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Speed Racer (2008) Review: A Misunderstood Masterpiece or CGI Mess?
In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, Josh, and Stephen race into the colorful world of the Wachowskis’ 2008 live-action adaptation of Speed Racer. The crew debates whether this box-office bomb was simply ahead of its time or a visual overload that alienated general audiences.
The discussion centers on the film's unique aesthetic, which aimed to bring the look and feel of the original anime directly to life. While Joseph and Stephen praise the faithful adaptation, the casting (especially Emile Hirsch and John Goodman), and the kinetic race sequences, Jeremy and Josh critique the overwhelming CGI and "fake" look of the world. They dive deep into the differences between the movie and the original cartoon, specifically regarding the Mach 5's gadgets and the expanded role of the Mach 6. The group also shares trivia about the original Japanese series Mach GoGoGo, the voice actors, and the potential for a sequel script that was reportedly written. Ultimately, the verdict is a surprising unanimous vote to "Rise from the Grave," with the hosts hoping for a reboot or sequel that balances the anime style with a more accessible visual palette.
Key Highlights
[02:29] Mach 5 Gadgets: A detailed comparison of the steering wheel buttons (A-G) in the original cartoon versus the changes made for the movie, noting the shift from auto-jacks to jump jacks.
[06:05] Box Office Bomb: The hosts discuss the film's poor financial performance ($93 million gross on a $120 million budget) and attribute it to the niche appeal of the source material.
[31:37] Royalton vs. Tim Curry: Joseph asks if the villain Royalton (Roger Allam) felt like he was channeling Tim Curry, leading to a wish that Curry had actually played the role.
[41:10] Visual Style Debate: A heated discussion on the polarizing visual effects. Jeremy found the hyper-colorful, "fake" look distracting, while others appreciated it as a stylistic choice to mimic anime.
[56:59] Homages to the Cartoon: The crew points out specific scenes lifted directly from the anime, like Sparky's cowering reaction to a gun and Pops' wrestling moves.
[01:02:30] Sequel Potential: Stephen reveals that Emile Hirsch mentioned a script for a sequel was written, sparking a conversation about whether a follow-up could succeed today.
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By Joseph Gettinger
4.3
33 ratings
In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, Josh, and Stephen race into the colorful world of the Wachowskis’ 2008 live-action adaptation of Speed Racer. The crew debates whether this box-office bomb was simply ahead of its time or a visual overload that alienated general audiences.
The discussion centers on the film's unique aesthetic, which aimed to bring the look and feel of the original anime directly to life. While Joseph and Stephen praise the faithful adaptation, the casting (especially Emile Hirsch and John Goodman), and the kinetic race sequences, Jeremy and Josh critique the overwhelming CGI and "fake" look of the world. They dive deep into the differences between the movie and the original cartoon, specifically regarding the Mach 5's gadgets and the expanded role of the Mach 6. The group also shares trivia about the original Japanese series Mach GoGoGo, the voice actors, and the potential for a sequel script that was reportedly written. Ultimately, the verdict is a surprising unanimous vote to "Rise from the Grave," with the hosts hoping for a reboot or sequel that balances the anime style with a more accessible visual palette.
Key Highlights
[02:29] Mach 5 Gadgets: A detailed comparison of the steering wheel buttons (A-G) in the original cartoon versus the changes made for the movie, noting the shift from auto-jacks to jump jacks.
[06:05] Box Office Bomb: The hosts discuss the film's poor financial performance ($93 million gross on a $120 million budget) and attribute it to the niche appeal of the source material.
[31:37] Royalton vs. Tim Curry: Joseph asks if the villain Royalton (Roger Allam) felt like he was channeling Tim Curry, leading to a wish that Curry had actually played the role.
[41:10] Visual Style Debate: A heated discussion on the polarizing visual effects. Jeremy found the hyper-colorful, "fake" look distracting, while others appreciated it as a stylistic choice to mimic anime.
[56:59] Homages to the Cartoon: The crew points out specific scenes lifted directly from the anime, like Sparky's cowering reaction to a gun and Pops' wrestling moves.
[01:02:30] Sequel Potential: Stephen reveals that Emile Hirsch mentioned a script for a sequel was written, sparking a conversation about whether a follow-up could succeed today.