Good evening everyone! Tonight, we are diving into the Fast & The Furious franchise once again. This time, we are talking about the third entry in the movie series. Not only that, but the movie, for the most part, has different characters from the previous two films, except for a cameo appearance of one of those from the previous two. Presenting my review of The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift!
Plot: When a reckless teenage driver named Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) causes so much damage during a driving incident, he is forced to go live with his father in Tokyo, Japan, as an alternative to juvenile hall. While there, Sean meets new friends that plan on teaching him some extraordinary driving techniques. Will Sean succeed in mastering these techniques in preparation for certain competition, or will he have to give up driving for good, as originally planned?
Now, the question that I’m sure some of you are wondering is whether or not The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift is any better than the previous two installments of this film series. Well guys, though not perfect, and having flaws, it is. Now yes, like both the first, and second movies, the third film also has it’s flaws. However, what areas that The Fast & The Furious, and 2 Fast 2 Furious lacks in, The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift seems to improve in to a good extent. First of all, even though this movie has mostly completely different characters, other than certain old ones reappearing at one point, you really seem to care for the newer ones. Sure, some of the characters may be cliched, like the main one starting off as this bad boy, troubled teenager, type of person. Even then, however, he is a character that you seem to grow, and enjoy as this film progresses. The movie also does a really good job of showing some of the different techniques that goes along with driving. Now, is that something that drivers in America would be able to use in the end? Well, maybe not quite as much as the people of Japan. But hey, please correct me if I’m wrong about that. Brian Tyler also does a really cool job with the score of this film. This can be most notable especially when you have this feel of moderne music, and an 80s type of music around the middle of this movie. The cinematography is also really great. This especially seems to be the case when people drive around at night, seeing the landscape of the mountains in Tokyo, Japan, and things like that as well. The movie also does well with showing how people can be complicated. Yeah, that’s another one of the areas where the characters really stand out, and seem to be a little more likable than those in the other two films, especially the second movie. This third sequel also does well with showing how mafias, and culture like that in Japan seem to work. Oh, and there’s also the whole deal about making friends, or even pursuing relationships without fear of what others might think. Finally, the film does great with putting in some rather clever phrases, and words into the script.
Other than those things, however, the film falls, first of all, in having mixed messages. Yes, the movie does show that it’s good to have dreams. At the same time, however, the film seems to also say that it’s okay to rebel against authority, and get your way whenever you feel like it. Are people like me reading into something like that a little much? Maybe! The film also may have ended a little abruptly. Honestly, with how the film ended, as well as certain events occurring at the end, the film could have probably ran an extra five to ten minutes, if not more.
And that’s my review for The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift. Overall, is this film an improvement from the previous two installments? Very much so! Sure, there are a couple areas in which the film could have maybe been better. Still, with how good this film was overall, it may yet give one hope for any other Fast & The Furious film that would come out in the future. Do these film progress overtime? Well shall find out as we move along with seeing these films.
Final Grade: A-
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