Three sentence movie reviews: Fast 5

fast_five

In this Car-Miscreants-Turne-Bank-Robbers, we establish that it’s okay for Vin Diesel to shoot non-named extras (aka Red Shirts) but any actor listed in the credits must be dispatched by Mr. Diesel via car shenanigans, or Paul Walker stepping in at the last moment.  The addition of the Rock to the ever-growing list of actors in this series is most welcome as Mr. Johnson completely buys into the seriousness with which the actors take this entirely ridiculous franchise that manages to be so enjoyable. Favorite moment:  when the side of the train is pulled off and there stands Vin Diesel, ready to do what has to be done, including driving a car off a cliff.

Cost: $2.75 at Videorama (It was one of Employee Yvonne’s Top Picks)
Where watched: at home.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2011/fast_five.html

Three sentence movie reviews: Fast & Furious

fast_and_furiousSkipping the sub-par 2 Fast 2 Furious and Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift, we bring the winning combo of Diesel/Walker back together to establish that it’s okay for Diesel to shoot a car, which then crashes and kills people, but he will never just shoot anyone.  Our Zeitgeist for this movie is GPS navigation systems and our moral quandary is if Paul Walker is a good guy pretending to be bad or a bad guy pretending to be good.  Favorite moment: Vin Diesel driving a car so precisely that it dodges a spinning burning tanker truck full of gasoline that is headed straight towards him (and Letty.)

Cost: $2.75 from Videorama.
Where watched: at home.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2009/fast_and_furious.html

Three sentence movie reviews: Downton Abbey Season 5

I noticed a lot of plot points from previous seasons repeated themselves with different characters.*  While I will probably keep watching this just for the Dowager Countess and her witty repartee, I mostly was more interested in knitting my Hunger Games sweater than watching what was going on.  I’m hoping we’re done fully exploring the various circumstances surrounding Mr. Green’s death.

Cost: free
Where watched: mom’s house.
*Mr. Bates trying to fix his limp was replicated with Thomas attempting to cure himself of his homosexual urges, Mr. Bricker’s entering Cora’s bedroom was much like Mary and Mr. Pamook.

Three sentence movie reviews: The Fast & The Furious

fast_and_the_furiousHaving just watched Furious 7, I felt compelled to go back and remember why I like these movies so much.  This is the movie that sets the stage and introduces us to a bunch of our series regulars, as well as establishing that Vin Diesel, while he might beat someone nearly to death while his sister repeatedly yells his name, will not kill someone by shooting a gun.  Favorite moment:  Paul Walker breaking into a huge smile, pointing at Vin Diesel and saying “I nearly had you!” as well as Vin Diesel’s response.

Cost: $2.99 from Amazon Instant Video.
Where watched: at mom’s house (she has a smart TV)

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2001/fast_and_the_furious.html

Three sentence movie reviews: Furious 7

I’m hoping to rarely have other experiences watching the ghost of a dead man on the screen, because the (nearly seamless) CGI of Paul Walker made this movie hard to watch in some ways.  In other ways it was just as awesome as its predecessors, inspiring almost equal multiple thoughts of “that is totally unrealistic” and “this movie is awesome!”  Overall, this was a great addition to the franchise and I’m happy the loss of Paul Walker did not put an end to big dumb cars driving fast and furious.

cost: $5.00
Where watched: Regal City Center Stadium 12 with Christi

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2015/furious_seven.html
but I like this one better: http://www.impawards.com/2015/furious_seven_ver2.html