Speed Racer discussion

TheCentralScrutinizer · 18 May 08 :: 22:14

See, Illinois, that's another thing that's really keeping me away from this movie. I never liked the cartoon. It was America's first mainstream look at Japanese Animae and as a little tomboy, I loved cars so the racing scenes were fun for me but the rest of the show was just so lame. Since it was Japanese, it didn't really look like anything else on TV and that was fascinating too. But the dialog and the stories were just as cheesy as anything translated from another culture and language. For example, I love old Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies. The stories are cheesy as hell to American taste and the dialog is totally cornpone. But you don't watch a Bruce Lee movie to hear clever dialog, you wanna see fists and feet and nunchaku flying. So some people will enjoy Speed Racer, but I would say mostly only wide-eyed little boys and their fathers who grew up loving the cartoon and know exactly what they're getting with the movie.

So, TeeJay, how fried are your eyeballs?

TeeJay · 18 May 08 :: 22:33

Sisterdebmac wrote:

So, TeeJay, how fried are your eyeballs?

Not quite fried, but if there was a movie that I'd assign the words "sensory overload" to, it would be this one.

-TeeJay

TheCentralScrutinizer · 18 May 08 :: 22:39

Well, I won't say I told you so. Oooops, guess I did.

TeeJay · 18 May 08 :: 22:41

I don't regret going. Well, maybe a little, but I knew there was a risk the movie would be as bad as people said it was.

-TeeJay

TheCentralScrutinizer · 18 May 08 :: 22:48

Sadly, the same thing is being said of Night Shyamalan's new movie, The Happening. But I'll still see it. Where Night is concerned, I can't help myself.

TeeJay · 18 May 08 :: 22:50

Yeah, I saw a trailer for it a while ago. Comes over here June 26, I saw a poster in the theater today. I'm curious about it too, and if it shows without dubbing, I'll probably go see it.

-TeeJay

BiggestChrisMarquetteFan · 19 May 08 :: 02:33

Sisterdebmac wrote:

The newest annoyance is these self-important idiots who refuse to take off their Blutooth earpieces when they're in a movie --- and they have these stupid blinking lights on them. So if you end up on a row with one of these assclowns, you've got this flashing light in the corner of your eye bugging you and keeping your focus away from the movie. People that dense and careless about the feeling of others should not be allowed near technology.

I couldn't agree more. It's soo annoying when people distract you in a movie theatre. I hate it when people mess around with their cellphones and text. It can't get more worse when their cell rings and they actually answer it and talk.

Illinoisguy1 · 19 May 08 :: 08:12

For me, the real star has always been the Mach 5. Kind of like Kitt in Knight Rider. For me it wasn't really about Speed or his family or even the races, it was always about watching the Mach 5 using it's gadgets to either win the race or defeat the bad guys. To try and make a movie that really is all about a car and what it can do is rather difficult.

I know I will buy it on DVD no matter what. Hopefully they will release a great special edition.

larry-411 · 19 May 08 :: 19:23

Sisterdebmac wrote:

Well, I won't say I told you so. Oooops, guess I did.

I guess I have to join in on that. The main thrust of my review was also the overuse of the FX to the point that the movie wasn't quite a live action flick, not quite an animated cartoon, but more like an animated film with some people tossed into it. I think TeeJay's review essentially echoed mine.

Sensory overload was the bottom line of my review.

Illinoisguy1 wrote:

...So what the Mach 5 raced in the movie is more closely what happened in the cartoon. I wonder if they came up with the Mach 6 just do to those crazy type of tracks

And some bad news for Illinois, I guess. FWIW the Mach 5 is used in basically the same types of races as the Mach 6 in the film. I guess they just don't show that in the trailers and clips. While the Mach 6, which replaces the Mach 5 later in the film, is used in action sequences which "up the ante," so to speak, there are races with the Mach 5 which are similarly advanced and unconventional.

Also see my little rant on "why people talk during movies":
http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/story101062.html

Finally, back to the film, I don't think I'm posting spoilers in this next paragraph -- just in case, you may want to skip it if you haven't seen the film.

I can only remember two things from the film, one funny and one poignant. The only funny moment I remember is when the kid ends up bloated and sprawled on the floor surrounded by candy. The only moving moment I remember is when Speed confronts Racer X about who he really is.

Last edited by larry-411 (19 May 08 :: 19:29)

TeeJay · 19 May 08 :: 19:26

I think my one funny moment was a different one, Larry, but now I can't even remember what it was. And I don't think I've actually read your review let, I tried to skip everything that might be somehow spoilery before I saw the movie. Let me go back and read it.

-TeeJay

larry-411 · 19 May 08 :: 19:30

Cool. I also edited my post above and added a link to a rant I did a few months ago about why people talk during movies.

TeeJay · 19 May 08 :: 19:31

You know what I just remembered that I also found kinda annoying? The weird panning cuts where they would pan from left to right and have people passing through the picture. It felt somehow crude in comparison to all the sleek, colorful FX.

-TeeJay

larry-411 · 19 May 08 :: 19:36

TeeJay wrote:

You know what I just remembered that I also found kinda annoying? The weird panning cuts where they would pan from left to right and have people passing through the picture. It felt somehow crude in comparison to all the sleek, colorful FX.
-TeeJay

Oh, those were the people leaving the theater who accidentally walked in front of the projector.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 19 May 08 :: 19:46

Oh, those were the people leaving the theater who accidentally walked in front of the projector.

Now that is funny.

TeeJay · 19 May 08 :: 19:52

LOL. Nope, not so much. I think there were maybe 8 or 10 other people with me in the theater. And I happen to know that none of them left since the room wasn't all that big.

-TeeJay

Illinoisguy1 · 19 May 08 :: 20:04

Larry, a question.

Since the movie is a flop, whom loses money on it?

And do they get to take it off on taxes as a business loss?

My guess would be the production companies. Which for SR are:
* Warner Bros. Pictures
* Anarchos Productions (in association with)
* Silver Pictures
* Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)
according to IMDB.

Also on IMDB people are throwing around that including marketing that SR cost 300 million to make. I have read on other sites that it cost 120 million to make. I could see maybe 50-80 million more in marketing, but not 180 million in marketing. Could it really have cost 180 million to market the film?

larry-411 · 19 May 08 :: 21:05

Illinoisguy1 wrote:

Larry, a question.

Since the movie is a flop, whom loses money on it?
And do they get to take it off on taxes as a business loss?

My guess would be the production companies. Which for SR are:
* Warner Bros. Pictures
* Anarchos Productions (in association with)
* Silver Pictures
* Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)
according to IMDB.

Also on IMDB people are throwing around that including marketing that SR cost 300 million to make. I have read on other sites that it cost 120 million to make. I could see maybe 50-80 million more in marketing, but not 180 million in marketing. Could it really have cost 180 million to market the film?

Ahh...the $21,000 question. Or $200+ million, as the case may be.

You basically got it right. The ones who lose are the ones who paid for it (the producers/production companies). The distributor loses as well. In this case, of course, the distributor in the US is also the lead production company, but they are factored in separately. Yes, it becomes a tax writeoff. It has to be, just as if you invested in a business that failed or you lost money in any particular tax year. Weep not for WB, though, as parent company Time Warner makes plenty in profits in any given year to offset the losses.

Typical marketing costs for a major Hollywood movie are about half their published budget (on top of production costs). For example, a $200 million budgeted film (production costs) can easily spend another $100 million on marketing for a total cost of $300 million. Some films double their budget in marketing costs.

I don't know exactly what SR's costs were but marketing never tops production costs. I've just never heard of that.

If the production budget was actually $120M, I can see marketing being $80M for a total of $200M. I think the estimates of a $300M total are based on the idea that the $120M published production budget is low. Some are estimating that production costs actually reached $180M or so. In that case, another $120M in marketing is possible which would equal $300M.

BiggestChrisMarquetteFan · 20 May 08 :: 03:07

I'm thinking twice about seeing Speed Racer in theatres now. I'm probably going to wait till it comes out on dvd or see it at a dollar theatre. I mainly want to see it just because of Emile Hirsch and Susan Sarandon.

Illinoisguy1 · 14 Jun 08 :: 23:57

I sent off for 2 Speed Racer cereal bowls today.

larry-411 · 15 Jun 08 :: 02:12

Haha that's cool. I like the way the cereal and milk are splashing out of the bowl as though the car just revved up and started flying down the track..."kids, don't try this at home."

Illinoisguy1 · 14 Jul 08 :: 00:37

This is really neat, they are releasing the complete animated series in a replica of the Mach 5.

Pics 2 link below.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Speed- … tion/10046

Figures since I recently bought the remaining volumes I needed.. But I just may buy this just for the Mach 5 case.

Simon · 14 Jul 08 :: 01:02

The cereal bowel looks really cool. It would be great if they had done something similar in the UK.

Illinoisguy1 · 15 Jul 08 :: 08:16

DVD officially announced.

Title: Speed Racer (IMDb)
Starring: Emile Hirsch
Released: 16th September 2008
SRP: $28.98
Further Details:
Warner has revealed early details on Speed Racer which stars Emile Hirsch, John Goodman and Susan Sarandon. The Wachowski Bros film will be available to own from the 16th September, and should retail at around $28.98. The film itself will be presented in anamorphic widescreen, along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track. Extra material has yet to be revealed. A Blu-ray release will also be available for $35.99. This will include the film along with a full-disc DVD game ("Speed Racer Crucible Challenge"), and a digital copy of the film. We'll bring you further details very shortly. Stay tuned.

Hopefully they'll be more extras than just that. At least they have the Mach 5 on the cover.

BiggestChrisMarquetteFan · 15 Jul 08 :: 08:28

I didn't get the chance to "Speed Racer" in theatres. I'm soo glad it's coming out on DVD soon. Did you see SR in theatres, Illinoisguy?

Illinoisguy1 · 15 Jul 08 :: 08:38

Nope.

In fact I just don't go see movies in theaters anymore. I haven't in over 10 years. I think the last film I saw in the theater was Star Trek: First Contact.

I just can't stand the annoyances. Plus I can't see to spend that much to just see a movie once.

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