Fast Five (Justin Lin, 2011)

[Dukefrukem]

What's Fast Five? Well it's the 5th FAST AND THE FURIOUS movie!

Shooting begins this summer with Diesel and Walker directed by Justin Lin who directed the last two iterations.

They're also developing a 6th film which Diesel and Walker want to be a part of.

[Skitch]

This series has the worst titles of any sequels in the history of film.

[baby doll]

Yikes. Lin directed one great movie (Better Luck Tomorrow), and then was never heard from again.

[Dukefrukem]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/coolproduction/ckeditor_assets/pictures/20/original/fastfivedwayne.jpg?1292261251

[Sycophant]

Yikes. Lin directed one great movie (Better Luck Tomorrow), and then was never heard from again.

He's done some great TV work.

[Irish]

Yikes. Lin directed one great movie (Better Luck Tomorrow), and then was never heard from again.

Good movie (the last act was junk), but yeah. What the hell happened? He went from that to doing utter crap.

And do Walker and Diesel get hired for anything else these days?

[Henry Gale]

I mean Lin did do the paintball episode of Community, so I assume that's part of the great TV work being spoken of.

Otherwise, I feel like not enough people have actually seen Tokyo Drift to dimiss it, as ridiculous as that sounds.

EDIT: Also, from what I've seen of Finishing the Game, it was actually kinda funny.

[number8]

Tokyo Drift > That Asian High School Goodfellas.

[DavidSeven]

Fa5t.

[DavidSeven]

This better actually be about five motherfuckers who drive fast. Or else.

[Morris Schæffer]

Aw hell yes! These guys r GonNa roll like there's no tomorrow!!!!

[Skitch]

BEEFCAKE!!!

[Morris Schæffer]

Yo dudes, I gots the trailer for yoah perusal. Like, whoa!

http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?sid=119170602&sdm=web&pt=rd

http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?sid=119170600&sdm=web&pt=rd

[Skitch]

Totally wicked, brah! Extreme!

[number8]

YES.

[Boner M]

Sequel: 2 Fast 2 Five

[Derek]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/coolproduction/ckeditor_assets/pictures/20/original/fastfivedwayne.jpg?1292261251

Make out already.

[D_Davis]

Tokyo Drift > That Asian High School Goodfellas.

Tokyo Drift is tight.

But I thought the Asian High School Goodfellas was the Young and Dangerous series?

[number8]

Tokyo Drift is tight.

But I thought the Asian High School Goodfellas was the Young and Dangerous series?

No, that's the Asian Menace II Society.

[megladon8]

My favorite part was when the car went fast.

[DavidSeven]

Oh, so it is actually about five fast motherfuckers? That's kind of neat. Walker/Diesel/Lin should just keep making stand alone movies together and just incorporate fast and/or furious in the title to sell it to the public. It'd be a pretty brilliant way to make whatever action movies you wanted for 10 years.

Edit: And I say this as someone who also enjoyed Tokyo Drift as mindless entertainment. The only other film in this franchise I've seen is the first, which was something completely different.

[baby doll]

Oh, so it is actually about five fast motherfuckers?I think they should have gotten Quentin Tarantino to direct it and called it Fast Force Five.

[Watashi]

I would go see it if it was titled Five Fast Motherfuckers.

[MadMan]

I'll admit I liked the 2nd movie, even though I know it wasn't a good movie. Can't say I'll bother with the rest of the series, though.

[number8]

I'll admit I liked the 2nd movie, even though I know it wasn't a good movie.

See here, duke? This would be it.

[Dukefrukem]

I'll admit I liked the 2nd movie, even though I know it wasn't a good movie. Can't say I'll bother with the rest of the series, though.

http://i.imgur.com/2uvaU.jpg

[D_Davis]

No, that's the Asian Menace II Society.

Ah, my bad.

[D_Davis]

I want to see Fast and Furious: 29XX, set in a post-apocalyptic world.

[Dukefrukem]

I want to see Fast and Furious: 29XX, set in a post-apocalyptic world.

Death Race ?

edit: no that wasn't post-apocalyptic.

Road Warrior?

[baby doll]

I'll admit I liked the 2nd movie, even though I know it wasn't a good movie. Can't say I'll bother with the rest of the series, though.I agree, except for the part about 2 Fast 2 Furious not being a good movie.

[Morris Schæffer]

I'll see this when there's little else interesting in the theater.

[Dukefrukem]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/coolproduction/ckeditor_assets/pictures/560/original/f5big.jpg?1296833717

[Ezee E]

I only see two.

[DavidSeven]

I only see two.

Damn. The title of this movie is now officially stupid.

[Boner M]

I like that poster.

[Winston*]

It is the fifth film in The Fast and the Furious film series and the fourth installment in terms of chronology preceding The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

Confusing.

[number8]

It's funny to me that the only reason the chronology is jumbled is so Lin can keep casting his friend Sung Kang in these movies.

[megladon8]

Confusing.


Ya...wut?

[number8]

Is it really that confusing? The previous movie was a prequel, and this continues right off of that, so...

[Dukefrukem]

Fast & Furious made $30.5 million on the first day. I can't see this making >$15

[Ezee E]

Fast & Furious made $30.5 million on the first day. I can't see this making >$15
I'll say it'll do $40+. IMAX...

[eternity]

It took me this long to realize how stupid of a name Vin Diesel is. :/

[Acapelli]

Is it really that confusing? The previous movie was a prequel, and this continues right off of that, so...
it was a prequel to tokyo drift?

[number8]

it was a prequel to tokyo drift?

Well, yeah, I mean a character who died in Tokyo Drift was in it. And he's in this one too.

That's why I think it's funny that they went out of the way to make these prequels just because Lin regrets killing Sung Kang's character in Tokyo Drift.

[Henry Gale]

Well, yeah, I mean a character who died in Tokyo Drift was in it. And he's in this one too.

That's why I think it's funny that they went out of the way to make these prequels just because Lin regrets killing Sung Kang's character in Tokyo Drift.

Haha yeah. Even in the fourth one his character has an exchange with Vin Diesel explaining how he's going down to Tokyo to check out a new underground drifting circuit he's been hearing about, basically telling the audience where it's meant to go chronologically. But... Lin still wanted him back States-side for this movie.

I actually wouldn't mind if they have to awkwardly bridge things to make Fast & Furious 6 back to Tokyo. Wouldn't mind seeing Lucas Black, Bow Wow and Sonny Chiba again!

Gawd, why have I seen all of these movies?...

[Morris Schæffer]

New trailer

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/48788

I will watch this.

[lovejuice]

Well, yeah, I mean a character who died in Tokyo Drift was in it. And he's in this one too.

That's why I think it's funny that they went out of the way to make these prequels just because Lin regrets killing Sung Kang's character in Tokyo Drift.
They should go A Better Tomorrow II. Making him having a twin brother.

[Sycophant]

They should go A Better Tomorrow II. Making him having a twin brother.

Ha. I initially read this as a suggestion that Justin Lin tie the Fast and the Furious movies to his film Better Luck Tomorrow, making a se/pre-quel to both.

[Raiders]

I haven't seen any of the last three entries into this series (and I do enjoy the first one), but I find it amusing that this has gone from an enjoyable film about illegal street racing, boosting cars and robbing truckers that has middle-aged Ted Levine and Thom Barry as the main law enforcement, to an over-the-top action spectacle with Brazilian drug lords and Dwayne Johnson as a massive, ass-kicking FBI agent.

[Morris Schæffer]

These Five Fast cocksuckers are getting some good reviews.

Here is Louise Keller's blurb:


Seriously fast driving, jaw-dropping action, some unexpected twists and an audacious central heist with an extraordinary climactic sequence

Shaaet. I'm down with these homies.

[Dukefrukem]

I enjoy this franchise to an extent. (except for the 2nd one)

[Henry Gale]

Stupid fun (as expected), but in my mind it's not even a good example of that sort of entertainment, even when it comes to entries in this franchise. The two big action setpieces that are heavily showcased in the marketing are the most enjoyable things in it, which is disappointing since the movie isn't brief at all (at 130 minutes, no less). So I'm not quite sure why of all of these five movies, this is the one that suddenly has seen relative critical acclaim. How does this have 79% on the Tomatometer?!

It's like a watered down, PG-13 Bad Boys II or a less ridiculous Torque, with even less of a race element to it. It's a big heist movie instead of a racing movie, so assembling their crew and giving them all a fair amount of screentime takes a lot of time, but after that it feels like it overpowers what should be a movie about Diesel, Walker and Brewster's characters. Tyrese is pretty much the worst addition (or re-addition) here, whereas Sung Kang is the best, with things like his playful relationship with Gal Gadot (and was apparently in the fourth movie, though I don't see how I missed / forgot her) being the only somewhat successful attempt at showcasing much chemistry between any of the new team, despite the fact that her function seems to just to be insanely good looking.

But maybe the greatest new thing for this sequel is The Rock, but only because he's completely hilarious in the best scenery-chewing mode possible, whether or not it's meant to be intentional at any given moment. There's not a single line of dialogue or physical beat that he doesn't play with such crazy sternness in his attitude. And even when the movie does take moments to dial itself down a bit, he often shows up unexpectedly, completely comfortable with keeping himself perfectly over the top.

I realize this is a terrible movie to be writing this much about, especially since the first two words of this can basically stand as my only real thoughts, but if it helps for me to rank them, I'd probably say:

Tokyo Drift > Fast Five > 1st one = 2 Fast > 4th one

So basically, Tokyo Drift is the only one I'd ever care to bother to call "good", the rest are stupid with varying degrees of enjoyment attached to them, this being one of the better ones.

[Raiders]

Now that they seem to be more generic big action films, I no longer get the appeal here. Paul Walker will never top Running Scared.

[Sxottlan]

I liked this more than the last two. It's surprising because I really thought this franchise was on the inevitable slide as they got worse and worse. I never saw the second film. But now it appears that this franchise has been rejuvenated after a decade (with no apparent plans to stop given the tease in the end credits).

The action was absurd, but fun and well paced.

This has become a strange little saga for how Tokyo Drift and the second film have become sort of like apocrypha to films 1, 4 & 5. I was surprised by the amount of continuity going all the way back to the first film (still the best of the bunch). The returning characters from all the films was cool, although I too could not remotely remember the Gal Gadot character.

There's always been the heist angle to the movies (except 3) and I'm glad they decided to ramp it up to obscene levels. Many of the action scenes are memorable, even if the barrio ambush is a pale imitation of the ambush in Clear and Present Danger.

What I continue to find the most absurd is how Toretto has this seemingly thuggish zen thing going that continuously drags people down into his low orbit. There's kind of this weird cult thing going with this group.

Rating the films:
The Fast & The Furious: ***1/2
Fast Five: ***
Tokyo Drift: **1/2
Fast & Furious: **
2 Fast, 2 Furious: n/a

[Boner M]

Reviews are very encouraging, gotta say. Might have to brave the meathead crowds next discount night for this.

[DavidSeven]

I've noticed the critical community has been far more embracing of the action genre than they used to be. Seems mere competence gets you a 90% these days. I wonder if this could be that much better than the fourth film to justify a swing of 50 percentage points on the t-meter or if the embracing of competent action is just another cineaste trend.

BTW, can anyone confirm if this movie is actually a) about five motherfuckers who drive fast or b) the dumbest title ever?

[EyesWideOpen]

All this Justin Lin talk got me to buy Better Luck Tomorrow for $3 shipped off amazon marketplace. I haven't watched it in forever but I loved it back when I first saw it.

[Ezee E]

Fast & Furious made $30.5 million on the first day. I can't see this making >$15
It made $33 on opening day. I guessed $40. D'oh.

[Morris Schæffer]

The Fast & The Furious: ***
Fast Five: Will see soon
Tokyo Drift: **
Fast & Furious: *
2 Fast, 2 Furious: *

Gotta say that maybe The critics are right. Even from the trailer this looks easily superior to the previous three. And the stuntwork and action look refreshingly artisanal. It looks like this has real punch to it rather than adding crazy blur effects to simulate the sensation of speed.

[megladon8]

Why is Michelle Rodriguez like the only one not in this one?

[Lazlo]

Why is Michelle Rodriguez like the only one not in this one?

She died in Fast and Furious.

[Sxottlan]

She died in Fast and Furious.

Or did she?

[Henry Gale]

I take it you guys didn't stay until after the Fast Five credits either: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhLl7dSvJhY

:lol:
This is how "Furious Six" has a story.

[Sxottlan]

$83.6 Million for the opening weekend. $165 Million worldwide already.

[Morris Schæffer]

$83.6 Million for the opening weekend. $165 Million worldwide already.

And Morris Schæffer has yet to go! :D

[Dukefrukem]

$83.6 Million for the opening weekend. $165 Million worldwide already.

Holy balls.

[Bosco B Thug]

$83.6 Million for the opening weekend. $165 Million worldwide already.
Siiiiick. Not in the slang sense, but in the vomiting sense. That's incredible.


I really don't feel any ill will toward the film, though, it's fine. It's my first Fast and Furious film, FYI.

[Derek]

I really don't feel any ill will toward the film, though, it's fine. It's my first Fast and Furious film, FYI.

Were you able to follow it okay without having seen the previous four?

[Bosco B Thug]

Were you able to follow it okay without having seen the previous four? Yeah, pretty much. It's a ridiculously commercially safe movie from the get-go. There's a hilariously succinct and preposterous prologue that catches the audience up, and the story takes off free of ties from there.

And I remembered my passing knowledge of the series as being about street racing as I walked into the theater and prepared myself for a street racing movie. That was not necessary.

[Skitch]

I will never understand you guys rating Tokyo Drift anywhere but than the worst of the series.

[number8]

I will never understand you guys rating Tokyo Drift anywhere but than the worst of the series.

It's a simple process. We looked at Tokyo Drift, which is a pretty damn good movie, and then we looked at the other ones, which are festering piles of shit, and then we compared them side by side.

[Skitch]

It's a simple process. We looked at Tokyo Drift, which is a pretty damn good movie, and then we looked at the other ones, which are festering piles of shit, and then we compared them side by side.

I would disagree. Festering piles of shit, sure, yet I would still put TD underneath them.

[eternity]

Tokyo Drift is really, really bad. The other ones are really bad too, but Tokyo Drift is still really really really really bad.

[Dukefrukem]

Tokyo Drift is by far the best of the quadilogy (haven't seen F5 yet) and the fact that Lin directed this one suggests I will probably like it too.

If I had to rank.

1. Tokyo Drift mid 70s
2. the Fast & The Furious low 70s
3. Fast & Furious Low 60s
4. 2 Fast 2 Furious 40s

[balmakboor]

http://www.theonion.com/video/today-now-interviews-the-5yearold-screenwriter-of,20188/

[Morris Schæffer]

I don't think the first one is really bad. Nor is it plainly bad. It's very entertaining, and sort of well made. Action movie with an angle too because of the racing aspect. I don't understand appreciating Tokyo Drift and then somehow finding the original, which kickstarted this franchise and thus at least has some semblance of originality, to be diametrically opposed to Lin's first effort.

[Dukefrukem]

I don't think the first one is really bad. Nor is it plainly bad. It's very entertaining, and sort of well made. Action movie with an angle too because of the racing aspect. I don't understand appreciating Tokyo Drift and then somehow finding the original, which kickstarted this franchise and thus at least has some semblance of originality, to be diametrically opposed to Lin's first effort.

I still think T2 is better the the original. You don't have to be the first in a franchise to be the best of the franchise. Dark Knight > BB

[Morris Schæffer]

I still think T2 is better the the original. You don't have to be the first in a franchise to be the best of the franchise. Dark Knight > BB

Sure, but I meant that number8 considers the original shit, but Tokio drift good.

[number8]

I don't think it's that hard to understand that Justin Lin is a better hack than Rob Cohen.

Also, Tokyo Drift replaced Paul Walker with Sonny Chiba.

[Irish]

They're all bad, but god they're a lot of fun.

Tokyo Drift is the best sequel by far. I keep thinking, though, that the main Japanese guy

I think he gets shot as the second act climax, can't remember

should have been the lead.

Underground racing in Japan, all Japanese cast, with American money and sensibilities? Hell yes.

[eternity]

Justin Lin directed Community's "Modern Warfare" and Better Luck Tomorrow. Noteworthy enough.

[lovejuice]

http://www.theonion.com/video/today-now-interviews-the-5yearold-screenwriter-of,20188/

Yep. That describes the movie very well.

I am not too familiar with the world of Fast and Furious, being this my first movie, but I'll say, while it approaches homosexuality from different angle than Burlesque, both movies are equally "gay".

[EyesWideOpen]

Justin Lin directed Community's "Modern Warfare" and Better Luck Tomorrow. Noteworthy enough.

I rewatched Better Luck Tomorrow the other day and it definitely holds up. I have Finishing the Game coming from netflix to see if he is capable of making another good film when he's not doing it for the money.

[balmakboor]

Yep. That describes the movie very well.

I am not too familiar with the world of Fast and Furious, being this my first movie, but I'll say, while it approaches homosexuality from different angle than Burlesque, both movies are equally "gay".

I thought it was a clever way to review the movie.

[Dead & Messed Up]

You know what? I liked it. It's a stupid heist movie with stupid characters spouting stupid lines, but it's energetic and goofy and well-constructed, and Justin Lin shoots the action so that it's decipherable and sometimes impressive. I feel like this series could be more self-consciously silly, but that might be an affront to vets like Walker and Diesel, who take this all very seriously, and, anyway, the material's already pretty silly (the opening sequence might be the most ill-conceived rescue plan since Jim released the infected soldier in 28 Days Later).

[Dukefrukem]

You know what? I liked it. It's a stupid heist movie with stupid characters spouting stupid lines, but it's energetic and goofy and well-constructed, and Justin Lin shoots the action so that it's decipherable and sometimes impressive. I feel like this series could be more self-consciously silly, but that might be an affront to vets like Walker and Diesel, who take this all very seriously, and, anyway, the material's already pretty silly (the opening sequence might be the most ill-conceived rescue plan since Jim released the infected soldier in 28 Days Later).

I thought the scene in the 4th one with the rolling tanker truck was pretty silly.

Is this movie more serious than that?

[Dead & Messed Up]

I thought the scene in the 4th one with the rolling tanker truck was pretty silly.

Is this movie more serious than that?

I've only seen the first one and the fifth one.

[Dukefrukem]

I don't understand why you guys would ever watch movies out of order like this...

Just like DD watching the Saw series: Watching the first and skipping directly to 3 and then to 6? What's the appeal in that?

[Dead & Messed Up]

I don't understand why you guys would ever watch movies out of order like this...

Just like DD watching the Saw series: Watching the first and skipping directly to 3 and then to 6? What's the appeal in that?

...Fast Five is about cars smashing into stuff.

[EyesWideOpen]

I don't understand why you guys would ever watch movies out of order like this...

Just like DD watching the Saw series: Watching the first and skipping directly to 3 and then to 6? What's the appeal in that?

I'm with you, that's insane. It's like when people are talking about tv shows and then say you can go ahead and skip the first season and just start with the second. No thank you.

[Henry Gale]

I mean if you're taking this series serious in any way, I'm not sure you technically have to see all of them before Fast Five since there's not too much continuity between them. Tokyo Drift technically takes place after all of them, Fast & Furious is so boring that it's easily the most useless of the bunch, and if I had any real recollection of 2 Fast 2 Furious I'd maybe be able to have some sort of amusing take on it at all, but all that comes to mind is Eva Mendes, James Remar, and Ludacris with a huge afro.

So, you know what, maybe DaMU has the right idea. But if you liked the new one for what it is, I'd say check out Lin's Tokyo Drift too.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Guys, this isn't an intricate epic multi-part tale that requires intimate knowledge of all preceding events. This is not the Godfather or Lord of the Rings series. Past information may be helpful, but it's not necessary. If it were, I would've skipped Fast Five altogether. But I didn't.

Because Fast Five is about cars smashing into stuff.

[Bosco B Thug]

Guys, this isn't an intricate epic multi-part tale that requires intimate knowledge of all preceding events. This is not the Godfather or Lord of the Rings series. Yup, like the Godfathers, or The Lord of the Rings, or Saw I-VI. :cry:

EDIT: omfg it actually should be I-VII. Saw is now the ultimate epic multi-part film series.

[Dukefrukem]

Guys, this isn't an intricate epic multi-part tale that requires intimate knowledge of all preceding events. This is not the Godfather or Lord of the Rings series. Past information may be helpful, but it's not necessary. If it were, I would've skipped Fast Five altogether. But I didn't.

Because Fast Five is about cars smashing into stuff.



That's not really the point. My problem with it (and this is just me) is I can't consciously watch a movie in the middle of a KNOWN series just by my pure desire to want to watch them chronologically. Not that it's REQUIRED to watch them in order.

So my question is, what compels you do to so? Simply by not caring of the stories that preceded it? Did you know going into it you wouldn't need to watch 2 Fast 2 Furious in order to enjoy/understand Fast Five?

[Sycophant]

Yeah, I saw this, and it was the first Fast/Furious movie I've seen. I'd heard on the Internet that you don't need to watch the first previous four movies to get a grasp on what's going on, and that was, indeed, accurate.

This looked interesting to me in ways the others didn't (and a friend really wanted to go see it, despite only having seen the second), so I decided to see it without spending eight hours of my life watching movies I didn't care to watch. This isn't a continuity-heavy series. There were no character moments that I felt confused about, since it seems the filmmakers were taking care to make sure people like me wouldn't be turned off.

And I think that's fine. Just as I reserve the right to catch four or five episodes of Glee to find it nothing but irritating and write the whole damn show off.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Did you know going into it you wouldn't need to watch 2 Fast 2 Furious in order to enjoy/understand Fast Five?

I made two assumptions about Fast Five, both correct. (a) It would use its story to support its action, rather than the other way around. (b) In an effort to appeal to casual viewers, it would keep callbacks and assumed knowledge to a minimum.

If you're wondering why I went at all, given my lack of attention to previous entries...it was because a girl asked me to.

[Sycophant]

And before the advent of TV DVDs less than a decade ago, only weirdos would only watch a show from the very start, and every episode in order.

[Sycophant]

I made two assumptions about Fast Five, both correct. (a) It would use its story to support its action, rather than the other way around. (b) In an effort to appeal to casual viewers, it would keep callbacks and assumed knowledge to a minimum.

If you're wondering why I went at all, given my lack of attention to previous entries...it was because a girl asked me to.

Word up. You put better than I did.


Do kinda wanna catch Tokyo Drift now.

[Raiders]

And before the advent of TV DVDs less than a decade ago, only weirdos would only watch a show from the very start, and every episode in order.

That's true. Thinking it over, it seems that shows didn't really have the season/series-long arcs they do now many years ago before the invention of recording, TiVo, DVD, internet, etc... maybe it is just my perception, but I do think more shows nowadays require extensive knowledge of earlier events than before where only cursory knowledge was necessary. Many were often merely a vehicle for stand-alone episodes.

[Skitch]

I thought the scene in the 4th one with the rolling tanker truck was pretty silly.

Is this movie more serious than that?

Nah its about the same. Everyone is raving about the final chase scene, but its less plausible than the tanker thing. Not that I go see a flick like this for plausibility, but, yeah, you know what I mean. They may have broke the record for smashing vehicles with this one though.

[[ETM]]

These movies are a no-brainer success if done to audience "specifications". That is - do them like a live action Need For Speed game. Every NFS game is arcade driving with an implausible story built around showing off (and racing and crashing) the newest and fastest cars. Just like they keep churning out the games, with reasonable success, they can keep making F&F flicks.

[Morris Schæffer]

Plausibility don't matter. It has to look real FX-wise. The tanker truck was obviously CGI'ed, espesh when they slide underneath it. But perhaps Fast Five has similarly enhanced sequences.

[Skitch]

Plausibility don't matter. It has to look real FX-wise. The tanker truck was obviously CGI'ed, espesh when they slide underneath it. But perhaps Fast Five has similarly enhanced sequences.

I would say so.

[Morris Schæffer]

I would say so.

Could be. From the trailer, it all looked brutally real.

[Skitch]

Could be. From the trailer, it all looked brutally real.

Some of the last chase had elements of the CGI I think you mean.

[EyesWideOpen]

So against my better judgment I have the first Fast and the Furious movie coming from netflix.

[Scar]

So against my better judgment I have the first Fast and the Furious movie coming from netflix.

My recommendation: Watch the Bullitt car chase instead.

[EyesWideOpen]

My recommendation: Watch the Bullitt car chase instead.

That would be good judgement. I'm gonna try the other judgement.

[number8]

That's weird. I thought you'd already seen Point Break?

[EyesWideOpen]

So surprisingly I actually quite enjoyed it. I have negative interest in cars or car culture but it was over the top enough and kept me entertained the whole way through.

Now on to 2 Fast 2 Furious!

[Dukefrukem]

So surprisingly I actually quite enjoyed it. I have negative interest in cars or car culture but it was over the top enough and kept me entertained the whole way through.

Now on to 2 Fast 2 Furious!

It gets less and less about the cars AFTER the 2nd one. 2 Fast 2 Furious is just one big Mitsubishi promo and IMO, the worst of the series.

[EyesWideOpen]

It gets less and less about the cars AFTER the 2nd one. 2 Fast 2 Furious is just one big Mitsubishi promo and IMO, the worst of the series.

I watched 2 Fast 2 Furious this morning and I enjoyed it about as much as the first one. I appreciate the over the top ridiculousness.

[Skitch]

I watched 2 Fast 2 Furious this morning and I enjoyed it about as much as the first one. I appreciate the over the top ridiculousness.

I don't know why it gets so much hate. Its not much different the others. I actually enjoyed it the most out of the first three.

[EyesWideOpen]

I really dug Tokyo Drift. It has the best character so far in the series in Han and Lucas Black is a far better lead then Paul Walker. Not to mention the obvious anything's better with the Chiba in it.

[Morris Schæffer]

There's a great throwaway moment during the favela foot chase. Right as Torreto is in mid-jump, and Hobbs smashes through a window, the former looks back as he sees, and hears, his pursuer the moment he hears the glass break. It really created a moment of continuity, of both characters being acutely aware of each other's presence, even during hi-octane derring-do stuff.

The switch from racing to heists was a great idea. This is less about posing and gangstah hipness and more about dedication, the meticulous planning of something big and I gotta say it doesn't let down. The destruction was epic, completely irresponsible, the action scenes are inventive, the locations feel real, authentic, Joaquin de Almeida a good bad guy. But above all, I found it genuinely thrilling, the chaos orchestrated brilliantly, the manliness of this movie sure to make Stallone and his Expendables blush with shame.

Perhaps Justin Lin should direct that sequel.

[EyesWideOpen]

Ok, I now finished up the first four in the series. With 3 being my favorite and liking the other three films about the same. Since I saw Han in the trailer for 5 am I to assume that 5 "continuity" wise still goes before 3? I wonder if they plan on ever having one of the movies take place after 3. I would like to see Lucas Black return to the series.

[Boner M]

Bit disconcerting that I was seemingly the only one laughing nonstop at the non-Tyrese Gibson stuff, but I had a heaps fun time with this. Helps that Pirates 4 was still fresh in my memory as the nadir of life, but yeah.

Pretty sure there were more superfluous establishing shots here than in The Room.

[Henry Gale]

Pretty sure there were more superfluous establishing shots here than in The Room.

I think I lot of that simply comes from the fact that they actually shot in Rio, and since not much else is particularly recognizable about the city to the average person aside from Christ The Redeemer, they figured it was a good idea to just shot swooping helicopter shots of that several times.

But in the end, I think it needs to be decided that there's room for a movie as silly as this to exist in terms of allowing it to have the amount of praise its gotten. I didn't have any investment in any of the characters in Fast Five, I didn't really care if they successfully pulled off their heist, and I was probably giggling more at the movie throughout its runtime than I was with it; but in the end, that doesn't mean I didn't think it's a well-made fluffy action movie with well-played loud action that managed to be engaging in the ways it unfolded. It may not even have been my favourite thing I saw even the few hours around when I went to see it, but for what it was, it could have been a lot worse.

[Sxottlan]

Helps that Pirates 4 was still fresh in my memory as the nadir of life, but yeah.

It's the anti-life, if you will.

[Dukefrukem]

This was Justin's worst of the series. I don't like the heist aspect and in this regard it was done very poorly with little creativity. However, I will say, that.... Paul Walker is the worst actor in Hollywood... AND... the Gal Gadot slow-motion scene was the best part of the movie.

[Morris Schæffer]

This was Justin's worst of the series. I don't like the heist aspect and in this regard it was done very poorly with little creativity. However, I will say, that.... Paul Walker is the worst actor in Hollywood... AND... the Gal Gadot slow-motion scene was the best part of the movie.

Worse than part 4? :crazy:;)

But really Duke, the finale of part 4 was a barely visible blur of cars blasting through the kind of tunnel that really shouldn't have any cars in it. And that was it.

Surely Fast Five's finale was more exhilarating? Easier to follow? With more satisfying destruction? I don't recall any locations from part 4 except for that opening with the tanker truck, but the favelas were great in the 2011 offering.

As for the heist aspect, it's not one of the great heists in Hollywood history, but as a fast and furious reinvention, this was what the series needed.

It might be the best of the bunch.

[Dukefrukem]

Worse than part 4? :crazy:;)

But really Duke, the finale of part 4 was a barely visible blur of cars blasting through the kind of tunnel that really shouldn't have any cars in it. And that was it.

Surely Fast Five's finale was more exhilarating? Easier to follow? With more satisfying destruction? I don't recall any locations from part 4 except for that opening with the tanker truck, but the favelas were great in the 2011 offering.

As for the heist aspect, it's not one of the great heists in Hollywood history, but as a fast and furious reinvention, this was what the series needed.

It might be the best of the bunch.

You're making me reconsider my statement, but I remember being entertained by the re-uniting of the characters and the story was a lot more simple and fun. I remember thinking, “id watch this on TV again someday”… This new heist aspect makes me think… “God I want to erase this from memory”.

[Ezee E]

This was the balls out type of action movie I can get behind. Unique action sequences that are actually impressive... A fun supporting cast. A location that isn't L.A., New York, or Miami..... Fun time. I dug it.

[Rowland]

Will it detract from my enjoyment to any significant degree if I've never see a Fast and Furious movie before?

[Ezee E]

Will it detract from my enjoyment to any significant degree if I've never see a Fast and Furious movie before?
Nah. You might be like, "Why did Tyrese and Ludacris just show up?" But there may or may not be a quote that solves this, and then you're just like, "They're part of the heist crew, let's go."

And Vin/Walker/Brewster are probably the least intriguing of the characters when it's all said and done. The Rock steals the movie (but not to any noteworthy degree). It's really all about the action sequences. They are among the better of the year.

[Scar]

The movie is all kinds of fun, once you get past the absolutely ludicrous first couple minutes.

Sure, the rest is pretty ludicrous, but the bus? Come on, man.

[Henry Gale]

The movie is all kinds of fun, once you get past the absolutely ludicrous first couple minutes.

Sure, the rest is pretty ludicrous, but the bus? Come on, man.

You weren't relieved when Perd Hapley reported that there were miraculously no casualties? Walker and Brewster are just that good.