First of all I have to confess that I'm a major video game freak and it might have something to do with why I like Death Race so much. The plot in two lines (filler plot in brackets): (Jason Statham is framed by someone for killing his wife and is sent to prison) where he is forced to participate in a vehicular race using highly modified and armed classic cars (by the prison's warden who is an evil woman with issues).
As you might have already guessed, Death Race's concept isn't the most complex. This, however, doesn't matter. Whatever little story there is is taken care of quickly and about 80% of the movie consists of cool killing machines driving fast and using inventive weaponry and tactics to get rid of their competition.
IMDb's trivia on Death Race says that each car cost 250k$-300k$ to modify and it shows. All of the modifications look real and functional and you can't shake the feeling that you are watching Carmageddon the movie. The look and sound of Gatling guns going off and heavy armor taking the punch seem real and spectacular at the same time which is a really good combination. The single most impressive thing in the movie is definitely the huge wagon called Dreadnought which is armed with a harpoon-like weapon and artillery cannons.
Vehicles are not the only part of the movie that looks great. The tracks are well designed and the scenery is gritty and almost otherworldly. Factories and rust all over the place kept reminding me of the Unreal and Blade Runner universes.
There is not much to say about acting except that it's good enough. Statham pretty much plays what he usually does and Joan Allen plays the heartless witch part well. Ian McShane acts the best of the bunch and makes his minor part memorable.
Death Race is so packed with action that I can understand why some people will not like it but if you find yourself often playing games of the racing or action genre then you should give it a shot.
As you might have already guessed, Death Race's concept isn't the most complex. This, however, doesn't matter. Whatever little story there is is taken care of quickly and about 80% of the movie consists of cool killing machines driving fast and using inventive weaponry and tactics to get rid of their competition.
IMDb's trivia on Death Race says that each car cost 250k$-300k$ to modify and it shows. All of the modifications look real and functional and you can't shake the feeling that you are watching Carmageddon the movie. The look and sound of Gatling guns going off and heavy armor taking the punch seem real and spectacular at the same time which is a really good combination. The single most impressive thing in the movie is definitely the huge wagon called Dreadnought which is armed with a harpoon-like weapon and artillery cannons.
Vehicles are not the only part of the movie that looks great. The tracks are well designed and the scenery is gritty and almost otherworldly. Factories and rust all over the place kept reminding me of the Unreal and Blade Runner universes.
There is not much to say about acting except that it's good enough. Statham pretty much plays what he usually does and Joan Allen plays the heartless witch part well. Ian McShane acts the best of the bunch and makes his minor part memorable.
Death Race is so packed with action that I can understand why some people will not like it but if you find yourself often playing games of the racing or action genre then you should give it a shot.
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