Due South: Season 3: DVD Review
Due South Series 3
Starring: Paul Gross, Callum Keith Rennie, David Marciano, Leslie Nielsen,
Gordon Pinsent
Rating: M
Released by Madman Entertainment.
Cult shows from my youth don't come finer than this - or is it just
nostalgia?
Back in the mid 90s, I remember stumbling across Due South,
the comedy crime drama series which saw a Canadian Mountie Benton Fraser (Paul
Gross) head across the border to Chicago to track his father's killer.
Paired with a cynical cop Ray Vecchio (David Marciano), Fraser, along with
his deaf wolf Diefenbaker and dead father who haunted him from the next world,
had a series of adventures and cracked crime on the way.
It was quirky, offbeat and centred around the good nature of the Canadian
Mountie who used his manners (oft found saying Thank You Kindly) to appeal to
the better nature of the crims involved.
Due South Volume 3 collects together the final 26 episodes
of the show's last two seasons which brought the curtain down on the gang.
But the last season was a tumultuous one - dumped from US TV because it
bombed in the ratings, this Canadian dramedy (created by Paul Haggis who wrote
Crash and Million Dollar Baby) did phenomenally well abroad and that saw it
commissioned for a final run by a multi national conglomerate of partners
(including the BBC).
In its final year, the original Ray Vecchio went undercover, leaving Fraser
with a new partner Stanley Kowalski (Callum Keith Rennie, recently seen in Battlestar Galactica and Case 39 on the big
screen) who had to adapt to Fraser's way of working.
The joke with Due South has always been a sly nod and wink
to the ongoing relationship between the Canadians and the Americans - with the
USA seeing them as being a bit slow and Canada exploiting this to their own
ends.
Those quirks continue in Series 3 - and finally wraps up some of the long
running plot threads - including the riddle of the murder of Fraser's
mother.
It's fair to say the cracks were starting to show in the production of the
show's final year - and while the partnership between Kowalski and Fraser works
well, it never really transcends the tenderness between Vecchio and Fraser which
gave the series so much of its appeal. However, that said, it still remains a
rare show in that it has family values (which are never preached) and can be
watched by all.
The 7 disc set itself is a bit of a mixed bag - it would have been great to
have some form of extras or perhaps a doco which show why Due South is so loved
nearly 10 years after its release - instead, there's nothing but the bumper 26
episodes (along with Leslie Nielsen's flatulent Mountie Buck Frobisher).
And while that's great, it's just a shame the show which is ardently cared
for by fans who view it isn't given the send off that it deserves.
Still, it is great to be able to have the final set released after a long,
long wait.
To Madman, I say: Thank you, kindly.
Rating: 7/10
Monday, 7 September 2009
The Soloist: Movie Review
The Soloist: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Jamie Foxx, Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander
Director: Joe Wright
Robert Downey Jr plays LA Times columnist Steve Lopez in this true life story about Nathaniel Ayers (played by Jamie Foxx), a musical prodigy whose life didn't go the way he was expecting.
Ayers was on course to make a splash in the music world and was studying at the prestigious Julliard school of music when he developed schizophrenia and ended up homeless on the streets of downtown LA.
Lopez was the journalist who, amid the possibility of cuts on the LA Times and reporter lay offs, ended up finding Ayers (after looking for a story) and forming a friendship with him.
The Soloist is their story - and details the highs and lows of living with mental illness.
Both Downey Jr and Foxx are pretty damn good in their respective roles - Downey Jr continues to cement his reputation as a comeback king with this role which is imbued with humanity and warmth; Foxx manages to expertly convey the reality of living with the condition of paranoid schizophrenia - but it's director Joe Wright who somehow manages to fudge this film and stops it from soaring (even though it does feel at times like a showreel for the 2010 Oscars)
Whereas there are subtle moments which show the toll an illness takes on those around them, there are some moments where it feels like Wright's direction is beating you over the head with a hammer to make a point.
At one key juncture, Ayers is shown to be consumed by his music and transported by his passion (he views Beethoven's music as a series of coloured dots dancing on the black screen) - these are the moments which make you appreciate what Ayers' character is truly like- as opposed to a scene where Ayers is playing cello and a pair of birds soar through the sky and swoop back and forth amongst the cityscapes.
It's at times like that that Joe Wright manages to plumb the stereotypes and drag the overall film down.
It's a very human approach to schizophrenia and manages to work because it doesn't show Lopez having all the answers (and even struggling to realize what exactly he's got himself into)- in fact one of the key moments sees a social worker telling Downey Jr's character that Ayers doesn't need curing or help, he simply needs a friend.
Lopez is an odd character - he simply befriends Ayers to start off with because it makes good copy and sells papers as well as filling column inches - and at times, he manages to come across as naïve as he suggests Ayers needs medicating.
On reflection though, it occurs to me that Lopez's reactions are those of every human being who's a little uneducated to what they've witnessed.
Foxx is heartbreaking to watch as the demons start to set in while at college - these scenes are effective as the whispering voices nag at him and start to overwhelm him.
Even in his moments of clarity, Ayers is still dangerously close to the edge - and Foxx manages to convey it in a haunting and affecting way.
It's thanks to the virtuoso performances of the two lead actors that this film manages to succeed - but it's sadly due to the director that it doesn't soar as much as perhaps it should.
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Jamie Foxx, Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander
Director: Joe Wright
Robert Downey Jr plays LA Times columnist Steve Lopez in this true life story about Nathaniel Ayers (played by Jamie Foxx), a musical prodigy whose life didn't go the way he was expecting.
Ayers was on course to make a splash in the music world and was studying at the prestigious Julliard school of music when he developed schizophrenia and ended up homeless on the streets of downtown LA.
Lopez was the journalist who, amid the possibility of cuts on the LA Times and reporter lay offs, ended up finding Ayers (after looking for a story) and forming a friendship with him.
The Soloist is their story - and details the highs and lows of living with mental illness.
Both Downey Jr and Foxx are pretty damn good in their respective roles - Downey Jr continues to cement his reputation as a comeback king with this role which is imbued with humanity and warmth; Foxx manages to expertly convey the reality of living with the condition of paranoid schizophrenia - but it's director Joe Wright who somehow manages to fudge this film and stops it from soaring (even though it does feel at times like a showreel for the 2010 Oscars)
Whereas there are subtle moments which show the toll an illness takes on those around them, there are some moments where it feels like Wright's direction is beating you over the head with a hammer to make a point.
At one key juncture, Ayers is shown to be consumed by his music and transported by his passion (he views Beethoven's music as a series of coloured dots dancing on the black screen) - these are the moments which make you appreciate what Ayers' character is truly like- as opposed to a scene where Ayers is playing cello and a pair of birds soar through the sky and swoop back and forth amongst the cityscapes.
It's at times like that that Joe Wright manages to plumb the stereotypes and drag the overall film down.
It's a very human approach to schizophrenia and manages to work because it doesn't show Lopez having all the answers (and even struggling to realize what exactly he's got himself into)- in fact one of the key moments sees a social worker telling Downey Jr's character that Ayers doesn't need curing or help, he simply needs a friend.
Lopez is an odd character - he simply befriends Ayers to start off with because it makes good copy and sells papers as well as filling column inches - and at times, he manages to come across as naïve as he suggests Ayers needs medicating.
On reflection though, it occurs to me that Lopez's reactions are those of every human being who's a little uneducated to what they've witnessed.
Foxx is heartbreaking to watch as the demons start to set in while at college - these scenes are effective as the whispering voices nag at him and start to overwhelm him.
Even in his moments of clarity, Ayers is still dangerously close to the edge - and Foxx manages to convey it in a haunting and affecting way.
It's thanks to the virtuoso performances of the two lead actors that this film manages to succeed - but it's sadly due to the director that it doesn't soar as much as perhaps it should.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
The Young Victoria: Movie Review
The Young Victoria: Movie Review
Rating: 8/10 for females... 6/10 for males
Cast: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Produced by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and Academy Award winners Martin Scorsese and Graham King, The Young Victoria is something I've waited a long time for - a decent costume drama.
And one without Ms Knightley in it to boot!
The Young Victoria , much like the title suggests, tells the story of Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne, her shaky first steps as Britain's monarch, and the courtship that eventually led to one of the most famous romances of all time.
Queen Victoria (Emily Blunt) is a headstrong young woman wary of being manipulated, who is unsure who to trust in the first years of her rule.
When her cousin, Prince Albert (Rupert Friend), counsels her to learn to play the political game better than those who seek to use her, the audience gets its first hint that this gentle, logical man may be the perfect match for the feisty queen.
But standing in his way is Victoria's heavy reliance on the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), for guidance.
Blunt's nuanced portrayal of Victoria manages to balance great strength of character with an underlying vulnerability, giving the queen an accessibility that immediately endears her to the audience.
Friend also impresses with his inherently likeable interpretation of Albert. He has the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment he advises Victoria to "...find [a man] to play [the political game] with you, not for you."
Even though this story's outcome is pre-determined, The Young Victoria is no dry dusty plod through the history books. There is plenty of humour and joie de vivre, as well as a surprising amount of suspense.
It's at this point that I have to admit to being genuinely worried that Victoria wouldn't end up with Albert, even though my general knowledge was telling me otherwise...
But please don't think this is just another sweeping romantic saga in fancy dress, although the costumes are exquisite.
The real focus is on Victoria's coming of age, and her struggle to find the best way to serve her people and her country. And since Fergie is a producer, I can't help but believe that this movie is fairly accurate in its depiction of the behind-the-scenes politics faced by the British Monarchy.
Also adding to the film's royal connections is a rather unusual extra - Princess Beatrice, who has a 'blink and you'll miss it' non-speaking role as one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting.
So what are you waiting for?
The Young Victoria is hugely enjoyable, visually opulent, and has a fabulously talented cast who are a delight to watch.
Rating: 8/10 for females... 6/10 for males
Cast: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Produced by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and Academy Award winners Martin Scorsese and Graham King, The Young Victoria is something I've waited a long time for - a decent costume drama.
And one without Ms Knightley in it to boot!
The Young Victoria , much like the title suggests, tells the story of Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne, her shaky first steps as Britain's monarch, and the courtship that eventually led to one of the most famous romances of all time.
Queen Victoria (Emily Blunt) is a headstrong young woman wary of being manipulated, who is unsure who to trust in the first years of her rule.
When her cousin, Prince Albert (Rupert Friend), counsels her to learn to play the political game better than those who seek to use her, the audience gets its first hint that this gentle, logical man may be the perfect match for the feisty queen.
But standing in his way is Victoria's heavy reliance on the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), for guidance.
Blunt's nuanced portrayal of Victoria manages to balance great strength of character with an underlying vulnerability, giving the queen an accessibility that immediately endears her to the audience.
Friend also impresses with his inherently likeable interpretation of Albert. He has the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment he advises Victoria to "...find [a man] to play [the political game] with you, not for you."
Even though this story's outcome is pre-determined, The Young Victoria is no dry dusty plod through the history books. There is plenty of humour and joie de vivre, as well as a surprising amount of suspense.
It's at this point that I have to admit to being genuinely worried that Victoria wouldn't end up with Albert, even though my general knowledge was telling me otherwise...
But please don't think this is just another sweeping romantic saga in fancy dress, although the costumes are exquisite.
The real focus is on Victoria's coming of age, and her struggle to find the best way to serve her people and her country. And since Fergie is a producer, I can't help but believe that this movie is fairly accurate in its depiction of the behind-the-scenes politics faced by the British Monarchy.
Also adding to the film's royal connections is a rather unusual extra - Princess Beatrice, who has a 'blink and you'll miss it' non-speaking role as one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting.
So what are you waiting for?
The Young Victoria is hugely enjoyable, visually opulent, and has a fabulously talented cast who are a delight to watch.
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Battlestar Galactica S4 Pt 2: DVD Review
Battlestar Galactica S4 Pt 2: DVD Review
Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Part 2
Starring: Tricia Helfer, James Callis, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber
Rating: Restricted to Over 13
Universal Home Video
After four seasons of tumultuous acclaim and critical praise, the updated version of Battlestar Galactica comes to an end.
Trouble is, how do you end a show which has been such a part of the blogosphere and sci-fi world for so long?
Well the answer it appears is in a slightly disappointing manner. (But to be fair, it was never going to satisfy everyone)
The final ten episodes wrap up the saga - after the last surviving humans found what they believed was earth and discovered it was ravaged by nuclear radiation, they set back out - along with their foes and uneasy allies, The Cylons - to find somewhere new to call home.
However, the psychological toll of nearing ultimate destruction and failing to locate what was believed to be Earth sees the survivors ripped apart by civil unrest as they all try to come to terms with uncertain times.
Can they find a place to call home and reconcile with their arch nemeses?
This 4 disc final season set of BSG had a lot of the weight of expectation and the hope of the resolution of the show's mythology on its shoulders.
As with many shows of this genre, it's never going to satisfy the hard core fans - although in fairness, these last 10 wrap up some of the threads which have been dangling since the start of Series 1 (who is the fifth Cylon? What exactly is the deal with Starbuck?) - and some of them are tidied up neatly while others are left without definitive resolution.
The only major disappointment with this clutch of episodes is how exactly they choose to end it - I guess there's some kind of poetic justice that the fate of the human race depends on a hybrid of a human and Cylon - but an awful out of nowhere kidnapping seems to have been shoehorned into the plot to help it finish.
That said - as a fan of the original series, it's very cool to see old school Cylons battling new school Cylons.
And for a series with a long term plan, this has stayed true throughout and never changed what its creators wanted for it.
Where I think BSG will be remembered is in its look and feel - all of the characters have a weariness about them and a humanity which has seeped through the writing all through out - as a show in its entirety it developed deep themes about man, gods, fate, destiny and saw them through to the bitter end.
It will be frakking missed.
Extras: Unrated version of episode A Disquiet Follows My Soul, A sneak peek at Caprica (the show's prequel), Video blogs, a doco
Rating: 7/10
Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Part 2
Starring: Tricia Helfer, James Callis, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber
Rating: Restricted to Over 13
Universal Home Video
After four seasons of tumultuous acclaim and critical praise, the updated version of Battlestar Galactica comes to an end.
Trouble is, how do you end a show which has been such a part of the blogosphere and sci-fi world for so long?
Well the answer it appears is in a slightly disappointing manner. (But to be fair, it was never going to satisfy everyone)
The final ten episodes wrap up the saga - after the last surviving humans found what they believed was earth and discovered it was ravaged by nuclear radiation, they set back out - along with their foes and uneasy allies, The Cylons - to find somewhere new to call home.
However, the psychological toll of nearing ultimate destruction and failing to locate what was believed to be Earth sees the survivors ripped apart by civil unrest as they all try to come to terms with uncertain times.
Can they find a place to call home and reconcile with their arch nemeses?
This 4 disc final season set of BSG had a lot of the weight of expectation and the hope of the resolution of the show's mythology on its shoulders.
As with many shows of this genre, it's never going to satisfy the hard core fans - although in fairness, these last 10 wrap up some of the threads which have been dangling since the start of Series 1 (who is the fifth Cylon? What exactly is the deal with Starbuck?) - and some of them are tidied up neatly while others are left without definitive resolution.
The only major disappointment with this clutch of episodes is how exactly they choose to end it - I guess there's some kind of poetic justice that the fate of the human race depends on a hybrid of a human and Cylon - but an awful out of nowhere kidnapping seems to have been shoehorned into the plot to help it finish.
That said - as a fan of the original series, it's very cool to see old school Cylons battling new school Cylons.
And for a series with a long term plan, this has stayed true throughout and never changed what its creators wanted for it.
Where I think BSG will be remembered is in its look and feel - all of the characters have a weariness about them and a humanity which has seeped through the writing all through out - as a show in its entirety it developed deep themes about man, gods, fate, destiny and saw them through to the bitter end.
It will be frakking missed.
Extras: Unrated version of episode A Disquiet Follows My Soul, A sneak peek at Caprica (the show's prequel), Video blogs, a doco
Rating: 7/10
The Counterfeiters: DVD Review
The Counterfeiters: DVD Review
The Counterfeiters
Madman Entertainment
Rating: R13
Based on the true story of the largest counterfeiting ring (Operation Bernhard) set up by the Nazis in 1942, The Counterfeiters is a horrifyingly tense tale.
It centres around the story of Salomon "Sally" Sorowitsch, who after being arrested by the Germans is thrown into a concentration camp.
The former counterfeiter extraordinaire is coerced into helping them create fake US and UK money which would have been used to flood the British and American economies and bring them to their knees.
But Sorowitsch finds his life complicated by moral obligations to his fellow prisoners and work mates - as well as being given the personal challenge of creating a perfect copy of the US dollar - a currency he's never been able to perfect as a counterfeiter.
The problem is the moment the Counterfeiters manage to succeed, they'll be wiped out as their usefulness will have expired.
And so begins a cat and mouse game between both sides - but as the pressure builds, the stakes become ever higher&.
The Counterfeiters is a truly engrossing and horrific film - as any war time film is wont to be.
There are real contrasts within - from the opening moments where Sorowitsch loses all his money at a casino to the terrifying lows of being given shoes which don't fit properly and former prisoner's clothes when he's put in the concentration camp, to moments where the prisoners realize they have to co-operate or they'll be killed - either by the guards or by the other prisoners who're jealous of the relative luxury the workers live in.
A tense and deeply taut thriller, The Counterfeiters is compelling viewing.
Extras :- Interview with Adolf Burger (whose memoir formed the film)
- Adolf Burger artifacts
- Interview with actor Karl Markovics (Salomon Sorowitsch)
- Interview with director Stefan Ruzowitzky
- Theatrical trailer
Rating 8/10
The Counterfeiters
Madman Entertainment
Rating: R13
Based on the true story of the largest counterfeiting ring (Operation Bernhard) set up by the Nazis in 1942, The Counterfeiters is a horrifyingly tense tale.
It centres around the story of Salomon "Sally" Sorowitsch, who after being arrested by the Germans is thrown into a concentration camp.
The former counterfeiter extraordinaire is coerced into helping them create fake US and UK money which would have been used to flood the British and American economies and bring them to their knees.
But Sorowitsch finds his life complicated by moral obligations to his fellow prisoners and work mates - as well as being given the personal challenge of creating a perfect copy of the US dollar - a currency he's never been able to perfect as a counterfeiter.
The problem is the moment the Counterfeiters manage to succeed, they'll be wiped out as their usefulness will have expired.
And so begins a cat and mouse game between both sides - but as the pressure builds, the stakes become ever higher&.
The Counterfeiters is a truly engrossing and horrific film - as any war time film is wont to be.
There are real contrasts within - from the opening moments where Sorowitsch loses all his money at a casino to the terrifying lows of being given shoes which don't fit properly and former prisoner's clothes when he's put in the concentration camp, to moments where the prisoners realize they have to co-operate or they'll be killed - either by the guards or by the other prisoners who're jealous of the relative luxury the workers live in.
A tense and deeply taut thriller, The Counterfeiters is compelling viewing.
Extras :- Interview with Adolf Burger (whose memoir formed the film)
- Adolf Burger artifacts
- Interview with actor Karl Markovics (Salomon Sorowitsch)
- Interview with director Stefan Ruzowitzky
- Theatrical trailer
Rating 8/10
Departures: Movie Review
Departures: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kimiko Yo, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Takashi Sasano
Director: Yojiro Takita
It won the Academy Award in 2009 for Best Foreign Language Film and has resonated with many during its screenings at The New Zealand International Film Festival this year.
Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) is by trade a cellist in a Tokyo orchestra, complete with wife and generally happy lifestyle.
Until one day without any warning, the orchestra is dissolved and Kobayashi finds himself in need of employment.
He answers an ad in the paper for helping with "assisting departures" (which it turns out is helping prepare the dead and departed for encoffinment.)
With no other prospects Kobayashi takes the position - and starts to lie to his family about what he does.
But the strain of what he does starts to take its toll on those around him - while Daigo has no qualms about finding his job, there are those who urge him to quit such a disgraceful career.
It's easy to see why Departures took him the Oscar - it has everything that an Award winning film needs - from an emotional journey for the central character which will resound with the audience to lushly shot scenery.
There's also a lot of poignancy in Daigo's job - dealing with death on a daily basis and the stigma and taboo attached to it in Japanese culture, Daigo is torn between a job he's clearly good at and a society which frowns on the public acknowledgement of the effect of death.
And yet in places, to be honest, it feels a little manipulative as the viewer is taken on Daigo's journey and the ultimate resolution of his plight - it's an interesting tale but it seems to be designed to tug at your heart strings throughout with the plot following an overly unsubtle approach - and scenes of Daigo playing his cello at suitably odd moments.
That said, when the end comes round, it's an effective pay off to the emotional investment you've put in over the last two hours.
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kimiko Yo, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Takashi Sasano
Director: Yojiro Takita
It won the Academy Award in 2009 for Best Foreign Language Film and has resonated with many during its screenings at The New Zealand International Film Festival this year.
Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) is by trade a cellist in a Tokyo orchestra, complete with wife and generally happy lifestyle.
Until one day without any warning, the orchestra is dissolved and Kobayashi finds himself in need of employment.
He answers an ad in the paper for helping with "assisting departures" (which it turns out is helping prepare the dead and departed for encoffinment.)
With no other prospects Kobayashi takes the position - and starts to lie to his family about what he does.
But the strain of what he does starts to take its toll on those around him - while Daigo has no qualms about finding his job, there are those who urge him to quit such a disgraceful career.
It's easy to see why Departures took him the Oscar - it has everything that an Award winning film needs - from an emotional journey for the central character which will resound with the audience to lushly shot scenery.
There's also a lot of poignancy in Daigo's job - dealing with death on a daily basis and the stigma and taboo attached to it in Japanese culture, Daigo is torn between a job he's clearly good at and a society which frowns on the public acknowledgement of the effect of death.
And yet in places, to be honest, it feels a little manipulative as the viewer is taken on Daigo's journey and the ultimate resolution of his plight - it's an interesting tale but it seems to be designed to tug at your heart strings throughout with the plot following an overly unsubtle approach - and scenes of Daigo playing his cello at suitably odd moments.
That said, when the end comes round, it's an effective pay off to the emotional investment you've put in over the last two hours.
Friday, 28 August 2009
Fast and Furious: DVD Review
Fast and Furious: DVD Review
Fast And Furious
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster
Rating: M
Universal Home Video
The fourth outing the Fast and the Furious franchise sees the original team which launched this cars and crime saga reunited.
By bringing back the original parts (see what the filmmakers did there) it was hoped that it would ignite the box office - which it duly did.
When a crime brings back fugitive ex con Dom Toretto (the ever monotonic Vin Diesel) finds himself once again pitted against agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker)
But in a twist, the pair have to unite forces to take on a common enemy - and both realize the only way to get revenge is behind the wheel.
It's clear watching Fast and Furious that a new franchise is being relaunched - from the opening scene where Dom and his gang hijack fuel tankers, you're thrown straight into the high octane action - and a series of spectacular stunts (as well as slow mo explosions).
The film itself doesn't really concern itself too much with dialogue - which is just as well as Diesel seems to limit most of his acting to guttural muttering and glowering from time to time. Walker lends himself to sullen and sulky as the agent trying to bring down the bad guys and get Toretto brought to justice - and he just manages to pull off the moral conflict he feels.
But the real star of this film is the stunts.
Coupled with the racing scenes, this has really seen the production values bumped well above what they used to be.
The opening scene is quite a nailbiter and thrusts you slap bang into the middle of Torreto's world - I can understand why this film was such a hit in the States (and its ambiguous ending lends itself perfectly to a potential - and inevitable - sequel)
Fast and Furious will be loved by those who enjoy the high octane world of cars, stunts and girls - it ticks all the right boxes for its core demographic. And the extras are reasonable for a one disc release, covering the usual ground of behind the scenes.
Anyone else outside the genre may be simply dazzled by some of the eye popping stunt racing - but feeling a little hollow when it comes to the actual story.
Extras: Available in a 1 disc or 2 disc set; the 1 disc has commentary from director Justin Lee, Driving school with Vin Diesel, Gag Reel and filming in Mexico
Rating: 6/10
Fast And Furious
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster
Rating: M
Universal Home Video
The fourth outing the Fast and the Furious franchise sees the original team which launched this cars and crime saga reunited.
By bringing back the original parts (see what the filmmakers did there) it was hoped that it would ignite the box office - which it duly did.
When a crime brings back fugitive ex con Dom Toretto (the ever monotonic Vin Diesel) finds himself once again pitted against agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker)
But in a twist, the pair have to unite forces to take on a common enemy - and both realize the only way to get revenge is behind the wheel.
It's clear watching Fast and Furious that a new franchise is being relaunched - from the opening scene where Dom and his gang hijack fuel tankers, you're thrown straight into the high octane action - and a series of spectacular stunts (as well as slow mo explosions).
The film itself doesn't really concern itself too much with dialogue - which is just as well as Diesel seems to limit most of his acting to guttural muttering and glowering from time to time. Walker lends himself to sullen and sulky as the agent trying to bring down the bad guys and get Toretto brought to justice - and he just manages to pull off the moral conflict he feels.
But the real star of this film is the stunts.
Coupled with the racing scenes, this has really seen the production values bumped well above what they used to be.
The opening scene is quite a nailbiter and thrusts you slap bang into the middle of Torreto's world - I can understand why this film was such a hit in the States (and its ambiguous ending lends itself perfectly to a potential - and inevitable - sequel)
Fast and Furious will be loved by those who enjoy the high octane world of cars, stunts and girls - it ticks all the right boxes for its core demographic. And the extras are reasonable for a one disc release, covering the usual ground of behind the scenes.
Anyone else outside the genre may be simply dazzled by some of the eye popping stunt racing - but feeling a little hollow when it comes to the actual story.
Extras: Available in a 1 disc or 2 disc set; the 1 disc has commentary from director Justin Lee, Driving school with Vin Diesel, Gag Reel and filming in Mexico
Rating: 6/10
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