# "Speed Racer" was awesome; critics who panned it had their heads up their asses **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070 "2008-11-17T02:02:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/1 "2008-11-17T02:02:23Z")
I finally caught _Speed Racer_ on DVD, and now I’m totally sad that I missed out on seeing it on a massive screen or even IMAX. Watching it at home on a 27" CRT was like taking DMT and then watching the original cartoon - totally hallucinogenic, amazing, surreal, and mindblowing. The Wachowskis succeeded in somehow making everything that we love about anime - the completely mental action scenes, the weird streaky “action” backgrounds, the [huge eyes](http://www.wallpaperez.net/wallpaper/movie/Speed-Racer-Trixie-1601.jpg) - into live-action insanity. For a 3-hour movie, it didn’t feel a second too long, and some of the filmmaking and animation techniques that they got into for this one make the _Matrix_ trilogy look like Gertie the Dinosaur by comparison. This is the ultimate live-action cartoon, and while I’m loath to invoke this, anyone who panned it truly didn’t _get_ it. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/2 "2008-11-17T02:08:49Z")
Indeed, my favorite complaint was that the movie was too cartoonish. Hello? Speed Racer? It’s SUPPOSED to be cartoonish, even though I was hoping for a more gritty reimagining of Speed, this movie was spot on, with only a few fanboyish problems for me (for example, I really wish they had found a way to invoke “Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer!” into the announcer dialogue. But yes, great movie, great over the top automotive violence where almost nobody REALLY gets hurt, and Trixie is so unbelievably hot.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/3 "2008-11-17T02:14:57Z")
And don’t you just love the twist where… Racer X is revealed to be Rex Racer in disguise? Holy cow! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/4 "2008-11-17T02:42:14Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > For a 3-hour movie, it didn’t feel a second too long, . Am I being whooshed? It’s just over 2 hours, right? 😕 I just know I’m being whooshed, right? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/5 "2008-11-17T03:03:47Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Am I being whooshed? It’s just over 2 hours, right? > > 😕 > > I just know I’m being whooshed, right? Directors Cut - includes scenes with the Maammoth Car and the X3. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/6 "2008-11-17T03:08:22Z")
I saw it in L.A. when on vacation with my family. The same day, I saw Indiana Jones 4. I only went to see Speed Racer because my brother wanted to. I thought IJ4 was OK. Speed Racer, otoh, FREAKIN’ ROCKED!!! I’ve been pushing it for the past five months! ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/7 "2008-11-17T03:13:03Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > And don’t you just love the twist where… > > Racer X is revealed to be Rex Racer in disguise? > Holy cow! To be fair, they managed to actually make that a plot twist by first revealing that Racer X and Rex Racer had nothing directly to do with eachother, later shown to the audience, but not Speed, to be a lie. But yeah, that movie makes me want to be a race car driver. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/8 "2008-11-17T03:30:14Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Directors Cut - includes scenes with the Maammoth Car and the X3. Oh. Whew. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/9 "2008-11-17T04:08:12Z")
There’s a Director’s Cut?! Awesome. I know what I want for Christmas now. I was lucky enough to see it in IMAX, and I’m eternally glad I did. It was easily my favorite movie of the year (yes, I liked it even more than The Dark Knight) and one of my favorite movie-going experiences ever. I haven’t bought and re-watched it on DVD, because I just know watching it again won’t live up to the first time, but if there’s a Director’s Cut, I definately want to see that. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/10 "2008-11-17T04:15:53Z")
Wait, Directors Cut with the Mammoth Car? Where how what? Blu-Ray only? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/11 "2008-11-17T04:38:13Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Wait, Directors Cut with the Mammoth Car? Where how what? Blu-Ray only? It was a joke - Please forget it - There is no mammoth car. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/12 "2008-11-17T12:14:15Z")
I think there’s just a sub section of movie that I’ll like that doesn’t get the exposure I want. Serenity and The Iron Giant are in that list too. I thought it was great, and will most likely own it. The kids sure liked it and I hope it gets the Wachowskis continued funding to keep doing what they do. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/13 "2008-11-17T12:54:37Z")
I really enjoyed it too. In [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=467471) earlier thread, I mentioned how I had low expectations going in, having loved the animated series as a kid, but it really delivered. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/14 "2008-11-17T13:04:26Z")
IMHO, it was unmitigated fanwank catastrophe. The original cartoon was a barely animated distraction for five year olds totally lacking in any hint of character or plot. The movie was vomit inducing distraction for wannabe five year olds, who are unable to cope with such subtleties as character or plot. YMMV. You’ll have to excuse me as I have some kids I need to chase off my lawn etc. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/15 "2008-11-17T14:40:52Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > IMHO, it was unmitigated fanwank catastrophe. The original cartoon was a barely animated distraction for five year olds totally lacking in any hint of character or plot. The movie was vomit inducing distraction for wannabe five year olds, who are unable to cope with such subtleties as character or plot. > > YMMV. You’ll have to excuse me as I have some kids I need to chase off my lawn etc. 😃 Damn, I thought it was just me… Now back in _my_ day, we had real movies… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/16 "2008-11-17T14:57:22Z")
I’m in the middle here. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. It was OK. I have seen worse movies in the theaters this year and far worse on DVD. (Dead Man, I’m looking at you.) ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/17 "2008-11-17T15:26:44Z")
I’ve never seen the Speed Racer cartoon in my life (indeed, I had never even _heard_ of Speed Racer until I was an adult - don’t ask me how an apparent staple of everyone else’s childhood passed me by) but I loved the movie. I thought it was great fun. What I’d really love to see is a live-action “Battle of the Planets” movie in the same vein. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/18 "2008-11-17T15:55:43Z")
_Speed Racer_ was a cartoon I thought was moronic when I was 10. What a waste of technical wizardry and talented actors. (John Goodman only has so many movies left before the fatal heart attack; I hope he doesn’t waste any more of his time with crap.) ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/19 "2008-11-17T16:08:39Z")
We’ve seen it 20+ times around here (we have a six year old and a two year old). We all liked it. I wasn’t expecting much given the reviews and I’ve never seen any of the cartoons, but it’s a lot of fun. The colors are amazing, the cars are so cool, and Emile Hirsch’s (is that the right name?) performance is so understated in the midst of all that excess. Whee! On the other hand, I have mixed feelings about the six year old’s enthusiastic embrace of his favorite line from the movie, “Get that shit off of my track!” And how cool are the zebras in the Grand Prix? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070/20 "2008-11-17T16:37:58Z")
So if I thought Speed Racer was really dumb when I was a kid, is there any reason for me to see the movie? The previews looked terrible and as I said, I never like the cartoon. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-was-awesome-critics-who-panned-it-had-their-heads-up-their-asses/473070.md?page=2)