Fast and Furious: The Ride @anthonyohayon-blog - Tumblr Blog

The Finish Line

Growing up, I always found deep appreciation and meaning in various forms of media that facilitated my passions, interests, and aspirations. I remember watching the first of the Fast and Furious movie with my father when I was in middle school, and I really did love it. I could see myself as Vin Diesel: the man behind it all, cool and collected, but willing to do anything for his family. As the movies continued to come out, it became almost religious for me to attend the first possible showing. Since it was so popular from the start, it was easy to get my like-minded brother involved. We would share our thoughts on the films, the characters, the filming, the setting, and where we hoped to see it go next. I even bought the original Fast and Furious poster from the first movie, which is still hanging on my wall back home. The saga is more about just fast cars, cool fights, and pretty girls. It’s a symbol of what I value most in life: progress, family, and love.

The original goal I had for the creation of this story world was to explore it and pay tribute to Paul Walker, who unfortunately died a few years ago. When I watched the scene in the seventh film where Paul Walker and Vin Diesel drive away from each other one last time, almost as if they were saying goodbye, I felt emotions for these characters I was unaware were there. It shocked me in all honesty. How could a scripted film evoke such powerful emotions and thoughts from me? I’ve watched plenty of movies people call “sad,” but have never cried before while watching anything else. I figured that if the movie can have this effect on me, it must do the same for the majority of this audience (who I remember was crying along with me during the film). I wanted to know the exact reasons behind the power and meaning this franchise has on its audience.

I did not have a clear path while creating this story world. I hoped it would lead me to the important parts that could explain my questions, which worked out perfectly in my opinion. Before my first post, I rewatched the entire saga over a few days since school had just started. It was by rewatching that I realized that I cared so much because I was able to relate, essentially putting my selves in the shoes of each of the characters, as well as a unique individual, yet imaginary, member of their crew.

I began by writing about the real story of Racer X, who gives context for the setting of the movie and the character of Dominic Toretto. I continued by summarizing the plot of the first movie, which vividly placed the audience in the storyworld. I continued with a character map, showing the relationships of characters, followed by an analysis of a fan-fiction piece. However, after that, I was stuck. The storyworld I chose appeared to be too big to analyze movie by movie, or character by character. This made me realize that the same is for the audience of the films, who are not all fanatics but still love the saga. It was here that I realized that there must be some common theme or connection that allows anyone to relate to the story, and excite them, regardless of how big of fans they are or how much they love exploding cars. I reverted back to my personal reason for choosing this storyworld: “I don’t have friends. I got family.”

The deeper I dug into the saga, the more I understood that it’s appeal comes from the relatability everyone has as an underdog, someone who may do bad things for a good reason, someone who loves their family more than doing what’s right, someone who hopes their past does not determine their future, and someone who loves love. With those central ideas, I delved deeply into the characters and their roles in the production of the films. Learning the significance of the impact the stars have as producers, musicians, and characters helped to explain to my audience and myself more about what makes the Fast and Furious so popular. Their Instagram posts show love to the fans and their contributions to the storyworld, as well as their love for one another in the real world and not just on the paid set.

The only way to do this storyworld was to write it “a quarter mile at a time,” like Vin Diesel would have wanted me to. Each post led me to the next, until eventually, I made the realizations that allowed me to dissect 20 hours of disheveled movies and short films into a cohesive storyline with timeless themes and life lessons. I would have done this the exact same way if I were to start over, except for the fact that I would have probably included my own critiques of each movie and short film. I thought that would clutter the Tumblr in regard to the intended purpose of this project. Additionally, I probably would have tried to download the game and give a critique of it. Overall, I touched on what I really wanted to and made clear points and connections that I intended to initially. I not only learned a lot about the creation of a storyworld and how it becomes successful, but also about myself and how I choose to perceive the world around me and my own storyworld. We learned about what makes a hero, what allows for stories to be popular to all audiences, how to engage audiences on a deeper level than just cool CGI effects, how to build off a story that you planned, and most importantly, how to continue a story even with life’s wildcards being thrown in the mix. These were my main take aways, and I made sure to incorporate these components into my Tumblr.

I also feel like I was able to pay my own tribute to Paul Walker and the franchise I always learned life lessons from. I’d like to know if other people feel the same way I do about the characters being good guys who do bad things, or whether my bias clouded the storyworld with and overly optimistic and happy overlay. Another question I have is do you think your love for the saga will continue in the next three films, or will the tragic death of Paul Walker have a negative impact on the love people have for the show?

In conclusion, my love and admiration for The Fast and the Furious grew deeply during this project, and I really hope that whoever read my posts was able to see it. It’s much more than just a series for me. It’s a connection to my family, as well as insight into the themes that matter most in my life.

Thank you to everyone who has read. I genuinely hope you enjoyed it!

#revvedup #fastandfuriousforever #torettotuesday #iloveFF

So... What’s Next?

It’s lucky for us die-hard fans that the Fast & Furious team shall not disappoint in continuing to produce thrilling and powerful films. The franchise is expected to produce three more films (the 8th, 9th, and 10th installments) in the next 5 years, with the last film being released April of 2021.

While there is no information at all about the plots of the 9th and 10th films, we do know a few things about the trilogy as a whole, and more specifically about the next film to be released: Fast & Furious 8. Unfortunately, it seems that one of our favorite stars, Paul Walker, will most likely not hold a main role in the next three films, but may reappear in the form of a flashback or something along those lines. Interestingly, the next three films are said to all revolve around the same particular story, which is unlike all of the previous films that all have a different plot and can be watched on their own, but were held together because of the common themes and consolidation. I really appreciate this move by Universal and the team to create a complex trilogy of one of the most well-developed storyworlds in history.

The franchise has filmed all around the world, from South America to California to Tokyo. However, this next installation will be set primarily in New York city. This is interesting to me and other fans because it’s the same setting as “Racer X,” whose story is the foundation and inspiration of this entire franchise. There are also clips posted by Vin Diesel’s Instagram that show filming in Cuba, so that will be incredibly interesting also. There are also rumors that the team will be filming in Iceland, which would be the first time filming with snow vehicles in a snowy climate. Very cool stuff!

The director of the film said to Vin Diesel:

“Oh really? Ok. Now I’m going to take the biggest saga in the world, and I’m about to throw oscars at you.”

The saga, while one of the highest grossing in the world, has yet to win an Oscar. Yet, many critics and fans believe now that the film will finally be able to bring one home. Additionally, old faces from previous movies, like Jason Statham, Eva Mendez, and Dwanye Johnson, will return with potentially larger roles than before, specifically for Mr. Johnson.

The franchise is being progressive as well, now having a woman villain instead of always having male villains. Charlize Theron has confirmed she will be the new villain, and her character name will be Cipher. Additionally, we are going to add age and experience to the team now with the addition of Helen Mirren. I'm unbelievably curious as to what she will actually do in the film.

Per Paul Walker’s late wishes, the franchise will reportedly go back to focusing on street racing. I am extremely excited for this part of the series because I finally feel like the team is able to perfectly craft a complex trilogy based on the iconic saga and intricate connections that have been felt in the hearts of fans for the last 15 years.

There will definitely be much more to discuss...

#revvedup

The End of Our Road

When it comes to filming, the death of an actor midway through production can potentially ruin the potential of telling the intended story of the franchise. There are severe human problems among cast members who mourn the loss of the cast member, but also, how do you finish a movie that is only half way done? Every audience member also is aware that the cast member has died, especially when that member is Paul Walker, the original star of the entire Fast and Furious franchise. If not done correctly, the audience will react with anger and disappointment towards the production for the way in which they portray the actor’s death or how the film alludes to it.

Paul Walker died in a car accident that was unrelated to the film in November of 2013. Universal shut down the set for four months to figure out the best course of action, since Paul Walker left many scenes uncompleted. Instead of having him leave the story in the actual film, the filmmakers decided to keep him anyway. Some incredible scenes were done with CGI, including one where Walker drives a car through the air between several high-rises hundreds of feet in the air, as well as fights an antagonist on a moving bus. The filmmakers were able to blend it together well, using Walker’s brother as a body double.

The director of Furious 7, James Wan, said this:

“The original ending of Furious 7 was setting up, you know, the bigger world of where the Fast and Furious franchise could go into. And that’s obviously very smart of them to think so. But when the tragedy happened, all of that became irrelevant. So it did not matter anymore, all of that stuff. And to the studio’s credit, they did not push for that. They realized how important it was to make a movie that finished and that just outright is a tribute to Paul Walker. So I give them a lot of credit for being bigger than that and going along with this ending that is the right ending to go with.”

The film’s ending paid perfect tribute to Paul Walker, the love shared by the team, and the love the world has for this incredible human being. Here is the scene that made me cry each time I saw this movie in theaters (Yes, I saw it like 4 times):

“I used to say I live my life a quarter mile at a time, and I think that’s why we’re brothers, because you did too.”

Now, we are told that Paul Walker will be in the film, but will be represented in some form or another. However, even though little will be the same in the movies or real life, one thing is for sure: anyone who loved Paul Walker and the Fast and Furious will still show up early for the showing of Fast & Furious 8, because that’s what family does. We’re here for each other when times are tough.

#revvedup

Inside The Franchise

Over the last 15 years, The Fast and the Furious has experienced many changes in direction. The story changed because of the intended plot development from the origin story, as well as strategic choices made by the stars, production company, and directors. The first film was directed by Rob Cohen, and the second by John Singleton. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth films were all directed by Justin Lin. The seventh film was directed by James Wan, and the directors for the next film are sure to change also.

The main producer has stayed the same from the general consolidation of the franchise, which happened at the fourth movie as I mentioned in another post. This main producer, Vin Diesel, is the glue that holds the franchise and team together. To ensure his vision be brought to fruition through every scene, the director must work with the him intensively on the production side. I find this incredibly smart and appropriate since it results in movies that adapt to what is popular at the time, but never deviate from the intended theme or purpose. Vin Diesel’s relationship with Universal has also given him discretionary power to shape the franchise in the way he knows his fans will love, with the emphasis being on family, love, and the timeless underdog superhero story.

I did some research on Vin Diesel and the team’s social media presence, and found this:

To see a franchise where not just the director decides everything, and not just the marketing team does the promoting, is unusual. Seeing the individual actors promoting the franchise, and sharing the love which they have for not just each other, but for the story they tell, is breathtakingly beautiful. We see the actors praising new directors, instead of butting heads with them, because of the perfect power construct of these films where the stars themselves get to influence what the fans see.

A few of these Instagram posts above were not even meant to promote the franchise, but rather just a real life expression about each other and the story they tell. Also, they feature fan art and appreciate these fans who keep the story alive every week. I follow Vin Diesel on Instagram, and when he takes a video of himself on the set of a Fast and Furious movie, it makes me, the fan, feel like part of the family. Seeing the stars who I look up to giving me thanks for supporting their story and what they do brings me closer more intimately and intensely than anything else could.

Everything from character traits to music choice is ran by the team to some degree. For instance, Ludacris is a main character of the franchise, but he is also a very popular rapper who, along with Wiz Khalifa, has produced all of the music for the franchise since its consolidation. The main characters of the film have no desire of ever leaving or changing their roles, so every film since consolidation will never have an unexpected character change or issue in that regard, allowing for the story to continue and be produced from the same block.

The team and franchise love to make appearances and help to spread the incredible and thrilling story of The Fast and the Furious any way possible. Aside from praising fans and the art they produce, the team has extended its reach into the digital dimension by creating a video game after nearly every movie so fans can continue the story. These have been very successful, and have been adapted to every console from the Wii to Playstation to Xbox.

Not to mention, the franchise went even further by helping in the creation of a theme park attraction to put this story into the real world which will be ready in 2018. Most franchise-based rides that universal has created resulted in that franchise becoming much more popular, with a higher turn out in movie viewership and purchases of merchandise.

My personal favorite piece of the fast and furious franchise is the die cast metal replicas of the film's cars by Racing Champions, which come in different scales from 1/18th size to 1/64th. These are probably the easiest way for a true fan to feel like he or she holds a piece of the story, or history, if you will. I have one, and it definitely affects me.

It goes without saying that the true love and passion put into these films by the directors, producers, and stars are what make this franchise so successful. Each movie is more popular, rated higher, and brings in much more money at the box office than the previous one. With over $4+ billion in revenue from movies and additional parts of the franchise, one thing is clear: when people are willing to give their lives for a project they love and have passion for, the public will notice, appreciate, and participate.

#revvedup

What’s Bad Is Good, and I Hate To Be The Bad Guy

To think of the characters in the Fast and the Furious as criminals would be 100% appropriate, however, we must also consider the sides of them which fight against injustice and continue to become better people as the story develops, eventually becoming objectively great people.

For Dom, Brian, Mia, Letty, Tej, Roman, Han or any other character the film showcases, their previous lives have contained really traumatic or difficult situations they were forced to overcome, from poverty to lack of parental figures to stealing as a way to survive. Watching just the first film may not give you a full sense of appreciation for some of the characters who begin on the much darker, criminal side, like Dominic Toretto. However, I want to outline some very important reasons why the seemingly criminal characters who the whole world has fallen in love with are appealing and worthy of praise. Everyone has many sides to their identity, and a “bad” side is often common for most people. However, everyday, we try a little more to become better people and be “less bad.” The Fast and the Furious’ success can be attributed to a few simple topics:

Relatability

Many people can unfortunately say that they have had difficult situations in the past, but were able to overcome them because of a strong support network. Additionally, most of these people would agree that with the absence of that support, their lives could have taken a terrible turn. For characters in the Fast and Furious, the central commonalities among them are a lack of foundational support, traumatic childhood experiences, or growing up having to be a criminal just to survive. The audience understands they were and are bad because they have to be, not because they want to be.

The team also never truly injures people. Through a certain lens, we get a very “Robbin Hood” feel when the characters hijack a semi-truck full of car parts or steals a bank vault of money. When they steal car parts, they know that the trucker will still be fully compensated and they never bring a weapon or try to harm anyone ever. When they steal bank vaults full of money, the money that is stolen belongs to corrupt political figures. We love these characters because they are not bad people deep down, and many of the ploys by the director to make the audience feel sympathetic and empathetic towards the team completely work.

While this image is what most people imagine when the Fast and the Furious is brought up in conversation, there is much more to them.

Survival Then Progress

In stories, scripture, and many schools of thought, human progress is said to be the cornerstone of life. When you stop growing or stop trying to better yourself, you stop living. I think one of the most lovable characteristics of the Fast and the Furious story is that the characters all started from pretty rough beginnings, with almost nothing or nobody to help them. Despite all of these rough challenges, each character was able to survive and thrive, as well as acquire a specific set of skills that help them maneuver through life. Audiences always love a survivor: someone who has been through hell and back and is still standing. No mater what they had to do, they made it. What is specifically appealing to this story is that each character really did not do anything harmful to another person, except for Dom’s attack on the man who killed his father, which is perceived negatively by the audience. Truthfully, most people can accept why Dominic almost killed this person, so his identity as an attempted murderer is covered by the portrayal of him as a damaged and hurt person. For everyone else, the audience roots for them because nobody else has ever rooted for them during their difficult lives.

My personal favorite aspect of the Fast and Furious is the idea of human progression. With such rough beginnings and difficult actions required to be done to ensure survival, one could assume that these characters would get sucked into a world of crime and never leave, eventually becoming terrible people in the process. However, the exact opposite is true. We often hear “One last ride” from Dominic Toretto, expressing that most of the jobs or heists he partakes in with his team are supposed to be the last one for them. This idea of wanting to leave the bad life behind and start fresh is something the audience can fall in love with the characters for. In real life, everyone is almost always trying to better themselves, so it is no surprise that we appreciate and root for people who are trying to and succeeding in doing the same.

As the movies progress, the story becomes a lot less about stealing car parts and racing the underground, and more about being the good guys. In Fast 5, Dom’s team steals $100 million dollars from a safe owned by a corrupt businessman. During this, they were pursued by Luke Hobbs, a high ranking government official given the task of capturing some of the most wanted fugitives. Later in the story, Hobbs becomes their ally because the team goes after Owen Shaw, killer of Han and one of the most wanted men in the world. The team really does get better over time, and it starts on an individual level with each character.

Superhero Franchise

Most would think the Fast and Furious gets its incredible audience base from its high-speed car races, fight scenes, and sexy women. However, the Fast and Furious is actually appealing because it is a carbon copy of a superhero story. We have spent a long time thinking about what exactly makes a superhero. Well, some of the basic components are that the person is able to do unimaginable heroic deeds, but looks just like you or I. The power they possess is much more powerful than a normal person’s, but because they look like regular people, we are able to relate to them and think it is real, or possible at least that we can.

The most iconic superhero is not Superman in my opinion, but more along the lines of someone like Batman or Iron Man. Why? Well, because there is nothing different about their anatomy than mine. Batman is a really rich guy with incredible fighting technique and intellectual ability, with incredible gadgets that allow him to fight crime and win. We also know that he will never die in a movie, because he is a superhero. Iron Man is a genius human who uses his intelligence to create superhero devices, similar to Batman, which allow him to essentially be insanely powerful, fly, and shoot lasers from his robotic hand. We also know that he is mortal, so we fear for his life, like Batman, but have faith that his abilities will allow him to fight another day, every day.

When thinking about Dominic Toretto and his team, we get the exact same feeling. What has been mentioned above, specifically in reference to the difficulties the entire team has gone through throughout their lives, the final component of a superhero is born: a fatal flaw. Achilles has his heel, but Dominic has his anger. Each member must struggle with their own internal problems, but ensure that their moral calling and devotion to family is unmatched. Dominic and Brian are the two main superheroes, with Dominic being like Batman and Brian like Robbin. These characters are able to jump from a car moving at 100+ mph onto a truck with a driver shooting at them, and manage to walk away unharmed. In any race a member of the team gets in, you can be sure that Dominic is never going to lose and neither is the team, unless it is to each other.

Losing a race and dying hold the same weight to this storyworld. If Dominic, the leader of the group, ever loses a race, we think “What’s the point? This team is not the best. They just got beat.” Additionally, we know that certain characters can die, but the main characters (Brian, Dom, Mia, and Letty) never will. Even though we think that Letty died in one of the films, they bring her back and create a thrilling movie surrounding that implanted idea. However, if a real family member, like Han, dies, it is the direction that the next film or two go in to commemorate or avenge him. They must avenge their fallen brother, and this is yet another example of where family and devotion go above all else.

The Fast and the Furious is loved for their portrayal of normal people doing extraordinary things, as well as their focus on individual character issues and growth. However, we love getting scared when one of our characters are in peril, but in the back of our minds hides the reassurance that they will not die. They are superheroes, and we will surely see them in the next movie. When the family breaks apart, the first goal is to get them back together. For instance, the entire sixth movie was about Dominic trying to repair his broken family (team). Another interesting tactic the franchise uses is diversity. The main characters are White, Latino, African-American, and from a multitude of different countries. Not once do you see any racism in the films, as this family’s bond goes much deeper than just skin. They are bonded by blood, sweat, tears, and love.

Anyone who really loves the Fast and the Furious will learn to love both the good and bad side of each character deeply. The truest form of the characters can be perfectly portrayed in this picture:

#revvedup

Mia Familia

The center of the Fast and Furious franchise is the theme of family. The films always allude to the fact that many of the characters have either had rough pasts, and usually have no family other than their racing group. The many films, produced in scattered order, each star different second order character groupings and allow the audience to fall in love with the characters that are not seen as the main group. Additionally, some movies let characters other than Vin Diesel be the star, and sometimes, Vin Diesel does not even star in the films. To be more familiar with the structure of the Fast and the Furious, we need to deeply analyze every important character on the team!

Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel)

The leader of the group is the infamous and unbeatable Dominic Toretto. He was the son of a stock car racer who died on the track. Most people think that his violent behavior is a direct result of this traumatic experience. Another driver accidentally drove his father into a wall at 120 mph, killing him instantly. Dominic put the man who accidentally killed his father in the hospital with severe head injuries after attacking him and beating him with a torque wrench. There are many allusions to Dominic’s entire disposition being a result of trying to keep his father’s memory alive, like the fact that Dominic makes everyone have barbecue every Sunday, like his father, or that Dominic now takes care of his sister Mia like a powerful protector. There was also a scene in Fast 5 where Dominic was fighting Luke Hobbs and almost smashed his head in with a wrench, but decide to hit the floor next to Hobbs’ head instead. Dominic has gotten into trouble here and there with his line of work in illegal street racing and stealing car parts from transport trucks with his team, but he really is a good guy and just tries to provide for his family. Dominic is the best version resulting from the environment he came from, so the audience loves him anyway.

Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker)

If there were ever a sidekick to Dominic Toretto, it would be Brian O’Connor. As a youth, Brian also spent two years in Juvenile Detention, but for grand theft auto. As an adult, Brian joined the Los Angeles Police Department. Brian takes on an undercover assignment working with the FBI and LA police department to solve a series of semi-truck hijackings that happened over a short period of time. Brian looked for a way in, so he got a job working at The Racer’s Edge, a local car parts shop. He tries to approach Dominic’s infamous racing team by continuously visiting Toretto’s Market and Cafe. Dominic’s sister, Mia, makes sandwiches there, which jokingly are terrible, but still brings Brian back daily. Later that night, Brian goes to a street race that he knew Toretto would be at, and bets him his car that he would win. The cops show up, and instead of taking Toretto down, Brian helps him escape. Now that he is in good graces with Dominic, he is invited into the house and this begins Brian’s entrance into the family. Eventually, Brian gets married to Dom’s sister, Mia, and then Brian actually does become Dominic’s brother.

Letty Ortiz

There are story lines to some of these characters that truly pull your heart strings, especially as you watch them play out over many years and movies. Letty Ortiz was born and raised in the same neighborhood as the Toretto family. At 16 years old, her and Dominic began a romantic relationship, centered around street racing of course. She become Dominic’s wife later in the series, however, her role in the franchise disappears for a few movies. She volunteered to go undercover to expose one of the main antagonists in the story, Arturo Braga, but is nearly killed by him and suffered temporary amnesia as a result. Most of the team thought she was dead. However, she is reunited with the team later in the seventh movie and things were essentially back to normal once she remembered everything.

Mia Toretto

Mia Toretto is the franchise’s sweetheart. She proves that even the sweetest, kindest people can do bad things if that’s how they are able to support their family and keep them safe. Mia is always saving Dom, and after freeing him from arrest at a young age, she joins his lifestyle of crime to keep an eye on Dom, stay close to him since she has nobody else, and to provide for her family too.

After these four characters, nearly everyone else is much less important to the franchise. The story line develops around these four characters usually, with the inclusion of whoever stars in a Fast and Furious film as the additional protagonists (family members).

Han Seoul-Oh

Han’s interesting connection to Tokyo, Japan is what allows this story to merge the Asian roots of street racing into the modernized American version. Han began as a member of Dominic Toretto’s crew, but later leaves because of the death of his lover. Han returns in later movies, but dies at the end of Tokyo Drift, which is the same ending scene as Fast 6, making him be the linking character to two essentially different storyworlds of the same original story.

Roman Pearce

Brian’s best friend growing up who stopped speaking with him because Brian became a cop. Roman is an incredible driver and is one of the main guys Brian and Dominic Call in when a job needs to be done.

Tej Parker

Tej is also a close childhood friend of Brian O’Connor. Some of the heists and races the team participates in, including just building the cars to race, are created and designed by Tej. He is a master mechanic, tech support, and also a great racer.

While there were other characters that were important at one time to the story, many of them have either died or left the Toretto family because of difficult situations. These characters above have been there the most and will continue to be there as the Fast and Furious franchise continues to grow. These guys are in a dangerous line of work, street racing and pulling off heists. Their connection to each other and love for one another makes this team unbeatable. There will be other characters I discuss, like antagonists and allies created, but the people above are the friends who are family. Mia familia!

#revvedup

Journal Analysis and Development

Initially, my goal was to write my journal in an almost autobiographical style. For the first 75 pages or so, that is essentially what I did. I started from when I could first remember, and kept the topic focused on my family, school, and various passions I have like investing and running. My method of writing in my journal was basically to set aside one or two days a week in which I would write freely for an hour. I tried to include everything I could think of during my reflection time and let the freedom of the blank page guide the focus of my journal. After the first journal evaluation, I began to write in the mornings instead, usually spending anywhere between 10-20 minutes writing as soon as I would wake up. I maintained my reflective writing style until just recently. I tallied up my writing to drawing ratio and realized it was still about 75/25 split, almost identical to how it was after the first evaluation.

Now, I have decided to use the journal as a dream journal where I will write about my goals and dreams in the future. I plan to incorporate things like a bucket list, where I see myself in 5 years, and many other forward looking topics. It was honestly becoming a drag writing about the past, so to combat this, I thought writing about the future would be more interesting. I also plan to use it to write down great quotes or ideas I hear throughout my daily interactions. So far, I really have enjoyed this assignment and filling out the blank pages have been more rewarding than I initially thought. I am looking forward to this change in pace and direction!

You Can Only Connect The Dots Looking Backwards

The Fast and Furious series is exceedingly more elaborate than most fans believe. When watching the films in the order they were released, the films do not line up properly. It appears that there are missing films that should connect the sequential films, as well as some films being out of place entirely.

There are seven movies that only flow properly when placed in a specific way. Additionally, there are several short films that connect the saga which most fans are completely unaware of! Now, how does one of the most successful franchises not even have their movies in proper order?

Well, from what I’ve understood, the issues all revolves around Vin Diesel, who plays the main character of Dominic Toretto in the series. Vin Diesel agreed to do the first film, The Fast and The Furious, but nothing more. Universal created a sequel with Paul Walker (Brian O’Connor) as the star now. Then, Universal created a third film that initially had nothing to do with the first two, which was set in Tokyo and called The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift. However, Vin Diesel saw this as an opportunity to further his agenda.

Vin Diesel had starred in Riddick, another production by Universal. Diesel wanted to created more Riddick films, but he needed the rights from Universal first. When Universal approached him to cameo at the end of Tokyo Drift and return for a fourth Fast and Furious film, he agreed and received Riddick rights instead of payment. The ending of Tokyo Drift left a hole in the series with Dominic’s appearance and one of the characters, Han, saying that Dominic used to be part of his crew. From this, the story has its first real connection.

After that, the franchise made 3 sequels to the first film and ultimately created Furious 7 to end the chronological confusion and set the franchise on a linear path again.

Here is how the films are supposed to be watched, including short films:

1. The Fast and The Furious (2001)

2. 2Fast 2Furious (Prelude) (2003)

3. 2Fast 2Furious (2003)

4. Los Bandoleros (Short film) (2009)

5. Fast and Furious (2009)

6. Fast Five (2011)

7. Fast and Furious 6 (2013)

8. The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

9. Furious 7 (2015)

There is also the promise of at least three more films in the Fast and Furious series, which will all be in perfect chronological order from now. This tactic of creating intricate backstories with tricky chronology is the same tactic used for other majorly popular series, like Star Wars. With over $4 billion in gross revenue, it looks like the complex and almost unlikely formation of a coherent Fast and Furious franchise worked out quite well!

#revvedup

Fast and Furious: Fan Fiction

The Fast and the Furious has attracted millions of fans during the last 15 years from all generations and backgrounds. Needless to say, many highly-involved fans have created their own representations of the stories that bring this franchise to life, as well as attempted to predict the stories that will be created in the final three movies of this saga, which have yet to be produced.

I read a few pieces of Fast and Furious fan fiction, with the majority of these stories originating from the first movie and continuing from there. One short story, Furious Hatred, particularly interested me because of the author’s addition of a new, woman character who plays the main character role. Fans of this franchise are used to seeing Dominic Toretto and Brian O’Connor as the manly main characters, where protagonist and antagonist come together and become a “protagonist team.” In this fan fiction, the main character is not only played by a woman who is Brian’s partner, but she also speaks in the first person, which is unlike the structure of anything else Fast and Furious.

The author’s unique rendition is an interesting choice, considering the reasons why Fast and Furious became so large in the first place, as I have mentioned in a previous post. The series’ different films allows each character the ability to be highlighted in different ways, usually done by excluding certain characters in some movies or giving lower-ranking characters more power in a specific movie. The audience intimately gets to know each character and how they relate to one another through this method, so adding another powerful woman character on Brian’s team initially can be seen as an attempt to recreate this.

This fan fiction follows most of the plot of the original Fast and Furious, although dialogue and comedy are not portrayed with the new character as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this fan fiction, as well another one titled Hope, which portrays the real death of Paul Walker (Brian O’Connor). This was particularly interesting to me because while his death impacted the 7th Fast and Furious movie, Paul’s death is never mentioned in the film until the credits. Fan fiction clearly comes not only comes from the storyworld, but from the real world also.

#revvedup

Salute, Mi Familia

The fast cars and exotic racing locations only scratch the surface of why the Fast and the Furious is such an iconic and compelling narrative. In the first movie, we think Brian O’Connor, the undercover cop, will remain as the main character throughout the saga. Quickly, Dominic Toretto transforms from good-hearted antagonist into a lovable protagonist, with Brian as his close sidekick.

Thus far, seven movies have been produced. What I find so interesting and crucial to this storyworld is that each movie sheds light on a different perspective of the story. The main character may be Dom, Brian, or a completely new person, depending on the movie. However, each different film intertwines with the story appropriately to make it more enriching and connected. In fact, the movies were released in an order different to how the story line is supposed to go. Two movies in the saga even have two different time periods of this storyworld put together, but they fit perfectly in that individual film. The various angles of this story world portrayed by this tactic allows the audience to become incredibly close to each character, making the “team” as a whole be the protagonist, and anyone who poses a threat to the team is a enemy to everyone.

The character map above helps to sort out the issue of identifying essential characters, as well as portraying the numerous connections each member of the team, enemy, or semi-important character share. For instance, Brian has two business friends (Roman and Tej) who help the team accomplish goals later in the saga and dates Dom’s sister throughout most of the series. From that, many more connections arise between teammates that is not even portrayed by this character map.

The Fast and the Furious saga eloquently demonstrates that “no story is told alone.” That is why America loves it so dearly.

#revvedup

Holmes in The House

By the end of the first episode of House, the audience can see striking similarities to the story of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, the popular TV series is based on Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.

Gregory House is a legendary doctor, using unorthodox diagnostic measures to solve medicinal mysteries all other professionals can’t. Similarly, Holmes is a legendary detective who solves crimes unable to be solved by all other detectives. Interestingly enough, House was based on Sherlock Holmes, which was based off of Joseph Bell, a doctor considered to be a pioneer in forensic science.

House and Holmes seem both standoffish, with little care for emotion and a detest for boredom. Holmes will only solve crimes that have enough mystery to make it a challenge. In the same way, House tries to get out of every commitment in medicine not related to a challenging diagnosis.

221b Baker Street is the address both of these characters call home in these stories. As far as “sidekicks” go, Holmes has Dr.Watson and House has Dr.Wilson. Apart from these sidekicks, House’s and Holmes’ unfriendly demeanors leave little opportunity to make more friends.

Observation and reasoning deduction are the tools these strikingly similar characters use in their respective professions, with both being able to identify clues and facts nobody else can see. Additionally, many of the exact names and allusions from original Holmes stories can be found throughout each episode.

For example, House is eventually shot by a guy named Moriarty, similar to how Holmes supposedly dies after falling off a cliff in a scuffle with Professor Moriarty. The timeless, suspenseful adventures of a “human superhero” evokes the same emotions in audiences as it did more than 100 years ago.

#@chowleen

The Fast and The Furious: First Gear

In 2001, The Fast and the Furious franchise made its first debut on the big screen. Maintaining the same level of high speed excitement as the true story of Racer X, the first scene of this saga shows a gang of racers hijacking a shipment of electronics from a transport truck. Initially, Brian O’Connor is introduced as an undercover police officer who drives supercharged cars incredibly well. Our first impression is that he will be the protagonist, fighting to bring the criminal racing thieves in Dominic Toretto’s gang to justice.

Brian first meets Mia Toretto at Dominic’s cafe by pretending to be selling performance equipment. He is quickly threatened by a jealous boyfriend Vince (part of Dom’s gang). The two begin to fight and Dominic’s girlfriend, Letty, convinces Dom to break up the fight. Later that night, Dom’s gang and Brian gather for illegal street racing. Jesse, Dom’s technician, is introduced when Brian bets his car on the race and Dom asks for it to be checked out. From the first race, in which Dom wins, the audience learns about the foundation that the entire franchise is built on: loyalty and family.

Police show up to the scene and Brian, instead of helping apprehend Dominic, helps him flee. As repayment for his valiant efforts, Dom invites Brian back to his home where the entire gang is having a party. Brian still owes Dom a car from the first race, so he brings a wrecked Toyota Supra to fix in Dom’s garage.

The two begin to bond over spending time with one another, and this relationship continues to strengthen. Brian asks to join Dom’s crew eventually, but before it can become official, Dom goes out on another heist. This time is very different, however, because the FBI is on their tail and truckers have armed themselves. Brian tells Mia that he is undercover in an attempt to make sure none of Dom’s gang would get hurt, killed, or arrested.

Brian’s honest moment was one of the first times you can see him truly choosing this group as his family, much more so than his police unit. Brian and Mia even begin to like each other, which is a beautiful story that develops intensely as the saga continues. Mia is upset when she learns Brian is an undercover cop, but they rush to the scene to help Dom and the gang, who are in trouble. Brian jumps from moving car to moving car to save Vince, whose arm is caught on the side of a truck with an armed driver.

Dom learns of Brian’s undercover status when they all are in a field tending to Vince’s bloody wounds. Brian calls a police helicopter to save Vince before he bled out, and Dom angrily runs off with Mia. Brian had chosen his side with Dominic and his gang, so he attempts to reconcile with Dom by confronting him at his house. Jesse is also there when Brian pulls up, and gets killed by drive-by motorcyclists. Dom and Brian hop in their cars and chase after the killers, quickly catching and injuring them.

After the ordeal, Dom and Brian find themselves 1/4 mile away from a railroad crossing. Naturally, a quarter mile race is in order. Dom wins, but he hits a truck right after the race is over. Brian rushes to his side to help, and instead of arresting Dom, Brian hands him the keys to his car and lets Dom escape, saying “I owed you a 10 second car anyway.”

The Fast and Furious story world would be impossible to understand without watching this first movie. It sets the stage for everything else. The protagonist and antagonist become teammates, the protagonist meets his dream girl (sister of the original antagonist), and the importance of familial loyalty is emphasized in every scene. More so than just about racing and fast cars, this story world is one of passion, love, friendship, loyalty, and family. It is these themes which allow this story world to be timeless and loved by all audiences.

#revvedup #dominic toretto #fast and furious

Speed Excites Us

“When you know how fast you’re going, you’ll want to slow down,” says Rafael Estevez, the speed-crazy racer whose story was the inspiration behind The Fast and the Furious. However, Illegal drag and street racing did not start with Estevez. In the early 1990s, a close group of Asian-American teens started this phenomenon in Southern California, which quickly traveled to the East Coast, most importantly, New York.

Rafael Estevez is considered the OG of the street racing world in America. Instead of using American muscle cars, Estevez and his crew souped-up Japanese cars, like Honda Accords or Nissan Skylines. The tricks Estevez learned came from studying old-timers racing on “the strip,” the paved road in New York on 190th and Amsterdam ave. Estevez put everything he had into his cars and his love of driving with others, which is the rhyme and reason of the largest racing franchise in history: The Fast and The Furious.

#revvedup

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Fast and Furious: The Ride