In News: DVD, News: International Cinema
SPEED RACER Coming to Blu-ray and DVD
Source: Warner Bros. Home Video
Official Site: Speed Racer The Movie
View the Theatrical Trailer
Warner Bros. Home Video has announced that the Wachowski Brothers’ live-action SPEED RACER movie will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on September 16.
Based on the popular 1967 Japanese animated series and budgeted at $120 million, SPEED RACER has been a huge commercial failure, taking in only $43 million to date in the US box office. Studio hopes for a successful theatrical release in Japan were also dashed when the film opened on July 5 and finished in 5th place at the Japanese box office.
Reviewers savaged the movie with 36 top national critics giving SPEED RACER a paltry 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.com. The film fared much better with audiences, who gave it a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a B- average at Yahoo Movies.
The positive opinions of viewers may help SPEED RACER finally find its audience on video. The movie’s family-friendly storyline will make it a safe bet for purchases and rentals, and its extreme visuals make it a natural for high-def systems.
The DVD has a suggested retail price of $28.98 and a minimum advertised price of $19.95. The 3-Disc Blu-ray edition has a srp of $35.99
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For more information on both the original SPEED RACER and the new Warner Brothers’ motion picture please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan:
- Here He Comes! Here Comes SPEED RACER!
- Part 1: Go Speed Go! A Series Overview
- Part 2: Racers Start Your Engines! How it All Began
- Part 3: Speed Racer is Born! MACH GO GO GO Comes to the U.S.
- SPEED RACER Production Notes
- SPEED RACER: Interview with Rain
- First 7 Minutes of SPEED RACER
- Part 4: The Aftermath of Speed: Remakes and Sequels
- Part 5: Speed Racer Now!
- RETROSPECTIVE AND REVIEW: SPEED METAL
