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The Fast and the Furious

I was not looking forward to seeing this movie, the trailer grated my nerves. I also grieved that Vin Diesel, a star who I thoroughly enjoyed in “Pitch Black” and “Boiler Room” was starring in this. I had high hopes for this up and coming actor.

The day of reckoning arrived and I took my seat to endure “The Fast and the Furious.” This movie lived up to its preposterous pretense of car gangs in L.A. with hugely expensive and technically sophisticated cars holding secret races on public roadways.

The opening scene shows three black, window tinted, Hondas hijacking an eighteen-wheeler loaded with VCR’s. The hijacking scene involved some pretty fancy stunt driving. I didn’t believe for one second anyone would ever do what these drivers did to steal VCR’s but I was highly entertained.

Then we go to a scene where Brian Spindler (Paul Walker) pulls up to a local deli where one of these car gangs hangs out. He apparently has been coming there regularly for about two weeks, hitting on a female employee, Mia Toretto, (Jordana Brewster) using the premise of ordering a tuna sandwich as his pretense for always showing up. Mia’s brother Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) hangs out there as well and is the leader of a car gang.

Brian is an undercover-cop who’s trying to get to the bottom of these eighteen-wheeler hijackings. The FBI and local law enforcement suspect Dominic has something to do with the eighteen-wheeler hijackings. Brian befriends Dominic and soon discovers he’s developing a bond with him. He also falls for Dominic’s sister, Mia. He has made quite a mess for himself.

The world these drivers occupy is thoroughly disconnected from reality, however they are definitely wired for excitement. I found much of this movie to be very suspenseful with me constantly on the edge of seat.

There is a bizarre, unabashed wallowing in the machismo of the characters and their high school infatuation with their cars. I found it to be reminiscent of that B-grade sixties movie “Hot Rods to Hell” with a modern cheesy twist. I found the characters and their dialogue intriguing and entertaining even with its hackneyed content, because of the chemistry between all of the actors.

Vin Diesel once again excelled in his role. Ever since Diesel’s fantastic performance in “Pitch Black”, I have thought he is going to be an action superstar of the future. I will continue to watch the rise of this star.

Paul Walker, as Brian Spindler, did a fine job in the role of an inept, bungling, under cover cop with a heart. Michelle Rodriquez as Letty, played quite a contrast from her hard as nails role in "Girl Fight". She was a perfectly delicious and sassy tart.

This is the kind of movie that, if you’re an establishment critic, you’re not supposed to like. But this is so raw, gritty, loud, and unapologetic that if you’re young or an adrenaline junkie, you will have no choice but to love this. The car scenes are thoroughly exciting and satisfying, in part because they were real cars racing and not Computer Generated cars like in Slyvester Stallone's “Driven.”

Remember the Nicholas Cage version of “Gone in Sixty Seconds” and the lame-ass car chase sequences? In “The Fast and the Furious” they know how to do car chase scenes. There were a couple of times I was thinking this “F&F” chase and race stuff ranked up there with some of the best I’ve ever seen, including “The Seven Ups” and “The Road Warrior.”

Make no mistake about it, this is no critical cinematic achievement but certainly is a stylish, exciting, loud romp that will give you a thrill for your buck.

Movie ReviewMovie Title:The Fast And The FuriousTheater:Century Gateway 12770 N. Kolb Rd.Tucson, AZ(520)-792-9000Date of Review:July 1, 2001Author:Julian Farmer7700 East David Dr.Tucson, AZ 85730Intended Audience:Teenagers - AdultsRated PG-13Action MovieIn Theaters Everywhere June 22, 2001Producer:Rob CohenThis movie runs for approximately 2 hours and 19 minutesActors/Actresses : Character NamePaul Walker : Brian Spildner(Santa Monica Boulevard, Joy Ride, The Skulls, Brokedown Palace, She's All That, Varsity Blues, Pleasantville, Meet The Deedles, Tammy And The T-Rex, Young And The Restless, Programmed To Kill, Monster In The Closet, and Throb)Vin Diesel : Dominic Toretto(Hellboy (2002), Diablo, Knockaround Guys, Pitch Black, Boiler Room,  Voice of Iron Giant in Iron Giant, Saving Private Ryan, Strays, and Multi Facial)Michelle Rodriguez : Letty(Resident Evil (2002), 3 A.M., and Girlfight)Jordana Brewster : Mia Toretto(The Invisible Circus, The 60's (TV), The Faculty, All My Children (TV), As The World Turns (TV))Rick Yune : Johnny Tran(The Fence, and Snow Falling On Cedars)Other Cast :Thom BarryReggie LeeTed LevineChad LindbergVyto RuginisJa RuleMatt SchulzeJohnny Strong IIMost of the characters are easy to understand and follow. There are a couple of exception though. A couple of the characters, If you can't catch on to them early, Will be a little more difficult.They all did a nice job acting on screen. I'll give their acting an 8/10The sound is digital and some rap music not intended for younger audiences. Mostly pointed towards Mature audiences. The sound is Great.Movie Hours for Century Gateway 12 (see 1st page) areVarious. They will switch hours every couple of days. The hours are good though. It might cost you $4.50 - $8.00 to get in. Its worth it though. You don't have to buy tickets early, but sometimes, its good to do that so the good seats are not taken.In The Fast And The Furious (TFATF),  An undercover cop, Brian Spildner (Paul Walker), poses as a race team member to try to solve a hijacking ring. The 'team', as they call themselves, hijack semi trucks filled with home entertainment goods and sell them to make money and put newer things in their cars. As ,Officer Brian O'Connor, He becomes friends with, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), to try to get to the bottom of the hijaking rings while being his sisters boyfriend. Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), Has Brian's attention which is blurring his vision of solve the hijack ring. While Dom (Dominic), Brian, and Mia are doing all this, they have fun street racing, ILLEGALY. DO NOT STREET RACE. Street racing is where the action Is. This movie is really good. I would recommend it to you if you are in the mood for fast cats and, or street racing. And it might a little difficult for some to follow.Compared to other movies like it, such as Gone In Sixty Seconds, I think it is a better film. So if you liked Gone In Sixty Seconds,You will like this movie as well. Directed and produced by Rob Cohen, He did a nice Job.Other Movies by Rob Cohen:Vanishing son II, III, and IV, Mind of a Killer, The Hard Way, Bird On A Wire, Ironweed, Light Of Day, The Monster Squad, The Witches Of Eastwick, The Running Man, The Razor's Edge, Amateur Night At The Dixie Bar And Grill, Almost Summer, The Wiz, Thank God It's Friday, Scott Joplin, *Bingo Long Traveling, The All Stars & Motor Kings*, and Mahogany.I Give The Overall rating of this movie a.'..'''.........9/10