Death Race will have plenty of flame throwers, no pedestrians [I Heart Movies]

So it turns out that the remake of Death Race 2000 will have plenty of special effects, some awesome looking cars and plenty of flamethrowers to go around, but sadly– very sadly– no pedestrians.

In the original Death Race, sportsmen raced practically across country in souped up Wacky Races cars, killing each other and innocent bystanders for points, glory and national TV ratings. In the remake, it’s condemned prisoners racing each other for the right to earn their freedom.

In the original Death Race, the character of Frankenstein, played to perfection by David Carradine, was a hard racing, super awesome driver who in the eyes of sports fans was like Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretsky, Dale Earnhardt and Babe Ruth all rolled into one. In the remake, Jensen Ames (Jason Straham) is given the mantle of the fan-favorite Frankenstein before the race.

The original Death Race was a funny, biting commentary on American culture and the obsession with action, violence and television, even at the expense of running down old people in wheelchairs and babies. The new Death Race may carry over the theme of obsession with violent sports and television, but I don’t care how many prisoners blow each other up, it just doesn’t hold a candle to race car drivers veering off to mow down people on a sidewalk for a few extra points.

We’ll have to see… I’ll probably be there at the theater regardless, because it still looks like it could be a lot of fun. I’ll just have to remember that this isn’t really the same Death Race as I know and love, but a softer homage to the genius of Roger Corman.

Via: io9