Death Race 2000

 

                                Before, the Fast and the Furious became the fast cars and beautiful women genre, there was Death Race 2000. And no, before you say anything dumb and ridiculous, we are absolutely not talking about the Paul W.S. Anderson Death Race. We are officially talking about the 1975 version, the one Roger Corman wanted to develop, while foreseeing the success of RollerBall. Starred David Carradine in the lead role, for which was originally was offered to Peter Fonda but was unavailable. And Sylvester Stallone, who I believe was the turning point of his career because he went on to create the famous movie boxer Rocky. Although I've heard about the movie but never had the chance to see it personally, I got to admit this was really fun/exciting to watch and I know I seem crazy, but I would highly recommend this to anyone whose big on action and science fiction films, mainly by reason of, it’s one of those low budget films that the director Paul Bartel really made it work. Just like filmmakers the late George Romero including the original Night of the Living Dead, George Miller with the first Mad Max film and Robert Rodriguez alongside El Mariachi. So, without further ado let's talk about Death Race 2000.

                                 Set in the year 2000, the United States government is reconstructed into a totalitarian regime after the economic ruin of 79. Each year a cross country road race occurs when five racers, race to be respected among the world, although on catch in order to win running over countless civilians earns them points and whoever makes it to the finish line wins. Though a group of resistance fighters are wanting to put a stop the monstrous sport. But what everyone doesn't know is that the champion Frankenstein (David Carradine) has some plans of his own, unfortunately his rival Machine Gun Joe (Sylvester Stallone) wants to destroy him. For which the question remains who will make it to the finish line alive?

                                 Now call me crazy all you like, but this was one of the most exciting and well-crafted action movies along with Mad Max. Moreover I know everyone will back me up on this but this is a way better storyline than the Hunger Games books series and movies, and I'll happily explain that firstly, they’re both set in a post-apocalyptical world like regime, where the government performs gladiatorial games furthermore sacrifices their own citizens (in short like Ancient Rome or Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union). But what really really makes Death Race 2000 better than the Hunger Games series is that director Paul Bartel and Corman at least end the story with just one film unlike the Hunger Games where they try to squeeze four movies to make more money for which is monstrous moreover inhuman. And sure I can agree in terms of the costumes they use through the course of the film like using Nazi symbols or David Carradine dressing up like some strange gimp, but really this was the budget they had to work with, I mean come on this was before Star Wars put science fiction on the map, so really you can't just say the movie has bizarre and yet strange themes because really it just determines on how much they can use furthermore to work with into putting the story of a regime-like evil, on screen. In my view point on what makes this movie works is that car sequences, because those are full on, real action cars going in dangerous speeds that even I would be terrified for the stuntmen going at that speed, but yet with so little on budget I got to say they really pulled it off when it comes to just using a certain amount of cars for the entire movie and yet pick the right moment to destroy them, furthermore these are real people using real cars going in a dangerous speed, not using any CGI effects that don't look cartoonish so you have to give props for movies like this. I won't say that this movie is better than Ford v. Ferrari and really I don't think any racing movie will ever top Ford v. Ferrari but I will make exceptions that the film itself is better than Ron Howard's Rush in 2013, so really in my top three racing movies it would defiantly be Ford v. Ferrari, Death Race 2000 and Rush. So, if you’re looking for something new and different I would highly recommend Death Race 2000, its surprisingly fun, exciting you get to see David Carradine after the success of Kung Fu moreover a young Sylvester Stallone before he sits down to right the one true movie that rises him to the top of the world, so large this also have a better story line than the Hunger Games for many reasons they just started the movie with telling you who the good and evil is then they end it without any more sequels well, except for the remakes but those don't necessarily count. So, in truth if you are looking for a movie to watch in your spare time, I'd check out Death Race 2000 that is if you’re not a fan of action.