"It isn't how you get there, it's what you do along the way that counts."
"It isn't how you get there, it's what you do along the way that counts."
Member since:21.02.2007
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Director: Paul W.S. Anderson Screenplay: Paul W.S. Anderson Genre: Action - Sci-Fi - Thriller Country: USA/Germany/UK Certification: 15+ Language: English DVD Release: 2nd February, 2009 (UK)
MAIN CAST:
Jason Statham (Jensen Ames) Joan Allen (Warden Hennessey) Ian McShane (Coach) Tyrese Gibson (Machine Gun Joe Mason) Natalie Martinez (Elizabeth Case)
The year is 2012--unemployment is at an all-time high, the economy has never been worse, but life is still looking pretty good for Jensen Ames, a happily married steelworker who has just recently become a 'daddy'... but then, because all good things eventually do come to an end, he loses his job, is beaten up by police, and steps out of the shower only to discover his wife has been killed, he's holding the knife, and the police are arresting him for murder. Jensen Ames has never had such a rough day, until he's given a life sentence and sent to Terminal Island.
Managing
to outwit the prison heavyweights who have decided they don't like his face--or his accent--Jensen is escorted to the warden's office for a small chat. The prison, which is famous for its deadly car races where prisoners race in order to win their freedom, is run by a conniving and calculating warden with an obsession for television ratings, and at that precise moment, the televised prison races are number one on the box. Unfortunately for the warden, the star driver, Frank (short for Frankenstein) was killed in the last race, and the only way the warden can save the ratings from falling is to hide his death. Lucky for her, Frank wore a mask in order to hide severe facial injuries, so replacing him isn't a problem - the only problem is finding someone as good as Frank - and Jensen Ames is the man. Therefore, the warden offers Jensen Frank's identity, which just happens to come with release papers... if he can win just one more race. Those are the rules; win five races and freedom is yours, and Frank has already managed to win four--will Jensen take her up on her offer?
'Death Race' is not the type of movie I usually rent, in fact, I usually steer clear (no pun intended) of this type of movie, but seeing as it was lying around the house, I figured I'd give it a go - lucky for me I did.
Jason Statham, who plays Jensen Ames, (The Transporter 1, 2 & 3 - The Bank Job - Ghosts of Mars), was absolutely brilliant in this movie. Playing the silent, brooding and dangerous type suits him well, and he simply shines in this type of role - what you would call made-to-measure. Jensen Ames is the type of man you don't want to mess with... he's quiet and patient, even somewhat easy-going at times, but never a pushover. Jensen doesn't jump into fights, but this said, he isn't afraid of using his fists either. Jason Statham was thoroughly believable in this role, and I enjoyed watching him in 'Death Race' as much as I enjoyed watching him in all his other movies.
As for the movie itself, there isn't much of a storyline going - it's just so darned predictable. However, Paul W.S. Anderson (director/screenplay) is no amateur, and although he relied on fistfights, explosions, fast cars and sexy women to carry the movie, he pulled it off. I'm not surprised though, after all, the man directed 'AVP: Alien vs. Predator', 'Resident Evil', 'Event Horizon' and 'Mortal Combat', to name but a few, and managed to make a killing at the box-office with all of these movies regardless of the flimsy storylines... it's all about special-effects and solid acting, get the first one right and you'll do well, get both right and you're onto a sure winner - which is what this movie is.
My only complaint is with the cars, although fast, they look more like something created on the set of 'Scrapheap Challenge' or 'Robot Wars' - it's all pretty cheesy at times, but the action scenes more than make up for a lack of imagination on behalf of those who created the vehicles. All in all, this movie's got a pretty good momentum that holds its own with a 98 minute runtime that goes by faster than an Olympic medallist on steroids.
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Advantages: Cracking fun, great social message, wacky as hell, great performances Disadvantages: Bit short, ending could have been better, Jason Statham will ruin it's legacy
dan_the_turbanator 04.10.2008 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of DeathRace 2000 (DVD)
Mar 2nd, 2009
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