Its a classic. It spawned a franchise, inspired gaming types, and gave sports racing a boost. Ha ha, get it, boost, like NOS. I'm hilarious.
Basically "Point Break" but with cars instead of surfboards.
The testosterone reaches critical mass quite early in this ridiculously self-indulgent nitrous oxide orgasm. Paul Walker gets his breakout role as an undercover cop, one with very little interest in actually doing any police work, who falls in with a crew of enterprising gear heads on the midnight street racing circuit. Vin Diesel, the headline costar, takes on his usual character: a growling, flexing, ultra-chill bro with shady connections but an open heart. Neither are particularly likable or interesting.
The whole thing is shallower than a toilet bowl, ticking so many "cool point" boxes that it mimics a rich, forgettable, three-minute music video. We've got fast cars, gorgeous sex objects, adrenaline-rich action scenes, loud radio hits (juuust a bit dated) and a posh location or two. Not much in the way of meaningful character arcs or deeper substance.
It's a true "what you see is what you get" experience. Big and dumb and gruff and insecure, with a plot that varies from meaningless to pointless and a versatile cast with nothing to do beyond gripping the steering wheel (or each other) and looking sexy. On this first go-around, at least, the action retains some passing association with reality. Points for that.
I had to go back in time to where it all started
The Fast and the Furious is a great action blockbuster. The cast wasn't half bad with the acting sub-par. The story line was interesting to follow, and the races were fun to watch with eye-popping action. If you love car chases, races, or any kind of action film, you'll love this. The Fast and the Furious franchise is one of my favorite film franchises out there.
Just finished watching it again... Awesome! I wonder why this movie doesn't have a better rating... Really it's awesome, it's the reason why there have been 9+ other Fast & Furious Movies added to the series! But to be honest this one is really by far the best and I also like that this one is from the times when Fast & Furious wasn't fames for riduculously unrealistic stunts and physics that are a joke. Truly the new ones are so overdone, especially because of the physics... But this one! This one nails it in so many ways and it feels so mach better watching it!! Also the movies focus is still about cars and not an action thriller movie! If somebody still hasn't watched it - I highly recommend you do so!
:heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart: - Good start to the film series
Here's how my rating system works:
10:heart:- Masterpiece :100:
9:heart:- Excellent
8:heart: - Amazing :ok_hand:
7:heart:- Great :sun_with_face:
6:heart: - Good :thumbsup:
5:heart: - Average :head_bandage:
4:heart: - Bad but watchable :octagonal_sign:
3:heart: - Bad :sob:
2:heart:- Awful :face_vomiting:
1:heart: - Bull Shit
These were a simpler time. Great film. I watch it once a year.
This is such an awful movie on every level that a film can be awful. The story: Terrible. The acting: Terrible. The casting: Terrible. The cinematography: Terrible. Costume design: Terrible. The dialogue: Some of the worst in the history of movie-making. This dialogue literally sounds as if it were written by a couple of high school boys. Two of the "writers" involved in this saw their careers ended by this garbage. It's shameful that a film this poor would not only see such popularity but spawn an additional 11 films. As a species, we should be embarrassed.
Basically this movie is Point Break but with cars
Still a classic. Switch off your brain a bit and enjoy the hot cars and hot people
The Original Fast and Furious, fun watch, great effects depicting the speed when ever they use the Nitro boost, and amazing train race scene at the end, plus that crash scene
Such a great car movie. This film has everything an adrenaline filled male wants, but the plot actually flows quite nicely and has good twists that make this a quality film in addition to the entertainment factor and maybe thats why the series became such a big hit, as the first film was so good right off the bat. You get everything from hot romance to action to edge of your seat plot twists as this film follows two men from different sides, as an undercover cop tries to crack down on street racing but most importantly the truck raids and black market deals, but in the midst of it all he begins to develop an unexpected bond with the group he's tailing which makes for an expected cliff hanger at the end of the film.
At first, the male lead started to laugh in an adorable and silly way, handsome yet cute.
Like little kids who say stupid shit without knowing it's stupid: it's hard to hate them but even harder to like them.
So, let me get this straight... The cop SWATs the Asian gang who was innocent, participates in the raid on their house while they're eating dinner as a family and then ends up shooting and killing one of them, while he lets the white gang -- who really were guilty -- go free.
Apart from the racism, there's some average to decent car stunts and the foundation of a film franchise that's only gonna get gobs more ridiculous.
The "Fast & Furious" franchise will always have a very special place in my heart. Sure, this is not avant-garde cinema, but especially the later installments are quite different from the standard fare. I like the characters, the silly stories, and the over-the-top action too. In this first film, the acting is still extremely wooden, especially by Paul Walker. And it's better not to think for a second about the logic of the heists that the crime plot is about. But my god, do I have fun every time I rewatch it. "The Fast and the Furious" is a time capsule from the early 2000s that I can really dig out again and again.
(520-word review) Film number one is in the bag; wow, there are NINE more.
Everything about this was 2000s galore; the music, the outfits, the cars, the dialogue, the personalities of the characters, and the somewhat grainy/fuzzy cinematography. All of that adds to the charm, specifically the cinematography. The time-lapses and the nighttime cinematography were good.
A nostalgia trip for most people, looking back. A combination of experiencing that time and this film back then. For me, it's more of an understanding ("Damn, a film that came out in 2001 is the epitome of 2000s pop culture") than a feeling; frankly, some of it didn't land for me, particularly the constant blasting of music, both songs and the score.
Throughout this film's duration, I wasn't feeling much of a story there; humble beginnings, given what the franchise develops into. You could say the same for those films, as far as not "much of a story there" is concerned, and that's probably accurate. More or less. Yet part of me feels the plots in those films are better. I NEED to hear the word 'family' in every line.
Either way, the ramped-up outrageousness in those films likely makes up for it if that's not the case, whereas this one doesn't have that. The calm-before-the-storm/humble beginnings nature made the lackluster story stick out.
The "purpose" behind it regarding Brian O'Conner (also, I already knew the plot twist concerning him, but I can't remember how) was lackluster; the "real" purpose of the overall film was undoubtedly the aesthetic. The cars and the racing: being "cool." And the developing camaraderie between him and Dominic Toretto, of course.
In that vein, it was the best part, starting with the final heist: the development between them, especially everything after Dom learns the truth and Brian immediately goes to his place; that scene with them was well-acted by Vin Diesel and Paul Walker.
That's also when the film began moving along, picking up steam. Becoming more enjoyable, as up to that point was less so. That includes the romantic angle with Brian and Mia, which was 'there.' Nothing more, nothing less. There wasn't much focus on it anyway, for some reason, and it wouldn't have made a difference if it wasn't there.
My main criticism was Paul Walker's acting (although he was good-looking: his hair, in particular). While writing this, I have no idea whether people have said/are saying anything about it, particularly in this way. But yeah. His acting was mediocre until the scene with Brian and Dom at Dom's house after the final heist; his and Vin Diesel's acting in that scene was their best in the film.
Acting-wise, Chad Lindberg (Jesse) was up there with Vin, and there should've been more of him. Bars. He even resembled Aaron Paul. Or not. It was more so the vibe and personality of the character that made me think of that comparison. Chad (Jesse) could've played Jesse Pinkman.
As a film that's pure 2000s style and aesthetic from the music to the clothing, the Brian-Dom camaraderie held it up, complimented by the charm and action sequences.
Not my cup of tea. I enjoyed the family aspect but that's about it. Cars look unremarkable, action sequences are bland and have no stakes, characters are all douchebags, it's super long, ugly cars special effects and what the hell was that lame third act. This really didn't age well. I heard these get good from number 5, can't wait to get there. Vroom, Vroom!
The Fast and the Furious is the film that started it all for the blockbuster franchise. The movie was a trailblazer for car racing movies, and it remains a classic to this day. One of the most impressive aspects of the film is the original script, which was ahead of its time in terms of its storyline and themes. The action sequences are expertly filmed and choreographed, featuring plenty of intense car chases that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Overall, The Fast and the Furious is an original, well-written movie that delivers on the thrills and excitement that made it a hit in the first place.
Japanese title: Wild Speed.
Compared to the sequels, the first entry in the Fast Saga is less of a guilty pleasure and more of a disposable carsploitation with gangsta subplots. Even when it tries to get macho and over the top, it feels rather cheesy and restrained in a naïve way, more like a cinematic take on the late 90s MTV culture and aesthetics. Although not as outrageously terrible as I expected, it felt remarkably dull except for the action sequences with the truck. It’s also surprising to find out that Toretto was able to pull off more than two facial expressions.
Guilty pleasure score: 4
Actual score: 5
Final score: 5
Rated a Connor 5, normal 7
Good filming the races and the action scenes especially with the trucks but very weak plot. Just another average action movie.
It's a script that we've seen time and time again. This movie doesn't know what it wants to be. it's a bit all over the place for me. But it's a classic, and its instrumental in kicking off the series.
Back in 2001 we all wanted a Riced-up Honda EG8 in our garage after watching this movie. Great memories!
If someone told us back then that this movie will spawn a decades long franchise that would one day star Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren, we would have asked for a hit from whatever that dude was smoking at the time. :grin:
I mean, look at the line-up for Fast X planned for release in 2023 --> https://trakt.tv/movies/fast-x-2023
Wow, this movie has aged incredibly well! I was expecting it to feel very old (2001 - that's over 20 years ago by now). This is not the case though! The visuals are pretty good for it's age (I watched it on Amazon Prime), the music/soundtrack is still great, I even like the fashion (etc.), and of course the cars are amazing (kinda even better as they are now - those were real and raw/untamed cars - currently, we have lot's of SUVs, luxurious cars, and EVs (EVs are cool but not driver focused - at least not yet, apart from very few exceptions)).
The ending is kinda rushed/abrupt but I like it since it leaves some important story contend for the next movie.
PS: LOL, WTF?!? Apparently I did rate this 6/10 in the past (2015?)??? What was my past self thinking... :o I was considering to give it a 8.5/10 now (2022) but I guess I'll go with a 8/10 since I wasn't expecting much (I did remember that it seemed old and silly when I watched it last time but not that I gave it only 6/10).
One thing Vin Deisel can do is bring heart to his character, whether it is an action movie or a SciFi thriller. This movie is about more than fast cars. Good action. Characters with depth. Good cast. Good direction. I give this film an 8 (great) out of 10 [Action, Drama]
"Let's go for a little ride."
That little ride turned into a franchise that is still going strong and will have its 9th film in little over and month. It even has released a spin-off. It has been awhile since I had seen the humble beginnings of this franchise and I must say I still find it very enjoyable.
Vin Diesel feels at home straight away as Dominic "Dom" Toretto, I always enjoy seeing Michelle Rodriguez, we have Paul Walker as the other lead in undercover cop Brian O'Connor and Jordana Brewster as Dom's sister Mia. Who would've thought these 4 would be the start of the "family" on which this franchise later thrive on.
Anyway this one is more about racing compared to the later films and it is enjoyable. I love the soundtrack but that might just be nostalgic knocking because this film was released when I was in the middle of puberty. Also it always cracks me up seeing Ja Rule and his character being named Edwin. The action is alright, I love the scene with the truck near the end and the final race between O'Connor and Dom.
I must confess I love the over-the-topness of the later installments much more but it is a joy that the first one is still damn entertaining.
Decided to rewatch the series, since there are a few really good movies in it, thinking I might have missjudged it 2 decades ago since it came so soon after one of my favourite movies: Gone in 60 seconds.
I didn't.
I don't get how this piece of crap started one of the best movie series to date.
Honestly, the story is crap and the characters are cutouts. Without Diesel, Rodriguez and Brewster it wouldn't even be watchable.
The original! The OG. The one that started it all! Absolutely love this series, and this is where it all began.
Paul Walker always got crap for his acting ability. I think his love for cars especially made him believable in these movies. As a cop, maybe not. As Brian who loves fast cars, definitely was believable.
He added more to these movies than Vin Diesel. With his one note tough guy act.
Watched again after 19 years, it is still a great movie.
The only movie I've ever walked out of the theater on. Totally awful.
Paul Walker was perfect for Point Break with a cars. Since he was a Keanu Reeves like actor. I mean both got shit for being wooden or bad actors.
But in a way brought their A games nevertheless. While always looking happy to be there and at least brought enthusiasm.
They keep dragging these movies on but in the end it’s really Walker. That made them more than just car stunt movies. Vin Diesel, the Rock and Jason Stratham just bring the brute.
Oh and now they are adding John Cena ? Walker was also a much better actor than him. Cena can only salute really.
This hasn't aged the best and isn't as fun as some of its sequels but we see the start of the family.
The Fast and the Furious is a fast-paced and explosive action film that's incredibly entertaining. The story follows an undercover cop who attempts to infiltrate the underground street racing circuit in order to find a criminal group that's robbing semi-trucks on the highways of Southern California. The writing is pretty strong, and does an especially good job at developing the characters. Featuring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, and Michelle Rodriguez, the casting's fairly solid; Diesel in particular has tremendous screen presence. And, the stunt work for the car chases is quite impressive. Exciting and action-packed, The Fast and the Furious is a thrilling, high-octane adventure.
I have been watching TFATF films for 18 years. I cannot be objective about them, they are awesome. Also nonsensical.
Good action movie with races, it's entertaining
2017 people, who miss PAUL WALKER. btw i love this movie!
While this first episode of the Fast & Furious series was OK, the rest are not worth watching IMHO.
r.i.p. Paul Walker
You've lived Fast & Furious...
Mindless but enjoyable. Point Break with cars.
Shout by Brian L.BlockedParent2014-12-21T10:38:19Z
I give Paul Walker's hair a 10/10 and this movie a 07/10.