Roger
Corman's Death Race 2050
(2016/Universal Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
B+/B- Sound: B+/B- Extras: B Film: C+
G.J.
Echternkamp and Roger Corman bring you an updated sequel/remake to
Corman's Death Race franchise, Death
Race 2050.
Full of sex, nudity, gore, and more over the top jokes than you can
handle, the film succeeds in being both a B-Movie comedy and an over
the top satire. While the special effects are nothing special, they
are surprisingly better than I expected for being a direct to DVD
release. You don't have to see the original film to get a kick out
of this, though it may tend to be too much for those who can't handle
sex and violence.
The
film stars Manu Bennett (Arrow,
The
Hobbit),
Malcolm McDowell (A
Clockwork Orange,
Time
After Time),
Anessa Ramsey (Yellow
Brick Road),
Yancy Butler (TV's short lived Witchblade
series), and Marci Miller (Most
Likely To Die)
to name a few.
The
Death Race is the most coveted event in the United States of
Corporate America (which is led by Malcolm McDowell) and is
celebrated by viewers all over the country - many of which are
experiencing the race by way of advanced virtual reality googles.
Spanning from coast to coast, the drivers get points for not only
staying in the lead, but by killing pedestrians along the way. The
film features a cast of colorful characters, including the part
machine/part celebrity driver known as 'Frankenstein' (Bennett) who
makes sure there aren't many racers left standing before they get to
the finish line.
This
two disc combo pack features the film in 1080p high definition with a
widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1, which is normal for this kind of
film. The colors are pretty vibrant throughout high contrast and
deep shadows that mix well with the high use of digital animation and
green screen sequences. The audio is a DTS-HD MA (Master Audio)
lossless 5.1 track that sounds pretty fantastic throughout with the
soundtrack coming across very clearly. Also included is a standard
definition DVD with an anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1
and a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track that’s the norm for the format.
There's also a digital UltraViolet Copy included.
Special
Features include...
The
Making of 2050
Cars!
Cars! Cars!
The
Look of 2050
If
you're a fan of the original and like over the top satirical humor,
there's a lot to like with Death
Race 2050.
The script isn't perfect and some characters take the humor a bit
too far, but if you know what you're in for, you'll most likely enjoy
it.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
