Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Death Race 2000, Paul Bartel's 1975 cheapo satire about a futuristic international sport--an anything-goes car race where drivers score points for hitting pedestrians--stars David Carradine as a hero behind the wheel and Sylvester Stallone as his nemesis. The film is clever and macabre enough as a modernist satire, but finally overplays its hand in grim, decadent humour. The sets are gloriously artificial, and former Andy Warhol-star Mary Woronov is in sexy, comic form. --Tom Keogh
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I've ridiculed many a Roger Corman film in my time, but I have nothing but love for his 1975 B-movie triumph Death Race 2000 (although, to be fair, most of the credit should go to director Paul Bartel). In this brilliant black comedy satire, Corman gives us what we want - fast cars, hot naked gals, and lots of glorified violence, not to mention brilliant performances by David Carradine and a pre-Rambo Sylvester Stallone - and all with a budget of only 300 grand.
In this futuristic vision of the year 2000, America has devolved into something of a fascist police state called the United Provinces, ruled from overseas by Mr. President (Sandy McCallum) who, like all good dictators, has established an external outlet for whatever bloodlust, anger, and general discontent that may exist among the populace. Enter the Transcontinental Road Race, better known as the Death Race. Now in its 20th iteration, this fierce competition pits the greatest, most fearless drivers in the land racing from New York to New Los Angeles. Lest any visions of Cannonball Run threaten to run your head, know this: the beauty of the Death Race is the fact that extra points are awarded for any and all innocent spectators you kill along the way, with children and seniors bringing in the most points (if you don't think this is great fun, you haven't played any of the games in the Carmageddon series, which count among my favorite games of all time).
This year's contestants are Nero the Hero, Matilda the Hun (with Representative Fred "Gopher" Grandy as her navigator Herman the German), Calamity Jane Kelly, Machine-Gun Joe Viterbo (Sylvester Stallone), and the fan favorite, Frankenstein (David Carradine). Frankenstein is something of a mystery man, his mask and cowl hiding a body that has had more parts replaced than your grandfather's beat-up old pickup. He and Machine-Gun Joe are bitter rivals, but this year the greatest threat Frankenstein faces is a plot by the Resistance, led by Thomasina Paine (Harriet Medin), to put an end to the barbaric race once and for all (using - wouldn't you know it? - barbaric methods of their own).
From euthanasia day at the hospital to the wickedly tripped-out cars designed for human carnage as well as speed, Death Race 2000 is a tour de force of B-movie entertainment. The sociopolitical statement the film makes is also very real and important, but I'll leave the interpretation of all that to the individual viewer. Carradine's amazing, Stallone's a brilliant bonus, the supporting cast make hay with even the smallest of parts (The Real Don Steele, anyone?), and Simone Griffeth is fun to watch both in and out of her clothes (and I haven't even mentioned the whole French Air Force thing). Death Race 2000 is the epitome of cult classic.
In this futuristic vision of the year 2000, America has devolved into something of a fascist police state called the United Provinces, ruled from overseas by Mr. President (Sandy McCallum) who, like all good dictators, has established an external outlet for whatever bloodlust, anger, and general discontent that may exist among the populace. Enter the Transcontinental Road Race, better known as the Death Race. Now in its 20th iteration, this fierce competition pits the greatest, most fearless drivers in the land racing from New York to New Los Angeles. Lest any visions of Cannonball Run threaten to run your head, know this: the beauty of the Death Race is the fact that extra points are awarded for any and all innocent spectators you kill along the way, with children and seniors bringing in the most points (if you don't think this is great fun, you haven't played any of the games in the Carmageddon series, which count among my favorite games of all time).
This year's contestants are Nero the Hero, Matilda the Hun (with Representative Fred "Gopher" Grandy as her navigator Herman the German), Calamity Jane Kelly, Machine-Gun Joe Viterbo (Sylvester Stallone), and the fan favorite, Frankenstein (David Carradine). Frankenstein is something of a mystery man, his mask and cowl hiding a body that has had more parts replaced than your grandfather's beat-up old pickup. He and Machine-Gun Joe are bitter rivals, but this year the greatest threat Frankenstein faces is a plot by the Resistance, led by Thomasina Paine (Harriet Medin), to put an end to the barbaric race once and for all (using - wouldn't you know it? - barbaric methods of their own).
From euthanasia day at the hospital to the wickedly tripped-out cars designed for human carnage as well as speed, Death Race 2000 is a tour de force of B-movie entertainment. The sociopolitical statement the film makes is also very real and important, but I'll leave the interpretation of all that to the individual viewer. Carradine's amazing, Stallone's a brilliant bonus, the supporting cast make hay with even the smallest of parts (The Real Don Steele, anyone?), and Simone Griffeth is fun to watch both in and out of her clothes (and I haven't even mentioned the whole French Air Force thing). Death Race 2000 is the epitome of cult classic.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Death Race 2000 was recommended to me by a friend who said that it was a similar film to Rollerball. It is not similar at all, apart from the emotionally cold distopian setting and a desensitised, almost comic, attitude to extreme violence. Rollerball is a dark masterpiece, DR2000 is a fun throwaway classic. The film is very amateurishly made, but that's most of it's charm.
The setting of DR2000 is a futuristic society in the year 2000. Mr President keeps the emotionally cold population of America happy by running the Annual Transcontinental Death Race across America. Champions Frankenstein, Machine Gun Joe Viterbo (young Sylvester Stallone) and Calamity Jane compete to acquire the most points and win the game. Meanwhile rebel forces try to sabotage the race and destroy the president's rein. It's far too clumsy to work as a social satire, but it's still a very memorable and enjoyable film. DR2000 has been frequently compared to an adult version of Wacky Races, and it's easy to see why. You get ludicrous characters with silly names driving sillier cars, big explosions, and bad acting. Some parts seem to be stolen directly from a Roadrunner cartoon.
Death Race 2000 is one of the best exploitation films of the 1970's. The horrifying idea of running over pedestrians for points has now passed into legend, and the whole high camp look of this film - the unreal bright red paint for blood, the 70's porn funk soundtrack, the sped up shots of cars fitted with horns, spikes and go faster stripes rushing past the camera make this the greatest B movie ever made. It's not in the least subtle, but it's excellent entertainment, and I will never tire of watching this film. At only 78 minutes long it's a great movie to stick on with friends while waiting to go out and get some good laughs, without outstaying it's welcome. If you want thoughtful sci fi satire - steer clear. However if you enjoy entertaining 1970's sci fi films like Westworld, or the Omega Man, or if you want some dumb 1970's low budget thrills then you can't go wrong with Death Race 2000.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Although the effects aren't great, and nor is the acting, this film has what many lack - fun. it is entertaining for the duration of the movie, and its an original idea. definitely worth seeing.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Death race 2000 - Cool cars, sex and death: what more do you want from...
A little while ago I had occasion to watch Deathrace, a remake of this film starring Jason Statham. I was impressed, and determined to watch the original. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Victor
the original and best.
i have loved this ever since i first saw it in the early 8os. i already own an original vhs copy but they are irreplaceable so i had to get a dvd version to watch.
Published 10 months ago by mark strangward
The Race was Won
More a 3.5 type of film.
Cult based antics derived from the end of Americas internal cold war. Read more
Cult based antics derived from the end of Americas internal cold war. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
Let's be Frank....
Let's be frank, we all know the plot - and this has been out on DVD a couple of times before - but is it worth buying again?
It's a simple YES! Read more
It's a simple YES! Read more
Published 21 months ago by Eastham MD
Wacky Races.70's Cult Film.A work of unique genius
A true cult classic. Although a bit dated this is still one of the most enjoyable films I have seen. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2010 by S. F. husseiny
Not a B Movie
Contrary to other postings this was not a "B" movie but the "A" feature. It was a very low budget movie, $300k when a big studio was spending $4m on a main feature. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2009 by Mr. David Jenkins
DEATHRACE!!
Although this film was made in the 70s, it is worth watching, it is a darkly comic view of life in the year 2000, this quote says it all:
In The Year 2000 Hit And Run... Read more
In The Year 2000 Hit And Run... Read more
Published on 12 April 2009 by B. Cousins
entertaining for an old filom
excellent film considering the time it was made, Carradine and Stallone ham it up in great fashion well worth a look
Published on 10 Mar 2009 by S. Grimsey
A old classic, now remaked
A classic of '70 sci-fi cinematography, without aliens or starships, but based on a classical theme: a future US dictatorial society and her's "typical gladiator' sports". Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2009 by Empe
B Movie - B for Bad
This is a B Movie - "straight to Video" is something you would expect. The plot (if I can call it that) is that the US has decended into a Despotism where "Mr President" keeps the... Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2009 by Ekij
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
