Turbo-charged, Nitro-boosted Brian O’Conner—the cop with the metal—exceeds all limits this week on Wednesday Warriors.
The Fast and the Furious movie franchise may not win awards, but what it lacks in praises by the academy it more than makes up in heart-pounding, adrenalin-soaked, action-packed racing sequences. The photography is a blur, the editing is jarring, and the shear thrill of its biting score burns tread marks around the competition of wannabe imposters.
Inspired by article focusing on street racing in the 2000s, The Fast and the Furious torched the box office, raking in $207 Million on a production budget of $38 Million. It shot to #1 throughout North America in 2,628 theaters on opening weekend. Even then, the film had the markings of a juggernaut series few would reminisce in disputing.
Among the players stands Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), a bulk of a man tearing like thunder on four wheels. A hijacker. A family man. He’s the guy who the cops have been wanting to jail for a long time. Next, Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriquez), the strong one. She’s Dominic’s girl. She has earned a god-like status among her admiring peers as a crazed driver that no one ought to mess with.
Then, there’s Brian (Paul Walker), the cop. The guy sent in to bring Dominic to justice.
How can one describe Brian without spoiling the story? He loves the thrill of the chase. He loves speed. Give him a choice between sitting in a sandwich shop ordering tuna and cranking the juice on his NOS (Nitrous Oxcide Systems) tank—he’ll choose street racing any day of the week. He is not a cop who goes by the book.
Torn by his allegiance to the police force and his newfound friendship with Dominic, Brian searches for a way to breach the boundary between duty and honor. Falling for Dominic’s beautiful sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) was not in the plan. Yet, neither was burning dust in one high-speed contest after another.
Eventually, Brian questions his abilities and weighs the consequences against losing the one thing that drives him. Respect.
[Author’s note: The first time watching The Fast and the Furious I remember how actor Paul Walker seemed like the everyman. His boyish grin and stellar gaze certainly captured the attention. When I heard of his passing on November 30, 2013, I didn’t know what to think. I was still recovering from the shock. I eventually learned Walker was the passenger that fateful day of the accident that had taken his life. Reports stated he died instantly. I still can’t believe he’s no longer with us.]
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Have you seen any of The Fast and the Furious movies? What did you think of Brian?
Looking to God 
One of the few ‘mindless action’ franchises I like watching and I’ve seen them all except the latest one. For all his faults, Vin Diesel is an amiable focus at the core of the series, but I like how a bunch of criminals are portrayed in such a way that we root for them, care about them and overlook their lawbreaking.
Paul Walker’s death was a shock because you don’t expect people who live on the edge to die half way through things. It’s usually musicians who go before their time.
Totally wasn’t expecting it, and I found it entirely ironic as well.
Awesome post Jack! Brian O’Conner is fantastic. He’s definitely one of the characters that grown the most over the franchise. I definitely do miss him and Furious 7 was a good way to say goodbye to Paul Walker. Whenever I watch the franchise, I just think, those pretty eyes….definitely a stellar gaze he has 🙂
Right, Kim! Most growth–Brian O’Connor. His character went from cop to heist specialist, to incredible dad. Miss him!
Seen all the movies though some were rented instead of in the theater. It’s interesting to see the changes from the original to the 7th. Mostly the craziness of the storylines and special effects. Definitely a series that is around solely for fun, but I will admit that the latest one had a heavy ending.
Other than Tokyo Drift, all the other movies had the original cast and kept build on the previous success. The series also provides popcorn thrill. I still can’t get over the tank scene in one of the later movies. But, I digress.
The tank scene was both fun and odd. I think it’s cool how they fit Tokyo Drift into the chronology.
That’s the thing with the tank scene; we’re supposed to take it seriously but it was so unbelievable, I laughed through it all. Tokyo Drift was also interest–great visual effects for sure. Story? It was okay.
I think I was okay with the tank only because I had watched Fast 5 the day before. The giant safe being dragged around got me in the mood. 🙂
Giant safe. Yes. Best scene ever! Serious downtown damage and lots of twists and turns to boot!!!
I think that’s the movie where everything went to a higher level of action.