Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Get a Change of Underwear Ready: "Fast Five" Review


You know how some movie franchises get really tired after the first one or two?  One of those series like Terminator where anything after the second one starts to suck?  Where it's just an obvious attempt to lure unsuspecting idiots back into the theater?

This isn't one of them.  Fast Five is the best of the The Fast & The Furious franchise.  I shit you not.  It is the most entertaining, action-packed, film in the series.  Here's why.

First of all-- action.  This movie is more of an action movie than a racing movie, although it has plenty of that too.  I also get the feeling that this one had the highest budget.  They destroyed a sh'load of cars in this movie, all to my great delight.  You remember that scene in Blue Brothers where like 30 cop cars crash into each other?  It's like that, but better.  There's also plenty of run 'n' jump, shoot 'em up, chase 'em down action scenes.  I don't want to give too much away, but Director David Lin does a great job of keeping you entertained in this one.

Second, Vin Diesel.  We all know that Diesel's absence ruined the second and third movies.  We also know that Diesel's presence can make any movie amazing.  Diesel doesn't disappoint here as he becomes the focus of this movie, unlike the first movie where Paul Walker was the protagonist and Diesel was just the awesome guy.

Third, "The Rock" Dwayne Johnson.  You could have left The Rock out of this movie and it would still be plenty intense and action packed.  But, adding The Rock is like adding some habanero peppers to one of those spicy-ass suicide hot wings or whatever on "Man Versus Food" with Adam Richman.  The Rock's character in this movie is simply over-the-top.  He brings intensity to every scene; he yells; he runs; he beats the shit out of people; he kills people with ease; and he is just all around bad ass.  Moreover, he looks fucking huge!  He was already a pretty massive guy, but it looks like he bulked up for this movie.  I never though Diesel could look like just a normal guy.

Fourth, an unstoppable force meets and immovable object-- the fight between Diesel and The Rock.  This fight scene alone is reason enough to watch this movie.

Fifth, the ensemble cast.  It's kind of like Ocean's Thirteen without George Clooney and instead with a bunch of B-level actors.  You've got the Japanese dude from Tokyo Drift played by Sung Kang (who actually died in that movie but who gives a fuck?), Gal Gadot from Fast and Furious, Elsa Pateky who is an actress apparently, Paul Walker, and superstar Tyrese.  Oh yeah and Ludacris is in this movie for some reason too.  The only person they didn't bring back was Michelle Rodriguez because her character is dead (although that didn't stop them from bringing back Sung Kang, apparently).

Lastly, setting this movie in Rio de Janeiro works.  Miami didn't work for 2 Fast 2 Furious, but for some reason Rio works here.  A lot of this has to do with the great production values and the flashy directorial style of Lin who never lets you get bored even for a single second.

In conclusion, go see this movie.  You should know by now that, as far as quintilogies go, the fifth one is always the best.  It's simply bigger and better than the other ones.

Rating: 9/10 (minus 1 point for having Paul Walker in the movie)

28 comments:

  1. Great review, thanks, gonna see this movie soon

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  2. This blog is truly pretentious.

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  3. I have to say i stopped reading as soon as you said "We also know that Diesel's presence can make any movie amazing", sorry, but i couldn't disagree more.

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  4. My friend saw this movie in theaters recently and said it was the best one too! Great review now I have to check it out!

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  5. might see it once it hits netflix

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  6. Never been into action movies really.

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  7. I hate this movie and those that came before it. My GF loves it... We will have to watch it because she took me out on 3 proper dates so far and I didn't do that for her...
    Sad face...

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  8. LOL, Paul Walker cost it the perfect score! Thanks for the review, I've been wanting to see it!

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  9. Sounds awesome, I'll have to check it out.

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  10. ill will check this movie out

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  11. so this is the 5th one? does that mean there were others after the 2nd?

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  12. So if I haven't seen the other movies, would this still be worth watching?

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  13. who would have thought that the creators of fast and furious would actually make a good movie

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  14. I went to see this opening night with my friends - everyone knows that these were always supposed to be slightly corny, I mean come on. That said, I still thought it was awesome!

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  15. Really? I might have to go check this out then if its "one of the best"

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  16. 10/10 for review. gotta watch this!

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  17. Bout time they got it right again. Should have listened to the fans and realised that Vin Diesel made the movie.

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  18. I am obviously a movie fan, but this is not my cup of tea. I hate sequels for the most part, and I missed the first 4 or so in this franchise. But hey it makes money and shit blows up!

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  19. I've heard nothing but good things about this movie. MUST WATCH NOW.

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  20. I told some people I wasn't watching it cause I thought the last one sucked. NOw, thanks to you I have to go watch it.... :(

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  21. I have yet to see it but I heard it was awesome.

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  22. I have to see it... People told it's the best from the series! Dang!

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  23. Generally agree. Much better than the previous films!

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