Fast & Furious 7
Often, we remember how people come
in and out of our life more than what happens in between. First impressions are
brief moments that can last a lifetime, and final goodbyes can be the hardest
moments of our lives to endure. This is the message at the heart of “Fast &
Furious 7”, the latest instalment in the car racing / action franchise now
entering its fourteenth year.
The anticipation behind this film
over the past two years has been enormous. As “Fast & Furious 6” left us
blown away and wanting more, the seventh instalment high-tailed it into
production, planned to be released the following year. Then in November 2013,
things took a drastic turn for the franchise. But let’s wind back the clock to
the summer of 2001, and the story of a little street racing film and its young
star, Paul Walker.
Coming out of a few teen flicks, the
young actor was cast in what would become his most famous and enduring role,
but there’s no way he could have known that at the time. Starring alongside him
was the imposing Vin Diesel, hot off the success of the brilliant “Pitch
Black”. Diesel filled the screen with his presence and power, whereas Walker
brought the vulnerability and naivety of a fish out of water. Playing
undercover LA police officer Brian O’Conner, he infiltrates the street racing
scene through Dom and his crew, getting caught up in their high risk antics. By
the end of the first film, the lines between crime and the law were blurred as
a friendship was formed that would take a long ride.
It was eight years later when the
original cast were all reunited for “Fast and Furious”, with Dom still on the
run and Brian now promoted from police offer to FBI agent. He is charged with
the task of bringing down Toretto once and for all, but as the two must pair up
to survive, the friendship is reignited, and then becomes a brotherhood. By
“Fast Five” Brian and Dom were more than just friends; they were brothers. Now
both on the run from the law, they stay moving together, never looking back
over the past, but rather racing toward a future of freedom.
As part six left us reeling for
more, production on the seventh instalment got underway. In late 2013, the cast
were on a break from filming, when tragic news struck. Paul Walker had been
killed in a car crash. My first thought was that this was a hoax, given the man
starred in a car racing franchise, but sadly it wasn’t a lie. In what seemed to
be a tragic accident, Walker was in a high powered sports car with a friend,
who lost control behind the wheel and sent the two of them to their death.
Naturally, production on the upcoming sequel was halted, giving the cast and
crew time to mourn and the rest of the world, and the films very large fan
base, time to come to terms with such a tragic loss. This also left the
question to be answered, “How would the current sequel being filmed, be
finished without one of its major stars?”
Originally due for a July 2014
release, filming on part seven was put on hold while the filmmakers worked out
what to do. Walker had already completed about half his scenes for the movie,
so with some creative thought, the production was picked back up again in April
2014, to be finished and released a year later. As we waited for the film to be
released, bits and pieces of news emerged on the forthcoming sequel about its
story and other cast members joining the ranks. Fans began to wonder how they
were going to deal with the early departure of Brian Walker from a
half-completed film, so the makers released a statement merely saying “Brian
will be retired from the series, respectfully” No other information was
released, so we waited to see what would happen in April 2015.
If you’ve already seen FF7 or you’re
intending to, then you’re a series fan and I don’t need to go into details
about the story of the series leading up to this point. You know what’s
happened recently, and how the stage has been set for this new instalment. And
as exiting and awesome as things look in the trailer, that is just a tease in
regards to what waits for you in the film. From the very beginning the action
kicks off, and doesn’t let up for a single moment. I enjoyed every minute of “Fast
& Furious 7”. As ridiculous as it is to see cars spending more time in the
air than on the road, I switched off any sense of logic and reasoning, and went
along for the ride. That’s what this movie is meant for, as are all movies at
the end of day. Films are a form of escape; a chance to leave the real world
for a couple of hours, and see the world from a view where anything is
possible, allowing us to suspend disbelief, relive some childhood fantasies and
connect with our imagination. What’s wrong with that? Nothing, in my opinion,
and this is what the Fast & Furious series has become about.
As the action leaps off the screen,
you can’t help but feel a sense of sadness knowing that this is Paul Walker’s
last film, and every scene he has on screen, is among his last. I was asking
myself, as I’m sure the rest of the audience was, “How will Brian leave the
story?” This is hinted at during the film, and how it is actually done by the
filmmakers, is special and respectable.
For a series about high octane car stunts
and tough guys fighting it out, “Fast & Furious 7” takes an emotional turn
in its last ten minutes. Using some clever CGI effects, Paul Walker is still
there, even though you know it’s not really him, you can feel his presence in
the final scene. Having grown up on these films, watching the cast grow and
evolve into their characters and take on more daring stories as the sequels
progress, the ending of this instalment is a perfect way to wrap that up.
Brian’s departure from the story is the end of a journey, much as it was the
end of Paul Walker’s short journey on earth. The cast are so well connected on
screen and off, you can feel that their words and tears are genuine as they say
goodbye to Brian, as for them, it was a way to say goodbye to Paul Walker as
well.
The final scene of the film played
out across a silent cinema, after two hours of action got plenty of gasps,
whistles, claps and laughs, the entire theatre was quiet for Brian and Dom’s
farewell. Backed up perfectly by the song “See You Again”, performed by Wiz
Khalifa, it’s a fitting, respectful and heart touching scene. Even if you’re
not a series devotee and feel a connection to the characters, I think you’ll
find it hard not to be moved by the final scene of this film, as it says goodbye
to its long running star, who will certainly leave a gaping hole in the heart
of the series and fans alike. Farewell Paul Walker; an actor that was
watchable, likeable and relatable, taking the audience into the Fast and
Furious world like a trustworthy friend. Rest in Peace. You will be missed.
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