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Movies / On DVD / Death Race
Death Race

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Death Race (2008)

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Reviews Counted:143

Fresh:61

Rotten:82

Average Rating:4.8/10

Consensus: Mindless, violent, and lightning-paced, Death Race is little more than an empty action romp.

Australian Rating: MA15+ [See Full Rating] Strong violence and coarse language

Runtime: 3 hrs 36 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Australian Theatrical Release:
Oct 30, 2008 Wide

US Box Office: $36,064,910

Synopsis: The Roger Corman-produced cult favorite DEATH RACE 2000 (1975) gets an update in this reworking from action director Paul W.S. Anderson (RESIDENT EVIL). In a role sure to please fans of his work in... The Roger Corman-produced cult favorite DEATH RACE 2000 (1975) gets an update in this reworking from action director Paul W.S. Anderson (RESIDENT EVIL). In a role sure to please fans of his work in CRANK (2006) and the TRANSPORTER films, Jason Statham is Frankenstein, the fierce driver portrayed by David Carradine in the original. The script, also by Anderson, largely does away with the original's satirical elements in favor an increased number of breathtaking crashes and stunt driving. In 2012, the American economy has collapsed, and prisons have been taken over by corporations. Overseen by Warden Hennessey (Joan Allen), Terminal Island prison generates immense amounts of revenue with pay-per-view broadcasts of "Death Race," in which inmates participate in an auto race where anything goes. New inmate Jensen Ames (Statham), who has been framed for the death of his wife, is chosen to take over the role of Frankenstein, the contest's recently deceased masked star driver. His chief competitor, Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson), unaware that a new man is behind the mask of his old rival, will stop at nothing to win. With Case, a sexy navigator from the nearby women's facility, and a trusty pit crew led by wise veteran Coach (Ian McShane), Ames has a good shot at winning. If he does, he's been promised his freedom---but the race holds more obstacles than he can imagine, and ratings are more important to Hennessey than being true to her word. Loud, gory, and lightning fast, DEATH RACE is geared to the video game generation, right down to the graphics that appear onscreen during the race's TV broadcast. Once again, Statham creates a great hero to root for in a performance that rises above the copious stunts and visual effects. Allen, in uncharacteristic role, is suitably imposing as the steely warden. [More]

Starring: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane

Starring: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Screenwriter: Paul W.S. Anderson
Producer: Jeremy Bolt, Paul W.S. Anderson, Paula Wagner
Composer: Paul Haslinger
Studio: Universal Pictures

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Death Race

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121 - 140 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

A testament to the incompetence of Paul W.S. Anderson, who has never made a good movie and apparently isn't about to start now.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
08/21/08
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

Death Race may be a loud, lowbrow piece of pulp, but it's also crackling entertainment -- the very definition of a cheap thrill.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
08/21/08
Rafer Guzman
Rafer Guzman
Newsday

Death Race is a cinematic dreadnought: imposing on the surface, hollow at its core.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
08/21/08
David Hiltbrand
David Hiltbrand
Philadelphia Inquirer

Low-rent, boring, brazenly mindless garbage.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
08/21/08
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

The remake takes everything that was imaginative about the original feature and reduces it to an ear-splitting energy drink commercial, topped off with some of the worst filmmaking decisions to be found at the multiplex this year.

Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com | comment Comment
08/21/08
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
BrianOrndorf.com

It's one of those vicious larks that just plain hit the spot. It hits the spot, throws 'er into reverse and hits the spot again, before machine-gunning it and ramming it head-on for the fun of it.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
08/21/08
Michael Phillips
Michael Phillips
Chicago Tribune

Death Race should at least score points for its title, which is more apt than, say, Feelings Exploration. It's mostly a race, and there's a lot of death.

Full Review Source: Seattle Times | comment Comment
08/21/08
Mark Rahner
Mark Rahner
Seattle Times

Almost so bad it's good. Almost ...

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
08/21/08
Aaron Hillis
Aaron Hillis
L.A. Weekly

Anderson's take is ultraviolent, ridiculously stupid and kind of a rush. If your brain has an 'off' switch, you're well-advised to use it. And the carnage is relentless.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
08/21/08
Bill Goodykoontz
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic

Bravely takes on that philosophical quandary every one of us must face: What to do when a ninja breaks into your home, frames you for the murder of your wife and taunts you with a finger-gun motion?

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
08/21/08
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

Paul W. S. Anderson's noisy, nonsensical remake fails to hold together even in its own paper-thin world.

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
08/21/08
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

...too brutal and boorish to be a guilty pleasure. It's just guilty

Full Review Source: LarsenOnFilm | comment Comment
08/21/08
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm

A serviceable, forgettable genre film marked by leaden performances, even more leaden dialogue, a few sterlingly gruesome images, and a supremely campy performance from Joan Allen.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
08/21/08
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Slant Magazine

Unabashedly violent, this well-crafted remake is a giddily over the top B-movie, proficient at stringing together a series of vehicular demolition derbies.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
08/20/08
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

A guy movie for guys whose only turn-on is death.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
08/20/08
Matt Pais
Matt Pais
Metromix.com

One of the most boring drags of all time.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
08/20/08
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

Loud, vulgar and stupid, but what's most amazing is that despite all the bedlam, it will probably either bore you to tears or send you into gales of unintended laughter.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
08/20/08
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Satire and spectacle are balanced perfectly in this cynical and sexy thrill ride.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
08/20/08
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

Anderson - not to be confused with Paul Thomas Anderson, the fearlessly ambitious director of 'Magnolia' and 'There Will Be Blood' - has created a movie worthy of its own video game.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
08/20/08
Rossiter Drake
Rossiter Drake
San Francisco Examiner

Into the prison yard strolls the one and only Joan Allen. Yes, Oscar-nominated Joan Allen. Into this mess. To say Joan is slumming is an insult to a slum. Picture Bette Davis in Norbit or Judi Dench in Daddy Day Camp.

Full Review Source: MovieJuice! | comment 4 Comments
08/20/08
Mark Ramsey
Mark Ramsey
MovieJuice!
 
 
121 - 140 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
all

Latest News for Death Race

January 03, 2009: Social commentary on greed and war along with sexed up female con backseat drivers, is thin pretext for the incessant, at times visually surreal heavy metal havoc orgy of war machine, napalm shooting designer macho-mobile boy toy vehicular homicide. Opens in new window
More...

December 28, 2008: Social commentary on greed and war along with sexed up female con backseat drivers, is thin pretext for the incessant, at times visually surreal heavy metal havoc orgy of war machine, napalm shooting designer macho-mobile boy toy vehicular homicide. Opens in new window
More...

September 26, 2008: Exclusive: David Carradine Cameo in Crank 2 says Statham
It's not just Death Race that boasts a cameo from legend David Carradine. According to star Jason Statham, speaking to RT this week ahead of the UK release of Death Race, the... More...

September 26, 2008: RT Interview: Jason Statham Chats Death Race, Crank 2 and The Sweeney
RT catches up with Jason Statham to learn more about the Death Race and grill him on upcoming turns in Crank 2, Transporter 3 and the possibility of an appearance in Nick Love's... More...

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