IMDb > Speed Racer (2008)
Speed Racer
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Speed Racer (2008) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 67 | slideshow) Videos (see all 22)
Speed Racer (2008) -- Speed Racer - Sneak Peek
Speed Racer (2008) -- MyMovies.Net - Clip - Grand Prix (WMV)
Speed Racer (2008) -- This is the third theatrical trailer for Speed Racer, directed by the Wachowski Brothers.
Speed Racer (2008) -- Speed Racer - Trailer #2

Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   29,428 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Writers (WGA):

Andy Wachowski (written by) &
Larry Wachowski (written by) ...
more

Contact:

View company contact information for Speed Racer on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

9 May 2008 (USA) more

Genre:

Action | Family | Sport more

Tagline:

Go more

Plot:

The story begins with Speed Racer who is a young man with natural racing instincts whose goal is to win The Crucible... more | full synopsis

Plot Keywords:

more

Awards:

8 nominations more

NewsDesk:
(355 articles)

Ricci Shows Off New Boyfriend
 (From WENN. 2 November 2009, 4:06 AM, PST)

Brad Pitt and Josh Brolin May Hop in Some Race Cars and Go Like Hell
 (From Collider.com. 28 October 2009, 2:52 PM, PDT)

User Comments:

First Place Winner more (365 total)

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 208:30 AMHBO   


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Emile Hirsch ... Speed Racer

Nicholas Elia ... Young Speed

Susan Sarandon ... Mom Racer
Melissa Holroyd ... Speed's Teacher

Ariel Winter ... Young Trixie

Scott Porter ... Rex
Gian Ganziano ... Everyman Announcer

Peter Fernandez ... Local Announcer

Harvey Friedman ... Harold Ledermann Announcer
Sadao Ueda ... Japanese Announcer
Valery Tscheplanowa ... Russian Announcer

Sami Loris ... Italian Announcer
Olivier Marlo ... French Announcer
Sean McDonagh ... Celtic Announcer

Kick Gurry ... Sparky
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:

Race Chasers (USA) (fake working title)
Speed Racer (Germany)
Speed Racer: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)
more

MPAA:

Rated PG for sequences of action, some violence and language.

Runtime:

135 min

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

At one point, after winning a race, Speed jumps out of his car car while it still moves, and strikes a pose as his car slows and stops just behind him. This is the trademark pose of Speed Racer, shown during the cartoon's opening credits. more

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When first visiting the Racer family, Royalton says one line in German - "Pfannkuchen sind Liebchen" - and translates it to "pancakes are love." "Liebchen" is a very old fashioned German word for lover, the correct German sentence would have been "Pfannkuchen sind Liebe." more

Quotes:

[first lines]
Race Announcer: All drivers to your cars, please. All drivers to your cars.
more

Movie Connections:

Spin off Speed Racer (2008) (VG) more

Soundtrack:

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered more


FAQ

Why does Pops say "we don't have a car" for the Grand Prix when they have the Mach 5?
Do Racer X's cars have names?
What is the song that plays over the beginning of the credits at the end?
more
214 out of 320 people found the following comment useful.
First Place Winner, 4 May 2008
9/10
Author: ingloriousbasterds from United States

I must admit that I know, or knew rather, very little about the story or history of Speed Racer- and his TV series - and maybe that is why I enjoyed this movie so much. Although, this is still a different type of situation where one who was a big fan of the shows might be seriously critical of every little detail of the turned movie. I don't believe anyone who considers themselves truly knowledgeable about Tatsuo Yoshida's work can say that this was not represented well on the big screen. I'm now intrigued to go back and check out some episodes of Speed Racer.

That aside, as far as it being a movie and a work of art, I would give this movie high marks in both categories. For it being a movie, it was nice to see something so different as far as the approach to making it go. Also, having such an incredible cast makes it all the more intriguing. I don't see anyone else having portrayed any of these characters any better than the cast that was hired to do so.

On an artistic level, it is extremely hard to think of any other movie that comes close to being in the same league. I did not see The Matrix, but I would say that anyone who liked Sin City for its cinematography and graphic elements, would love Speed Racer. The use of bright photography that's added behind a green screen makes for a far more dramatic effect.

Take the artistic elements of this movie, and put it together with the amazing cast (both looks and talent) and throw it together with a very different but coherent plot, and you've got yourself an extremely enjoyable movie that is definitely worth seeing. And seeing at the theater no less! My hats off to The Wachowski Brothers, and the rest of the cast and crew for putting together something different for a change.

GO...

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