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View Full Version : The Fast and the Furious


Robby
21-12-2001, 23:33
I would think there is quite a few people who have got or will be getting this over Christmas. I watched it for the first time tonight and thought it was bloody fantastic.:D I won't hark on about how good the picture is and the amazing DTS track as we can do that in the DVD discussion forum.

I will say how much i enjoyed this no brainer though. I had heard the similarities that it was given with Point Break which in a way spoilt the film but also kept me one step ahead of the basic plotting. For a pure adreneline rush of film making this is pretty spectaclar stuff. I can only imagine how good this would look on some of your set-ups you guys have. My 21" screen was a little lacking but i was just swept away in the film rather than worrying about my piddly telly.

One thing that i did notice and like very much was the editing of this movie (there is also an extra that goes into the choices the director and editor made). I have done a lot of editing at both college and uni and i've always found most action car scenes cut really rapidly to try and emphasise the speed of the cars and action which in my opinion doesn't really work and only serves to confuse the viewer. However TFATF pulls a different trick by slowing the cuts down so it doesn''t look like some Michael Bay showreel (I'm not knocking him, i love his movies, but i think you know what i mean).
You really got a sense of speed of these cars in this film from it's editing and i think it went a long way in making it easy and more enjoyable to watch. The story itself maybe cliched and predictable but i think most would find something tolerable to find in this film, switch brain off and go with it.

I also thought the actors were pretty good for what was asked of them, some of the spiel they have to churn out about their car parts is a bit strange but it works. You also can't help rooting for Vin Diesel who not only has a voice that sounds like he gargles with petrol but he looks one mean mother too. He could be pretty big in the future and i would have liked to see him face off with Arnie in T3 but i don't think that's gonna happen. He could certainly give him a run for his money in the action hero department.

I can't believe i've waffled on for this long, if you're still with me then i guess your also a fan of the film or you're very bored:p.

Total thumbs up from me. I'm easily impressed so a 5/5 isn't very rare in my book but i think this film deserves it.

Anyway i'd like to know what everyone else thought of it.

platty
23-12-2001, 21:07
could`nt agree more .......watched this tonight with the missus and for a no brain, all action film it`s fantastic particulary the last part of the film it ROCK`S.:cool: and it sound`s absolutely superb on my DTS Digitheatre.........possibly the best sounding disc yet.

tezmo
26-12-2001, 21:42
excellent thinking robby - when theres not a lot to work with in terms of plot/story depth its v.important to have slick execution, and tfatf has that in abundance - its a definite DVD keeper :)

Ono
29-12-2001, 12:30
I came away feeling slightly disappointed.:(


Sure it was well made and edited. Sure the actors were well chosen and convincing.

But the plot was predictable and the action sequences didn't really excite as much as a film of this sort should.


Good, but not brilliant.

Ono
29-12-2001, 12:32
oh.... and did anyone else think Vin Diesal looked far less menacing in this film than in Pitch Black? Especially when he was cooking the chicken quarters on the BBQ. :D

jasonshead
30-12-2001, 17:15
Good film, Soundtrack excellent, Vin Diesel is one to watch out for in the future

Idle Child
30-12-2001, 19:09
i've always wanted to see this one. comparing it with one of my favourite movie Point Break, makes me all the more eagre to see it !

strange question coming up:
in terms of editing, is this movie anything like in the style of a robert rodriguez movie? Ie, Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn? with quick cuts and camera movement and the like?

Robby
31-12-2001, 18:10
Idle Child

I wouldn't say FATF is edited anything like a Rodriguez film. It's more traditional blockbuster fare (certainly not as styleised as senor Rodriguez) but i do think it's different in that it's slower in editing. The director has held off cutting all over the place to try and induce speed, he let's the cars do that instead. If you compare it to the chase sequence in the Rock where you're constantley asking yourself WTF is going on here then the two films are in different leagues and IMO FATF works better because of the editing.

As for camera work there is some pretty cool shots that run through cars etc but unfortunately i found a lot of it really did look like obvious blue screen / compositing.

Still it's a great ride and i still stand by my first post. Great film.:D

George vader
01-01-2002, 19:06
Dull faceless Jap cars, mixed with quite awfull dialogue.
One for the boy racers out there.......:rolleyes:

Grumpy
03-01-2002, 19:22
I have just finished watching it and to be honest I found it a bit disappointing and up to about the last 45mins I was thinking of trading it on.
It is well made (special effects) and has plenty of action and one of the best soundtracks (action not music) I have ever heard but there was something (that I can't quite put my finger on) missing.
Could it be good acting I wonder ?