FATE OF THE FURIOUS REVIEW (SPOILER FREE)

FATE OF THE FURIOUS

After the death of Paul Walker during the filming of the 7th installment (Furious 7) you would think the Furious franchise would end there. Would we see an 8th film or would we get three more out of the series that has been going furious since 2001? With the 8th installment the series looks like it is not slowing down.

The Fate of the Furious is the 8th installment of the franchise stars Vin Diesel,Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson,Jason Statham,Michelle Rodriguez,Tyrese Gibson,Ludacris,Charlize Theron,Kurt Russell and Scott Eastwood.

The 8th film start off with Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) enjoying a get away in Cuba. While in Cuba, Dom is approached by a mysterious women named Cipher (Charlize Theron). Cipher wants Dom to work for her. Dom being Dom, refuses but with some persuasion from Cipher Dom has no choice. Dom goes against his code of family turns his back on his family and works for Cipher.

While on a mission with the rest the team (family), Dom turns his back on the team and takes off to meet Cipher. Hobbs ( Dwayne Johnson) gets caught and is put behind bars in a cell across Deckard (Jason Statham). Hobbs and Dekard has some verbal exchanges before getting busted out by Mr. Nobody(Kurt Russell and Little Nobody(Scott Eastwood). Mr.Nobody gets Dom's team together with Hobbs leading the charge to bring Dom to justice.

 
One thing you can say about the Fast franchise over the last few films is that the team is a family with Dom leading them. Dom is the center piece of the team that keeps everyone together. The rest follow and bring what they know and what they can do for the team. Everyone shines in this film with everyone having their moments.

You have Roman(Tyrese Gibson) and Tej(Ludacris) going at it for the attention of Ramsey(Nathalie Emmanuel). Ramsey was the one that was rescued in the last film and has joined the group. Then you have Hobbs and Deckard exchanging words back and fourth during the prison scene which I thought was funny. In the trailer they didn't show all of the verbal exchanges as both played off from each other with some comic relief. Little Nobody(Scott Eastwood) gets poked at for being a rookie by Hobbs,Roman which brings some funny moments during the film.

Cipher(Charlize Theron) was a manipulative villain that gets what she wants from the person she has doing her dirty work with some leverage. I really thought going into this I would know what leverage she would have on Dom to get him to do the things for her against his will. I was wrong with the leverage she has that was a major twist that I didn't see coming as the rest of everyone walking into this film. Cipher's actions later on in the film made me really hope that she gets it before the film's end.

The action in Fate is nothing short that you would expect when you watch the later installments of the franchise. The action takes place in various locations with racing in Cuba to hacker cars being controlled in New York with demolition of cars in Berlin to destructive gun fire and rockets blasting in Russia. Only one would ask where else will the action take place before this movie ends?

With the plot twist mention early, it is not the only surprise you see as the story behind this one connects the 6th and 7th films and with that, you want more even after this film ends.

		If you have or are a fan of the franchise then you will not be disappointed walking out of this film. Just a reminder that you don't have to sit and wait for a end credit scene because there isn't one. There will be a 9th and 10th film with the 9th film slated for 2019. After this film it is uncertain what direction Universal will go with the next two films to wrap up the franchise.
		Fate of the Furious 7/10 score PROS- Interaction of the cast playing off of each other for some comic relief. The action sequence and the plot twist that you didn't see coming with surprises. A couple of mentions of Brian O'Connor and Mia. CONS- Some scenes just dragged a little with one scene with Hobbs that could have been in a Disney movie and not in a Fast & Furious movie.It just killed me a little that took away some of the bad ass Hobbs that I enjoyed in the franchise.

MAD MAX:FURY ROAD REVIEW

MAD MAX:FURY ROAD

Over the weekend I had the privilege to finally watch Mad Max:Fury Road staring Tom Hardy(Max),Charlize Theron(Imperator Furiosa),Nicholas Hoult(Nux)and Hugh Keays-Byrne(Immortan Joe). I've been a fan of the original Mad Max staring Mel Gibson back in the day. I would have to say out of the Original Mad Max trilogy it would have to be Beyond ThunderDome would be my favorite one. After hearing about George Miller creating another Mad Max I was excited by the fact he did the original and knew with his touch to a new Mad Max I wouldn't be disappointed by how Hollywood has ruined quite a bit of films with remaking them.I thought that Mad Max was going to be a Reboot but, I was wrong.

A NEW MAD MAX

In some ways this Mad Max is kind of a reboot with Tom Hardy playing Mad Max.Tom Hardy brought some elements of Mel Gibson's Mad Max into the fold with his own touch of playing an iconic character.I enjoyed Tom Hardy in (Warrior) and in (Bronson). I knew Tom was going to deliver a fresh take with how Max is still hurting from the lost of his wife and child that haunt him in his subconscious mind.Max is trying to survive in a post apocalypse wasteland while running away from the pain he endures.

You see Max through out the film with visions of his child and wife come haunting him in moments in the film are too much for Max.You see this after Max is attacked during the beginning of the film as he is trying to escape the clutches of the pale while group of people that hunt down others and take them to use their blood as living blood bags to survive. This group is lead by Hugh Keays-Byrne as Immortan Joe.

Immortan Joe is the strong hold leader in the part of the wasteland on top of the giant mountain tops. At the top of the mountain tops Joe has grown food and other resources to survive.One thing that is valuable is water.Hundreds of people wait at the bottom for Joe to release gallons of water so they can have some to drink.The people look up to Joe as a god in some ways.But,with that said Joe is only looking out for himself and the ones that follow him close.Joe has also something that is far more of value to him as he tries to rule over and survive,his wives or girlfriends.

GAME CHANGER

Furiosa is tasked with bringing back another valuable resource in the wastelands,gasoline.Furiosa played by Charlize Theron sees the real threat of Joe and takes a detour route with a tanker off path with her own plans and makes a run for it far away with the girlfriends or wives of Joe.Charlize did good playing the role of Furiosa bringing the tough female lead that is more of a stand out in the film.Max gets thrown into the mix by Nux played by Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies),(X-Men:First Class) and is taken by him on the road with Joe and a convoy that chases Furiosa through the wastelands trying to get back the tanker.Max is hung up as a living blood bad in front of a car driven by Hux which is in a way a WTF moment of the film for me.

THE TONE IS SET

The race is on with Joe chasing down his tanker along the wastelands as Max is pretty much along for the ride.Max does get loose after one of the best looking special effect sand storms comes along and messes everything up for Hux as he gets close to Furiosa and the tanker.This gives Max the time to break away and catches up with Furiosa and her tanker to see what is really going on.Again,Max is just trying to get away and he really don't care about Furiosa's mission or plans to get away from Joe.

In Mad Max:Fury Road just like the title says it,most of the film or should I say quit a bit of the film is based on road action.This film has some of the best action sequences with cars slamming into one another as they battle down the road.Parts of the film does slow down a bit or two with giving little character points with the supporting cast carrying the movie.Like I said before Max is just along for the ride as he must make a decision on weather or not to help Furiosa with her mission or just tag along for the ride and break off when he gets the opportunity and go about his own business of running from a past that haunts him.

Max doesn't speak much throughout the film and he doesn't even tell Furiosa his name while he is with her while Nux joins Max as well along for the ride.Nux was an interesting character for me in the film.I think Nicholas Hoult did a good job playing a crazy at times character as he must make a decision on if he should be loyal to Joe or befriend Max on his journey.With a convoy chasing Max and company on the road it would be said that Max is a "Road Warrior," when it comes to the action as Joe catches up with the group and with some of the best action near the end of the film makes it worth it when the film is wrapping up.

BOTTOM LINE

If your in the mood for some fast pace road action then I suggest Mad Max:Fury Road for you.With it's action sequences and dark story telling about survival in a post apocalypse wasteland Mad Max is a film that has it's fast pace moments and slow moments and come back at you hard at the end of the film with some good old action.

With crazy characters and a supporting cast that shines with moments when you don't expect it and with a strong female lead and a dark brood main character I can watch this film over again which is rare for me to watch a movie more then a couple of times,I say buy it or go rent it if you haven't yet.

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