Speed Racer : An underrated movie
Movies from our childhood are often better than they are because of the power of nostalgia. Maybe it explains why it is so gratifying to rediscover a film you had forgotten about but once loved. For me, it was the 2008 movie Speed Racer, a story inspired by an anime about an 18 years old race-car driver. I found an article that talks about the underrated quality of this movie.
https://mashable.com/article/speed-racer-review-wachowskis-matrix
In the article, the author talks about how Speed Racer was too audacious for its time. Without saying that it's a masterpiece, the writer thinks that the critics were too harsh for a movie that is now a cult classic. He describes the film as colourful, sweet, cheesy, funny, and memorable. The directors, the Wachowskis sisters, are most well-known for The Matrix. Throughout their career, they showed a lot of creativity. They also rarely played it safe. The psychedelic look of the movie contrasts with the down-to-earth themes such as corruption, corporations, and capitalism. Finally, the author compares the hero's story with the director's. Therefore, racing and making movies are not all about business. It is about taking risks and working with your family to create something you love.
I share the same opinion as the author. I think Speed Racer, while not being a masterpiece, is enjoyable. As the article says, the bright and psychedelic cinematography is what captivated me as a kid. I did not understand the entire story, but I could at least appreciate the imagery. Something that the writer didn't talk about is the astonishing soundtrack. Sure, this music is pure nostalgia for me, but it is also perfectly fitting for the movie as it captures the anticipation of the start of the race. It is energetic, mysterious, and retro. It captures precisely the movie's spirit. This movie quickly became a cultural reference because I did not perceive it as bold. Although, when I think about it, this movie was very original and nontraditional. For example, the main character's name is Speed Racer. He later becomes a famous race-car driver. It is so far from reality that it almost becomes ironic. I think movies we watch as kids affect our adulthood more than we think because they are the reflections of what we always liked about art.
Question: What do Speed's parents do for a living?
Hello Béatrice! i will comment on your blog!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Speed's parents own and operate Racer Motors (the racing team Speed drives for). I would say that the discourse of the source is promotional, since it encourages people to watch an underrated movie. Unlike you, Beatrice, I never watched that movie, but the article was so good that it made me want to watch it. Unfortunately, I couldn't agree or disagree with the link about the movie because it is not yet a part of the list of movies that I have watched in my life. I do think though, that you did a great resume about the article by highlighting the main points like the leading themes, and mentioning the link between the hero's story and the director's. The link even mentioned that "Speed Racer has the delightful ability to speak to your inner child", which is exactly the effect it does to you. Overall, like you, I do miss that time when movies actually contained a message and ended with a good life lesson or moral. I will definitively have to watch Speed Racer.
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