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Tuesday, May 20,2008
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Built for Speed (Speed Racer)
From the Matrix to the playpen
I was born a year too soon for the “Speed Racer”
television show. Other than overhearing the irritatingly insistent theme song,
I was never exposed to it. “Speed Racer” was kid stuff—a show for fourth
graders when I was ready for grade five. Those are the years when minute age
differences can make all the difference in the world.
The minds behind The
Matrix, Larry and Andy Wachowski, must have been just the right age when
“Speed Racer” debuted on American television in the late 1960s. The edited
English-language version of the Japanese anime series was apparently a favorite
in their playroom. And who knows whether “Speed Racer’s” automobile age update
of the Samurai spirit, with its youthful hero bouncing like a pinball from
cartoon obstacles, planted seeds that would blossom decades later in The Matrix.
The brothers Wachowski have returned to their
childhood fountainhead of inspiration by writing and directing Speed Racer the feature film. The result
has been criticized in the media for being puerile but, after all, it is
intended as a children’s movie. Although years later Speed Racer is still kid’s stuff, its makers appear to have had a
blast producing it, and the story is not without worthwhile implications.
Faithful to the form and spirit of the original anime
show? I’m not competent to pass judgment on that question. What I can say is
that the Wachowskis have drawn from diverse visual elements for the film’s
design, including backdrops reflecting fanciful, visually dense impressions of
anime. The kinetic circus sometimes resembles a video game or suggests that the
speeding cars and their drivers are like careening skateboarders at that state
of harmony in motion—a Zen-like flow between man and machine. Non-animated
settings are usually in bright paint box hues. The hyper-real suburban home of
the Racer family is a gloriously colored pastiche of ’50s-’60s interior design
with eye-popping floral wallpaper and funky geometric furnishings.
The soul of the story concerns family. Speed Racer
(played by Emile Hirsch in the earnest cartoon hero mode) is on a mission to
avenge the reputation of his dead older brother, ruined after standing up to
the sinister cabal that fixes every auto race. He is also trying to save the
family motor company, about to be gobbled up by equally sinister corporate
interests.
Fortunately, Speed finds others in the world of false
appearances who are fighting for justice and integrity, specifically the suave
Eurocop called Inspector Detector and his masked sidekick, Racer X. Joining
forces, this dynamic threesome will try to break the octopus grip of those
whose ultimate aim is to monopolize the whole world.
Also in Film:
Elections 2008
Obama seeks greater rein on financial institutions
(AP)
AP - President Barack Obama says he wants Congress to pass legislation giving the government greater regulatory authority over financial institutions like American International Group.
Sources: Pentagon to stop forced tour extension
(AP)
AP - The Army will substantially reduce use of the unpopular practice of holding troops beyond their enlistment dates and will pay $500 to those still forced to stay in the service, defense and congressional officials said Wednesday.
AIG head shares US anger of bonuses but backs them
(AP)
AP - The chief executive officer of failed insurance conglomerate AIG acknowledged Wednesday that the company's multimillion-dollar bonuses were "distasteful" to many and had provoked a firestorm of wrath. "I share that anger," Edward Liddy, chairman and CEO of the American International Group Inc., said in testimony prepared for Congress.
Analysis: White House, Dems backpedaling on AIG
(AP)
AP - For the first time since last fall's election, Democrats and the Obama administration are backpedaling furiously on an issue easily understood by financially strapped taxpayers: $165 million in bonuses paid out at bailed-out AIG.
Pence: Return AIG donations
(Politico)
Politico - House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence is urging politicians from both parties to strongly consider returning campaign contributions from AIG.
..Search Shepherd Express
Top Stories
AIG head shares US anger of bonuses but backs them
(AP)
AP - The chief executive officer of failed insurance conglomerate AIG acknowledged Wednesday that the company's multimillion-dollar bonuses were "distasteful" to many and had provoked a firestorm of wrath. "I share that anger," Edward Liddy, chairman and CEO of the American International Group Inc., said in testimony prepared for Congress.
Obama seeks greater rein on financial institutions
(AP)
AP - President Barack Obama says he wants Congress to pass legislation giving the government greater regulatory authority over financial institutions like American International Group.
Consumer prices rise by largest amount in 7 months
(AP)
AP - Consumer prices rose in February by the largest amount in seven months as gasoline prices surged again and clothing costs jumped the most in nearly two decades.
Crude
