Death Race

Jason Statham has taken a a lot of flack recently, mostly due to how rubbish his Transporter Trilogy was. Personally I liked him in The Bank Job and any bloke who has shagged Kelly Brook is alright in my book! Back to the flick, set in 2012, a bleak future where corporations run the prisons for profit (OK I stole some of that wording from the title sequence!) and Terminal Island Penitentiary hosts the ultimate in voyeuristic destruction - Death Race. The premise is simple, kill all your opponents and be the last man standing, do it 5 times and you're free. Our man Jensen Ames (Statham) is framed for murdering his wife and sent to Terminal Island, it soon becomes apparent that his only way out of jail is to take part in the Death Race as the masked favourite Frankenstien, the original having died in the previous race. Ames soon discovers that the outcome of the Death Race is in the hands of Governess Hennessey and she'll do whatever it takes to make sure Ames stays locked up.

The film isn't great, but it's not awful either and tatham needs to be commended for using that growly voice for the entire film, he must have had a sore throat by the end! There's plenty of action, a fair bit of blood and guts and lots of men standing around admiring their cars. If you want action, a simple to follow story and some testosterone fuelled racing violence then this is the film for you. Easy time pass violence!