Movie Review: Fast & Furious 7

Fast & Furious 7 a.k.a Furious 7 a.k.a Furious Seven a.k.a  Fast Seven 

Universal Pictures, MRC, China Film Co., Original Film, One Race Films, Dentsu, Fuji Television Network, Québec Production Services Tax Credit, Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media Abu Dhabi Film Commission, USA, Japan, 2015. 

The movie starts where the previous part ended. Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) is still amnesiac and  Dominic (Vin Diesel) is trying to help her remember. Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) are trying to adjust to peaceful family life. Hobbs (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson) and Elena (Elsa Pataky) are busting criminals. Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej (Ludacris) are probably just enjoying their vacation.

Letty & Dominic

Peaceful life comes to an abrupt end when Han (Sung Kang) is murdered by rogue agent Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham). This connects the plotline to the events in "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift." Deckard is brother of the villain in the previous film. He also destroys a hospital, injures Hobbs and blows up Dominic's house. Busy guy.

Deckard Shaw

Dominic's family and friends are in danger. Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) offers to help Dominic and his friends if they save hacker named Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanue) and find the ultimate hacking tool God's Eye. She was captured by evil warlord Jakande (Djimon Hounsou). Also the God's Eye is hidden in a secure place so Dominic and his team travel around the world fighting bad guys and performing incredible stunts.

Mr. Nobody

Ramsey

Jakande

Although Paul Walker died before the film was completed, it was completed using digital technology and using Paul's brothers as stunt doubles. The film looks seamless as it is impossible to say which scenes have the real Paul Walker. What was missing from the previous part was the possibility to make the ending feel more emotional, after all Dominic's team suffered there some devastating losses.  "FF7" is not afraid to have an emotional ending making it a proper goodbye to Paul Walker.

Dominic's team is back

Fast & Furious badassery reaches a new level. Parachuting cars. Bus full of miniguns and a crazy stunt involving the same bus. The Rock stays most of the time in the background before saving the day in the end. Jason Statham steals the scenes he's in by performing an indestructible evil version of the tough guys he usually performs. Kurt Russell seems to have fun. Martial artist Tony Jaa (known for "Ong Bak"- trilogy) appears as minor antagonist Kiet. Also WWE star Ronda Rousey has a match against Michelle Rodriguez.

Director James Wan is known for his horror movies and for producing "Saw" sequels so for him this was an unusual production. Although I'm not the biggest fan of his style, his visual tricks seem to work here better than in his horror productions. He manages to direct damn entertaining testosterone-fueled Hollywood action that raises the par for the (inevitable) sequels.

Dude where is my flying car?

Kiet

The Rock cosplays Heavy from "Team Fortress"

Singer Iggy Azalea has a cameo as a racer girl.

Rating: Very good

Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Dwayne Johnson, Lucas Black, Kurt Russell, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Pataky, Gal Gadot, John Brotherton, Luke Evans, Tony Jaa, Djimon Hounsou, Noel Gugliemi, Ali Fazal, Sung Kang, Ronda Rousey, Miller Kimsey, Charlie Kimsey, Eden Estrella, Gentry White, Iggy Azalea, Jon Lee Brody, Levy Tran, Anna Colwell, Viktor Hernandez, Steve Coulter, Robert Pralgo, Antwan Mills, J.J. Phillips, Jorge Ferragut, Sara Sohn, Benjamin Blankenship, D.J. Hapa, Faheem Najm, Brian Mahoney, Brittney Alger, Romeo Santos, Jocelin Donahue, Stephanie Langston, Jorge-Luis Pallo

Director: James Wan