Speed Racer Synopsis

Warners issued the following synopsis for Speed Racer, but left out the big spoiler. I'll add that on at the end, so tread carefully.

Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized—the legendary Rex Racer—whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill.

Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed's thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company's maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret—some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won't drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line.

The only way for Speed to save his family's business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at its own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival—the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox)—to win the race that had taken his brother's life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

And here comes that SPOILER - Racer X is in fact Speed's brother. Rex/Racer X - geddit? I guess many people know this by now...?

Silly Fish

One of the following news bites is definitely an April Fools gag that's hung around like a bad smell; the other certainly sounds like it to me too - but what do you think? Could it be genuine?

Firstly, an increasing number of sites are slowly picking up on a hoax story originated at The One Ring. They claimed that Peter Jackson was deep in preproduction on a live-action Powerpuff Girls movie. Why are a bunch of sites picking this up now, on Tuesday? Are they nuts?

A new animated Powerpuff movie would be good, though, if Craig McCracken were to be behind it.

The second story features a quote from Christina Ricci, concerning her new tattoo. Apologies to Ms. Ricci if this actually is something she said, but the whole thing does sound so screwy to me I can only assume it's another hoax that's making it's way across the web too slowly.

She describes the tattoo thus:

It's Aslan, the lion from The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe. It's a symbol of my hellish childhood. I struggled through my oppressive teenage years and when I turned 18 I escaped. Like Aslan I was finally free.

Riiiiight. Stay tuned until next April 1st when she'll get Nelson Mandela on her ankle and the Israelites on her buttocks.

Short Spurts From A Black Snake

MoviesOnline, bless 'em, have posted a number of clips from Black Snake Moan. If they showed any more of Sam Jackson's persuasuve powers, it'd probably cure you of your nymphomania, through the screen.

Black Snake Leak

bigscreenlittlescreen Ted (not to be confused with either Big Ted or Little Ted of Playschool fame) has popped up an apparently-leaked Black Snake Moan trailer, and personally, I found it quite persuasive, thank you.