Mahha GoGoGo!

Last night Fumiko and I saw Speed Racer on IMAX in the city and I don't think I can properly describe how wonderful the experience was. On one hand, it was pure eye candy, like if you took F-Zero and a Saturday morning cartoon, polished and shined them up for the screen and added a whole bunch of Matrix-y cuts and stylish edits. But on the other hand, it was a loving tribute to a show that everyone involved - from the directors to the actors to the crew - treated with reverence and absolutely had a blast playing on screen.

Many critics didn't like it probably because there are likely only two demographics the movie resonates with: Those of us who grew up with the cartoon and 6-12 year-old boys. It was a bit of a kiddie movie, aimed a crowd much younger than, say, those who enjoyed "Iron Man," and I think it suffered from being marketed to that same crowd. It probably would have done better if it was pitched as a family-friendly spectacle for the screen instead of an action-adventure film for adults (much in the way "The Frighteners" would have likely done better if it was promoted as an action-adventure thriller instead of the next "Ghostbusters"). I can't recommend this film more, especially if you've ever seen the show. It wasn't a better movie than "Iron Man," but it might have been the most fun I've had in the theater since "The Mummy." For those of you who know me, obviously that's saying something. ;)

One last thing, Matthew Fox is in the film as "Racer X" and Fumiko and I couldn't help but laugh anytime he was on screen not just because he's Jack, but because he was Jack with a big black mask covering half his face. And don't get me wrong, Fox was pitch-perfect as Racer X - also looked incredibly buff in the role - it's just that at critical times in the film you half-expected him to bust out with a Jackface-laden "We have to go back, Kate! We have to go back!". :)

Anyway, now we have Part I of the finale tonight! Happy Lost Day, everyone! :)