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[U n i o n 0015]

It's basically one rung above Transformers in terms of quality, in that the creative time spends more than an hour writing the characters in a Fast & Furious movie.

There are far better action movies to spend your time with.

 

[SuperStiltzkin]

Never seen a single Fast/Furious movie. what do I win?

The opportunity to experience the Fast and Furious saga for the first time in the form of a week long marathon. One movie a day.

 

[lastflowers]

The second movie is absolute garbage. The third movie is the dark knight awesome movie. 6 and 7 just raised the ridiculous levels to 11, and made for hilarious ensemble action flicks.

 

[-griffy-]

The Fast and the Furious influenced Need for Speed, not the other way around.

The FF films influenced the Need for Speed movie, maybe, but the Need for Speed videogame series had been around long before the FF movies started. The initial FF films were tapping into the same demographic the Need for Speed games were targeting.

 

[Vanillalite]

*17 year old*

 

[Lothars]

It's basically one rung above Transformers in terms of quality, in that the creative time spends more than an hour writing the characters in a Fast & Furious movie.

There are far better action movies to spend your time with.

I disagree I would rather spend my time with Fast and Furious movies than the vast majority of action movies.

The FF films influenced the Need for Speed movie, maybe, but the Need for Speed videogame series had been around long before the FF movies started. The initial FF films were tapping into the same demographic the Need for Speed games were targeting.

Not really, The need for speed games were more just arcade racing games with history about cars but it wasn't until Need for Speed Underground which was more about customization and street racing. I believe that came out a year after the first FF film.

 

[sixteen-bit]

The FF films influenced the Need for Speed movie, maybe, but the Need for Speed videogame series had been around long before the FF movies started. The initial FF films were tapping into the same demographic the Need for Speed games were targeting.

Nah.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046969/

 

[Corpekata]

I get why they are popular but not necessarily why the franchise has gotten this aura of "It's seriously a good franchise now!" around it. Tried to watch a few of the later movies and while they seem better, they're kind bland and dull overall.

 

[theWB27]

It's basically one rung above Transformers in terms of quality, in that the creative time spends more than an hour writing the characters in a Fast & Furious movie.

There are far better action movies to spend your time with.

Like what?

 

[Ennosuke]

I agree with the OP and I already asked this question a few times myself.

I really liked the Street Racing in 1-3, especially 1 and 3 were movies which I really enjoyed when I was still a teenager.

But I can understand why they did this reboot, there wasn't anything left which you could tell a story about. And they did a good job, to make action movies out of it. I watched all movies besides part 7, but I can't like them or hype them as others do. I don't see anything special.

 

[Script Kiddies LLC]

F&F 5-7 are just the Avengers with cars, honestly.

 

[inky]

I have to say that I feel like people are selling it short with this "dumb fun" moniker. Setting up some of the action scenes they have in these movies is nowhere near dumb and takes some serious skill and dedication to pull off. They actually dragged a gigantic damn vault through a city! Not trying to be realistic does not equal being dumb.

Dumb plot wise, not dumbly made.

A group of street racers et al are suddenly master thieves who can bypass extremely high tech security systems and do all these amazing feats with moving vehicles while coming off unscratched (mostly).

The action and the stunts are amazing, the chemistry is great and the characters are likeable, that's why people love them, but that doesn't mean the premise and what happens isn't dumb.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

1(setup)->4(true sequel, series shift)->5(amazing movie)->6(awesome movie)->7(awesome movie)

2 I only liked for Paul Walker
3 I liked alot but in a different way from the others.

I actually loved 4 most after 5(not sure where 7 will settle), don't get its meh reception.

 

[Dilly]

The FF films influenced the Need for Speed movie, maybe, but the Need for Speed videogame series had been around long before the FF movies started. The initial FF films were tapping into the same demographic the Need for Speed games were targeting.

The original Need for Speeds were circuit racers with exotic cars. When FF1 came out it pretty much rebooted the NFS franchise. NFS was exotic cars in exotic places, FF was ricer culture.

It's not because both have cars, that it's the same demographic.

 

[MaddenNFL64]

Flashy cars, hot women, crazy action, known quantity.

What I see anyway.

 

[hamchan]

They are amazing movies that fully accept how dumb they are and also requires the viewer to accept how dumb they are so they can do the dumbest things ever and make it seem awesome.

It starts with an undercover cop just investigating some small time crooks who like to drive fast cars and evolves into them turning into basically some super hit squad who go around the world doing crazy ass missions.

The third movie was the last in the chronology with 4,5,6 being prequels is crazy.

Also you watched the worst movie in the series and decided to stop there, when people regularly say 5 is when it becomes super duper great. The reviews reflect that too. Probably should have made this thread before you returned the movies.

 

[U n i o n 0015]

Like what?

To start you off.

 

[dorikyasu]

*17 year old*

No kidding.

Spoiler

He was looking even worse in 7...

OP, give 5 & 6 another chance as others said. And if you don't enjoy those, F&F movies definitely aren't for you.

 

[jon bones]

i don't understand people not understanding why this phenomenal franchise is so popular

 

[BronsonLee]

I can explain this one as someone who saw the first in theaters.

This franchise should not have survived Tokyo Drift. And not only did it reboot, it turned into the craziest heist movie in years, had The Rock in it, and had an absurd continuity that somehow has lasted over a decade.

It was goofy, then bad, then turned the corner into absolute madness, and I love it all.

It also checks off a ton of diversity check points and has some very creative action set pieces for the biggest movie a studio has.

 

[zeemumu]

You never had the franchise. You never had your watching habits! One at a time, not binge watching like you should!

 

[BlueBadger]

Paging Wazzy :O!

I personally like the movies a lot. But I can also see how it wouldn't necessarily be for everybody.

Spoiler

Vin Diesel is so hot.

 

[-griffy-]

The original Need for Speeds were circuit racers with exotic cars. When FF1 came out it pretty much rebooted the NFS franchise. NFS was exotic cars in exotic places, FF was ricer culture.

It's not because both have cars, that it's the same demographic.

I think it's a bit more complicated and cyclical than you're making it out. Like Tomb Raider influencing Uncharted, which then influences new Tomb Raider, which then influences Uncharted 4. And the post you initially responded to didn't even claim Need for Speed directly influenced FF anyways. They were both about sexy, fast cars doing cool stuff.

 

[genjiZERO]

I saw the first two playing on HBO or something. I thought they were entertaining but utterly mindless. I always thought they were supposed to appeal to people who were really into car culture.

 

[The Llama]

Also never forget this meme.

 

[BronsonLee]

Also, this stupid franchise started with one of the most quotable movies of all time.
I'M IN YOUR FACE
I NEVER NARC'D ON NOBODY, MAN
You never had me. You never had your car!

 

[Dilly]

I think it's a bit more complicated and cyclical than you're making it out. Like Tomb Raider influencing Uncharted, which then influences new Tomb Raider, which then influences Uncharted 4.

They really have nothing in common, except having cars. Nothing like Tomb Raider and Uncharted at all.

 

[C-Drive]

It's to films what CSI is to television - it's a procedural film series. You go in knowing what to expect and can enjoy it for that.

 

[Sectorseven]

Tokyo Drift is the best one.

 

[spindashing]

You may as well just watch the 1st and skip to the 5th. Just assume a minor timeskip happened and you'll be fine.

Tokyo Drift is the best one.

 

[inky]

I saw the first two playing on HBO or something. I thought they were entertaining but utterly mindless. I always thought they were supposed to appeal to people who were really into car culture.

The first and third did. From then it isn't really the focus, although some details are still there.

 

[jon bones]

Also, this stupid franchise started with one of the most quotable movies of all time.
I'M IN YOUR FACE
I NEVER NARC'D ON NOBODY, MAN
You never had me. You never had your car!

HE'S A FUCKIN COP

 

[Killing_Joke]

1-4 made good money but i wouldn't say they were mega popular till 5, Which makes sense. 5 had the All star cast plus The Rock. Didn't hurt to be a fucking awesome movie either.

Even though 6&7 are too over the top for me, they still have some solid action worth watching.

 

[djplaeskool]

tbh I liked them better when they were street racing movies.

 

[Sorcerer]

The Fast and Furious movies fill a void by focusing on cars.

Plus cars are relateable to most people.

More relateable than superheros, spys, and outer space.

 

[-griffy-]

They really have nothing in common, except having cars. Nothing like Tomb Raider and Uncharted at all.

This is a pointless debate.

 

[inm8num2]

The fifth and sixth movies are really entertaining and don't take themselves too seriously (haven't seen Furious 7). Cars, money, and living on the edge.

 

[hamchan]

You may as well just watch the 1st and skip to the 5th. Just assume a minor timeskip happened and you'll be fine.

Tokyo Drift needs to be watched.

 

[theWB27]

To start you off.

I was looking for some of your own...that's just a list that has an unreleased movie as #1.

Tokyo Drift needs to be watched.

I agree with this. It was one of my favorite in the series. Does Lucas get decent screen time in 7?

 

[Lingitiz]

2 is total shit, worst in the series and a parody of itself. FF1 has some amazingly dumb one liners that I love, but I can see why that movie wouldn't hold up today.

3 is charming but also dumb as fuck (my favorite in the series). 4 brings the cast back together and is kind of the progenitor for what the franchise is today, even if I think it's one of the weakest movies in the series. 5 totally reinvents the franchise into a ensemble heist film while drawing on the backstory of the characters. They've carried that into 6 and 7 and all 3 movies have been great dumb action films with a lot of heart.

 

[neoemonk]

you watched 2/7 of the movies...and you didnt watch any with the rock in it.

I do like The Rock. I didn't even get through the second one though. Looks like I'll have to skip ahead because they clearly became totally different movies.

 

[BronsonLee]

It's to films what CSI is to television - it's a procedural film series. You go in knowing what to expect and can enjoy it for that.

Here's what I expect out of a Fast and Furious movie.

Vin Diesel being a goddamn meathead and talking about family a ton
Michelle Rodriguez having at least one knock down, drag out fight with a female MMA fighter
Paul Walker taking out a group of heavily armed men in military gear with his bare hands and wearing a light hoodie
Some of the most absurd action set pieces in movie history
The Rock doing a wrestling move to somebody
SOME quote I can run into the ground

 

[FlashbladeGAF]

1-3 was on a downhill trajectory. 4 was essentially a reboot that injected life into the franchise (and brought people back)

This

I don't remember what happened in 2 other than Tyresse being in it and I didn't watch 3 (I knew that the main characters weren't in it)

4 is the reboot (which takes place BEFORE Fast 3: Tokyo Drift) where Vin got the rights back and plotted a course for the franchise.

Some will say to watch 5, but the story for everything is setup in 4's fallout

 

[Dilly]

This is a pointless debate.

It sure is.

 

[tuffy]

The AV Club just posted a big article on the series, how the films fit together and what makes them popular. I thought it was an interesting read.

 

[hamchan]

I do like The Rock. I didn't even get through the second one though. Looks like I'll have to skip ahead because they clearly became totally different movies.

2 is the worst and can be easily skipped, so good move there.

I agree with this. It was one of my favorite in the series. Does Lucas get decent screen time in 7?

Nope! He gets literally 20 secs in a new scene.

 

[donkey show]

Simply put, the FF series is a guilty pleasure that amazingly morphed into a wild and awesome action franchise, bro.

 

[Pagusas]

You are missing out on some fun movies.

As for your question on why Brian wasnt in jail after 1, there is an extra feature on the DVD that has a short 10 minute video showing him running from the cops, getting the skyline, racing it for money and making his way to Miami. Also they litterally explain everything to you about why hes not in jail in the first 20 minutes of the actual movie. They beat you over the head with it to setup the whole plot and why he's working with the cops again.

Part of the nice thing is while 1 - 3 and 5 - 7 are very different, the series still maintained its fun and enthusiasm. 4, while not the best movie ever, did a great job of relaunching the series and tieing it all together.

 

[yencid]

Cars guns and family

Ride or die mothafuckas

 

[aku:jiki]

Dumb plot wise, not dumbly made.

A group of street racers et al are suddenly master thieves who can bypass extremely high tech security systems and do all these amazing feats with moving vehicles while coming off unscratched (mostly).

The action and the stunts are amazing, the chemistry is great and the characters are likeable, that's why people love them, but that doesn't mean the premise and what happens isn't dumb.

But, like I said in my post, what you're calling dumb is what I'm calling not trying to be realistic. Like, yeah, the hacking makes absolutely no sense in real life terms and especially some of the shit they do in F7 is ludicrous from a technical standpoint, but the movies take place in a fantasy world where you can jump a sports car between skyscrapes (TWICE!) and where this hacking does make sense. If the hacking was straight-up dumb, it'd be constantly contradicting itself or breaking its own rules, which I don't think it does (not too egregiously anyway). As it stands, it's just unrealistic which IMO is not the same as dumb.

To start you off.

So you're saying we should dump the "dumb" F&F franchise in favor of the deeply intelligent and highly emotionally resonating Age of Ultron and The Dark Knight? OK.