When I first heard about a remake of the cult classic 1975 Death Race 2000, I thought #Here we go again...another movie to be destroyed by a modern update. When I heard that Paul W.S. Anderson was involved, my heart sank. See, Mr Anderson, the man responsible for Resident Evil and Alien Vs Predator hasn't had the most perfect track record. Well I have to say, I am eating my words now, because he hasn't done a bad job with this.
Jason Statham (using his own accent for a change) is jailed for murdering his wife...only he didn't. He's an ex-racing car driver, and the warden (the always excellent Joan Allen) persuades him to take part in her little creation, Death Race, in which inmates race in souped-up cars in the attempt to win and hopefully be released. Of course things are never that simple, with Statham having to take on the persona of Frankenstein, the greatest driver around, and his main rival, Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson) wants him dead.
This film doesn't rely to heavily on the complex plotting. in fact, you tend to forget about storyline as soon as they step into the cars and all hell breaks loose, which it does. Explosions, smoking wheels, and the occasional bloody death all mount up and you realise that this, even though totally rubbishy flick, is going to be a smash with the boys. loud rock music, slow motion shots of half dressed women, and some of the nuttiest stunts around, and yet you get caught up in the carnage.
It won't win any Oscars, but it's one of the best popcorn flicks in a long time.
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