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Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Fast & Furious (2009) in Movies
Jun 14, 2021
Fast and Furious, the fourth film in the 'The Fast and the Furious' franchise takes us back to the basics, the original cast are reunited, if only for a short time in some cases and the plot is closer to '2 Fast, 2 Furious'.
Fast and Furious is more of a sequel to the second film and is set before the third film but does acknowledge it with a scene at the start where, to avoid being caught with Dom, Han goes off to Tokyo.
Fast and Furious feels more like it belongs in the franchise than it's predecessor, the cars are there, as are the gratuitous scantily clad women although not at the same level and Dom and Paul are back trying to stop a crime lord, although both for different reasons.
As with all the previous films, 'Fast and Furious' builds on the theme of family but this time it also tackles revenge and, to a smaller extent betrayal.
If you watch this franchise for the cars and racing then you may be a bit disappointed, there is some racing but not as much as as the previous films and the 'car talk' is kept to a couple of scenes.
As an action film with car chases Fast and Furious isn't bad; There is a bit of a plot, the story telling isn't to bad, it moves at a decent pace, it doesn't rely on sex and keeps the violence to a minimum and still manages to keep the franchise's gimmick, the cars and racing. It's also nice that it still acknowledges 'Tokyo Drift' even though the film seems not to be very well liked amongst the fans of the franchise.
Fast and Furious is more of a sequel to the second film and is set before the third film but does acknowledge it with a scene at the start where, to avoid being caught with Dom, Han goes off to Tokyo.
Fast and Furious feels more like it belongs in the franchise than it's predecessor, the cars are there, as are the gratuitous scantily clad women although not at the same level and Dom and Paul are back trying to stop a crime lord, although both for different reasons.
As with all the previous films, 'Fast and Furious' builds on the theme of family but this time it also tackles revenge and, to a smaller extent betrayal.
If you watch this franchise for the cars and racing then you may be a bit disappointed, there is some racing but not as much as as the previous films and the 'car talk' is kept to a couple of scenes.
As an action film with car chases Fast and Furious isn't bad; There is a bit of a plot, the story telling isn't to bad, it moves at a decent pace, it doesn't rely on sex and keeps the violence to a minimum and still manages to keep the franchise's gimmick, the cars and racing. It's also nice that it still acknowledges 'Tokyo Drift' even though the film seems not to be very well liked amongst the fans of the franchise.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Hitler's Secret in Books
May 31, 2020
Exhilarating
Pace. This book has it, the most brilliant, non stop, don't put the book down pace. Despite finding WW2 fascinating I never thought of liking a spy thriller set then but actually it worked incredibly. Imagine being an enemy in an evil fascist state full of vile nazis and corruption, it is tense from start to finish, never letting up easing off. It will have your heart racing and reading just one more chapter every time. Extraordinarily exhilarating, Hitlers Secret is better than Bond.
Darren (1599 KP) rated Driven (2001) in Movies
Jul 25, 2019
Story: Driven starts as we get to see how a racing season is going, Beau Brandenburg (Schweiger) the reigning champion starts shinning until rookie driver Jimmy Bly (Pardue) starts becoming competition for the title. When Jimmy starts to fade, team manager Carl Henry (Reynolds) brings back former champion Joe Tanto (Stallone) to help keep the head on straight of the rookie driver.
With Joe back to be used as an experienced blocker to help Jimmy, it is Jimmy that will need to make the difficult decisions and with his brother and manager Demille Bly (Leonard) who is trying to control the young drivers ever movement. Can he get the title won on his rookie season or will the pressure get to him?
Thoughts on Driven
Characters – Joe Tanto was the once great driver, former champion and past his prime, still considered one for the experience factor. He needs to help guide the rookie who is destining to become champion, while facing his own personal regrets. Carl Henry is the owner of the team, he knows Jimmy will become champion and will do anything to make sure his team brings the title back. Jimmy Bly is the rookie making big waves in the sport, controlled by his brother to avoid the pressure that comes with being at the top. He makes the rookie mistakes and need guidance to become champion. Beau Brandenburg is the champion, the best in the game right now even if he can come of arrogant at times. Sophia is the girlfriend of Beau, she has been for years now and after a disagreement she befriends Jimmy adding extra tension between the two potential champions. Demille Bly is the brother and manager of Jimmy, he is trying to control every decision of his career, he is the closest to being the villain in the film.
Performances – Sylvester Stallone is solid enough for this film he fills in the mentor role well enough. Burt Reynolds as the team manager works for the film, we needed an older figure in this role. Kip Pardue does suit the rookie driver well even certain parts of the script are poor. Til Schweiger, Estella Warren and Robert Sean Leonard are good in the supporting roles which give them a chance to have fun with their roles.
Story – The story follows a rookie facing a champion for an unlike season in race car driving, we see the good and bad moments for the whole field, the pressures thrown on the young driver, with a friendly rivalry being created between the two. We have the older mentor role needed to keep the head on the straight for the younger driver. While being a Formula One fan I can enjoy a good rivalry film which this does give us even if the races have been intensified for the cinematic audience. We get lesson to be learnt by the drivers, team and managers which this season will give us.
Action/Sports – The action in this film comes from the races, while the special effects used have dated horrendously the flat out racing is a join to watch. The sport side of the film gives us a look into the racing industry and just how dangerous it can be when racing for victory.
Settings – The film takes us around the world to different race tracks used in the sport in real life.
Scene of the Movie – The accident.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The special effects.
Final Thoughts – This is a film the fans of racing will enjoy, it has good sequence even if the special effects are weak, it does feel like we are watch Cars the live action movie.
Overall: Racing fun film.
With Joe back to be used as an experienced blocker to help Jimmy, it is Jimmy that will need to make the difficult decisions and with his brother and manager Demille Bly (Leonard) who is trying to control the young drivers ever movement. Can he get the title won on his rookie season or will the pressure get to him?
Thoughts on Driven
Characters – Joe Tanto was the once great driver, former champion and past his prime, still considered one for the experience factor. He needs to help guide the rookie who is destining to become champion, while facing his own personal regrets. Carl Henry is the owner of the team, he knows Jimmy will become champion and will do anything to make sure his team brings the title back. Jimmy Bly is the rookie making big waves in the sport, controlled by his brother to avoid the pressure that comes with being at the top. He makes the rookie mistakes and need guidance to become champion. Beau Brandenburg is the champion, the best in the game right now even if he can come of arrogant at times. Sophia is the girlfriend of Beau, she has been for years now and after a disagreement she befriends Jimmy adding extra tension between the two potential champions. Demille Bly is the brother and manager of Jimmy, he is trying to control every decision of his career, he is the closest to being the villain in the film.
Performances – Sylvester Stallone is solid enough for this film he fills in the mentor role well enough. Burt Reynolds as the team manager works for the film, we needed an older figure in this role. Kip Pardue does suit the rookie driver well even certain parts of the script are poor. Til Schweiger, Estella Warren and Robert Sean Leonard are good in the supporting roles which give them a chance to have fun with their roles.
Story – The story follows a rookie facing a champion for an unlike season in race car driving, we see the good and bad moments for the whole field, the pressures thrown on the young driver, with a friendly rivalry being created between the two. We have the older mentor role needed to keep the head on the straight for the younger driver. While being a Formula One fan I can enjoy a good rivalry film which this does give us even if the races have been intensified for the cinematic audience. We get lesson to be learnt by the drivers, team and managers which this season will give us.
Action/Sports – The action in this film comes from the races, while the special effects used have dated horrendously the flat out racing is a join to watch. The sport side of the film gives us a look into the racing industry and just how dangerous it can be when racing for victory.
Settings – The film takes us around the world to different race tracks used in the sport in real life.
Scene of the Movie – The accident.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The special effects.
Final Thoughts – This is a film the fans of racing will enjoy, it has good sequence even if the special effects are weak, it does feel like we are watch Cars the live action movie.
Overall: Racing fun film.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Gerald's Game (2017) in Movies
Oct 12, 2017 (Updated Oct 12, 2017)
Psychological horror at its best
I had to text the entire time, and fast forward through bits because it is terrifying at points on so many levels.
Gerald and his wife attempt to reignite their marriage by going to a secluded location to play sex games. Unfortunately he leaves her handcuffed while having a heart attack. In between, there are deep psychological traumas and hallucinations, gore, and you wonder what's real as she continues to run out of time.
It's pure Stephen King, mixing real emotions with the downright frightening. That last scene would never have happened but my heart is still racing.
Gerald and his wife attempt to reignite their marriage by going to a secluded location to play sex games. Unfortunately he leaves her handcuffed while having a heart attack. In between, there are deep psychological traumas and hallucinations, gore, and you wonder what's real as she continues to run out of time.
It's pure Stephen King, mixing real emotions with the downright frightening. That last scene would never have happened but my heart is still racing.
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011) in Movies
Jun 11, 2019
Harry the teenage Wizard 2
After 10 years, 8 films and 2 Dumbledore's the long anxiously anticipated finale arrived.
In the days leading to the battle of Hogwarts, with so many life's lost and friendships tested, harry, ron and Hermione find themselves trying to find and destroy the last of the horcruxes, cursed items containing pieces of Voldemort's shattered soul.
before everything is lost, the trio are racing against time and harry will soon come face to face with the the dark Lord.
Filled with fantastic special effects, acting and a dark edge of you seat conclusion, this will leave you wanting more.
In the days leading to the battle of Hogwarts, with so many life's lost and friendships tested, harry, ron and Hermione find themselves trying to find and destroy the last of the horcruxes, cursed items containing pieces of Voldemort's shattered soul.
before everything is lost, the trio are racing against time and harry will soon come face to face with the the dark Lord.
Filled with fantastic special effects, acting and a dark edge of you seat conclusion, this will leave you wanting more.
Darkwriter1408 (8 KP) rated The Fate of the Furious (2017) in Movies
Jun 12, 2019
Brilliant plot and twist (1 more)
Brilliant use of cars
Everything you expect from the franchise and more
Right, so let's just say this. It's a fast and furious film. So you know to expect endless action, car racing and extremely farfetched races, stunts and even storylines.
All this being said, the action is endless, I was always on the edge of my seat wondering what happened next. The film overall is amazing and the performances of the cast was really good as well. Nothing more needs to be said in regards to the fast franchise.
All this being said, the action is endless, I was always on the edge of my seat wondering what happened next. The film overall is amazing and the performances of the cast was really good as well. Nothing more needs to be said in regards to the fast franchise.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2091 KP) rated Dead Man's Switch (A Kate Reilly Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Kate has finally landed a job as a race car driver. Unfortunately, it's at the expense of the man she found murdered. With the police and gossip thinking she did it, Kate jumps in to find the real killer.
I felt the author was trying too hard to share her racing knowledge with us, and the result slowed the story down. Some of the characters were a tad under developed as well. Still, the climax was great and the solution was logical.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/06/book-review-dead-mans-switch-by-tammy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I felt the author was trying too hard to share her racing knowledge with us, and the result slowed the story down. Some of the characters were a tad under developed as well. Still, the climax was great and the solution was logical.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/06/book-review-dead-mans-switch-by-tammy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Tallulah22 (211 KP) rated the Nintendo Switch version of Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled in Video Games
Jan 4, 2020
I loved this game as a child and my brothers and I brought the remastered version on all 3 consoles the day that it came out so that we could revisit this game. It is just as good as I remembered it being and we have already had such fun in working through the story mode as well as racing against each other in the arcade. I don't like the fact that you are unable to skip the scene when they are introducing a new Gramd Prix each month but, thankfully, that is only once per Grand Prix.
Ed R (53 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of F1 2020 in Video Games
Nov 21, 2020
The detail and realism (2 more)
Graphics
Racing
The detail is immense!
Big F1 fan anyway so of course slightly biased but I was amazed at how detailed the game is, how your tyres wear and you have to fuel save as well as being involved in all the garage and strategic planning. The jump in car performance between F2 and F1 is also incredible and a surprise. Think only potential grievance I have is doing a full F2 season is not really worth much when you then go to F1, you can still pick any team, you just have a slightly higher rating
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) in Movies
May 28, 2021
Paul Walker reprises his role as Brian O'Conner as he's recruited to find out how a drug dealer is getting his ill gotten gains out of the country, using the talent of street racing.
I think that 2 Fast 2 Furious is actually slightly better than the first film (the Fast and the Furious), it has many of the same tropes and ideas of the first film, the street racing, cars and crime and it seems to have a better balance between the main elements. In both films Brian is tasked with infiltrating a criminal organisation with the task of finding out information and, from a narrative prospective 2 Fast seems to make a better job of this.
There is slightly less time given over to actual street racing but this is replaced with car chases which seem to use more police cars than 'The Blues Brothers'.
There is some time given over to character development as we find out more about Brian's past with the introduction of his old friend, Roman Pearce which gives us a bit more information as to his actions at the end of the first film.
Brian's relationship with the polices is surprisingly similar to the first film, even though Brian is now a wanted convict he is still aids and trust him. We also have the agent who doesn't trust Brian, this time in the form of customs Agent Markhan which basically gives us the same police set up the first film.
2 Fast 2 Furious does a good job of not being a clone of it's predecessor whilst still keeping the cars, the speed, the races and chases. There are a couple of scenes at the start that are similar to the first film but these are to help re introduce Brian and set the tone of the film. If you liked the first one then you should give the sequel a watch. (But you probably already know that as this is an old film 😊 )
I think that 2 Fast 2 Furious is actually slightly better than the first film (the Fast and the Furious), it has many of the same tropes and ideas of the first film, the street racing, cars and crime and it seems to have a better balance between the main elements. In both films Brian is tasked with infiltrating a criminal organisation with the task of finding out information and, from a narrative prospective 2 Fast seems to make a better job of this.
There is slightly less time given over to actual street racing but this is replaced with car chases which seem to use more police cars than 'The Blues Brothers'.
There is some time given over to character development as we find out more about Brian's past with the introduction of his old friend, Roman Pearce which gives us a bit more information as to his actions at the end of the first film.
Brian's relationship with the polices is surprisingly similar to the first film, even though Brian is now a wanted convict he is still aids and trust him. We also have the agent who doesn't trust Brian, this time in the form of customs Agent Markhan which basically gives us the same police set up the first film.
2 Fast 2 Furious does a good job of not being a clone of it's predecessor whilst still keeping the cars, the speed, the races and chases. There are a couple of scenes at the start that are similar to the first film but these are to help re introduce Brian and set the tone of the film. If you liked the first one then you should give the sequel a watch. (But you probably already know that as this is an old film 😊 )