Personally, I am offended by this "remake." While Death Race 2000 wasn't exactly Five Easy Pieces, Paul Bartel's 1975 cult classic featured motorized combatants competing to cut pedestrians into at least that many bits. Which was– and still is– deliciously politically incorrect. The new movie pits convicts against convicts for mass entertainment. Been there, Running Man'd that. Ho-hum? Nope. "The car chases and most of the characters are thrillingly executed, with 5,000-horse-power smash-'em-ups shredding the screen," writes New York Post critic (or not) Kyle Smith. "If you run over the right manhole cover, you can activate additional weapons or bloodthirsty traps, and there aren't a lot of environmental restrictions ("Give me the napalm" is as routine a command as "find something on the radio"). If the warden feels like cheating, and that feeling often comes over her, she can throw into the mix something called the Dreadnought, which is to the other cars what a Chevy truck is to a roller skate."
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The NYT’s Nathan Lee concluded his review of Death Race with:
“Death Race” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). Mauling, maiming, bruising, beating, impalement, immolation, detonation, decapitation and a flagrant disregard of automotive etiquette.
Robert, agree with you on all counts. It’s not a movie for “car guys/gals” since it really doesn’t have any racing or cars worth watching. It’s not an homage to the original Death Race (2000) since it seems to lack the subversive elements of that film. Just an example of another remake that has no point in being remade. I can smell the combination of low IQ and testosterone in this one.
Thanks for the warning.
The movie review business enjoys a level of journalistic integrity that would make a print auto reviewer blush.
Death Race 2000 always struck me as one of those things that fell into the category of “So bad, it’s worth watching just for fun.” Isn’t Sylvester Stallone in it? That alone makes it worth renting, just to see either how humble his origins were before “Rocky” or the depths to which he’d still stoop after hitting it big in “Rocky.” I’m guessing it was ante-Rocky.
Finally, the one thing that really disturbs me here is the suggestion of an evil female warden. Is there some thread of misogyny running through this film or is it just equal-opportunity-bad?
Hey, here’s a proposal for Question Of The Day… What’s a really good car movie? Either a movie about auto racing.., the industry… or… Keep the question broad enough and “Christine” can get a mention.
I want to see this, the girl wants to go see The House Bunny. I’m torn.
Kixstart:
Hey, Joan Allen can be my evil female anything. Rowr.
KixStart:
Le Mans will obviously make the list. I think Rendevouz should be on there as well.
Best car movie choice would make a great question. Actually, top 10 car movies would be even better. Christine was a decent if not inspired film but it did introduce me to the joys of “forward look” ChryCo vehicles (even if Christine was not the authentic color).
RFortier1796
Go see The House Bunny, at least you will have lots of goodies to look at and might laugh a bit, Death Race looks like it will only make you want your money back.
That sounds like a great question of the day, I need some good movies to put on my Netflix list. I’m hoping for some foreign films with wicked car chase scenes.
I saw the preview for this in the theater. I cant really imagine a cheezier plot. And the hard-ass woman in charge of the inmates was hilarious. My girlfriend has something she calls headslap moments. As if my head wasnt sore enough after BH Chihuahua.
PS: Best car flick? Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo! LOL at least its well aged cheese.
Good point Rebarchetta. It’ll also keep the missus happy.
What’s a really good car movie?
Ronin.
Next question?
Ronin.
Next question?
Seconded…that is a solid movie with fantastic driving.
Also, Vantage Point had quite possibly some of the most unbelievable (as in unrealistic) crashing/driving I’ve seen in a movie. Truly atrocious.
Another vote for Ronin.
Unfortunate that comparisons will be made to the Mad Max films; I suspect Death Race will be about as deep as a cookie sheet.
A couple years ago I grabbed Death Race 2000 off of Netflix. While the cars themselves leave a lot to be desired, the film is a great B-film guilty pleasure.
Le Mans & Grand Prix certainly.
This lame remake? never.
I really enjoyed Ronin as well. If you listen to the DVD commentary it is obvious that Frankenheimer was a real car guy. It is a shame he died before he could provide the same level of in-depth commentary on the Grand-Prix DVD.
Pixar’s “Cars” is a good one too. Most other “car movies” are crap.
–chuck
Unfortunately, based on the trailer, I’m pretty sure it also makes The Road Warrior look like Citizen Kane.
And I’d second the Ronin lovefest. That is probably the best car chase sequence ever filmed; and because of the advent of CGI it will continue to be, maybe forever.
Ronin has a bad ass car chase, but is it really a car movie because it has a chase?
Original “Gone in 60 Seconds” still works for me.
I’ll pick Heart like a Wheel as a great racing movie. Great story too.
Death Race looks to be for the same people who would like the movie Bad Boys or Transformers.
Ronin has a good car chase and interesting cars.
My idea of a good road movie is “The Grapes of Wrath” I see nothing entertaining in ultra violence. I prefer good comedy and sex. It’s Mad, Mad, Mad, World f’rinstance
You guys can tar and feather me for this, but I liked The Fast and the Furious. Nice, dumb fun. And I also liked Days of Thunder, too.
Ferrariman, I liked the F&F movies, too. I liked Death Race — I just got home from seeing it.
I have one question to ask some of you…
Why so serious?
Michael, thanks for the kind words.
I must be the only person on this planet looking forward to Fast and the Furious 4. Hey, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are back, and Vin’s character will drive a ’70 Chevelle, ’70 Charger and a Buick Grand National. ^_^
A travesty.
I’ll offer a counterpoint on Ronin. As a provincial American, I didn’t really dig the cars or the setting, so I didn’t really get into the chase. It certainly wasn’t a “Gone in 60 Seconds” (the original, not the Cage/Jolie joke of the same name).
Speaking of adaptations and remakes that bear no relation to the original: The novella, “Running Man” would have made an excellent movie. The campy crapfest starring the Governator has nothing whatsoever in common with the book.
Why has no one mentioned the obvious video game-to-come? This has all the earmarks of BurnOut and the like.
The obvious video game to come?
Has everyone forgotten Twisted Metal?
Tarintino’s “Death Proof” is one of the most fun recent car movies – and it’s been fairly well hidden. It’s his tribute to classic movies like “Bullit” and “Vanishing Point” with a twist of “Kill Bill” thrown in for fun. I really recommend it for car movie lovers.
Definately check out Death Proof if you like cars. Which you do, obviously, since you’re here. None of that CGI stuff ruining it. Certainly one of the best car movies ever.
Also Ronin is pretty damn good, as is Bullitt and Vanishing Point. I have not been able to find the original gone in sixty seconds so can’t comment on that.
As for the F&F movies, i do like the idea, but the extensive use of CGI and the camerawork / editing really ruins it for me. Also, the bad stroryline and acting. Looking at the extra material on some of the movies the driving looks pretty good, but the editing makes it look completely unrealistic which is a shame. Im mostly talking about very fast angle changes and camera switches, the editing is the only thing i can focus on.
Also, Initial D. Now stop laughing dammit. Except at the Chinese “live action” movie, you can laugh at that all you want. Though come to think of it, even that has better driving that F&F.
Anime but probably more realistic / informative than almost any “real” car movie, with in-depth stuff about driving techniques and vehicle dynamics very well integrated into the story. And the characters and story are actually really good. Also, the americanized, “Enhanced” version with “simplified” names, ” improved” music and american voice-overs is a disgrace.
Kind of like “enhancing” Bullit with rap music and a german voice-over.
Since this became a car movies post, i have another idea for a QOTD, Car movie pet peeves. Or more precicely what is the worst car movie pet peeve. I know what mine is.
Yeah, this is what we need more of. A remake fantasy about how to blow people and things up as fantastically as possible because this is entertaining to a country full of Walter Mittys. It makes us better people, a better nation, a better world. And besides, if you learn how to do this tuff on a video game you’ll be ready in case the real thing comes along.
Meanwhile, the thieves.
I know I’m a cranky, cynical old man. But really…what the hell is wrong with us.
geggamoya, I’m amazed that someone else on TTAC besides me knows about Initial D. Hey, Tokyopop bastardized the original translation, but I think Funimation has the license now, and besides, we’ll always have Paris the Initial D arcade games from Sega…
KixStart:
Yes Stallone plays in the original movie and he wears pink… You also got David Carradine in leather if it’s more of your fancy. Otherwise you might like the big breasted blonde dressed in nazi regalia.
Anyway, it’s a great B-Movie.
take it for what it is – a totally insane action movie.
Dollar theater (3-month old films) here I come!