Paul W.S. Anderson’s Death Race remake hit with a resounding thud back in 2008, showcasing about as predictable a movie as you’ve ever seen. Despite Jason Statham scowling through most of the film and some truly impressive car stunts that didn’t rely on CGI- just metal smashing against metal- the film is a mess that somehow manages to lack even the tiniest bit of social commentary from the original. Now another film is on the way, one that looks to continue the trend.
Titled simply Death Race 2 (despite being a prequel!) it reveals how the idea for the death race came about, and Ving Rhames’ role in it.
Death Race 2 takes place in the very near future, as the United States economy begins to decline and violent crime starts to spiral out of control. To contain the growing criminal population, a vast network of for-profit, private prisons springs up, creating a lawless subculture ruled by gangs, cold-blooded killers and sociopaths. The worst of these prisons is Terminal Island. Convicted cop-killer Carl Lucas arrives on the Island to serve his life sentence just as ruthlessly ambitious television personality September Jones launches the ultimate reality show, Death Race. A brutal prison yard demolition derby that pits prisoners against each other in steel reinforced, heavily armed vehicles, Death Race 2 offers the winner the ultimate prize: freedom – if he can survive to enjoy it. When Lucas signs up to be a driver, the stage is set for the birth of a legendary racer.
So, pretty much the exact same thing as the remake. Got it. Other actors slumming it include Sean Bean, Danny Trejo, Luke Goss (Blade II, who appears as the original Frankenstein), Tanit Phoenix (Lost Boys: The Thirst), Frederick Koehler (Death Race) and Lauren Cohan (Supernatural). The script was written by Tony Giglio and Paul W. S. Anderson and the film was directed by Dutch filmmaker Roel Reiné.
Shock Till You Drop has just debuted the trailer, which is set to the sounds of Motorhead’s Ace of Spades. I really hate to say this and never thought it would come to this point, but I think I’d be happy if I never heard that song again for the rest of my life. Motorhead has a huge song library, people, pick another one to overuse!
3 comments
Does going from the second straight-to-video "Lost Boys" sequel to the straight-to-video "Death Race" prequel really count as slumming it? Sounds more like a step sideways, if anything.
Most pointless and irrelevant franchise remake ever. Normally I don't get worked up about critic's reviews but hearing Armond White unequivocally praising Death Race as superior to the original had me shouting at the wind.
Why all the hatred for Paul WS Anderson? The guy makes kitschy movies, yes, and the reboot of Death Race was probably not as good as many had hoped but it certainly wasn't the drivel that AvP was. I thought that Death Race was entertaining and didnt make the mistake of trying to be anything other than a film full to the brim of cool looking cars, weaponry, hot chicks and crazy stunts. Sure, Paul WS Anderson may be a hack, but he's my kind of hack, and I for one look forward to this.
Comments are shown as archived from the original site; new comments are closed.