'Speed Racer' victorious

By Molly McGonigle

Video game-like visual effects make the anime-turned-live-action film "Speed Racer" a worthy relief to your movie cravings.

Brothers Andy and Larry Wachowski, who wrote, produced and directed the Matrix trilogy, adopted "Speed Racer" from the 1960s Japanese anime series about a family obsessed with race-car driving.

"It's something you've never really seen before," said actor Emile Hirsch, who plays Speed Racer in the film. "It's like, futuristic -- like "Blade Runner" meets Andy Warhol kind of pop art," he said in an interview on YouTube.

Speed grew up in a family whose religion is racing -- hence his name. His dad designs race cars as his profession.

The plot takes shape after Speed's brother Rex, played by Scott Porter, dies in a car accident after beating the track record at the Crucible race. Speed becomes determined to win the race and honor his brother.

Meanwhile, the clever company Royalton Industries turns Speed's life around when they jet him off in a personal plane to their factory-like home for racers.

As Royalton tempts Speed with state-of-the-art training facilities, Speed realizes that this regimented and money-driven training is not his style.

After learning that Royalton's races are being fixed against his favor, Speed attempts to rescue the sport of race-car driving with the help of his groovy girlfriend Trixie, played by Christina Ricci, and his former rival Racer X, played by Matthew Fox.

The film also features Susan Sarandon as Speed's mom and John Goodman as Pops.

The opening 20 minutes highlight the close bond that the Racer family shares via flashbacks to Speed's childhood and time with Rex.

After Rex's untimely death on the race track, the movie flashes forward to Speed as a young adult, focusing on the hardships that Speed faces as an independent racer.

"Speed Racer's" visual effects are by far the most stunning aspect of the movie. Think "Mario Kart" come to life. The brilliant graphics are attracting video gamers and anime lovers nationwide.

The film is a little long at a run time of 129 minutes, but it is nonetheless an entertaining movie, and the surprise ending will have you on the edge of your seat.

Grade: B+

Contact Molly McGonigle at mmcgonigle@scu.edu.