Speed Racer

Fitting, because Speed Racer is based on a Japanese comic and TV show, long a cult favorite. You can't say it doesn't look good. The time shifts are hard to follow, but that's OK, because the rest of the plot is even more difficult to grasp. ... Full Review

The film's eye-popping look is a combo of fast-moving video-game imagery, hyperstylized "wipes" (images moving from one side of the screen to the other) and super-bright colors. Trying to follow the convoluted plot, though, is like reading toy instructions on Christmas morning: Skip it, and just look at the pretty lights. ... Full Review

video game and Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Speed Racer" is one of the most visually audacious films to come along in years. The Wachowski brothers work their "Matrix" magic in this hyper-modern update of the old TV cartoon. ... Full Review

Were it not for the fact that the film is well over two hours long, I would think that watching it with the sound off might be the most rewarding way to experience it. With their live-action version of the cheesy 1960s cartoon "Speed Racer ... Full Review

Put your lightning-fast text-messaging skills to work for the chance to win a trip to the Los Angeles premiere of Speed Racer and a $100,000 car inspired by the movie. There's a helicopter that is mine," Ricci grinned, when asked about her favorite vehicle in the flick, "and it's bright pink! ... Full Review

Regular driver's-ed courses do not generally advise the lowered-eyelid approach to road safety, but Speed isn't about to be tested on parallel-parking skills. In a display of relativity Einstein might have admired, Speed Racer appears to slow down even as the hero himself achieves record-breaking velocity. ... Full Review

This overlong, visually striking film barely leaves an impression after it's over: It's a shockingly empty piece of entertainment. Speed Racer, the brothers' live-action, special-effects intensive adaptation of the beloved TV cartoon, is such a dull, clunky, joyless mess, it's hard to believe the people who made it understand much about movies. ... Full Review

Speed Racer is cotton candy light, bright, airy and sweet. No matter how good special effects become, there is always someone complaining that they looked cartoonish. The racing scenes when you can follow the action are incredible. ... Full Review

There are echoes of 2006's Cars and 1982's Tron vivid special effects, the use of a video game-style competition. Writers/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski ( The Matrix trilogy) attracted some major acting talent. ... Full Review

Prettiest of all is Christina Ricci, who looks like a beautiful porcelain doll in this film playing Speed Racer's girlfriend, Trixie. Matthew Fox of the TV series "Lost" plays the not-so-mysterious Racer X. Speed Racer is the best race car driver in the world, driving for his family-owned Speed racing team. ... Full Review