I’m not quite sure what I think of this Speed Racer trailer. I don’t think one can really complain because it looks like it will be about the most faithful translation of an old cartoon series to a big screen live action movie. Earlier today we brought you a bunch of Speed Racer images and now the trailer those images are from is online.
It looks rated G. It looks really simplistic in it’s writing. And it looks more like a cartoon come to life than anything I’ve ever seen before with the super bright primary colors and effects. If nothing else it looks like the Wachowskis (who brought us The Matrix, as if you didn’t know) will once again contribute a groundbreaking film to the masses.
Trailer after the jump…
|
|
You can see it in HD over at Moviefone.
I think people are going to be split right down the middle on this one. I have fond memories of the old cartoon series and used to draw the Mach 5 all over the place.
On which side does your opinion fall?
Speed Racer opens on May 9, 2008.




30 Comments
This could be a very cool film for kids on one level and adults on another. I was a big fan of Speedracer growing up!
The Matrix bros should make this one in there own awesome style and
Christina Ricci perfect for Trixie.
^
The other actors I don’t know but maybe that’s a good thing.
Forgive me, if you will, for being picky….But shouldn’t the Mach 5 be right hand drive? I mean, thats how I remember it anyways
Hey Hirogen, I allways remembered
it was on the lefthand side.
“Meaning if your sitting in the front seat the stering wheel would be on your left side”. (American style). ??
The Watchoski bros with their directing style could really make this cool.
They way they freeze time and spin around shots I believe was insprired by shows like Speedracer…
Ya know, I think you might be right. Where in gods name did I get an idea like that :S Oh well, that’s one for the ages I guess.
Lol Hirogen, blame it on the beer… Cheers mate!
=€
It’s visually inventive in the way it mimics the style of the cartoon, but as with most such concepts, one has to wonder if you can take a short half hour program and stretch it to feature film length, I mean, if they’re being that faithful to the source and all(and it does look faithful if nothing else). It will have to push the lower edge of what qualifies for “feature length” in order to have any reasonable hope of being good. I think even 90 minutes might be pushing it, and the pacing will have to make it seem faster.
I don’t think that this is for me. It just looks TOO much!!
Niall
I was never a Speed Racer fan, but I’m sold on the visual style for this film adaption. It’s absolutely insane lookin!
Yeah, I really hope they make this one a short 90 minutes instead of going for 2 hours plus.
Vic
Shockingly impressive! The stills take away from the film, but the trailer was exciting(like SR growing up). This film could be much more successful than predicted(ex:Transformers).
Hmmm. I don’t really know what to think. It looked cool and all,with the special FX,you can kind of see how they’re goin’ for a “realistic” take on some of the classic anime-ish scenes from the cartoon with the adults screaming at the kid and stuff. But then it still kinda makes me think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a little. It might be worth checking out,maybe on one of my trips back from seeing Iron Man I’ll see it.
And yeah,I’d trade the rumored JLA film’s runtime of 90 minutes for this flick anyday. This will probably be dumb if it runs longer than an hour and a half. Now,JLA will be bad if it isn’t at least 2 hours and 15 minutes.
i always hated the Scooby Doo cartoon, but when i saw the movie i was like “wow, that was exactly what a movie based on the cartoon should be”. That’s how i think this looks, it looks exactly like what a movie based on Speed Racer should look like.
Same here,B W.
I didn’t see the trailer till this morn, WOW.
^
Goodman as papa, very cool,,
This film looks VERY COOL…!!!
And the guy that plays Speed looks perfectly cast as well as Racer X.
^
Very excited !!!
It looks like they may be going for a mix of the rather manic style of the cartoon with a more “fleshed-out” approached.
I’m sold. I wanna see it.
Hey Gordon, welcome to the site. Don’t think I’ve seen you here before.
Best,
Vic
A co-worker said it looked too chessy for him but I think I’ll take my boys to see it. I’ll probably like it more than them anyway. Did they have the races inside in the cartoon?
Yea John, they raced on all kinds of weird racetracks in the cartoon.
The show was a very out-there japanese/american anime show.
^
Looks like the Wachoski Bros captured it. There was also all kind of weird cars. The badguys all wore the same clothes and drove these cool black looking cars.
Cars with Guns.
The Mach 5, Speedracers car had these cool saw-blades that would come out in front and cut thru any barrier.
It was a badass show for kids back then!!
^
Didn’t see it in the trailer but I hope the get the visor on Speedys helmet. I only saw it without the visor.
Crap,man! I don’t remember that! I’m totally seeing this!
Cool.
Cool.
Sorry.
Kel, you need to stop that hiccuping. BOOO!!! Did that help?
)
HaaHaa Kel,,=>
^
Yea this first “Speedracer” film should start out telling the tale of how Speedy gets his Mach 5 in racing and how Racer X trys to warn him to stay out of the way of this mob boss guy. Racer X ultimatly helps Speedy out and then vanishes.
Leaving his identity unknown.
^
But fans of the show know who he is.
(I won’t spoil it for those that don’t).
LOL,John Taylor!
Sounds damn cool,steve!
Unlike the JLA film, this one is being done by (Watchoski bros) those that love this show.
They both are heavy into the Japanese art and Anima.
They gave it to the right Team.
It should be real good!!!
=€
Ricci looks smoking hot!!
All this about the Mach 5 and it reminded me of the film/video game, “Spy Hunter”. I’m sure that game was somewhat inspired by Speedracer.
^
I havnt checked the Screenrant archives for current news but this film was supposed to come out allready.
^
The “star” of the film was the Rock Dewayne Johnson.
^
The Xbox SpyHunter “the movie” video game came out months ago.
^
Anyone know what’s up on this?
Did anyone else notice that in the second picture, it appears that the “mach 5″ is spinning out; however, the number on the car is “6″? Perhaps a dream sequence. . . ?
What's your opinion? Leave a Reply!
Go to Gravatar.com and upload your own (we'll wait)!