back watching it one more time and dare I say, just for the sake of such satisfying ending I wanna watch it one more time

kudos to the Watchowsky's that they didn't go the -now usual- setup for sequel way!!!

I was going to watch it when it came on dvd, but after watching the first 7 minutes i won't ever do so.

Thanks to the months of crap leading up to this film, I went into the theater expecting a bad movie with good visuals; similar to my Transformers experience back in the summer of '07. However, I can honestly say that I came out of Regal Cinemas actually laughing my ass off...in a GOOD WAY!

My friend and I couldn't believe how awesome that movie was! I STILL can't believe it. That movie, for all intensive purposes, was supposed to suck, but was in fact, the best movie I had seen in a LONG time. I can definitely see what you guys are saying about shaving time off the movie, but that personally didn't bother me. I thought the casting, acting, visuals, homages, races and fight scenes were...well..PERFECT. This is EXACTLY what a live action anime movie should have been.

I do not enjoy the Wachowskis, nor did I enjoy the Matrix trilogy, but I can honestly say that unless you are considered legally retarded and/or voted for George W Bush, then you will love this movie. In short- the critics are idiots; make your own decision.

-Eric

Wow, I now know that many of the above persons have questionable taste in movies.

This is one of those unnecessary bits of tripe that people will defend by calling it a "popcorn movie." It seems that little turn of phrase is some form of absolution for what would be considered by any movie connoisseur a film better left to the bowels of basic cable. Just because something is a "popcorn movie" doesn't give it a license to be overlooked for just how bad it is. And this is truly bad.

And I did watch it thinking, while the visuals were interesting, it would absolutely suck to see this film if you were color blind.

Save your money, see Iron Man instead, or hold out for Batman.

I thought it was mostly terrific....more story than the critics have given credit too...weakest point was the futuristic city scenes...it should have dealt even more with racer x.......but that said,,the visuals alone and editing - no way have we seen anything like that before in a movie and is worth the ticket price alone

It was GREAT!!

I LOVED IT!!!

It's a movie you have to see twice just to take it all in.

Much better than Ironman, which was just the same thing as the cartoon with just a little added.

Go Speed GO!!!

The movie was 2hrs too long, surprised no ond had an epileptic
seizure yet. There was no story to follow. Save your money and catch any other movie

Please refer to them as "The Wachowskis". Both are not exactly men anymore.

I thought the film was great. I was fearing that it would be pretty bad seeing as how it's been shamelessly and relentlessly panned by critics. But i actually thought it was tons of fun! Sure it had its share of very hokey moments (Emile Hirsch was particularly disappointing as the title character since he just never proved to be cool enough to properly give justice to Speed) and that kid who played Sprittle was reminiscent of Jar Jar Binks (that is, a character so irritating you fail to recall why his inclusion was necessary in the first place). And I recognize that the CG in the film has been a particular target of consternation for viewers but i found the film actually quite visually enticing.

I think thought that this film will ultimately become one that's either hated or loved by people. And this is especially true for the die-hard fans of the original cartoon.

i'm glad that most people here enjoyed it. i loved it but my wife did not. we both thought the visual were staggeringly good though she lost track of what was happening during some of the races. which is understandable considering how fast things were moving.

i was completely surprised at how strong the message of family unity was continually reinforced, and not to an annoying level like most family films. john goodman and susan sarandon both had great scenes with well written and touching monologues.

everything worked in the film's context. even pops spinning the ninja over his head. if i was six years old and watched this movie, my head would have exploded!

my favourite part of the film, besides the previously mentions 'family' scenes, was the rally with speed in the mach 5....awesome and satisfying in every way.

don't wait for this to come to dvd, this must be scene in a theatre! go! go! go!

I loved it to death. Much better than the bore fest that was Iron Man. The visuals were stunning, the story was ridiculous, the character were fun and engaging, and it felt like the old cartoon! Speed Racer FTW.

My eyes say the Wachowskis have redeemed themselves. Until the eventual Speed Racer 2 and 3, where Speed finds out that Royalton has come back, and is able to make copies of himself, and in the end he has to race his heart out, only to realize he has to lose to save the world.

It was meant to be fun and that is exactly what it was fun.Even the "violence" was fun.
The story line was not meant to be complex or deep. It was an adaptation of a cartoon.
Being a visual communications major, I was blown away by the CG.
Great fun.
See the film, get the original and this when it is released.

My wife and I saw the movie and loved it.

Yes, it was a bit long, but for some reason, the middle of movies often have that dead spot (is that when you're supposed to take a potty break?) but the final two races had me sitting on the edge of my seat.

The acting was very good.

The movie had a strong UK/German flavor along with its Asian touches, and I suspect that its strength at the box office will be seen on the international level. Moreover, I think the Wachowski's knew that was going to be the case going in and that's why they approached the movie the way they did, with the filming in Germany and everything.

Our only disappointment was that the Mammoth Car turned out to be an 18-wheeler. ;)

As for Iron Man - which we also saw - it was very good, very well done, and I was highly impressed (surprised, actually) with the acting job that Downey did. However, the plot was so predictable, my wife and I kept whispering to each other about what was going to happen next (and we were usually right). We liked it fine, but we *loved* Speed Racer.

Most critics are not fans of what the Wachowskis stand for, and i think in their reviews it shows.. I happened to like Speed and the effects were amazing.

Sorry to go off subject, but
Does anyone know howcome my avatar is not showing? I already have a gravatar acount, but I don't see it on slashfilm.com

Do I have to register with this site and if I do where do I register at?

YES!!!!!

Enjoyed it. Not the greatest movie ever made but still very good. It's worth the trip.

SPEED RACER SUCKS BIG TIME. JUST LEFT THE MOVIE IN THE MIDDLE COZ COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. MY FRIEND FELL ASLEEP IN THE VERY BEGINNING. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADAPTED BETTER. COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT SAME WACHOWSKI BROS. MADE MATRIX TRILOGY. CONCLUDING.....WATCH IRON MAN 10 TIMES THAN WATCHING SPEED RACER EVEN FOR 10 MINS.