Thanks for the memories!

hyped garbage

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

By the time I entered to see this movie, I knew what to expect. Jason Statham. A movie called "Death Race". A poster with spiked cars and bazookas on them. Why the hell would I expect a "Deep Sophisticated Movie"?So, I grabbed 2-3 beers, some chips and started the movie!Hell I enjoyed it. And I was in Home. Don't listen to the critics. I love Sophisticated movies, I mean my favourite Director is Guy Ritchie and he tries to make every time a movie with a complicated plot. This is not Batman: Dark Night. It's a classic American Culture - Game-Like movie. Do you want pure Explosions & Guns entertainment to do something with your time? This is what you're looking for and it's good for what it is.

'The Fast and Furious' meets 'The Running Man' in this fast-paced action vehicle directed by Paul W. S. Anderson of 'Resident Evil' fame. English actor Jason Statham who's made a name for himself in an array of action flicks steps into the role of the lead character with just enough charisma and energy to keep action junkies glued to their seats. That is if they are not demanding for anything above your average no-brainer action. As the title suggests, the main appeal to is a series of action sequences consisting of brisk car chases and of course, death and explosions. Throughout the picture, Anderson shows very little interest in plot and character development. For action fans however, this should not be too much of an issue. Anderson never attempts to try anything out of the ordinary to terms of action and narrative, but he at least succeeds on delivering a sense of excitement when the action kicks off. Set in 2012 when the unemployment in America has reached an all-time high and economic unrest has devastated our nation, the government has enacted a bill where criminals are sentenced for life in prison, but are acquired an opportunity to compete in a televised racing show known as "Death Race" run by the sadistic Hennessey (played by Joan Allen). In this show, prisoners are equipped with cars armed with fire-based weapons and must compete in a race. The competitor who wins all three races wins their freedom, while the others are doomed to return to their cells or die on the tracks. When ex-con Jensen Aimes (played by Jason Statham) is framed for the murder of his wife, he is sentenced to prison and must compete in the races, which puts him at extreme competition against Machine Gun Joe (played by Tyrese Gibson) and a path of vengeance for those who wronged him. If you can picture the 'Twisted Metal' games in the form of a movie, that sums up how this action-packed film plays out. Paul W. S. Anderson takes the wheel in generating this film to the screen, and the results are somewhat satisfying, but with some noticeable flaws pertaining to the script. The majority of the action, which takes in on the race tracks designed in a fashion of a video game, are fine and deliver a fair source of adrenaline in the form of frenetic car chases. With the most action consists of explosions, car crashes, and people killed in a bloody and occasionally gruesome manner, there is enough energy to keep the excitement muscles flexing. When it comes to building up the plot, there is plenty of involvement that could be given. The premise involving prisoners competing in a futuristic gladiator race on live television opens the door to a potentially compelling plot. But aside from a just a snippet of social commentary, there isn't a whole lot of interesting ideas added to the mix. The plot is reduced to nothing but action and a few generic attempts of character development. Jason Statham, the appealing action star he is, puts on a good show as does Tyrese Gibson as his rival. Joan Allen shines in her role as the villainous women with a dubious demeanor. Ian McShane makes for a pleasant appearance in his role. Natalie Rodriguez as the sexy shot puts on a good performance, but serves a little more than eye-candy. None of the characters are polished with much depth, but at least the cast can make good use of the little they have to work with.Death Race is a flawed, but somewhat entertaining action flick equipped with brisk pacing and slick action set pieces to feed action-hungry moviegoers. This movie is nothing inventive or particularly inspiring in the genre, but for what Paul W. S. Anderson delivers, it at least meets the criteria of an average action-packed ride.

I love it, how remakes can be approached, differently and use a different style to the original. Although some of the character's names are retained, Death Race is just cool great fun, one cool remake, with action you just suck up. Frankenstein the chief driver, and all time winner, died a much tragic death out there on the closed circuit, monitored by video cameras, and one cold hearted and snaky prison governor (Joan Allen) who's just awesome, stealing the acting honors here. All in the name of sick entertainment, a handful of prisoners are forced to race each other, on this well manned race zone, where there can only be one winner, hence, one survivor. Sounds like Running Man, yeah? Now in the drivers seat to replace Frankenstein is Stratham, who was set up for murdering his wife. You can add up the dots, and I did love Stratham's vehiculur revenge, pre head snap, on this guy. Stratham is of course Stratham, and he does what he does best, and it's not acting. He has a hot female prisoner navigator too, (yes much sexier than Simone Griffith). Ian Mcshane was really good too as Stratham's weary prisoner mechanic. The acting though was better in the original. How the story resolved itself, I really liked, something I don't anticipate as far as convict love goes, good again, triumphing over evil. Just let's say Allen's last words, were "I always win". Death Race really surprised me, with action aplenty, not losing the humor either, as after each sorry played loses, where they're X'd out on the board, fresh bloody smear prints, cover it. Yes we do have bloody moments, as judging by today's standard, but you should check out the sick violence in the original. In all, what has eventuated here, is a killer fun time in front of the tube, in a successor of a remake, with a killer performance by Allen.

In 2012, the economy collapsed(...I guess that makes this movie psychic), the crime rate went through the roof(presumably as a direct result, as in, people could no longer make an honest living... but the film never connects these dots, the prisoners are shown to be hardasses who don't care if others die... actually, that's everyone in this, the characters get no development and are barely even distinguishable from one another; and our hero isn't even in jail for having turned to illegal activities, so it's not even a necessary part of the backstory), penitentiaries are turned private, and, just like in real life, they try to make money from the inmates. Although here, it's not directly from them, rather, they have them engage in the titular "sport", and the profit is from audiences watching it(and this doesn't seem to distance itself from that, the tone is vague in that regard) from home. Wait, I thought people were low on money? Also, are they forced into driving? Are there competitions to "win" a chance to? Some would be certain they could complete it, others would be terrified and prefer to ride out their sentence. This could make for interesting scenes, yet it's not even brought up. Anyway, a steel mill is closing down and can't pay the workers, so they... get riot cops sent against them...? And Jensen Ames(hey, that's almost a name!), a skilled driver, played by Statham(who, along with Gibson, are enjoyable in this kind of thing, in spite of the bland nature of the roles), beats up some of them, and isn't arrested for it. Yup, the unanswered questions and gaping holes in logic and plot just keep on coming. Instead, that happens when he's framed for the brutal(...? We barely see it, and it's not like this tends to shy away from stuff like that) murder of his wife and burning their dinner(well, they get equal attention). In order to get out and raise his daughter, he will have to get through it in first place(since he's pretending to be a masked man who already did that four times, and the fifth, they release them). Meanwhile, he wants to find the man who did kill his spouse, who is in this for two minutes of running time and then never seen again(nice how this man is so true to her memory that it takes him no time at all to get with the female who's... in his car with him, to... run the weapons, that's it, yes, a "navigator"), since that person was considerate enough to do a hand gesture that will make him easy to recognize without his disguise, and he can try to get some unsatisfying revenge(well, it is). Convoluted enough for you? Well, that's just what I can say without spoiling it. Get better it does not. Acting is poor, but a lot of it is on account of the material they're given. Martinez is primarily eye candy, and she is likable enough(I'm looking at you, Megan Fox... well, when I can stand to, without being overwhelmed by how arrogant, unlikable human of a diva you are). The dialog is uninspired. Humor is almost all bad, with a couple of genuine laughs. Exposition is either sparse or thrown at us continuously - Paul seems to think that it's a positive for his viewers to remain confused. And while he avoids some Hollywood clichés, he again brings his own, which are sometimes worse(if people keep approaching the same thing in the same way, it's probably because it works and is popular, and just doing something else isn't automatically a superior method). He builds "something" up(references to "something large being constructed"), and it has a disappointing payoff - in fact, when it finally arrives, it feels like Anderson has gotten bored with the movie he was making, in the middle of filming... what, the racing flick(that never makes it clear how close anyone is to the finish line, an obvious way to add tension to that situation, where it's kind of lacking) with the armored vehicles that hold machine guns and rocket launchers wasn't cool enough? If so, maybe it's the way you're handling it. The bleak, not futuristic("modern" is a better term) visuals aren't bad, and this does stick with the slammer once we enter it, leading to a sense of isolation. This was done with practical FX and stunts most of the way, with very little CGI, and that does aid it. There's also very little slow-mo, and some of it is actually well-used. Regardless, the action(chasing and the few physical fights alike) is incomprehensible, if there are a few moments that are awesome and present images that (may) stick with you. It doesn't help that it is clearly filmed and edited by someone who spends the first third suffering withdrawal, and then gets their fix and spends the rest of it high and frantic. The majority of the time, I didn't even notice the soundtrack(differing opinions, sure, me, I feel like it should get me pumped for the excitement, have me humming along), the exceptions being when there were lyrics and there shouldn't be(it drew attention to itself, as it shouldn't in something like this). Heck, the main musical theme comes off as "warm-up", someone testing their instruments, and it's oddly repetitive. There is a lot of strong language and a bit of disturbing, bloody, gory and violent content in this. The DVD of the Extended Cut comes with an informational commentary by the director/writer, and producer Jeremy Bolt, two documentaries that are up here on the site(and I will review them separately on their individual pages; they are the 20-minute Start Your Engines: Making a Death Race and Behind the Wheel: Dissecting the stunts, coming in at 8 minutes) and trailers for Frost/Nixon and Fast & Furious. I recommend this purely to fans of those who made it, and people who want something dumb and loud and aren't big on discriminating taste. 6/10