Film Review – Gran Turismo

Earlier this year, Nintendo caused pandemonium at the box office with the release of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” And now PlayStation gets their chance to test some brand loyalty at the multiplex. “Gran Turismo” is based on a racing simulator series that debuted in 1997, and it’s still going strong to this day. The dramatic challenge is clear, with screenwriters Jason Hall and Zach Baylin in charge of bringing a story to a game about speed and strategy, finding one in the real-life saga of Jann Mardenborough, who crossed the line between gamer and driver, joining the professionals on the track, trying to achieve an impossible dream. The production goes the “Rocky” route with “Gran Turismo,” which is big on formula and predictability, but also emerges as an entertaining and periodically thrilling feature, with director Neill Blomkamp selling the speed and danger of it all, which is far more inviting than the film’s dips into cliché. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com