Movie News
Speed Racer Music Video Induces Groans, Shudders
Posted by Josh Radde (josh@filmschoolrejects.com) on April 28, 2008
I’ve gone back-and-forth on this movie. I know the ultimate judgment will come when this thing finally gets released, but besides The Incredible Hulk, I can’t think of another summer release that has me more puzzled than Speed Racer. The first trailer looked like it could be a cute, fun diversion. The international trailer upped the ante a bit by adding more plot and action. But this music video on MySpace just makes me ill:
Ali Dee and the Deekompressors have done this video, which begins promising enough. It takes the original title theme and adds some updated beat–kinda like how they did a techno version of the Mission: Impossible theme for the ’96 movie. Then it turns into a new song, it’s up-tempo and all, but it’s too frenetic. I just can’t grasp any of the lyrics except for when someone says “Mach 5.” It reminded me of when Limp Bizkit or Kanye West did those horrible songs for the Mission: Impossible sequels. They just don’t fit the material. Even if this song DOES match the tone of the movie, I suppose we’re in for a wacky kids movie with too much CGI.
Additionally, I don’t know if this song is actually going to be in the movie or not, but I usually always find it disheartening and pretty lame when someone just updates the theme from a classic TV show when it becomes a movie. It would be like Tim Burton using a Danny Elfman version of the 1965 “Batman” theme for his 1989 movie.
Plus there are some spoilers in the video. If you’re looking forward to this movie, I would steer clear of this video because it shows too much action and racing. Also, and this is just a general note for all films, if you’re making a movie based around a race, I would avoid showing what happens after the CHECKERED FLAG! I’m no director or anything, but that sounds like something you should wait on. It would be like showing Gollum falling into the lava before the release of Return of the King or showing Kevin Spacey correcting his walk in the trailer for The Usual Suspects.
Basically what I’m getting from this video is that The Wachowskis learned nothing from the 2nd and 3rd Matrix movies and just keep filling the screen with CGI bullshit. They haven’t learned that just because you can use CGI to create any landscape doesn’t mean you should.
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6 Comments
April 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
As a remix that was pretty lame. The 1992 Alpha Team remix was much better. I hope the editing won’t be THAT fast. What it does tell us about the finished film is that it’s going to be live action anime. Don’t expect a “what if Speed Racer were real?” movie.
April 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Gotta agree with you on this one, Josh. It looks cool for 5 minutes, but I think I might have an aneurysm if I have to watch it for 2 hours.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:46 am
Forget this theme.
This film will be in the top 5 of the year and it will win Oscars come next year.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:48 am
I have a strong feeling this film Speed Racer will be another Star Wars event.
Its goin to be that big.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:42 am
Michael Bay can do that with real cars.
April 29th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I rewatched Transformers again last night, and that is the perfect blend of CGI/human acting. I am not interested in a movie where background, vehicles, and every piece not the main actor is CGI. I’m out