# The Speed Racer Movie (Open Spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 6, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307 "2008-05-06T16:09:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/61 "2008-05-10T02:52:02Z")
[QUOTE=Manduck] One thing that I find disturbing in reading about this movie, is that Racer X and Rex Racer are played by differenct actors, and aren’t supposed to be the same person. [/QUOTE] Therin lies the movies biggest plot hole. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/62 "2008-05-10T03:06:51Z")
[QUOTE=bubastis] Therin lies the movies biggest plot hole. [/QUOTE] 😕 Nooooooo…did you see the movie yet? ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/63 "2008-05-10T08:36:26Z")
[QUOTE=ArizonaTeach] 😕 Nooooooo…did you see the movie yet? [/QUOTE] Yes; Why does Racer X Have facial reconstructive surgery and STILL wear a mask? ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/64 "2008-05-10T09:01:51Z")
[QUOTE=ArizonaTeach] John Goodman’s pretty cool, too, especially the ninja scene. [/QUOTE] Ninja? More like a _Non_ja! 😃 Best damn scene in an excellent movie. > [@bubastis](#): > > Why does Racer X Have facial reconstructive surgery and STILL wear a mask? So that even his alternate identity can have an alter ego? Maybe the man wants to go to Burger King for an American hamburger, without having Royalton’s goons on him? 😃 Plus, comon, the mask makes him more badass. Overall, I loved the movie once I got used to the ADD narrative style. Also, I fell in love with Trixie when she punched the annoying blonde girl in the face. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/65 "2008-05-10T13:38:53Z")
[QUOTE=bubastis] Yes; Why does Racer X Have facial reconstructive surgery and STILL wear a mask? [/QUOTE] No, they government guy specifically said he wears the mask because anyone who could identify his face will be put in danger. In any case, if he didn’t wear the mask, how could he walk around at the Grand Prix? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/66 "2008-05-10T15:38:45Z")
Ah, to hell with the critics (especially the ass who thinks he’s “clever” by throwing in the transvestite reference), I liked this a lot. Not as much as Iron Man, but still a lot. I went in having no knowledge or interest in the original cartoon, and just watched and enjoyed it as its own piece of dazzling eye candy. I pity the poor kids who’ll miss the theatrical showing and have to only see this on TV, because those kids will be missing An Experience that will last them for decades. And Dangerosa, you are so wrong. Any girl worth her salt who isn’t gay will be dead in love with Emile Hirsch by the end of the movie. He was perfectly cast and plenty eye-candy enough. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/67 "2008-05-10T17:42:25Z")
I liked it. It was very much a cartoon (filmed with real people.) It kept the cartoon plots, corny as they were and had the same look and feel. It wasn’t as good as Iron Man, but I liked it. Pops: John Goodman \*is \*Pops. Sprittle: The kid playing Sprittle \*was \*Sprittle. And was every bit as annoying as the cartoon Sprittle. Too much Sprittle! It did drag at times, I think partly because - as I said - it IS a cartoon. And cartoons aren’t meant to be 2 1/2 hours long. Still, over all I’ll give it a B-. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/68 "2008-05-10T17:56:57Z")
We saw a drive-in doubleheader Speed Racer and IRONMAN last night…with two 5 year old boys in the back of the SUV. In the context of a drive-in with 5 year olds, there was a lot of exposition. 🙂 In the context of a pureblooded gearhead racer guy, I _specifically_ overlooked anything to do with racing tech. We were too far back from the screen and I fully plan on seeing it a second time. The problem with reviewers is that a movie just can’t entertain, it has to _mean something_. Speed Racer doesn’t mean anything…it’s just entertainment in a visual style you’ve never EVER seen before. And it does that WELL. That’s the difference between a good movie that doesn’t mean anything and a bad movie that doesn’t mean anything. That’s enough for me. I’ll see IronMan again on DVD, but I’m GOING to see Speed Racer again, probably in IMAX. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/69 "2008-05-10T18:15:18Z")
[QUOTE=Unintentionally Blank] Speed Racer doesn’t mean anything… [/QUOTE] I have to disagree with this. I think it had lots of nice Messages for kids about loyalty and love and other things…family first, be true to yourself…bad guys usually get theirs, the truth will out, be careful what you say to a loved one because those might be the last words they ever hear from you, stuff like that. Of course, there are other confusing messages that kids are going to have to work out for themselves.Such as, it’s ok to put your family through horrific emotional pain and deceive them and the world as long as it’s because you’re doing it to help the government catch bad guys?? What? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/70 "2008-05-10T19:00:50Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] I have to disagree with this. I think it had lots of nice Messages for kids about loyalty and love and other things…family first, be true to yourself…bad guys usually get theirs, the truth will out, be careful what you say to a loved one because those might be the last words they ever hear from you, stuff like that. Of course, there are other confusing messages that kids are going to have to work out for themselves.Such as, it’s ok to put your family through horrific emotional pain and deceive them and the world as long as it’s because you’re doing it to help the government catch bad guys?? What? [/QUOTE] Remember that he never “made up” with ihs father. He probably thinks Pops _never_ forgave him. ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/71 "2008-05-10T19:04:56Z")
I was sitting at my desk at work today, and it was all I could do not to make BRRRRRRuuuMMMMM noises. I can’t wait to see this again, in fact I might go tomorrow! ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/72 "2008-05-10T22:48:11Z")
[QUOTE=smiling bandit] Remember that he never “made up” with ihs father. He probably thinks Pops _never_ forgave him. [/QUOTE] True, but [spoiler]even if Pops had been an unforgiving bastard, Rex still put his mom and brothers (well, Speed anyway, because I don’t remember if the annoying one with the chimp had been born yet) through all that pain and deceived them. If there are sequels, and Rex’s identity comes out, I hope Mom and Speed slap the shit out of Rex before or immediately after they all fall together in a tearful family hug. Oh an I said “family first” but of course, unless you’re helping catch bad guys, or, as in the case of the sister, your brother and dad are jerks. Which makes me realize that while I hate Rex for what he put his mom and Speed though, I thought the sister girl was very cool.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/73 "2008-05-10T23:24:10Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] True, but Oh an I said “family first” but of course, unless you’re helping catch bad guys, or, as in the case of the sister, your brother and dad are jerks. Which makes me realize that while I hate Rex for what he put his mom and Speed though, I thought the sister girl was very cool. [/QUOTE] [spoiler]They could have gotten in touch with him afterwards. But it appears that in the five years between when he left and when he “died”, his family did not contact him. They may have cried at his funeral, but apparently they didn’t make the slightest effort to get in touch. We can perhaps forgive Speed due to youth, but Mom and Pops need to apologize. Moreover, Rex doesn’t appear to be sure that what he was doing was necessarily right. But he felt it needed to be done and that was the only way to do it. Someone had to and he could. So he did.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/74 "2008-05-11T00:52:43Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] Oh an I said “family first” but of course, unless you’re helping catch bad guys, or, as in the case of the sister, your brother and dad are jerks. Which makes me realize that while I hate Rex for what he put his mom and Speed though, I thought the sister girl was very cool. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure what you do with _your_ sister, but Trixie was most definitely Speed’s girlfriend. (Though it’s entirely possible that she is _someone’s_ sister, so your description of her as the sister girl could still fit. Also, she was most definitely cool.) ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/75 "2008-05-11T01:30:00Z")
[QUOTE=smiling bandit] [spoiler]They could have gotten in touch with him afterwards. But it appears that in the five years between when he left and when he “died”, his family did not contact him. They may have cried at his funeral, but apparently they didn’t make the slightest effort to get in touch. We can perhaps forgive Speed due to youth, but Mom and Pops need to apologize. Moreover, Rex doesn’t appear to be sure that what he was doing was necessarily right. But he felt it needed to be done and that was the only way to do it. Someone had to and he could. So he did.[/spoiler] [/QUOTE] Was it specifically said in the movie that they, at least Mom and Speed, never tried to contact him in any way? Pops may need to apologize, but I’m not convinced that Mom needed to, unless you know something from the cartoon that wasn’t in the movie, in which case I’d say to hell with that. I’m only concerned with what happened in the movie. **Raguleader** , I know that Trixie was Speed’s girlfriend, or else that Lookout Point scene would have been really creepy and hardly suitable for a kid’s movie. I’m talking about the Asian girl, whose brother raced with Speed and Racer X and whose father just wanted an alliance with that mega-corporation. The sister girl who gave Speed the Grand Prix invitation because she was so disgusted with her brother and father that she went behind their backs to support Speed. Agreed though, Trixie was cool! I love Christina Ricci. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/76 "2008-05-11T03:20:37Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] **Raguleader** , I know that Trixie was Speed’s girlfriend, or else that Lookout Point scene would have been really creepy and hardly suitable for a kid’s movie. I’m talking about the Asian girl, whose brother raced with Speed and Racer X and whose father just wanted an alliance with that mega-corporation. The sister girl who gave Speed the Grand Prix invitation because she was so disgusted with her brother and father that she went behind their backs to support Speed. Agreed though, Trixie was cool! I love Christina Ricci. [/QUOTE] Oh right, THAT sister. Yes, she was cool. Oddly enough, the only line that Christina Ricci delivered really badly in the movie was the one line of hers that was used in the Speed Racer trailer. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/77 "2008-05-11T16:50:38Z")
IANA mod, but didn’t the OP say “open spoilers?” I’m getting tired of highlighting! ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/78 "2008-05-11T21:02:15Z")
I just saw it…it is a visual spectacle of the **highest** order, remains quite faithful in retro appeal to the original cartoon, has serious pulse-pounding action along with family friendly messages and dashes of child-appropriate humor, except when Spritle flips the bird. I want to go see it in Imax now. This movie should have been rendered in 3-D like \*Meet The Robinsons \* was…or maybe that really would send it into sensory overload, as it breaches that point already. I thought it was awesome, and so did my six year old boy. Kinda cool that he’s so into the movie as am I, because in the 1970’s that was my favorite cartooon. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/79 "2008-05-12T04:24:17Z")
I went yesterday with my 9 year old daughter. She loved it and I thought it was okay. Of course, I went in expecting crap due to all the reviews so I guess I was pleasantly surprised. I think if it would have been about a half-hour shorter, I would have been more enthused by it. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307/80 "2008-05-12T04:48:54Z")
I watched the 7 minute opener and was pleasantly surprised that it left me wanting more. Even though pretty much everything in me is saying I should not go see this movie (hate the trailer, don’t care for cars or racing, nauseating colors, wooden acting, annoying child + even more annoying animal, terrible reviews and so on), I still kinda want to see it. I have no real excuse. I had the same feeling about \*The Ruins \*but I managed to fight that off. The big difference is the big-screen factor. If I think I might be the least bit tempted to see it in some other circumstance (on a long flight, for example), I should at least see it on a big screen now so I won’t be doubly wasting my time. A big question for you who have seen it - how is Matthew Fox? Is he in the movie much? In order to enjoy the movie in the spirit of the cartoon, I ought to have a crush on someone, and I don’t find Emile Hirsch all that crazy hot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-speed-racer-movie-open-spoilers/448307.md?page=5)