Sunday, January 25, 2009

Death Race


Language: English
Running Time: 105 mins
Rating: NC16
Genre: Action
Tagline: Get ready for a killer ride.
Starring: Natalie Martinez, Ian McShane, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Joan Allen
Directed by: Paul W.S. Anderson
Company: Cruise/Wagner Productions

It came out sometime in August 2008 but I just got the chance to watch it on the Eva flight. I am not sure why Jason Statham keeps doing these high speed driving flicks but he is certainly the one that comes to mind as a such icon. I have never heard of Natalie Martinez but she looks hot in the show especially in the slow entrance scene which so many movies deploy. She plays the typical "Navigator" passenger.

In a nutshell, the movie tells the story of a laid-off steel worker and ex-race-car driver who gets framed for his wife's murder and thrown into a cell on Terminal Island. He should gets propositioned to race under the identity of a masked "Frankenstein"in exchange for his freedom. The title should have given the rest away. It is a race with heavy artillery, missiles, nitrates and shield called "Tombstones". Think Mario Kart and the attack/defence boosts they have all over the map. The point is to make the race exciting and interesting so that they can attract more viewers for a nifty profit. Bottom line is - only the winner will walk away alive.

While most of the highly modified cars are all modest in size, the almighty warden can deploy her ultimate vehicle, Deadnought, when she pleases. Deadnought is like a train which makes all the other cars look llike babies. But, you will learn that size is not what matters in a race, it is the skills and brains that do.

It doesn't take long for the truth to unveil. The wife was killed so that Jason can be thrown into jail and forced to participate. How will Jason respond, stay alive, take his revenge and get back his kid?

Well, I will give it a 7 for entertainment value.

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