Furious 7 ::: 3 April 2015

Until I see some good car stunts, 007 eats their dust.

I don't think car chases should necessarily be part of Bond. In fact, the whole of Bunkum of Helga felt like one interminable chase. Part of the reason I enjoyed Skyfall was because it didn't make characterisation and dialogue entirely secondary to action sequences.

That said, if you want a car chase in Bond, I still think the paper truck sequence in the Moonraker novel would be worth doing. Perhaps too small scale for Bond these days though.

Maybe this thread would be better-titled Furious-something-or-other.

I didn't like this series the way it started out, being a cops and robbers type thing. That fifth film shifting the series towards heist spectacles was the best move and this looks like it delivers on that note. Still haven't seen 6 though.

Makeshift Python wrote:

I didn't like this series the way it started out, being a cops and robbers type thing. That fifth film shifting the series towards heist spectacles was the best move and this looks like it delivers on that note. Still haven't seen 6 though.

You'd need to as it leads into 7...one of the guys was terminated at the end of 6.

Erica Ambler wrote:

I don't think car chases should necessarily be part of Bond.

Is the Aston Martin just for show? B-o-r-i-n-g.

The only thing I want from this film is a good intense catfight between Rodriguez and Rousey (or maybe 2)

Erica Ambler wrote:

I don't think car chases should necessarily be part of Bond. In fact, the whole of Bunkum of Helga felt like one interminable chase. Part of the reason I enjoyed Skyfall was because it didn't make characterisation and dialogue entirely secondary to action sequences.

The reason for Bunkum of Helga was due to complaints made against CR about a lack of action sequences, and the Aston Martin only driven for 30 seconds before being wrecked. Likewise with the scaled down action of SKYFALL and Dog Bond's complaints.

It's the producers over-correcting to give the public what they want. At times with more competence than others.

This movie, due to Walker's death and the success of the franchise, is going to DESTROY at the box office.

I used to work at a movie rental store and after Walker's death everyone was renting his films and asking about Fast 7. It'll be insane.

WOW, this is the best Bond movie in 20 years.

Seeing it again tomorrow night...

If I wasn't married I'd bone Jason Statham woo-hoo! And to think I don't go for shorter, balding guys but....he is hawt

Watched it last night. I'd label it "ridiculously fun", which is what the last two were. It's kind of amazing to see this movie and recall that this series merely started as a one-off POINT BREAK rip-off. I even revisited that film in prep for the new one and I still don't care for it. Turning these into cheesy over the top OCEAN'S ELEVEN action flicks was probably the best thing to happen to this series.

It did get pretty noticeable when Paul Walker was not being used, like when a whole action sequence takes place in the dark and there's not a single close up, save for maybe one that was clearly his face being digitally put on someone else's and pretty much anytime Vin Diesel had to do a scene solo while Walker was apparently waiting in a garage. The heavy use of doubles was hard to not be aware of.

Given the givens and the abruptness of what happened to Paul Walker, they improvised well enough.

It opened to a massive $67.3 million in the USA between Thursday night and Friday and is expected to go over $150m for the long weekend.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4053

Idris Elba for Furious 8.

Saw it again

I never bothered with these after the first one, which I thought was mediocre. Trailer for this one makes it look like the world's longest, highest-budget hip-hop video ... no thanks.

I don't know why I went and saw the film. It was terrible. I was expecting it to be bad, but not THAT bad. The plot was boring, alternating between generic action film and tribute to Paul Walker. The score likewise alternated, between bombastic and maudlin. The direction and cinematography were flat and lifeless; I was bored during the action set-pieces. It was like Michael Bay on Prozac.

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

I don't know why I went and saw the film. It was terrible. I was expecting it to be bad, but not THAT bad. The plot was boring, alternating between generic action film and tribute to Paul Walker. The score likewise alternated, between bombastic and maudlin. The direction and cinematography were flat and lifeless; I was bored during the action set-pieces. It was like Michael Bay on Prozac.

Translation: You loved it.

It will be ahead of Bond in the year end ratings...unless SPECTRE can do $350m in the USA...which I really doubt...

No, I hated it. I have no-one to blame but myself, though - I knew it would be bad going in, which begs the question of why I went at all.

Jesus, you must be really fun at parties.

Hey, I like a mindless action film as much as the next guy. But is it too much to ask that the film is entertaining?

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

Hey, I like a mindless action film as much as the next guy. But is it too much to ask that the film is entertaining?

Has already made over 800m worldwide. Set an opening day record in China.

Will sail past $1.2bn worldwide with at least $350m in the USA.

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

Hey, I like a mindless action film as much as the next guy. But is it too much to ask that the film is entertaining?

I thought it was, so I was able to roll with it. The only things I did dislike was some of the cutting of the hand to hand fight scenes. A lot of these actors like Statham can actually fight well, so it was unnecessary to see that gimmick used here. I suspect Wan will not return after this one.

My rellies got IMAX tickets again so my 3rd viewing is tonight.