Like no other film you’ve ever seen, the Wachowski brothers’ “Speed Racer” tries to put a new spin on an old story. This particular story comes from the Japanese anime of the same name, popular in the 1960s.

“Speed Racer” is set in an alternate future reality in which racing has evolved into an intense free-for-all on race tracks that look like they were inspired by Hot Wheels toys.

Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) and his family are consumed with motor sports. The family still wrestles with the death of Speed’s older brother Rex in a tragic crash, and Speed seems to always be chasing his ghost.

His love for the sport is challenged when he learns that the Royalton automotive company uses the sport he loves for personal gain by fixing the races. Joined by the masked and mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox), who he suspects might in fact be his older brother Rex, Speed attempts to foil the efforts of the power hungry tycoon, Royalton.

The Wachowski brothers are most well known for the “Matrix” trilogy, but what most don’t realize is that their style as filmmakers is derived heavily from Japanese animation.

Many Americans probably remember the cartoon “Speed Racer” as it aired in the U.S., but it was originally produced in Japan by creator Tatsuo Yoshida.

The Matrix wasn’t directly based on any specific story, but there are concepts directly borrowed from a few different anime series.

The Wachowski’s grasp what could be the future of action cinema.

When Hollywood has eaten through the comic book universe and exhausted its every hero, there will be another pool of fresh plotlines to reinvent waiting in the form of Japanese animation.

Already in production is “Dragon Ball”, due to open in 2009.

Anime has often been dismissed as either childish cartoons or perversions of animation, but is quickly growing in popularity among American audiences.

The brothers have already proven their ability to successfully Americanize these interesting tales.

Sadly, “Speed Racer” has been modeled greatly after its animated forefather in its lighthearted tone. There was an opportunity to create a moving and real plot, but the brothers have kept the concept basic and juvenile, ideal for a younger audience.

In spite of all this, in an IMAX Theatre, while ignoring some of the more ridiculous comedy concocted for children, “Speed Racer” is most likely going to be the most visually interesting film of the year.

It is sort of like one of those old racecar rollercoaster simulators they used to have at arcades, only before entering the attendant gives you a psychedelic drug to enhance the experience.

The hyper real digital world that the Wachowskis have created is marvelous to look at.

The scenes are composed in the same way as “Sin City,” mixing live action with computer generated backdrops, except with completely opposite tones. Instead of drab black and white scenery, “Racer” features impossibly vivid colors layered to create the aesthetic of an extensive pop-up book.

The pace is also interesting in that scenes are melded together in a sort of layered collision.

The composition of the screen is almost always morphing into the next shot. An attention-deficit person’s dream, it is as one might imagine what racing at immense speeds would truly be like.

I recommend this film based purely on visual aesthetic because there is little else here. The brothers have tried to create some emotional involvement, but it was not quite achieved.

The film gets lost in the middle of the kiddy cartoons we see on Saturday morning and a convoluted plot that most kids will not completely understand.

With competition the likes of “Iron Man” and the anticipated “Dark Night”, “Racer” will most likely be lost in the summer shuffle. However, Tatsuo Yoshida would be proud of what his original idea has yielded.

If anyone can take a 1960s cartoon and do this with it, one wonders what they can do with a more serious original concept. Go, Wachowskis, Go!

Overall rating: 2 out of 5 Boones