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Death Race 2000

Death Race 2000

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Ever like a lousy movie?
Review: Death Race 2000 can be summed up neatly in a single sentence: It is a post-apocalyptic ...B racing movie. I can't deny that I enjoy the movie, but let's face it, it really stinks. The storyline alone is laughable: in the future, a corrupt American president rules the country from abroad, providing "bread and circuses" to the masses in the form of violent entertainment. Our hero, Frankenstein (David Carradine), is an iconic part of it all. He's the #1 driver in a cross-country road race in which killing pedestrians is rewarded with points. Stallone pays Machine Gun Joe Viterbo, Frankenstein's ruthless nemesis who will -- gasp! -- do anything to win! The race is plagued by pro-democracy rebels who want to sabotage the violence with their own violence, and kidnap Frankenstein to coerce the government into democratic reforms. Oh yes, it's one of those bloodthirsty, pro-democracy guerilla groups! But Frankenstein has reasons for wanting to win that go beyond the glory of fame . . . . The reasons don't make much sense, but I won't spoil it by giving them away.

Stallone's acting actually steals the show -- he's an above-average actor in a far below-average move. He even makes it look credible when skinny-armed, slow-moving Carradine, who punches like a 12 year old girl, beats him up.

...Actually, the movie's dialogue, sets and acting are very, very amateurish. ... The satire is thin, the humor is virtually non-existent (except for some pretty hard and well-justified whacks at the media), and characters have not the slightest bit of depth or logic. There are a lot of scenes involving gratuitous nudity (exclusively of women) and characters will sleep with their mortal enemies, try to kill them and then (literally) five minutes later embrace them lovingly, etc. I particularly like the scene where a saboteur tries to drive Frankenstein off a cliff and, as soon as he stops her, he gets out of the car (leaving her in control of the car), walks to the edge of a cliff directly in front of the car, and stand there contemplating the universe. Instead of finishing the job and killing him, the saboteur follows him and gives him a hug.

That said, the cars themselves are very imaginative and there is good action. Some of the special effects are well above par for a B-grade movie like this one. And, for all the terrible acting, [bad] script and silly plot, there is just enough fun in it to make your typical low-brow action-loving American, such as myself, sit still through 90 minutes of it. On the other hand, my wife, who is not a non-low-brow, non-action-loving American, found it utterly to lack redeeming value.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: If my Auto Insurance Agent only knew!
Review: I loved this movie, actually caught it at a drive-in theater back in 1975, not that long after getting my drivers license. David Carradine, fresh from the cancelled Kung Fu television series, played Frankenstein, a master driver, rumored to be half cyborg. This movies motivation was all about the anti-establishment, post Vietnam War era, and reflected the prevailing attitudes against US Imperialism. Seems a little ironic it takes place in 2000, with our return to that sort of attitude in government today.

In about 1978, just before the launch of the video game Space Invaders, the most popular arcade game in America was Death Race. You chased little stick figures (they called them gremlins... but you know :) ) with a car, and ran them down. They squealed, turned into crosses, (tombstones that is) you would hit reverse, and keep driving. At the end of the game, your score was the number killed. The moms of America were outraged at the game, and later a version was modified, (They renamed it Demolition Derby) you were chasing cars, which then turned into wrecks. In a nutshell, the original game is the plot of the movie Death Race 2000.

The movie is about a national sporting event, apparently to show that life is cheap, and only the meanest SOB wins. Racers get varied degrees of points, for mowing down pedestrians in a cross-country, racing event. A pre-Rocky Sly Stallone plays the main competition for Frankie. Carradine handles the role with just the right amount of campy acting, and without going too far overboard. While some of this stuff plays like an episode of the Road Runner, they never lose the spirit of the film, so it comes off well.

Believe it or not, some of the race itself is very exciting. For a low budget film that was probably made in a week or two, the action sequences were well thought out. The politics may be a little preaching at times in the film, but don't really get in the way of the fun. My five star rating, does not mean I think this is on par with past Oscar winners. What it means is, that for this type of low budget, camp movie, I consider it a classic along the lines of Motel Hell, Little Shop of Horrors, Harold and Maude, and Easy Rider.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A bad film, unless you like that sort of thing.
Review: This is a very silly movie that hasn't aged well since its release in 1975. It has aspirations of being a clever social satire, but it's really just low-brow entertainment, often not too far removed from the "Skinimax" flicks of the late-80's. That may be a good thing if you're into cult flicks and B-movies, but for most viewers this is too cheesy to even be mildly amusing.

In "Death Race 2000", David Carradine stars as national hero and veteran racer Frankenstein, while Sylvester Stallone plays Machine Gun Joe Viterbo, his biggest competitor. They compete against three other drivers in a transcontinental road race where extra points can be earned by running over pedestrians. One by one, the five cars fall victim to a group of rebels who are intent on putting a stop to the gruesome sport.

The violence, of which there is very little, is played for comedic effect. However I think the intended reaction was more along the lines of "oh man, that was BRUTAL, haha!" rather than "oh man, that looked so cheap, haha!" Low budget film-lovers rejoice! This is your movie.

Interested parties should be prepared for Carradine's "dominatrix" outfit, complete with mask and cape. I think it was supposed to make him look sinister, but instead he comes off looking rail-thin and ridiculous. Stallone, in a supporting role as a stereotypical Italian tough guy, steals the movie.

The beautiful supporting actresses also overshadow the star, Carradine. Anyone familiar with producer Roger Corman knows that, in his world, fast cars and gratuitous violence go hand in hand with bare-breasts and the occasional catfight. "Death Race 2000" is no exception.

If you've seen this before and decided it's your type of film, then this is definitely version to get. Stay clear of the 1998 release by Digital Multimedia, a very poor transfer with blurry, grainy images and an ever-present hiss. This 1999 release by New Horizons looks infinitely better and the sound has been digitally re-mastered. It also has a few extras, like the theatrical trailer, bios and an interview with producer Roger Corman.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very underrated movie
Review: "Death Race 2000" is an incredibly entertaining movie on various levels. You can sit back and just enjoy the over-the-top acting, amazing cars, and bloody violance, or you can actually get into the story a little deeper, of how America is run by Mr. President and how various people (including, as we eventually find out, Frankenstein) try to take him down for the good of the country.

The film is filmed beautifully, especially when the cars are on the road. There's a lot of action as the cars run over people for points and battle each other to win the race.

The biggest regret I have about this DVD is that it is not in widescreen. This is a shame because, well, if it isn't in widescreen, you are being cheated. And this great film deserves to be in widescreen. (Let the VHS fans have the fullscreen.) Some deleted scenes would have been nice as well, as I have seen photos of action not in the final print, and even in the trailer on the DVD there is a line not in the film ("This is a death race," as said by Frankenstein). Despite no widescreen, still a must-buy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Darth Frankenstein ?
Review: Tell Me Mr. Lucas didn't get his idea for Darth from Frankenstein's wacky wardrobe. Even using the unmasking scene!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic Comedy
Review: This look at the year 2000 from the 70's, point of imagination, is just as funny as it is disturbing. This movie is for the hit and run junkie, only you get paid for vehicular murder. The drivers race cross country in an all out frenzy to collect as many points as possible running people over. From the young to the old, rich to the poor, no one is safe on the streets of the future. So the next time you cross the street you better think twice about it, because Frankenstein ( David Carradine) Or Sly Stallone's car just might mow you down. The quality of this flic is a little distorted, and cheaply made, but is worth it's weight in gold, and should keep you amused the whole way through.
So grab the gear shifter and hang on For Dear Life, this is one crazy ride. Beep Beep The KritiK

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: B-movie with an A ratring.
Review: A lot of great actors in this movie, Carradine and Stallone. The acting may be a little cheesy, but that's what makes this movie great. This is for shure one of Roger Cormans best, my favorite would be "Rock N'Roll Highschool, but this is a great car movie. Way ahead of its time by using a race across the nation in attempt to kill people and earn points for it. Good buy.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: wow!
Review: this film is well funny.watch out for a young sty stallone this film is definetly worth owning its great

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Racing to the Death!
Review: Who in their right mind would race and be willing to die? David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone would! Before Sylvester Stallone became an icon, he made this movie. A low-budget science fiction movie that takes place in the year, I can't remember, 2000! Yeah! The race is the most popular game show in the United States and they have to go from the East coast to the West coast in a couple of days. Racers score points by killing people from all ages. Horrible! It was particularly funny when the renegades put a baby doll out for a racer to run over, but the baby was fake and ended up being a bomb. KABOOM! Yes. Stallone's car contains a huge sword sticking out of his engine! How sharp! David Carradine is repulsive and all of the other actors are terrible. Stallone is the best thing that happened to this movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Closer to Our Present than anyone could Imagine...
Review: This movie is Great for so many reasons... Besides having stars in it that everyone seems to know ;)... This movie is closer to how things are in 2000 than anyone could of thought at the time... The acting in the movie is perfect for the story that it tells... Fans of Toxic Avenger movies will find out where the points for hitting people comes from...

They race across the USA and gain points for killing people on the way... The beloved leader starts the race and media spreads propaganda the entire movie... They make fun of so many things and its very well done... The movie helps show the media for what it is among other things :)... Some parts might be a bit boring, still for the most part its worth watching... Funny how in movie they blame things on the french :)... I see even today media makes fun of french to say least at times :)... Also in USA they always laugh cuz they like jerry lewis :)... This movie is worth watching just for the Corvette :)... Also it has Frankenstein without the wolfman or dracula to steal the show :)... Sly is in the best role of his life, he plays it very well to say least :)...

Stick around and listen at the end, the credits talk about an interesting story :)...


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