Masterpiece Cinema - Death Race 2000

Death Race 2000

Starring David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone.

Written by Ib Melchior (story), Robert Thom, Charles B. Griffith.

Directed by Paul Bartel.

Genre: Sci-Fi / Action / Comedy

Released: 1975

Running time: 79 mins.

Rated: R (American rating)

IMDb link: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0072856/

For years, Id been hearing about a movie by the name of Death Race 2000. The first time I heard about it was when I was a kid. I read about a rumour that Sylvester Stallone had once appeared in a porn film. The truth of the matter was that it was simply a nude scene (and not much of a nude scene, at that) in a B-grade action film. That B-grade action film was, of course, Death Race 2000.

Years passed, and every now and then Id hear murmurs of the film, but nothing more than that. Then Kill Bill came out, and suddenly everybody was David Carradine-crazy, realizing the immense gravitas that the former Kung Fu actor exudes in every scene in which he appears. It was no doubt because of the Carradine-craziness that I managed to find a copy of Death Race 2000 in the discount bin at my local DVD vendor. I knew I had to see it.

Carradine plays the main character in Death Race 2000, a guy by the name of Frankenstein (no, not that Frankenstein). In fact, the car that he drives in this film is the car he drives in Kill Bill or at least, its the same model. But Im getting ahead of myself.

Death Race 2000 tells the story ofuha death racein the year 2000. And it really is pretty much as simple as that. In the future (or, at least, what was the future in 1975, and is now the past; I love when that happens) America is ruled by a dictator known only as Mr President, who keeps the population entertained by holding an annual, cross-country car race. But as is the way in post-apocalyptic futures, the car race is a bloodthirsty one, with the drivers aiming to run down pedestrians so as to gain points. By some bizarre twist of logic, its the pedestrians that are easier to run down that you get the most points for (like the young, and the elderly). What do I know? Its not like Ive engineered any fatalist vehicular competitions lately. I guess these things are best left to the professionals.

Carradines character Frankenstein is the carry-over champion, a driver whos been injured in so many races that he keeps his face hidden behind a mask, the majority of his limbs having been replaced by artificial ones. I thought how much of a rip-off his look, attitude and back-story was of Darth Vader, until I remembered that Star Wars didnt open for another two years after Death Race 2000. Take that, George Lucas! You hack!

Stallone plays another racer by the name of Machine-Gun Joe Viterbo, a clich mobster-type. God knows how the massage scene hes in has taken on the urban legend status it has; maybe its because there are also naked ladies in the sceneor maybe its just because people are dumb and are willing to believe anything (*cough*US elections*cough*). Anyway, its interesting and fun seeing a fresh-faced Stallone playing such a two-dimensional bad guy. And when he and Carradine go head-to-headwellits even more fun.

Death Race 2000 is by no means a good film. There are huge plot-holes in it, characters make logic jumps that just bewilder you, and the message seems to get muddled in amongst all the 'rock em-sock em' violence.

Still, its still a very enjoyable movie, combining social satire with some great stunt driving and a healthy portion of 1970s-exploitation-film cheese. If that sounds like something youre in the mood for, I highly recommend you race down to your local video store and rent yourself a copy. Remember, if you hit any old ladies along the way, its a hundred points. Only seventy for kids.

Next week: Something even racier...

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