Death Race

[dvandom]

Disclaimer: I've never seen the original Death Race 2000 (I ordered the DVD recently, but the order got cancelled due to lack of stock, sigh). I have also never seen a Jason Statham movie before, so I can't say if it's typical of him.

The plot ratchets along pretty much by the numbers, but that's okay...this isn't a movie you really see for the plot. As long as the plot isn't actively stupid or implausible, no problem. And they foreshadow with a brickbat.

They spend a bare minimum of time establishing Statham's character before tossing him into prison, I approve. Between those two bits and the text crawl in the opening credits, that's really all you need, and the very first scene is of a Death Race pre-Statham's-character.

Not a lot of fisticuffs. One and a half fights, really (one gets broken up before reaching a conclusion, one gets broken up right as it's about to reach an end), and both with the same guys.

Plenty of automotive violence, though, and that's what we paid to see, eh? 2x Vulcan F, Oilslick R, Smokescreen R, Flamethrower R. Metal armor all around, usually heaviest on the R facing. Passenger ejector seat. Some spikelayers, but most cars despite their varying appearance have identical weapon loadout. For the final stage, one of 'em gets a roof rocket rack straight outta Uncle Al's.

And, of course, we get to see something out of Truck Stop. Converted tanker with plenty of Vulcans, flamethrowers, spikelayers, and even a rear-mounted tank gun.

14K, a Chinese driver, usually speaks in a mix of broken English and Chinese, with English subtitles. Except for his very last line, which is very clear English...and subtitled in Chinese. Heh.


Trailers seen before Death Race: Babylon A.D. (Vin Diesel cyberpunk anime-influenced live action), Miracle of St. Anne (WWII movie), Body of Lies (Leo DiCaprio as an off-the-rez covert agent), Righteous Kill (Pacino and DeNiro cop movie), Eagle Eye (Mysterious Forces run Shia the Beef through the Most Dangerous Game or something), Role Models (buddy comedy...one of these trailers is not like the others), Transporter 3 (Directed by Oliver Megaton, oooookay), and a new Fast and the Furious movie with Vin Diesel.

Comments

[ebony14.livejournal.com]

I got a preview for "Burn After Reading" as well, which looks like good Coen Brothers fun.

I agree with your assessment, with a few exceptional WTF lines in the dialogue. And the fact the movie proves that Ian McShane doesn't need to say "Cocksucker" every other word to prove he's a badass. (Watch "Deadwood" and you will understand.)