Speed Racer 4K UHD Delivers Pure Eye Candy

The Wachowskis underrated gem finds new life on the high definition format

After The Wachowskis finished The Matrix Trilogy, they were under pressure from the Hollywood machine to do it again. What exactly is "do it again" when it comes to following up the success of that landmark Science-fiction franchise? Is it to innovate and create something akin to the slow-motion that defined action series of the early '00s? Instead they pivoted to adapting a legendary Japanese Anime franchise for live-action. It would be colorful, family friendly, but still follow The Wachowski's themes of finding yourself trapped in fiction you cannot escape from.

Enter Speed Racer.

The movie is based on the 1960s anime series, Speed Racer, which was known here in the West for its jittery motion and awkward lip-syncing, but also for its love of fast cars and quirky characters. I mean this is a series that has a pet chimpanzee as a featured character. Lana and Lily Wachowski grew up on the series and those influences showed up in the work (similar to how the anime, Ghost in the Shell, was an influence for The Matrix). On paper it might've seemed strange that they'd turn their attention toward Speed Racer, but it ultimately made a lot of sense.