At the outset, I have to say I never saw the show as a kid. Though I did see the updated show from the 90's. But from what I did see, I thought this movie was visually stunning. And nothing more. If you're a 12 year old boy who likes cool graphics (and which one's don't?) and high speed racing, then you got a movie for them. If you like a long bulky story, here's your film. For a movie called "Speed Racer" it takes a long time to get to the end. But, it does do it with style.
Speed Racer is a hot shot car racer who is about to make it big. Until He's given the opportunity to be sponsored by a corporate sponsor. His refusal causes him to have to defy his father and trust Racer X as they try to stop illegal racing activities. Unfortunately, that takes a whole lot of unecesary movie to happen. And to add to it, this is a kids movie. Yet it played with a little pg-13 humor. That might work for Shrek, but it didn't translate well with a live action (computer animated) film. This is one case of giving the artists too much freedom. I have to admit, I think I now know why some constraints can cause good art to happen. If they even think about making a sequel, they would do well to either a) make this age appropriate b) make it age appropriate for older people (like those who watched the show!)
If they make a sequel (which i hope they do), i hope they don't change a thing about the style. It was definitely my kind of movie, like anime come to life. In a non-cheezy way like Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (look it up), which i also like, admitedly.
ReplyDeleteThey may not. It was a flop and the story was too convoluted. It cost 120 million to make and made like 50 million at the box office. That's a huge loss! I stand by my review. It was visually well done, but at some point ,the story got really loopy, long and lazy. They depended on its uniqueness to make it cool. Too bad, it could have been way better. I seriously was bored half way through it and glad I didn't pay to see it.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's why i don't trust your taste in movies. ~_^
ReplyDeleteWho knows though, they made two Hellboys and three Fantastic Fours. Shrek kept going even though i thought the second didn't do well. They just need to wait long enough (and wouldn't they, considering that it's mostly animated) and do the right marketing.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that you couldn't appreciate complex stories like The Prestige, I won't lose much sleep over your lack of trust. More so, Hell Boy and Shrek Trilogy made tons of money and stayed popular amongs fans. Even Fantastic Four got may better with Rise of the Silver Surfer. Speed Racer: 36% at Rotten Tomatoes. Fantastic Four:35%. But ,it made 136 million world wide. Its budget was around 130 Million, so they broke even. (Though thats just US domestic box office, this doesn't include world wide which looks good to) So it would seem they did better than break even. The real issue is what I did mention: the style was great, the story elements were not. Indeed it was over the top. This is one of the few times where studio involvement could have helped. It does stifle artistic creativity, but at the same time, it causes you to have to work on being lean. You can't have it all in your art. Thus the film came off as over the top, and flopped at the box office. It really could have been about a half hour shorter. It seems those Wathcowski's better get back to their roots.
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ReplyDelete*crucial typo above, sorry
ReplyDeleteThe Prestige could have been about three hours shorter. I wouldn't call it complex so much as long-winded. It was like several boring movies in one. When i thought it was finally going to end, they open up a new question. It wasn't gripping or anything though, as it was all very cliche. Besides, they didn't get the memo that today sci-fi and fantasy needs to be realistic. Cloning in SW works for a movie, cloning the way they do it doesn't so much. Also, who are they kidding with saving the Christian Bale thing for the end? It was so obvious from the beginning that he was playing both parts. Even if this was the first of his movies someone has seen (poor Batman-depraved souls), they would've noticed it five hours in. Worst 7.5 hours of my life and i'm standing by that.