This past weekend a movie called
Fast and Furious was released and
it made roughly $70 million.
How is this possible? The only conceivable draw is that the two leads from the original were back, but all that means is that they were such incredible failures they had to come back to a franchise they left years ago!
Who went to see this movie? Why was this movie even made? How did
The Fast And The Furious make it to a completely unnecessary and redundant fourth installment?
The original was an awful rip-off of an awful
Keanu Reeves movie.
The first installment was a recycled plot that wasn't good in the first place! How do you make 3 sequels off of that? What is the appeal?
The only argument for anyone actually enjoying the first seems to be that they liked the cars. That argument basically adds up to "ooo shiny." How does that sustain a franchise this long?
I think we can agree that any appeal has nothing to do with the acting.
Paul Walker and
Vin Diesel do okay acting jobs for the cardboard cutouts they are, nothing worth forking over $10 to see. It can't be the plot, because you might as well just rent
Point Break and watch it four times.
I remember seeing the first one and making fun of it. Then the second came out and I was confused, but thought the idea of a sequel was hilarious. I didn't see it, but still got many jokes at its expense. Then I saw a preview for the third and I just said "why?" Then the preview for the fourth and there were no words, just a feeling as if I had been clubbed over the head repeatedly. And then it made $70 million in 3 days and I was sad.
Did you go see this movie? Are you going to see it? If so, why? Please explain this to me.
Comments (60)
i don't see what the big deal is. they were okay movies. i found them funny/entertaining. i don't think they're really meant to be taken seriously. and i don't think they're worthy of a weblog entry. chill out.
I completely agree with you.
this "failure of a franchise" has made my company millions.
thank the collective stupidity of the american public.
I went and saw it not because I have a thing for cars, but because to me, they're good movies. It has nothing to do with the fact that they have some pretty kickass cars in it or popular actors, but if you haven't watched the 3rd one, it left you with a suspense. The 4th one simply picks up the ending from the 3rd one and shows you some things that you probably wouldn't have guessed. I find them to be awesome movies for the fact that there's action and you don't entirely know what's going to come out of it.
@icecrepas@xanga - well, i didn't call it a failure of a franchise. I called the actors failures. In terms of measuring the franchise as a failure or success. I guess that depends on your definitions for those words.
I saw it, and it was great. I love cars and loved the two original actors in the movie, so that was another reason. I think the other reason was because after Tokyo Drift, I was just wanting another one because it was really good. Out of the movies out right now, I think I made the best choice by spending $10 for this one.
Perhaps you should watch the 22min long behind the scenes special programming of this film. They do a really good job of explaining why people are attracted to the franchise, why it lives on, and why the actors returned.
What I like about the these movies is that it knows it just a stupid popcorn flick. I watched the most recent one just to see some amazing car stunts, and that I saw! I'm happy with that
It's just a typical popcorn movie. It has all the basic essentials of fast cars, hot women, and action. While i am not going to see it myself, I know it translates well to the lowest common denominators. You don't need an amazing grasp of English to enjoy the film and the story is not very cerebral, because, let's face it, not everyone is a fan of book learn'in.
Dunno about this one but the last one was awesome. If you have a problem don't watch it, but this is a lame post.
Actually, when you're man enough to stop anything Vin Deisel is doing, you can talk. Untill then, just shut your pansy mouth.
I saw it. It wasn't what I expected, but it wasn't the worst movie I've seen either.
Tokyo Drift was actually pretty well done. I'm didn't go wait in line at midnight for 4 or anything, but I'll go see it later. Yeah, they aren't the best movies out there, but its entertaining. It's what you watch on tv 5 years after they're released, and its a lot better than watching talk shows haha.
man, i had forgotten they made a third until a couple of weeks ago when it was on tv somewhere and it had that kid from american gothic and lil' bow wow. it's true, they're fluff (or popcorn), but they know that and it's a big part of why it works.
is it frustrating that a movie like this makes $70 million and a "good" movie struggles to even find release? sure, but as elvis says in jailhouse rock, "that's the way the mop flops, honey." is it movies like this you despise, or a culture that perpetuates it?
am i being serious? maybe sometimes maybe.
noooo the question is how could they make sequels out of harry potter, star wars and lord of the rings. whats wrong with fast and furious??? it looks good and i bet people who watch it are in it for the thrills, the cars, the girls (if any) and the two cute guys. i want to watch it. that and a ton of other movies.
I agree with the comment above... and I did go see it, the movie was good but not as good as the previous ones.
I saw the first one but not any of the others. I prefer Gone in 60 Seconds because stealing cars and the thrill of getting away with it time after time is more exciting to me than racing a cat and mouse game than maybe crashing and dying lol paul walker is pretty hot but vin diesel, although has bigger muscles than paul, looks like a stereotypical cholo aka gangsta that is too hardcore for their own good and that is funny in itself. after he did the pacifier movie, I can no longer take vin diesel seriously in movies. since it is more about superficial visuals, then if tyson beckford played the leading role, I'd probably go and see this new installment. I think what is so appealing about these modified cars/a-hole racing movies is purely for entertainment. the stunts are nice but personally, I just like hearing the revving of the loud engine on the theater's surround sound system...but after hearing the overwhelming theatre's version of the engine revving, it kinda ruins it when I hear an actual live demonstration of a car's engine revving because it is like a low grade sound version in comparison.
They should've name it "The Fast and the Four-ious."
As a woman with intimate knowledge of cars and self respect, I will never see this movie.
@d0llh0use@xanga - Well they didn't technically "make" sequels considering all three of those series were books way before they were ever movies.
@lovechartreuse@xanga - but they did make movies out of them and sequel after sequel after sequel.
@d0llh0use@xanga - The difference is they were already legendary in the book world and became even more legendary in the movie world because they had some awesome directors working with the books. LOTR came out really well considering JRR Tolkien isn't alive to oversee the movie making.
Fast and Furious doesn't have nearly as much merit as those films. Its just another play on American culture; that's why it attracts so many people, despite how awful it might be.
Relatively speaking, most people who appreciate the artistic side of writing and film making don't really appreciate films like F&F.
@lovechartreuse@xanga - so if fast and furious had awesome directors, would it be worth it???. if fast and furious was a book, would it be worth it??? *lol*
@d0llh0use@xanga - Fast and Furious would never be allowed to be a book. At least in the intellectual side of the world. Being a book first and having a good director isn't what it takes to have merit. Let me put it this way.
The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Star Wars were actually GOOD by the standards of those who actually matter in the film business. Public opinion really doesn't mean shit. That is why Fast and Furious sucks ass. =x
i didn't even know a fourth Fast and the Furious movie came out until a few days ago. its not on my to-see movie list at all.
how can fast and the furious even be a fair comparison to lord of the rings series...it is like comparing a harley davidson with a racing sports bike; they are appreciated for different reasons-one is more of a cruise bike and the other is mainly for racing purposes or comparing princess diana with britney spears lol