Seeing someone’s final work of art, and even if other works come out after this one I’ll always see this as his final work of art, can be hard. Paul Walker left us too soon, as do so many other people in our lives. To be able to continue on with those who are still here is a blessing, and the magic of film can keep someone alive for decades to come.
Furious Seven was an incredible movie and in my personal (screw humble!) opinion it was the best of the series. Discarding heists, which had been the subject of four, and focusing on the familial connection (which has been the subject of them all) allowed this film to soar. The characters are grieving the loss of one of their own, as Tokyo Drift finally comes into continuity, Han is dead and it appears someone is now hunting them down in revenge for what was done to Owen Shaw in Fast and Furious 6.
Deckard Shaw, played by Jason Statham, shows exactly why it is he has become a huge icon in the action film industry. When we see Jason Statham mow down through an army its believable not only because of the character’s credentials, which are explained in passing, but because this is what Jason Statham always does in his films. He is a walking reign of terror for anyone who happens to get in his way and each and every time the main characters come up against him there are bodies in their wake and some of them come dangerously close to joining the unfortunate extras around them. Whereas Owen Shaw (played by Luke Evans in a cameo from the previous film) had a small team that rivaled each character in personality, style, and attitude, Deckard needs none of this to propel him forward as a hurricane force of villainy with a singular goal in mind; kill Dominic Toretto and anyone he knows.
Once again the government comes to Dominic Toretto, and his team, for help and after Deckard Shaw comes dangerously close to killing off Luke Hobbs (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and Elena Neves (Elsa Pataky). With targets on their back and their beloved home blown to smithereens, Dominic Toretto agrees to the shadowy groups’ help and he, Brian (Paul Walker), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Roman (Tyrese Gibson), and Tej (Ludacris) set out to find a notable hacker known only as Ramsey who has a powerful program called God’s Eye that makes Thorngate from Scandal look like child’s play.
This film takes our team across the world in the pursuit of their goals and involves some of the craziest stunts I’ve ever seen performed on film. Seriously, dropping cars from an Antonov was freaking crazy!
Lloydd Marshall Books 