Death Race

Paul W.S. Anderson is quite an unpredictable director, you never know whether his next project will be good or really bad. This time things have fortunately worked well and Death Race is brilliant B-movie fun that might not be as mad as Doomsday, but it holds together a lot better. Anderson has made me happy this time, but I’m still not forgiving him for AvP. (12/10/2008)

A well-made B-movie with musclemen racing in cars that at last I wouldn’t be afraid of trying out on Czech roads. And Statham’s musculature again rekindled my desire to make regular trips to the gym a New Year’s resolution. Otherwise Mr. Anderson performed exceedingly well, everything about him was A-grade (B-movie A-grade), but he’s going have to try harder for me to be able to forgive him for Alien vs. Predator. And who would have guessed that Joan Allen as the warden would outdo all of those navigator beauties. (02/01/2009)

Paul W.S. Anderson is back and again revelling in unpretentious and pretty gritty stories. While I fear he will never surpass the excellent Event Horizon, this action thriller is also a supremely entertaining, hellishly fast and properly bloody ride. It's exactly the kind of film that while you're watching it you're thinking what a terrible piece of crap it is and how it is possible that someone could make it, but you'll still finish it with your mouth open, you'll have a great time, and you might even get the urge to watch it again – personally, I'll definitely watch Death Race again. (09/04/2012)

A computer game turned into a film without a joystick, but incredibly self-aware. Anderson surprisingly put effort into it and brilliantly succeeded, starting with computer “competition” inserts, and ending with excellently filmed action scenes. I saw the unrated version and blood was definitely not spared. So what if it's silly to the point of misery? It's not about that, and as pure action entertainment, it's a showpiece. There’s plenty of shooting and aggressive driving, and even though the whole thing sometimes feels a bit repetitive (only one track), Paul occasionally engages the imagination and beautifies the slightly emerging stereotype with some quality and proper bloody accident. The tanker crash is absolutely spectacular! (05/01/2009)

A really excellent piece with sharpened visuals and excellent special effects. Jason Statham as the wrongly convicted Jensen Ames ruthlessly dispatches all the "competition" in an army-equipped Mustang, even manages to get his revenge while trying to break free again, aided by the beautiful Natalie Martinez. The choice of music is also praiseworthy. A very strong 4 stars. (28/03/2009)