After many years, decided to revisit Death Race 2000. The movie was released in 1975 with Roger Corman as the Producer. It tells the tale of a race from New New York to New Los Angeles in a dystopian future after the World Crash of '79. Interesting enough, the writer had us teaming with Russia and China. The President had a vacation retreat in Moscow and a palace in Bejing.
In this Transcontinental Race, it is legal to hit folks out and about to collect points. Whomever has accrued the most points by the end of the race in New Los Angeles wins. As you would guess, most of the streets they drive on are empty. Our racers for the 2000 race are Nero the Hero, Matilda the Hun, Calamity Jane, Joe "Machine Gun" Viterbo, and Frankenstein. Yes. A character named Frankenstein.
Frankenstein, portrayed by David Carradine, is actually the protagonist of the film. He is a National Hero and supposedly Immortal. Our hero, has been in numerous accidents in the past that would have killed anybody else. However, with Frankenstein being the President's favored driver, he has been refitted with various body parts from Swiss doctors. The only remanent of his injuries that is seen is a scarred half of his cheek under his black mask. He is dressed all in black. From his mask, to his suit, gloves, shoes, a helmet, and long flowing black cape. He could be mistaken as the poor man's Darth Vader.
The antagonist is Joe "Machine Gun" Viterbo played by Sylvester Stallone. Yes, he has a machine gun with him that he fires into the crowd for not showing him the love and respect they show Frankenstein and is dressed like a mobster. His persona and facial expression while shooting into the crowd, is Ramboesque.
A group of rebels does their best to sabotage the race by knocking off the drivers. Their motive is to try and put a stop to this barbaric race. They start to knock off the drivers one by one. The government's story for the media to put out is that the French and their European allies are to blame for the attacks. (A government controlling the mainstream media......who woulda thunk).
Anywho, if you have an hour and a half or so to kill and not expecting a cinematic masterpiece, Death Race 2000 is definitely a mind numbing way to spend it. Currently streaming for free on Tubi. And an added bonus, the question of who would win a fight between a boxer and a martial artist is answered.
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