 A film in three minutes, Speed Racer. Sometimes cinema should just be fun, and by fun I mean fast, and by fast I mean real fast. Fast like the Wachowski siblings 2008 live action adaptation of, you guessed it, Speed Racer. A film which pays loving tribute to the campy Japanese anime from the 1960s, just as much as it leaves its own mark on the filmic racetrack thanks in no small part to a visual approach, high octane tone, and one of the best music scores of the last 30 years. The story follows driving prodigy Speed played by Emil Hirsch, whose racing talents catch the eye of the devilish EP Arnold Royleton played by Roger Allam. Royleton offers Speed the opportunity to sign with his gigantic racing corporation, however, after Speed refuses, he is made aware of a conspiracy to control the results of all major races. A conspiracy which may have led to the mysterious death of his brother Rex Racer years previously. But if one is expecting a gritty, down-to-earth portrayal of racing and the behind-the-scenes politics that drive it, then it's safe to say that this film isn't for you. What Speed Racer is, however, could best be summed up as a real-life anime, utilizing oversaturated colors, screen-screen multi-layering, and computer-generated racetracks to create a look that pays loving tributes to the style of the original series, whilst also maintaining a high-budget gloss for modern audiences. This visual style, although perhaps jarring upon first viewing, makes the film stand out from other live-action adaptations of his beloved anime series, and enhances the overall look and feel of Speed Racer's world, rather than just blandly recreating it in live-action. The several set-piece races are packed full of zany cartoon fun, and managed to pull off their own sense of epic scale, despite the world being entirely created artificially. With countless moments of extreme racing-related peril made all the more believable thanks in no small part to the earnest performances from Hirsch, Christina Ricci as Speed's lover Trixie, and Matthew Fox as Racer X. Gravitast 2 is also gratefully donated by Roger Allam's performance, who critics noted at the time was channeling a dark, tempestuous energy reminiscent of the late great Christopher Hitchens. Speed Racer's journey to the silver screen was a troubled one, with the film previously having languished in development hell since the early 1990s, changing hands with numerous producers, writers and directors, until the Wachowskis and producer Jill Silver were brought on board. Upon release, the film was a box office disappointment despite a heavy marketing campaign. Critics too gave the film a mixed reception, often finding the film's look and narrative approach over-stimulating, or too incoherent to follow. And after changing the face of popular cinema forever with the release of The Matrix, the Wachowskis at first misunderstood motor-powered family drama initially took the backseat by comparison, but since release, the film has found new life, or maybe I should say new road, and is now viewed as a masterpiece of its own popcorn bubblegum genre, leaving me with only one thing left to say. Go Speed Racer, go.