Visual Representation from Speed Racer (2008)

Realism was never the goal with Speed Racer. The style created with this film was meant to feel like it had just jumped straight off the pages of the 1960s manga, or had been translated from the cartoon-style of the anime to into a hyper-surreal live action world. This otherworldly experience is made up of vibrant colors, intense saturation, melodramatic characters, and a world where racing is one of the main staples of worldwide culture. That goal to break down the walls of non-realism and redefine the meaning of the word non-realism was accomplished in spades with this film, as the visual style of this film is probably the most accurate live-action adaptation of an anime by Hollywood. It is a movie that is both faithful to it’s source material in visual style and in it’s narrative.

For those who prefer realism in their films, Speed Racer’s use of non-realism is so spectacularly executed, that once embraced, it makes for a truly entrancing viewing experience. It is a gift that keeps on giving, with a continual escalation of the visuals and action sequences over the course of the film. Every race sequence in the movie is pure eye candy in it’s peak form. The action is always taken to the next level, the colors are always bright, and the character interactions are always fun. This movie is pure, unadulterated fun, that packs a serious amount of charm.

The final race in the film is easily the best representation of the insane visual style. So much is happening within this final sequence and yet it is still easy to tell what is going on. The way the film blends the scenes together, making it feel like comic book panels being placed within one another is executed with such precision and care, that it makes this final scene the standout of the whole film. Speed comes back from being cheated, and works his way to his big win, but it is in the style of the film that this scene really works. The blending of the different scenes, the rush of colors, the push into deeper surrealism, all leading to the moment when he wins makes that moment even more satisfying. His big win in the final race feels more than earned and makes for a satisfying conclusion to his story in this movie.