Death Race 2000: Special Edition: Roger Corman Early Films Combined DVD & UMD For PSP Review

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Title: Death Race 2000: Special Edition: Roger Corman Early Films

Region: One

Genre: SCI-FI Satire/Thriller

Stars: David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone, Simone Griffeth, Marv Woronov, Roberta Collins, and Martin Kove

Writers: Robert Thom and Charles B. Griffith

Original Story By: IB Melchor

Director: Paul Bartel

Feature length: 80 minutes

Extras: “Playing The Game: Looking Back On Death Race 2000” Featurette (DVD Exclusive), Audio Commentary With Roger Corman and Mary Woronov, Theatrical Trailer

Languages: English Two-Channel Monaural Sound

Subtitles: English Subtitles For The Deaf And Hearing Impaired

Packaging: Keep Case

Chapter Stops: 12

Sound: Two-Channel Monaural Sound

Year of Theatrical Release: 1975/DVD Release: 2005/UMD Release: 2005

Theatrical Distributor: New World Pictures

Home Video Distributor: Buena Vista Home Entertainment

MPAA Rating: R

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Inspired by IB Melchor’s story “The Racer,” “Death Race 2000” is a combination tongue in cheek sci-fi satire and thriller that predates “Rollerball” and “The Running Man” as well as the “Mad Max Trilogy.” Directed by Paul Bartel (Eating Raul), the film is set in what could now be called an alternate future world where the United States has expanded to become a global totalitarian government with only the country of France and a group of idealistic rebels fight to topple the corrupt world government. To placate the population, each year a coast to coast race is held in North America where the racers along with a navigator for each car are pit against each other and encouraged to take as many lives along the way with them for extra bonus points. David Carradine is the reigning champ who has been rebuilt and perfected from so many racing injuries that he has earned the nickname “Frankenstein” from his fans. Sylvester Stallone has a colorful role as the main villain and chief competitor against Carradine’s “Frankenstein” character. Carradine’s outfit looks like a bizarre cross between “Darth Vader” and “The Gimp” from Quentin Taratino’s “Pulp Fiction.”

This film release on DVD and UMD-Video for PSP are a part of collection of films acquired for distribution by Buena Vista Home Entertainment from legendary filmmaker and producer Roger Corman. The DVD edition features an anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) picture presentation that despite a few flecks from the print source itself looks pretty good. The UMD for PSP version letterboxes the image to fit the 4 by 3 (1.78:1) LCD display of Sony PlayStation Portable. Perhaps it is simply because of the smaller size of the PSP display, but the print imperfections are definitely a lot harder to spot on the UMD version. Both the DVD and UMD feature an English Two-Channel Monaural Soundtrack that is quite clear and free of analogue background noise and hissing. Attempting remix the UMD soundtrack to a virtual surround soundtrack using Dreamgear’s I, Sound Pro docking station somehow distorted the sound quality so it is best to listen to the UMD for PSP with the sound encoded as is. Both versions also feature English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as an option as well as a new feature length audio commentary with Roger Corman and Actress Mary Woronov. The retrospective commentary is quite interesting with Corman sounding eloquent as ever. This home video release is dedicated to Paul Bartel who passed away in 2000 and appeared in as well as worked on several of Corman’s films and directed “Death Race 2000.” Corman credits Bartel with much of the film’s dark humor.

Exclusive to the DVD edition is “Playing The Game: Looking Back At Death Race 2000” (10:44), which features all new interviews with Roger Corman, Actor Martin Kove, Actress Mary Woronov, and Writer Charles Griffith. The theatrical trailer (: 56) wraps up the bonus features on both versions. The menus are also nearly identical and easy to navigate, but the UMD for PSP interactive menus feature full motion scene selections too.

“Death Race 2000: Special Edition: Roger Corman Early Films” is available on DVD-Video and UMD-Video for PSP now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

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