Death Race plays like a videogame

I never saw the original Roger Corman Death Race 2000, but the new Paul W.S. Anderson remake plays like a videogame. Anderson, who's an avid gamer and the director and writer of the Resident Evil game films, obviously used his gaming knowledge to influence this fun but predictable little joy ride. Jason Staham, who can now be seen on DVD in the videogame film In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, stars as an ex-driver who's framed for the murder of his wife (by the warden played by Joan Allen of all people) so he can take part in the live pay-per-view Death Race inside an island prison.

Once the three-part Death Race kicks in, it's like watching an R-rated (or Mature-rated) videogame. The suped-up cars are straight out of Twisted Metal and armed with both offensive and defensive weapons like missiles, machine guns, oil slicks and smoke screens. The course itself is filled with shortcuts and power-ups that racers must drive over to unlock and offensive or defensive weapon -- just like in any combat racing game. While the film doesn't push the envelope of racing or action, it offers an engaging ride that speeds along at a great pace.

Although Producer Jeremy Bolt told me last year when they were filming in Montreal that he wanted a game based on the film, the only option gamers have is a mobile game from Gameloft. After watching the movie, that's probably because this action flick borrows so much from games that it doesn't necessarily bring enough new to the table. I suggest taking a drive through Burnout Paradise if you're in the mood for some high speed virtual racing after leaving the Death Race screening.