Fast Five – Blu-ray Review
The Film:
It’s hard to believe that a five-film, ten-year-old franchise based around car racing could have any gas left…but Fast Five proves the engine might just be warming up!
Like an old-school, Saturday morning serial, the action in Five picks up right where the previous Fast & Furious ended: Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) and Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) break out Mia’s brother Dominic (Vin Diesel) from a bus bringing him to federal prison. The trio splits only to rejoin in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where they are now wanted international fugitives. They call upon the fastest of the Fast as they’re pursued by ruthless bounty hunter Dobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and plan to rob the richest criminal mastermind in the country (Joaquin de Almeida).
The Fast & Furious flicks work for me like a good pop song: catchy, entertaining, mindless fun that doesn’t pretend to be anything more. Fast Five proves itself the strongest of the franchise not only for bringing together the coolest characters of the first four films, but it also ups the ante by successfully becoming the series’ first heist film. Director Justin Lin’s film has given me the same elation as when I was a teen watching Die Hard or any Stallone or Schwarzeneggar action flick. It’s refreshing to have a film franchise not only continue to deliver the goods, but also go beyond its boundaries instead of resting on its laurels!
The Blu Ray:
Audio/Video: Beautiful, crisp picture captures the color of Rio de Janeiro and thundering sound mix captures the roar of its four wheeled stars!
Special Features: An “all-you-can eat buffet” for Fast & Furious fans! “Deleted scenes” (only 2 short ones…not sure why they didn’t just include this in the “Extended Cut” of the film?), a fast and funny “Gag Reel” & “Tyrese TV”, behind the scenes of “The Big Train Heist” “On Set With Director Justin Lin” & “Inside the Vault Chase”, talking actor chemistry in “Reuniting the Team”, “A New Set of Wheels” car showcase , evolution of the franchises’ heroes in “Dom’s Journey” and “Brian O’Connor: From Fed to Con”, the intro of Dwayne Johnson’s “Enter Federal Agent Hobbs”, fight analysis of “Dom vs. Hobbs”, and an insightful audio commentary by director Justin Lin.
The Flick: Rating: 
The Blu Ray: Rating:
