Review of Death Race 2000 (1975) by Alex N — 29 Feb 2008

I rate this five stars not because it is great, but because given the choice of watching either this or a "great" movie, I would probably rather see this again. Few movies blend over-the-top violence and bloodshed with genuinely funny satire as well as Death Race 2000.

In the far flung future of the year 2000, professional race car drivers trek across the country, trying to run over as many people as they can along to way to score points. The pace is quick, the shots are nicely done, the cars and the costumes look like something out of a cartoon, and the violence is plentiful.

There's gratuitous nudity, and a couple scenes reveal the film's low budget to its detriment, but that doesn't stop it from being consistently entertaining. If you have a tolerance for silliness, gallons of red paint being passed off as blood, and a little tasteless nudity, this is definitely a movie you ought to check out.

If you don't understand immediately the humor and entertainment value in watching people get run over for points, then maybe this is a movie you should avoid.