It’s interesting to see how sometimes a metaphor can be more powerful than the literal idea. That looks like what we’re about to face this week, when Speed Racer, the story of a boy who’s really into amazing cars goes up against a man who’s lost his heart, and must cover himself in metal in order to find it again.

Looking at the reviews, especially this one, in the New York Times, it’s pretty obvious that things aren’t looking good for the new film from the Wachowskis. That’s not to say that reviews are always right, but sometimes you read line that perfectly captures your fears:

But at least those cars — including Speed’s Mach 5, faithfully replicated from the old cartoons — move. When it comes to storytelling, “Speed Racer” has nothing in common with its title. Not only does it surpass the grinding tedium of “The Matrix Revolutions,” but it does so with far less excuse.

But “Speed Racer” is about a boy driving a car, surely a subject that cries out for linearity, simplicity, velocity. Instead the first half-hour layers flashbacks with portentous foreshadowings, generating pointless confusion about who is doing what and why.

Yow.

As many times as people may tell you to “turn off your brains” I still find it almost unbearable when an action movie starts to drag. It doesn’t need to be wall to wall action, but it’s important that there’s something entertaining happening in between the thrill ride.  An audience needs a reason to care, and they need to have a stake in the outcome.

That said I still want to see this film at some point. I’m curious about the camera effects and the unique transitions.

If you’ve ever met me in person then you probably know that I’m kind of a walking encyclopedia of obscure genre media.  But I’ve never seen Blake’s 7.  I’m old enough, and I’m nerdy enough, but by the time the urge to actually watch the thing hit me it was off the air.

Now that we’re in the age of “everything whenever you want it” media, I’ve thought about going back and giving it a try, although I never relish the idea of having to sit through BBC special effects from the late 70s.

Now Sky One is bringing it back.

Sky has commissioned two 60-minute scripts with the intention of creating a new sci-fi series of the hugely popular show, which followed the intergalactic tales of a small band of rebel fighters struggling to evade the dark forces of the Federation.
Memorable for its cardboard sets and leather-clad arch villainess Servalan, the show was the creation of sci-fi legend Terry Nation, himself responsible for Doctor Who’s arch-nemesis the Daleks.
Sky One commissioning editor Elaine Pike said “Seven” was “ripe” for a revival, which will be jointly exec produced by Andrew Mark Sewell at B7 Prods. Most recently the show was released as a successful series of audio books starring a modern cast including “This Life” star Daniela Nardini.

They’ve already been dipping their toe into the genre waters with their TV movie versions of the Discworld books, so it’ll be interesting to see how this turns out.

I may even have to go back and watch the old series first…