Beyond the Matrix…..
After what was presumed to be the third and last Matrix film in 2003 the Wachowskis took time out from writing and directing feature films. But 2008 saw then return with an unexpected live screen action adaptation of an anime favourite titled ‘Speed Racer’ based on a classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida.
Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) was born to race cars fearlessly hurtling down the track, careering around, over and through the competition in his thundering Mach 5. But when Speed turns down a lucrative offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret–some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls! The only way for Speed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family (John Goodman and Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon) and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival–the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) – to win the race that took his brother, Rex Racer’s, life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.
That Speed Racer film….
It was released at the start of the summer and was a big screen, green screen extravaganza and the psychedelic coloured visuals are stunning as might be expected having now been ramped up further by the 4K UHD upgrade. After the Matrix trilogy expectation was high from both studio and audiences and film is certainly faithful to its anime origins but at 135 minutes it was far too long to carry what was a lightweight story and the first half of the film in particular lacks the pacing the match the high speed race that it leads up to. Speed Racer is not without its merits, most notably the races themselves which are terrific and exhilaratingly shot but as a film it is far more for anime fans of the series than perhaps a wider audience. And maybe because of that the $120m budget film bombed earning only $93m at the worldwide box office. It was the beginning of a run of big budget flops that continued with the ambitious and under rated ‘Cloud Atlas’ (2012) and then ‘Jupiter Ascending’ (2015) that saw them retreat to TV with ‘Sense8’ before the inevitability of returning to the Matrix franchise with a fourth and unnecessary Matrix film in 2021.
Bonus features…
But Speed Racer is worth a revisit having been released on 4K UHD as it remains, like so many of their films, a visually opulent experience and the disc has a number of bonus features that includes:
FAST / FUTURE / FAMILY: SPEED RACER (NEW)
In this exclusive interview, the Wachowskis revisit the film’s joyful genesis, its dazzling craft, and its second life as a cult classic.
Spritle in the Big Leagues!
Speed Racer: Ramping Up!
Speed Racer: Supercharged!
Speed Racer: Car-Fu Cinema
Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing, The Amazing Racer Family
Speed Racer 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition contains the following additional features:
Film in 4K and Blu-ray
SteelBook
Rigid slipcase
32-Page The World of Speed Racer Booklet
2x Theatrical Posters
1x Mach-5 Art Card
6x Character Art Cards
It’s the interview with the Wachowski’s that’s the real highlight of the bonus features with Lana and Lilly speaking quite openly about the film and gives an insight in to their process and their future direction should they return to directing for the big screen.
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Here’s the trailer….
Speed Racer is out now on 4K UHD
The post Speed Racer – 4K UHD appeared first on Any Good Films.
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