Death Race 2000 - Special Edition | 
 enlarge | Actor: Paul Bartel
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
Buy New: $59.67
New (6) Used (3) from $45.00
Rating:  97 reviews
Sales Rank: 14689
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Special Edition, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 78
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: D49502D
UPC: 786936693126
EAN: 0786936693126
ASIN: B000B8QFZU
Theatrical Release Date: April 27, 1975
Release Date: December 13, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
No doubt about it, Death Race 2000 is one of the greatest B-movies ever made. A crown jewel in the career of B-movie king Roger Corman, it's a sublime example of exploitative filmmaking from a time when Corman's low-budget quickies were about to be swept aside by the blockbuster success of Jaws and Star Wars, and all of its outrageous ingredients combined to create a schlock-movie masterpiece. Liberally infused with director Paul Bartel's macabre sense of humor, Corman's mandatory formula for success (R-rated violence and nudity, served up at least once every 15 minutes) is zanily applied to a near-future scenario (similar to Rollerball, also released in 1975) in which a fascist empire appeases its oppressed citizens with "Death Race 2000," an automotive spectacle in which five costumed racers drive wacky race cars cross-country from New York to "New Los Angeles," scoring points with hit-and-run killings awarded on a sliding scale, with highest points for hitting children and the elderly! In addition to "Calamity Jane" (played by former Andy Warhol acolyte Mary Woronov), "Matilda the Hun" (Roberta Collins), and "Nero the Hero" (Martin Kove), the hottest contestants are "Machine Gun" Joe Viturbo (Sylvester Stallone, on the verge of Rocky stardom) and the reigning champion "Frankenstein" (David Carradine), whose "Death Race" prowess has reached near-mythic proportions. Filmed for $300,000 on desert-road and freeway locations throughout California's San Fernando Valley, Death Race 2000 packs more entertainment into 78 minutes than most movies can muster in two hours or more. Although it originated as a serious short story by Ib Melchior (best known as the writer-director of The Angry Red Planet), Corman took a cue from Dr. Strangelove and gave the material a satirical spin, resulting in non-graphic road-kills that are more hilarious than horrific, especially with the play-by-play race commentary by legendary disc jockey "The Real Don Steele," whose priceless performance (along with Carradine's deadpan drollery) turns Death Race 2000 into a low-comedy classic. The deadly car bodies were designed by Dean Jeffries (who also customized the "Monkeemobile") and fitted onto Volkswagen chassis, and Bartel's ingenious use of a meager budget epitomized the Corman aesthetic, reaping impressive box-office profits on its way to becoming one of the most beloved cult classics of all time. --Jeff Shannon
Description
"Low budget films allow one to experiment, to take chances with a zany idea like DEATH RACE 2000. Paul Bartel had the type of black humor that was required to direct this cross-country racing mayhem; while Chuck Griffith handled 2nd unit direction for the action sequences, featuring futuristic fast cars created by an award-winning designer. To compete with David Carradine's dark hero, I cast Sylvester Stallone as the heavy, whom I had first noticed with his brilliant performance in THE LORDS OF FLATBUSH. This combination was particularly effective, and DEATH RACE 2000 remains one of my most successful films of all time." -- Roger Corman In the year 2000, hit and run has become the national sport. It's a no-holds barred cross-country race, in which the aim is to kill off not only your opponents, but as many pedestrians as possible. David Carradine takes on Sylvester Stallone in this classic adrenaline thriller that will make you look both ways twice before you cross.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 92 more reviews...
 Great Fun January 3, 2009
I can't comment on more than what has been written. I simply want to write that I enjoyed this film. Although the film is quite campy, it's great fun. Probably not a family film with really small kids, I enjoyed the film and want to pass it along to my friends.
Still a hoot!! December 6, 2008
I remember the buzz this movie made in the 70's. In the 80's you could catch it on late night TV on occasion. But now I can see it unedited. I never knew it had nudity in it before, but when the title is "DEATH RACE 2000", you're not looking for "Citizen Kane".
movie dvd October 20, 2008
great condition, communication, all that we expected and more. highly recommend. thank you!!!
Wonderful bloodthirsty road movie October 5, 2008
This is a cheesy, exciting and entertaining B movie. It's fast paced and funny, with some fantastic jokes and very entertaining violence.
Clearly a big influence on Mad Max, this one has a remake out but check out the original!
Great movie, definitely better than the 08 remake September 28, 2008
A great movie. Definitely nothing more than a simple plot with lots of violence and car stunts. It goes outside the boundaries of what today would be considered politically correct, even for a movie, and that is what makes Deathrace 2000 great. Where else would you get to see "euthenasia day" at the hospital? I just wish the newer version was as ballsy.
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