Race (2007) Review

                                                                                       

Race

Release Date: 3rd June 2007 - Canada (Winnipeg International Film Festival)

Production Companies

Hyper Image (presents)

CenTennial Pictures

Genre: Animation/Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 99 minutes

Plot Summary

In a far-off future, the threats of war are no longer necessary, as the Interplanetary Alliance had established the raging and ruthless Star Car 5000 racing circuit to allow potential enemies to act out their aggressions on the racecourse. The drivers who participated in the racetrack have become celebrities revered everywhere, but the stakes get high. Team Earth and its driver, Trance Caldron, play without sponsorship and compete for the circuit to oust the other. However, they entered a competition with Team Tagmatia and stumbled into a plot that threatened to destroy the Peacekeeping Alliance.

All stakes are raised for the

upcoming finals of Star Car

5000, as the teams put their

best speed and gear to foil

the plans of Team Tagmatia.

Trance must win this race

for himself and his team and beat the evil Team Tagmatia.

Voice Cast

James Hereth - Trance

Caldron/Bradford/Cmdr. Chad

Kevin Lewis - Lord Helter

Wheaton James - Samuel
Potter

Rhonda Smiley - Stash

Terry Diab - Sola/Drayka

William Mendieta - Frikes/
Gortak

H.L. Cannon - Chancellor
Nedon/Partak

J.J. Song - Chemti
Benita Andre - T.E.S. Computer

Crew
Story/Producer/Director - Robert Brousseau
Co-Director/Art Director/
Storyboard Supervisor/Artist -
Scott Heming
Story/Writer/Producer -

Rhonda Smiley
Story - Kevin O'Donnell

Associate Producer - Ricardo

Ortiz-Barreto
Co-Producer - Andy Boron

Incidental Character Design -

Miriam Goodman and Frank Rocco

Animation Lead/Technical

Director/Modeller/Texturing/

Morph Target/Lip Sync/

Animator - Dean Jackson
Animation Lead/Technical

Director/Modeller/Texturing/

Character Rigging/Animator -

Don Waters
Digital Intermediate Supervisor -

Rohan Desai
Editor/ADR Editor - James Hereth
Sound Design/Re-Recording Mixer -

Robert Duran

Re-Recording Mixer - Greg Krueger
Music - Eric Allaman

Guitar - Brad Stanfield

Review

The idea behind this film took influence from the podrace sequence of Star Wars. The sci-fi animated feature RACE does not suffer from a lack of intensity and exciting racing action as these are all there and then some. However, some of its characters are underdeveloped and clichéd. For example, the eponymous hero Trance is unlikeable in his personality. He is not well-fitted as the film's main protagonist as his characterisation lacks any flair and redeeming qualities. A few aliens have fake accents, particularly a bad Cockney one. Even more disappointing, the animation is too video game-ish, oddly lacks polish and is severely outdated. On the other hand, the premise is quite appealing. However, it isn't enough to testify against the convoluted storyline and cheap CGI budget.

This indie movie took seven years to make, not longer than Delgo. This film has revealed that we are in a day and age when filmgoers expect the best quality from an animated movie. RACE did not race the bar high enough to compare the other animated features. It's also a backdoor for a series that never got up and running. It could be due to the movie's failure and a lack of following.

RACE had dried up all its potential. It is a shame that this film could have had better execution and more extensive world-building. If this movie had a better animation quality, or at least with a bigger budget, it could have been more successful had it been produced by a major animation studio. Find this online if you are still interested, even after my mixed review. However, it is only for a one-time viewing and is not worth adding to the collection.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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