second thoughts: speed racer

I've been looking forward to this movie for several months now, thinking it safe in the hands of the Wachowskis. The trailers are dazzling and full of innovative visuals. Now that I've read some early reviews . . . I'm not sure that I'm going to handle it. Physically, I mean.

Apparently Speed Racer is a seizure-inducing optic assault for anyone over the age of 10 (Anthony Lane: "True, our eyeballs will slowly, though never completely, recover . . . "). Well, that much I could've gotten from the trailers. Hello -- Japanese cartoon + Matrix + car racing? Of course it's going to be visually overwhelming. That much I got from the trailers.

But the movie clocks in at 2:15. Two hours and 15 minutes. Over two hours of over-saturated acid flashback? I'm not sure I have the stamina for that. Maybe if I sit waaaaay in the back. And have someone there to talk me down.

I do still want to see this movie (just not in IMAX). I wouldn't deserve the appellative "nerdbabe" (tm Colleen) if I didn't see it. It's just now my more hesitant and timid self is projecting Clockwork Orange/Lost's Room 23 (link is spoiler to anyone who hasn't caught up with Season 3) scenarios and it's making me wary.

Comments

[Imbrium]

Oy...I hadn't heard that it was that long. It sure does look pretty though.

Have you ever hear the Alpha Team "Dirty Remix" of the Speed Racer theme song? It's so very, very wrong. You can look it up on YouTube...but I wouldn't suggest doing so at work. Not for the easily offended.