FAST & FURIOUS 6 (2013)

Featuring: Vin Diesel; Paul Walker; Dwayne Johnson

Director: Justin Lin

The reason why Dom (Vin Diesel) came out of hiding and returned to LA in Fast & Furious (4) was to avenge the death of Lettie (Michelle Rodrigues). But if you look closely at the picture on the DVD cover of 6 (adjacent) you will notice her appearing on it. This, of cause, means that somehow she is back. Exactly how, you will have to see for yourself.

Since Dom and company pulled the biggest heist of their lives, they all sort of went into "retirement". When a Russian military convoy is robbed with surgical precision of very sensitive computer equipment Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) is called in to find the perpetrators. However, he realizes that the only way he is going to succeed, is with the help of his old nemesis, Dom Toretto and his team.

The recipe remains the same: lots of action with a good story. But it seems as if with every subsequent film in this series, the action becomes more spectacular and the plot more intriguing. So, again I award this movie 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKi5XoeTN0k

 

Below are some of the spectacular action scenes from the movie

FAST & FURIOUS 5 (2011)

Featuring: Vin Diesel; Paul Walker; Dwayne Johnson

Director: Justin Lin

Five picks up where Four left off: with Dom on his way to jail in a prison bus. Besides for the now already familiar cast (Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster), from hereon in Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson joins the fray, albeit as adversary. And that instantly elevated the F&F franchise to a whole new level. And as usual, not only is there plenty of action, but again it is all accompanied by a good story.

This time the action shifts to Rio de Janeiro. After Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) broke Dom (Vin Diesel) out of custody they fled to Brazil. But while planning a daring heist (with a rather familiar team), FBI Special Agent Hobbs (Johnson) appears on the scene to make life even more difficult for them.

However, what is of particular interest about this fifth release is how they manage to draw together characters from almost all the preceding films in the series in this one. For me, this makes this one then also the best of the series so far. Therefor I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqjeOYeG5_A

 The 'gang'...

 ...and the opponents

FAST & FURIOUS (2009)

Featuring: Vin Diesel; Paul Walker; Michelle Rodrigues; Jordana Brewster

Director: Justin Lin

Last time I questioned the producers of the Fast & Furious franchise for making two such divergent sequels. However, I am glad to report that with their fourth attempt, they returned to the initial concept. Except for a very brief appearance in Tokyo Drift, Dom and company are back!

It's been five years since Brian (Paul Walker) allowed Dom and Lettie to escape from the FBI. In the meantime the two of them relocated to South America from where, with a newly assembled crew, they continue their fuel tanker 'liberation business'. But when tragedy strikes, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) is forced to return to the 'States' to deal with those he deems responsible for his loss.

Director, Lin (who was also responsible for Tokyo Drift), admitted that the first two sequels were not quite as successful as the original. So, by bringing together most of the original cast was an attempt to rescue the floundering franchise. And, as it turns out, that was the correct decision. The rest, as they say, is history as we shall also see in the coming few weeks when I review the next couple of sequels. This one, however, I rate 3 out of 5 stars again.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl-d_UIhdBw

 

 Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in a scene from the movie

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS - TOKYO DRIFT (2006)

Featuring: Lucas Black; Lil' Bow Wow

Director: Justin Lin

This third delivery in the Fast & Furious series is a little bit misplaced. I am not sure what the producers had in mind when they decided to make this movie. Be that as it may, here we are introduced to another aspect of the illegal street racing culture, namely: drifting. For the uninformed, drifting is where you drive your car as fast as possible around a roughly demarcated track - sideways...

Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) is your typical high school-er who likes to strut his stuff by way of racing. But when he writes off one car too many, he gets shipped off to his dad in Tokyo, Japan. There he meets Twinkie (Lil' Bow Wow) a fellow ex-pat, who introduces him to the local street racing scene.

Like I said, there is very little recognizable of the original recipe that made this franchise such a success (except for a scene right at the very end of the film). Still, it is not bad but just not quite as good as the rest. That is the reason why I rate it only 2 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8HQ2JLlc4E

 

Lucas Black and Lil' Bow Wow 

2 FAST 2 FURIOUS (2003)

Featuring: Paul Walker; Tyrese Gibson; Eva Mendes

Director: John Singleton

After what happened in LA (in the previous movie) Brian is kicked off the police force. With criminal charges hanging over his head, he moved to Miami where he now makes a living from illegal street racing. But when the law catches up with him, it isn't to arrest him. In stead they make him an offer he can't refuse...

In this first sequel we learn a bit more about the street racing culture. We get a fascinating look at this little known secretive sub-culture which exists not only in the USA but apparently is a worldwide phenomenon. Suped-up cars, scantily clothed women, macho men and lots of bet flying around are what it seems to be all about. But don't worry, besides all the action there is again a good story as well. As far as the cast is concerned, it is mostly new faces. In fact, it is only Paul Walker and Thom Barry (as FBI agent Bilkins) that make a re-appearance in this film. 

I rate this edition 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_VIM03DXWI

 

 Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson with director John Singleton (middle)