Death Race (Theatrical)

I hated the original Death Race 2000 from 1975, because they have used one-dimensional characters doing mass murders with rising innocent body counts to see who gets the most wins. Who on earth considers that entertainment?! But Paul W.S. Anderson has created something even better: Instead of going after a mass murder to see who kills the most people the fastest, this unruly race is about going after each other to see who survives the longest and let loose a full set of weaponry the quickest to destroy one's opponent, and also the survival rate is dead low. This race has intimidating powerhouse vehicles with an arsenal of weapons, stunts, car wrecks, vehicles hitting each other, and explosions. What makes this enterprise engaging is that this is a mature yet fun macho movie that it's really hip and down-to-earth for my sensibilities, and has powerful action involving vehicles that has impacted my sensibilities and made them tired. As a piece of filmmaking, it is very impressive; it has graphic detail, memorable imagery, and alongside a great use of camera work for fast cuts, thorough editing, and camera shakes for the racing sequences. There are even some elements that have the style of sports racing event with narration that is hip and masculine. But it's not high quality because this film can be cursory quite often and that makes some of the dialogue forgettable and one line has Jason Statham say to a baby that she wouldn't understand a bible which I wish it was fixed. Though the pacing of the actors and actresses talking does have some time to deliver some lines that are effective. The sounds gives this movie extra "oomph" for the power of the soundtrack; the rumbling revving of the vehicles, the raucous impactful force of the vehicles and the humans hitting each other, and war-like machine guns. The human violence is relatively minimal yet brutal, but it wasn't used for entertainment, it was used for shock value and reasons that are realized for a more understandable purpose, which is taking out bullies. The characters are surprisingly well-realized by provide some effect to the narrative. Jensen (Jason Statham) is a tough driver with some tricks up his sleeve that are impressive because they are so slick. The supporting characters are a good enough help for Jensen; his Coach (Ian McShane), his navigator "Case" (Natalie Martinez), nd even an anti-hero named Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson). The main villain is an effective villainess named Clair (Joan Allen), she is a prison warden and her goal is to actually keep Jensen/Frankenstein in her prison by sabotaging him for replacing him with other people. The problem with the villains is the the filmmakers used a familiar technique: portraying police officers as abusive mindless brutes. Police Officers keep us safe not in depressing hazard. The aspect that elevates the action, drama, and tension is the bone-crunching score by an Austrian Musician named Paul Haslinger. His score has industrial tracks containing high-octane electronics, rock music, and even a few organic orchestral elements with a 58 piece string ensemble to elevate the intensity even higher. To conclude: there is another example of death race, and Paul W.S. Anderson has unveiled a much better example than Roger Corman's approach, and while the storytelling is reckless, and the film has very minimal unnecessary choices, it is a grueling and entertaining piece of imposing filmmaking that hits hard like a ton of bricks. 3.5/5 Recommended.

If you are a fan of movies that grab you by the throat and leave you begging for more. You will enjoy this face paced thrill ride.

Awesome mindless, fun, action flick!!! Loved every minute of it