Speed Racer Blu-ray

Speed Racer

 (2008)

Action | Family | Sport



Born to race cars, Speed Racer is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized - the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill. Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer, the designer of Speed's thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company's maniacal owner but uncovers a terrible secret - some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won't drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line. The only way for Speed to save his family's business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie, Speed teams with his one-time rival - the mysterious Racer X - to win the race that had taken his brother's life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

For more details about Speed Racer on Blu-ray, see the Speed Racer Blu-ray Review

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, John Goodman
Directors: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

Speed Racer Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Warner Brothers has done a masterful job with this Blu-ray release of Speed Racer. Presented in full 1080p in the movie’s original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.40:1, Speed Racer is easily one of the finest transfers of the year. The look and feel of the movie is very unique. The Wachowski Brothers have captured the essence of the cartoon world created for the original animated series and have morphed it into an infinitely detailed world of striking colors and beautiful cityscapes. Speed Racer is visually arresting and will initially deliver a large dose of sensory overload. This passes as the film progresses, but the amazing images and special effects never cease to amaze.

Speed Racer was “filmed” using high definition cameras and as such, has been ported to Blu-ray without ever being transferred to film. This direct digital approach has given Speed Racer a stunning visual sheen and a truly flawless picture. Colors practically leap off of the screen and the movie’s many small details are rendered with a crystal clear clarity that I’ve never seen equaled on home video. Black levels are deep and contrast is excellent. I can’t even begin to accurately convey how amazing Speed Racer looks on Blu-ray. This is THE definitive reference disc of the year and will be utilized the world over as a demo disc for Blu-ray for years to come. Speed Racer is a visual masterpiece and this Blu-ray edition is the perfect way to experience it. Speed Racer earns my absolute highest recommendation.

Speed Racer Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


I wish I could offer the same rave reviews for Speed Racer’s audio. Unfortunately, what could have been an all-around spectacular demo disc has been marred by Warner Brothers’ refusal to include lossless audio. Perhaps the problem started with deciding to only utilize a BD25 instead of the normal BD50 disc used for feature length films. Whatever the reason, this decision seriously dampens my excitement for this otherwise outstanding release. Speed Racer has one of the most active surround sound mixes I’ve ever heard and the mind boggles at the potential this title could have realized with lossless. Unfortunately, we have no point of reference for how great the soundtrack for Speed Racer could have been. Warner has recently stated that they intend to offer lossless audio on all future releases. Let’s hope they stick to that plan and we never have another instance where a film is robbed of its full potential on Blu-ray.

Regardless, this is one of the better Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks I have experienced. Bass response is good and dialogue is generally well reproduced. The film’s exciting musical score is well represented within the mix and surround usage is extremely heavy. Spatially, the mix suffers a bit with a more directional feel that takes away from what could have been a more effective ambient mix. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t horrible audio by any means - - it’s just a disappointment that we could have experienced so much more.

Speed Racer Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Speed Racer Announced for Blu-ray; The Matrix Next? - July 15, 2008

Speed Racer Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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