Bittersweet Farewell... "Furious 7"

Furious 7 (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Kurt Russell, Sung Kang,

Directed by James Wan

The Story:

Deckard Shaw (Statham) is pretty upset about what Dom (Diesel) and his guys did to his little brother in the last film. So he begins his revenge, first by killing Han (Kang), putting Hobbs (Johnson) in the hospital, and then targeting the rest of the family for extinction. With a little help from the Feds (Russell), Dom assembles the crew for one last ride to stop Shaw and save themselves.

Well, that was a bit anti-climatic.

Justin Lin steps away from the franchise, and the film feels like it loses a little something in the process.

Or, it's the giant elephant in the room of losing Paul Walker mid-filming that hangs over this seventh installment in what is quickly becoming the most entertaining non-superhero, superhero franchise of them all.

A lot of things get thrown at, and through, walls this go round to see what sticks.

If you've been along for the entire ride, you'll be mostly satisfied. If you're starting from the ground up here, you might be in over your head.

Personally, I would have liked to have seen more of Hobbs, but that's purely selfish.

Just give him his own franchise already.

:)

I would also have to commend Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris for putting a lot of the fun moments into the film. Gibson, especially, as Roman brings the laughter, even when you know it's going to be funny, somehow his delivery or actions make it even better.

Everything is different now, but that's okay.

The Furious Franchise is all about family.

Families change over time, but they are still family at the end of the day.

So too are the fans.

Can't wait to see what happens in Furious 8.

Final Grade: B+

The Best One Yet... "Fast Five"

What a Rush!

The Story:

After O'Conner (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) break Dom (Vin Diesel) from the clutches of the man, they hightail it to Rio.  Needing to make some money, they attempt to swipe some cars from the DEA.  Whoops.  Turns out one of those cars belongs to the Kingpin of all Rio (Joaquim de Almeida) and he wants his car back.  Since escaping justice is a bad thing, the United States sends the biggest, baddest agent, Luke Hobbs (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) to Rio to find the boys.  The guys decide to go for one last score, and then disappear forever.  To do that, they're going to need some help.  And who better to help than everyone that was in the first 4 movies?

Yes indeed, they bring them back: Roman and Tej (Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris from 2 Fast), Han (Sung Kang from Tokyo Drift)... but didn't he die?  They never do explain this one.  Glad he's back though.  I've heard rumors that Tokyo Drift is supposed to take place after everything that happens in these films.  Meh... I'll just assume Han got out alive. : )

Justin Lin puts his stamp on the franchise with the biggest, loudest, and best part of the franchise to date.

Bringing back all of the components from each of the films is a clever and welcome touch.  Gives plenty of screen time to catch up on the characters and see how they've changed, or not changed over the years.

After all, this marked a decade of franchise-ability for The Fast and the Furious.  I don't think it was their intention to make a tent pole franchise when they started, but they have one now.  And this one actually unfolds as if they had been plotting it this way since the very beginning.

That's pretty impressive for a movie about street racing.

Oh, and kids, don't try street racing at home!

The Rock and Diesel squaring off makes for an energetic fight sequence in the middle of the movie.

I will also go on record that the final car chase sequence is most likely my favorite car chase in this franchise, or in just about any other movie for that matter.

This one transcends the other films in the franchise by adding the heist element, and as I've gone on record many times, I love me a good heist flick!

And stick around after the credits as they set up the sequel for Part 6...in theaters NOW!

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Infinite.  Really enjoyed watching this one again.  Impossible not to enjoy this film.

It's Like Deja Vu... "Fast and Furious"!!

Because "the's" are irrelevant at this point...

The Story:

FBI Agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) has to infiltrate a smuggling operation.  Lo and behold, an old friend named Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) is attempting to get in to get revenge for the death of his girlfriend Letty (Michelle Rodriguez).

Buckle up!

It's like they never left...

Bringing back director Justin Lin, this episode works as a prequel/sequel of sorts.  What happened after the events of the first and before the third, and then what happened next.

This includes a great cameo from Han (Sung Kang) from Tokyo Drift, and it plays nicely with the 8 years real time that had elapsed between the first installment and the latest.

Forget high school crushes, we are back to evil people using street racers to commit nefarious deeds, and the guys that are going to work their butts off to bring them down.

Naturally, there is distrust between Dom and Brian, and Mia (Jordana Brewster) when the gang gets back together shortly after Letty's funeral.  And imagine Dom's frustrations when he learns that Letty turned informant for the FBI before she was killed.

Sit back, enjoy the action, and then watch as they finally set up that yes, this is a franchise to be reckoned with, and they leave the movie on a great cliffhanger.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Very much so, if I splurge for a Blu Ray upgrade to get 2 & 3, otherwise, I already own this one.

Travel Back to Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear..."The Fast and the Furious"

Vroom Vroom!

The Story:

Undercover cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) attempts to infiltrate the street racing scene to get close to Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his gang.  It seems there have been some hijackings using street racing cars, and Brian needs to see if it's Toretto's group or someone else.  Naturally, it's not easy, and it's even harder when he falls in love with Dom's sister (Jordana Brewster).  What's an undercover cop to do?

A warning:

Kids, don't try this at home.  These are professional stunts on closed roads with professional drivers.

This warning will accompany the DVD release of this film, because apparently the American public are sheep and will mimic whatever they see in theaters.

: /

Anyhow, this is a fun picture to watch.  Pure popcorn movie with some excellent stuntwork and driving scenes throughout the film.  The world was a kinder, gentler place in 2001 when this hit the theaters that summer.

This probably cemented the course of stardom for both Walker and Diesel.  They had each worked on some films before, but I think this film serves as the coming out party for both that they were going to be around for a while.  Each have had varying degrees of success over the the next decade, but this film was a great lightning rod for the both of them.

Directed by Rob Cohen, he would be around the franchise (who knew it would be a franchise at the time?) for one film.

He knew a good thing when he had it though, and targeted the "star of the film", Vin Diesel for a film of his very own: xXx.

Walker would have to settle for a Fast and Furious sequel.

More on that....tomorrow!

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I already own it, and have now introduced it to the whole family.  It was well received.