Fast & Furious

Apologies to everyone for not posting in a while - had gone home for a week. But then couldnt have been at a better time - since there are no new movies being released :)

Although confusingly titled, this is actually the 4th iteration of the Fast & Furious franchise – and dare say, they have finally gotten their act together. Most of the people I know (including myself) kinda enjoyed the original, but were totally put off by the sequels. This one gets back to the original formula with the original cast – Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez – and has a semblance of a story line to link together the car chases.

Talking of which, Fast and Furious opens with a cool truck heist scene that sets the furious tone – Dom (Vin Diesel) & Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) along with a new crew are hijacking trucks for a living in the Dominican Republic. But almost immediately, actions moves back to California, where Letty gets murdered by a drug lord – and Dom swears revenge on her grave. Meanwhile Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) is back in the FBI on the trail of the same drug lord. So its but natural that their paths cross …

Dom and O’Connor continue off from the original movie – their interaction has the same combative yet humourous undertones. Vin Diesel delivers his punchlines with the same stoic face – but then you don’t goto this movie for the acting, do you ? You watch this movie for the races. Thankfully, director Justin Lin knows just how to – the races are superbly picturized, with that sensation of high speed all pervasive. The tunnel sequences, with its claustrophobic dimensions, add to the excitement and each of the car chases keep you on the edge of your seat.

The script nicely balances the car scenes with the story – and it feels more an action thriller rather than just a car video game – till the climax scene, where logic takes the back seat and its all engines revving and tires burning. I am rather partial to cars and bikes, so I really enjoyed the movie but I can say with confidence that anyone who found the original Fast and Furious an ok timepass would be pleasantly surprised with this one.